V. V. Krestovsky (1840–1895) is known above all as the creator of one of the most widely read novels of the 19th century—“Petersburg Slums.” However, not everyone knows that he wrote quite a number of works about the military milieu, including “Sketches of Cavalry Life,” where the distinctive “internal mechanism” of army service in peacetime is shown in detail, in remote garrisons. The text stands out for its vivid, figurative, living language, rich with characterful intonations and subtle humor. The book raises various questions and contradictions of everyday army life, especially noticeable and relevant in today’s “troubled” era.