The Russian Army of the Napoleonic Wars

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MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES

185

THE RUSSIAN ARMY OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS (1): INFANTR'( 1799-1814

PHILIP HAYTHORNTHWAITE, PAUL HANNON

Publisllt:d in 198i by Osprey Publishing Ltd 59 Gros\'ClIor Street, London \\' I X gDA Cop~ right 1987 Ospre}' Publishing Ltd ReprilHl-d 1987. 1989, 1991 .\11 rigills rcscrvl.-d. Aparl from any fhirdealing for Ihe purpose ofpri\',uc sHldy, research, criticism or review, as permilll.-d under the CopYI'ight Dl.osigns and Patcnts Act, 1988. no part of this publicillion may bc rcprodm:ed, stored in a relriC\',,1 system, 01' II':lnsmilled ill allY 101'111 ot' by any mcans, dcctt'OlIic, clL'Ctrical, chemical, llll:chanical. optical, photOcopying, rccording or otherwise. without Ihe prior pCl'lnissioll of the copyrighl owner. Enquiries should be addrcs.«1 wnu hi~ carlridge be. 0.. the f.... nl of hi" wa..lSI bell., as carried by IhoH NCO" ,orn>", wilh n>u"keu.. (EagraviDg diU Vi.....ovatov)

r

/

/

3

uft Grenadier. Lifeguard

Regt.

P~brajeR5ki.

c.Bo •. This

iU .."tra'es the "ery Pruss;a"_'''yl.. uMorm ord..rrd by Czar Paul t, the b... lI\s-f....... ,ed CIlp haviog an ....am..lled eagle device. Colouring as for Pla.e A,. (Engraving afte .. Viskova,ov) NiX}" Infantry, .:.1Iloo; a contemporary popular print. While nol 1I."cu.ra." in e..ery detail,;' shows such int"~Sling ru,ures as the c:alfskin knapsack used on campaign, aDd (!i~ond righ.) a

cartridge hoI on the fron. of ,he waisl ~h. The officer (,..:Ireme ler.) wl'.. r ...he large gorge. and gauntl...s, and carries a sponloon Or half-pike; at ex'rt:lIle righ. th.. gllunLl.. ted figure is an NCO who carries the pol.. ofa company fanion or mark.. r Rag. Note theil'll metal Canleen positioned at ,he 'I'n bol1om corner. (Engraving aft.... L Ebn.... )

7 rcgimcnLS or musketeers without grenadiers, and one 4-banalion musketeer regiment of 4,143 men. 12 muskctcer baualions of 1,019 men, and three of ',475. 58 garrison battalions, tOlalling 82,393 men. 9 Jager corps 3,992 strong, and three Jiiger corps of 2,994. 4 regiments of Polish infantry, each 1,447 strong.

Recruitnlentj and Character Atthe time ofAlexander I's accession he ruled some 43,785,000 people, and thus possessed unlimited manpower. Over half the male population were serfs tied to agricultural estates-virtual slaves to be bought and sold, in 1777 only three per cent ofRussians lived in towns. Treated as chauels, the serfs provided the army's recruits, serving on 25-year enlistmcnt (lifetime enlistment prior to 1793) and garnered by conscription; with no leave permilled, they rarely if ever saw their families again after enlistment. Conscription was by a levy on the 'souls' entered on tax rolls, a quota which might vary from two men per 500 souls in peacetime to one in 20 at time of crisis. I n some years no levy was made, whereas in 1812 there were three levies, each of up to five men per 100; the 1805 levy offom per 500 produced 110,000 recruits. As substitute conscripts could be bought, many landowners surrendered only their most inefficient scrfs, resulting in an army which was totally illiteratc. His civilian standard of

