Crimean War - Dasha Sevastopolskaya

A Russian nurse during the siege of Sevastopol in the Crimean War, Dariya Lavrentiyevna Mikhailova became better known by the name Dasha Sevastopolskaya or Dasha of Sevastopol.

There are too little authentic information about Dasha but there are some reliable facts which light up her heroism, courage and love to the motherland. Her father, a sailor in the Russian navy, was killed in the Battle of Synop in 1853.

When the war broke out he was only a 16-year-old orphan. She sold her house and her few belongings to buy a horse cart and some simple medicine to help wounded in the battle of the Alma river.  She dressed the wounds, she nursed the soldiers and gave them water on the battlefield.   In fact she was the first female who nursed wounded in the battlefield.

She returned to Sevastopol with Russian Troops to defend the city. She dresses as a boy to join Russian storm attacks in the nights. She also kept helping the wounded on the bastions. In winter 1854-1855 she joined military field hospital with the group of charity sisters who arrived with medical doctor Nikolai Pirogov. 

Dasha Sevastopolskaya became a live legend during the siege of Sevastopol . Her sculptural portrait among 12 outstanding heroes of the city was erected on Panorama building, and she is depicted on Panorama canvas as well.