Later on, however, Rayevsky got irritated with the endless talks of his fellows about that episode. So, he told poet Konstantin Batyushkov, his personal adjutant, that “the whole story had been made up by someone in St. Petersburg”. Lev Tolstoy who dedicated a part of his novel to the Rayevsky, also believed that the feat of the general and his sons was a fake.

According to the legend, the general’s sons follow their father in the attack. Aleksandr, the elder son, a Warrant Officer of the 5th Regiment of Chasseurs, is pictured closer to viewers. The artist “dressed him up” to make the painting more impressive. Those red-collar jackets with golden patches were typically worn by the low-ranking officers of Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment, while Aleksandr Rayevsky never served there. His chest features a golden officer badge, which was assigned only to senior officers. Junior officers were entitled to silver signs.

The uniform worn by Rayevsky the junior is rather attributable to the guards than to the 5th Regiment of Chasseurs where he actually served. Nikolay’s busby (as well as his brother’s) features the double-headed eagle, which is the symbol of the guards but not the Regiment of Chasseurs.

The general and his sons are followed by the column of Smolensky Infantry Regiment. According to the painting, the officers and soldiers are nearly running, though in reality they were supposed to walk. Running could have broken the battle order of a row or a column. The infantry soldiers represented on the canvas are also wearing the guards’ busbies with eagles. The first row of attackers features an officer holding a regimental flag.

Nikolay Rayevsky wrote in his report to the Petr Bagration, Commander-in-Chief of the 2nd Western Army: