Letter to Ephraim Sklyansky, August 30, 1919

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The note refers to the 21st Division redirected from the Eastern Front to reinforce the troops of the Southern Front.

“Lashevich’s godsons”—Mamontov’s cavalry corps.

“Sokolnikov’s godson”—F. K. Mironov, who had raised a Don corps in the Saransk area and on August 23, 1919, organised a revolt against the Soviets. The revolt was quelled by S. M. Budyonny’s cavalry corps.

30. VIII.

Comrade Sklyansky,

Markov told me today that 7 troop-trains of the 21st Division will now arrive daily, that the whole of it will have come in about 4 days’ time (news about it was delayed by the storm which disrupted the telegraph for two days), and then one week more will be required for each division. He is doing everything to speed up things.

Ought we not use the whole 21st, or part of it (the larger), to utterly annihilate all “Lashevich’s godsons”? Think this over properly. The capture of “Sokolnikov’s godson” and complete destruction of “Lashevich’s godsons” are of great, immense importance.

Yours,

Lenin