living being wretched, the Russian soldier was content with the most miserable of rations and conditions, and thus a huge army could be maintained at minimum COSL Excluding his grain ration, in 1805 an infantryman's annual maintenance (g! rubles) cost:d rubles less than his clothing! The Russian soldier, ho\\,e\'cr, POSSCSSf..'d unique qualities. Though 'born to endure every kind of oppression and misery, they arc liule more than beasts-lumpish, rap....cious and insatiable beyond belief, according to one contemporary opinion, they possessed extraordinary steadiness, stubbornness and loyalty to their officers, their Czar and their religion. Sir Robert \Vilson, who campaigned with them, is often quoted: 'The infalllTy is generally composed of athletic men bet\\'ccn the ages of 18 and 40, endowed with great bodily strength, but generally ofshon stature, with marLial countenance and complexion; inured to extremes of weather and hardship; to the WOfSt and scamiest food; to marches for dap. and nights, of four hours" repose and six hours' progress; accustomed to laborious toils, and the carriage of hea\'y burthcl1s; ferocious, but disciplined; obstinately brave, and susceptible of cnthusiastic excitements; devoted to their sovereign, their chief, and their country. Religious without being weakened by superstition; patient, docile, and obedient; possessing all the characterisLics of a barbarian people, with the advantages engrafted by civilization' . A French view that 'lis S01l1 des biles, mau 0" peul fllfr 1111' bitt' ('They arc animals-but animals can be killed') gave way to grudging respect. As Marbot noted in amazement, ' ... the Russians had to be beaten down man by man. I sa\V individuals defending themselves as confidently as if they had been in the midst of their battalions. I noticed others, ready to collapse from multiplc wounds, loading their muskets as coolly as on the drill square'. Inspired by the icons paraded b}l thcir priests before battle, the Russian infantry were capable of astonishing feats and lotal, blind obedience to orders. Marhet recalled that at Golymin in 1807, '... our soldiers fired upon them at twenty·five paces, they continued their march without replying . . . every regimcm filed past, without saying a word or slackening its pace for a mOIllCIH. The stn=els were filled \\~th dying and

Lia.. iaf.... try, .".1100, from • «l.u..mporary ....,;raviog. Grno.adius (Iefl) ......d ....tUi..d by Ih.. ir miln alp'" .rod th.. g.......de bad,;" ia the "0'"-" of the eutrid,;.. bo::o: flap; .... of!i.,..r (right) ........" a ... igum.... l .. 0" his riShl shouldu and earri... a spo.Uooro. Th.. _au on b;,. imm..dlal.. oiShi carriK a fotIitHt or battalion marker Oas.

wounded, but not a groan was heard, for they were forbidden. YOLI might have said that we wcre firing at shadows. At last our soldiers dmrged the Russian soldiers with the bayonet, and only when the)' pierced them could they be convinced that the)' werc dealing with mcn'. When desperately wounded the Russian soldier \vould drag himself eastward simply to die a few yards nearer his homeland; well might J. S. Stanhope rcmark that 'They really seemed to be made of differem stuR' from other men: their frames and sinews were, apparently, as hard as their minds. . thcy only want a liule more activity to make them superior to all othcr troops ... a little more educatioll, tOO; for now they arc merely machines. Much of this loyalty arosc Ii'om the almost feudal organisation of regiments in the earlier years; as the Russian-born Pomeranian officer friedrich v. Schubert remarked, it was usual for a commanding officcr 10 remain wilh his regiment for many years, 'so that his name became idcl1tifif.."f. a e Ion I a lieu enant-col neI, 3

8

Th", 'Pol",-",kin' uni(or", .bolish~ by Culr P.ul I u..dud~ a ,hl and Ila., dilllu..eti"e ClIp willa PalilOh"lyl", Ir&as~'""''' ernl, • "., ioa o( which wa. retai.. ed (or so"'e linl., tim., hy th., Gu.rds. This eOluemporary prilu also sho_ Ihe cylu..drical valill'" or ........p ••ek, ..·0.... by the 6prn u.. Ilac bau.lroW>d.

.""",It.,1 ("

Reorganisation, 1811 Barclay de Tolly instituted major reorganisatiolls in t81O-11, by which the infill1tl)' was organiscd into Corps on thc French model, each Corps comprising t\\'o Divisions with a regimellt or brigade ofcavalry ami one or more artillery companies. I::ach Division was composed of two Line and one Jigcr brigade, cach brigade 01" two regiments of threc battalions each. Henceforth, 't:lite' slaws was no longer dependellt upon physiquc; inSlead orthe tallest men becoming grenadiers and thc smallCSI jagers, these appointments were made on mcrit: 'The slightest fault will deprive thejager and thc grenadier of his distinClion . , . not only carelessness in drill and similar mistakes, but any offence which is inconsistcnt with the good conduct and honour ofa crack soldier', In each baltalion, the firsl company was termed 'elile' (grenadiers in Infantry regiments-lhe term

