In 1812, when Napoleon troops threatened to conquer the city, the sovereign - Alexander Pavlovich ordered to take off the monument to Peter the Great and hide it in the Vologodsky region. Thousands of rubles were given to Stats-Secretary Molchanov At that time the major Baturin achieved to see the friend of the Tsar prince Golitsyn and told him, that several times he saw the same dream. He was on the Senate Square and the monument turned its face to him. Then, the horseman went down the rock and turned to Kamenny Ostrov      ( Stone Island), where Alexander I used to live at that time. The horseman entered the yard of Kamennoostrovsky Palace. The Tsar came out of the palace. The horseman said: "The young man, you've driven my country to despair, but when I am standing on the rock, my city has nothing to be worried about !" Then, the horseman turned back and only the sounds of the heavy  hooves could be heard. Prince Golitsyn was impressed greatly with the story of major Baturin. He came to sovereign and told him about this dream. After that Alexander cancelled his decision to remove the monument. Thus, the statue remained standing on its rock.