G .... rdsme.. o( the Preohraje..slti, Semeno~'s'" aod bm.ilo"",ki Resimnus (lrft to "Kilt), C,I84t. The uaiquely-sbaped helm"l willa 1.r&DSVe-rse eresl .nd rear 'b." was • liller .-e....io.. o(lhe dassie 'Polemlt..., helmet abolisht!d by Paull; il was abandoaled by the Guard by 18o.j" Ilaou!;h wali Worn (or parade unlillhe (ollowiD! year. Note al_ I.he 'G..... rd' loops 001 Ilae collar and cuff ftap,,- (Eagravins a(ce... Vililtovaro")

'Mus~elccr' was replalcd b) 'ltllantry' in tSt l and carabiniers injagcr regiments). All companies had twO platoons; the plaloon of the elite company which stood on the right oftlte batlalioll was termed grcnadiers (carabiniers in lhcjagcrll), and the elite pilitoon which stood on lhe left was styled 'tiraillcurs'; the ra nk-and-filc of the remaining three companies continued to be termcd musketeers in Infalltry regiments, fusilicrs ill Grenadier regimellts, andjagers injagcr regiments, Thc prcvious mixed nature of regiments changed, Line regimellts no longcr possessing a grenadier battalion as they had before. Grcnadier regiments were taken from their original Divisions and formed illto elite Grenadier Divisions. The 1811 reorganisation left the internal structure of Infantry regiments largely unchanged and much as already described. Ihough captains

9

In each regiment th 2nd Bn. wa designated as a d pAt or I' s rv , th 1 t and 3rd Bn.. rving in th fild (the 3rd Bn. auld I b I' fi rr d to a the 2nd i.. th c nd field battalion). Th e d pOL battali n were kn wn as the upply 'm; in adcli ti n in 1808 training centres were establish d which could pro es 50--60 000 recruits at a time. The upply rmy wa not simply are 'erv ; hartly before th war of /8/2 it wa r organis d as an a tiv upport fore of thr ca all' and ight infantry clivi'ion' (106,000 infantry). In Mar h [8[2 the uppl rmy was mobilised (118 00 m n) and with 60 000 I' cruits, orne wont to form n w line regim nts in May and ]un . Th elite companies of depot battalions were detached and regiment d into on rg-d' I' ombin d gr nadi I' battalion a han. i till flhre ompani ofdifferent r giment but k ping th ompani of a Divi ion t gether; th combined grenadier wer alia at el to th fi lel army at two batta]j ns p I' Divi ion. Grenadiers, ... ,804' Both wear the ,8th century style of mitre cap, which was replaced by the shako for all except the Pavlov Regt. in 1805' ote the cylindrical knapsack with ntess tin strapped on; and the cartridge box bearing both the universal brass plaque embossed with a double eagle, and the eparate grenade in the corners, the distinction of grenadiers. Grenade badges were also always displayed upon the headband of the cap. (Engraving after Viskovatov)

2nd

las

were

no

long I' includd in th giment . In addition to a wagon-rna tel' and I train personnel th regim ntal transport ompany in luded an 001 er and fiv and a t rinary om er' the train compri d 12 amhulan 12 wagons 12 rationwagons, a I' gimental orR e-wagOIl and a toolwa on a h with fI ur horse; plus a regimental ch Sl, an apoth cary and a prj t s wagon with thr e horse each-part ofth hu baggag -train which were infam u for lowing th progres of the army. 1 hough th axon von hI' ken t in noted that the Russians 'haY !hi peculiarity that th y do not willingl relinquish a single wounded man ... ind d ifit i at all pos ibl the carry rh bodie of their ollicers away with them the mall number of medical staff and poor Ie el of treatment weI' -x mplifi d by Platov' r ply to the Czar s offer f m r urg on : ' d and our Majesty forbid' th fir f lh n myis not halfso fatal as one drug.

e tabli hm nt of lin

10

I'

The grenadier mitre cap, retained throughout the '9th century by the Pavlov Regt. This illustration shows the uniform of ".,806, before the addition of chinscales at a later date. (Engraving after Viskovatov)

Table

I

33rd Jagers: previously Lithuania Regt. (re·raiscd frOIll 31'd Gan'iSOIl Reg!.) 34th Jilgers: previollsly Vilna Regt. 35th jagers: previously Sofia Regt. 361h jagers: previously J)odolsk Regt. (re-raised from 4th Gan;son Regto) 3ith jagers: previously Voronezh Regt. (re-raised from lSI Garrison Regt.) 38th Jagers: previousl)' Galitz Regt. (re·raised from Imh Garrison Regt.) 39th Jagers: previousl)' Briansk Reg!. (re·raised from 2nd Garrison Regl.) 40th Jagers: previously Odessa Regt. 41St Jiigcrs: previollsly OrlO\' Rl·gt. 42nd Jagers: previously £Slonia Regt. re·raiscd from 6th Garrison Reg!./ 43rd Jagers: prcviously :\'ovgorod Regt. 44th Jagers: pre\'iously Veliki-Lutsk Regt. (re-raised from I Ilh Garrison Regt., 45th Jagers: previousl)' Penza Regt. (rc-raised from 12th Garrison Regt.) 4.6th Jagers: previousl), Saralov Regt. (rc-raised from 131h Garrison Regt.) (The 20thJagcrs was formed in 1803, 21S1 and 22nd in 1805, and 23rd-:J2nd in 1806). The 47th-49thJagers were formed inJanuary 1811 from the 5th, 7th and 8th Garrison Regts. respecti ....e1y; the 49th was cOll\'erted to a new Sofia Infantry in March 181 I. but re·raiscd wilh a new 50th Jagers in October 1811.

Supply Anny units were gcneraJly much weaker than fina·line unils, the depOt battalions having Iirsl sem drafts to their regimelll's field battalions as well as losing their elite companies to Ihe combined grenadiers. In 1812, for example, the 32nd Division was formed from the depOts of the 1st (Grenadier), II th and 23rd Divisions, numbcringonly about 300 per battalion (i.e. kss than halfstrength); thc 32nd's ninc ballalions were organised into thc 1st and 2nd Combincd Infant!'y and a Combincd Jager Regimcnt (depOts of the 1 nh, 18th and 36th JagcI'S). Being so much weaker in strength, a Division's combined grenadier regiment (one company from each of six battalions), forming two battalions of three companies each, was used as a reservc brigade in the Corps 10 which they were allocated (thc 32nd's grenadiers served with J Co,·ps).

Some changl"S of !'egimental designation occurred during this period. in OClober 1810 the regimel1ls lisled in Table I were converted to Jagers. with most of the Jnfantry being rc·raised in January 1811 from the previous Garrison Regiments. Also in October new Vilna, Odessa, Simbirsk and Tamopoll nfalllry were formed. Jn November

1811 many regiments rt.'Ccivt.'(\ a 4th Bn., known as a 'reservc' baualion, which in ~Iarch IBI2joined the 2nd Bns. in the 30th-471h Di\'isions of the Supply Army. In January 1811 the RoslOv Reg!. was converted 10 the Arakchccv Grenadiers (the only unit to bear a personal name); and in 1813 lhe Kc.xholm and Pernau regiments were cOIl\'crted to grenadiers, replacing the Pavlov Grenadiers which had joined the Guard. In April 1814 the 1st, 3rd, 8th, 14th, 26th and 29th Jiigcrs were designated Grenadier-Jagers, but relained their numbers. On active service strengths fell far below tbe eSlablishmellt of 738 eflcctives per battalion: al the beginning of the 1812 Ciunpaign, for example, infant!)' battalions averaged around 600 each, whieh dwindled as the war progressed. As Lord Londonderry reported in 1813, "rlle baualiOllS were so weak Ihal tlu'ee or four scarcely formed a regiment, and seldom exceeded 250 or 300 men'. Drill and Tactics Initially, training dcpcnd(.'(\ upon the command.ing officer, so that a regiment with a bad CO might be useless. Manoeuvres conformed to Ihe t\tili/ary Codt Concerning lhe Fitld StnJice of Infanl':.' (I ;96) and Tactical Rula for .\lilitary E~'(Jll/lio"s (1797) which.

"

being inspircd by Paul I, stressed appearance, the soldier marching with motionlcss right arm and the left cxtended, holding the musket upright, with no bending of the knee in a goose-step. Rate of march was 75 paces per minute, Arakcheev introducing a 'quick' step of 110, and later a quicker one of 120-160. Paul's 1796 Code sought to impose Prussian-sryle linear tactics, with emphasis upon the firepower of the three-rank platoon and rolling voUey, wilh platoon column the basis of manoeuvre. Dismissing the Code as 'a rat-eaten parchment round in the corner of an old castle', Suvarov rejeCled linear tactics in ravour or a mass attack with the bayonet, and in practice the 1796-97 Codes seem to have been less significant than the ideas orthe individual commander, Suvarov's theories having influenced his subordinates. Kutuzov staled in October 1805 The brass.fronled m;tre cap relained by the Pavlov Rrgl. was a unique headdress, the I;lyle having been abandoned by all olber annieS;;1 was therefore a favourite subjert wilb foreign arlists. This engraving purports to show Ibe Pavlov Regt. a, Friedland; the uniform ill generally weeurale bUI it demonsln""" the ;n'pn!ss;on erealed hy the uSe of Ihis anliqualed headgear. (Engraving by P;geol after J. F. Swebaeh)

that 'We shall orten have to exploit the particular prowess orthe Russians in bayonet allacks'. and in 1812 Bagration procJaim(.-d the maxim that 'The cannon-ball is a roolish virgin and the bayonet a wise virgin'. The great rerormer Barela)' stressed the importance or target-practice in 1810, and in IBII issued Instructions for Target Practice and Code of Infantry Service, tbe latter again advising moderation in discipline: 'reserve chastisement only ror occasions or earcJessl1('''-~, though even bere you must proceed with moderation and prudence'. Upon the expansion of the anny in 1812, training was reduced to a minimum; as Kutuzov wrote, 'Teach them to turn and to march as a rronl in platoons and in sections. Do not look ror any kind of beauty', or burden the men with anything which might detract rrom 'the essentials of the business'. The three-deep line was the accepted rorlllation ror maximising firepower, but manoeuvre was conducted in column, either a double column or platoons or ·sl."Cuons', or a single column or 'divisions', each company being termed a 'division' for the purpose or manocuvre. Ideal ror charges, columns were

1..r"..II')' officer, ('.I80s ..,. The bico.... hal wilh bl"ck plume ...d sold loop conti..uftl in use even .rler the introdacpon or the shako, roO' WUr in und",u and even on canJpa1gn (....officially). NOle the la«-edged .houlder strap.., _hich _ere repLacftl by epaulel1" io '1107. (Eagravi..g .f'u Visko..... tov)

'80s..,. Most obv;o..s is Ihe enormou", plun:lt:, .....owa hy il" Germ.... term iHtJc"A; hut nOte also the g ..e...de badge, the ...t;o...1 eockade (with a loop behind it, or lhe IWIme maleria!, almOin hidden by Lbe pompo'cllnw Sicvsk ycllow 11Irqllois" hlack Sofin raspberry grt')' colli'e Revel lurr]lloise light gTl'cn while Tobolsk pink light green I"hile Dnieper lighl grten pink >'cllow Tchernigol' grey yellow black Kopol"sk turquoise Kalu,l:"a l!i.mnl11 IB06) lilac Lithuania Inspection (collar and Ekaterinoslav GrcnaditTS red Tub whilC Pskov yellow 11'Iurma"sk nlSphCl'ry turquoise Rostov Nisov pink Archangel lighl gt't'ClI Volhynia grey '\'Iohilcv (formed Iflo6) grey Kos1l'oma (formed 1Boo) lilaC'

culTs light red light greell whiltr" is a Pavlov Gnnadi"r, and third righl a grenadier wilh the ,8,2 A'jwt'r, lik" the officer extreme lefl, At exlr"m" right is a figur" in gr""n with sky blue facings and black bell..-if nol a colouri"t'.. error, conceivably a Jager in all old unif.,rm?_nd appar"ntly a »"ak.... fur cap, probably a captur.... item.

t806 regiments,

Col/fIf

CIIJJ5 & J!/l/~'

S!wll!dfl' j(mp;

1'('1"110,"

red

n'd, whil\' ~ky hltH'

Kallwh:llka I.ihau :'Ilillf{Tciia

whitt' ~ky him' yellow

\\"ilmanstr.lnd

!'I,d

Brt';;t Kremcllchllg :'II insk

whitt· rellt)w $k}' blue gr,...n sky hlue

Ilhile red rcd red ydluw. !'I·d !'I,d lh'lll; tlhile, rcd piped red yellow r"d rt~l yellow I"t"{l whilt" ,,~ while sk} blue. red rnl n"ps

flaps

~ellschlot

Okhotsk

Infantry equipment included a black leather cartridge box suspended at the right hip from a wide white leather belt over the left shoulder; the box bore a brass circular plate embossed with a double eagle, with a separatc grenade badge at each corner for grenadiers, the flames pointing inwards. A whitC' leather belt with rectangular brass bucklc was worn around the waist, supporting at the left 20

side a short, sliglllly curved, sabre with brass hilt, in a black (or dark brown) leatherscabbard with brass throat and chape; the white fabricsword knot had a 'bell' in the Inspection colour and fringe in company colour (white, red, sky-blue or orange). The knapsack was a black leather or canvas cylindrical valise, worn at an angle on the wearer's back, on a white leaLher belt worn over the right or left shoulder (both methods are depicted), wiLh a white-metal mess tin attached to the back by white or black leather straps, The greatcoat (or sflinc!), being looser and more comfonablc, was popular for wear instead of the jacket; single-breastcd, it was made of brownish-grey cloth of differing shades, usually with collar and shoulder straps coloured like those on tbejackel. The undress cap resemblcd the French bOlI1le/ de policc, a dark green doth stockingcap with headband in the Inspection colour, piped in the shoulder-strap colour, and a tassel of the company colour with a fringe of mixed dark green and the Inspection colour. NCOs' rank distinctions comprised gold lace on the front and lower edges of the collar, around the tOp of the cuff, down the forward-facing edge of the cufl"flap, and on the upper edge of the shako. Their shako pompon was quartered, the sides white and the upper and lower quarters mixed black and orange; for grenadier NCOs the LOp or the plume was white with a venical orange stripe which extended over the tOp. A cane was carried as a rod of office, which could be suspended from a button 011 the breast. Most NCOs carried a 'halberd', a polearm wilil a partizan-style blade and a staff in the regimental colour.

Officers Officers' uniforms resembled those of the rank-andfile, though their coatees had longer tails, buttons were gilt, and shoulder straps were edged all round with gold lace, The bottom bulton hole of the cuff flap was usually a dummy, the button unfastened and half concealed by the flap. They retained the black bicorn with a black and gold cockade, secured by a gold lace loop and gilt button, silver and orange tassels and a black cock-feather plume. A silver gorget was worn at the neck (gilt for field officers), bearing a gilt centre ofa crowned trophy of arms with a white-enamelled central disc bearing a black and gold double cagle. White breeches were

worll with black boots which extended to the knee, grey overalls (somctimes reinforced with black leather) being used by mounted ofTicers on campaign. Shabraqucs and holster caps were dark green with red external piping, with an edging of two gold stripes with a red line between; harnessing was black leather with steel fittings. Officers were armed with a straight-bladed sword with gilded hilt, a single knuckle·bow and shell guards, urn pommel and a grip bound with silver wire, in a black leather scabbard \\~th gilt fittings, and with a silver lace knot with black and orange interwoven. The sword belt was concealed by the lower edge of the jacket and the sash: the universal sign ofcommissioned rank, this laller was of silver lace or fabric, with three interwoven horizomallincs of mixed black and orange; it was frequently wrapped t"'~ce around the waist (so that more than thrcc black and orange lines might be visible). and knotted at the left side, from which two heavy silver tassels were suspended. Junior officers still carried a spontoon, with shafts coloured like the sergeants' halberds; and officers also carried a cane, though both werediseontinued in 1807. In the same year officers were given the shako. though the aClllal date of its adoption is in doubt (there is some evidence that officers of the Caucasus Inspection adopted it as early as 1805, whilst others may not have received it until IBog). It resembled that of the rank and file. with a gold lace upper band, and chains hung around it from silver or gilt cagle badges 011 the sides; the pompon was silver. Some sources show the shako at this period without a cockade. The bicom was retained for some orders of dress. Reforms of 1807-ISog In November 1807 diffcrent Cacing colours were eliminated, all regiments adopting red collar and Cliffs, with shoulder straps coloured according to the seniority of the regiment within the Division: 1st regiment red, 2nd white, 3rd yellow, 4th dark green piped red, sth light blue. In December 1807 it was ordered that the divisional number should be borne upon the shoulder strap, in yellow on red straps and in red on thc othcrs. For officers shoulder straps were replaced by epauleltcs, oC the shouJder strap colour with gilt numbers and crescents. gold lace edging and a gold Cringe Cor field ranks. In

Det:a.il (rom .n "n~l'1Ivi.ns by (;.,..1".. o( th" BanI. o( kip:uS: R ...... iaa illf... 1:r')' .d......ce. ted by ... office.. wbo ;5 d;lItia_ s;uisbed by hill .,...1 and 0'"'''1'1111.. wo.... "'ilb Ib" (uJJ dress ..ballo. As ...u.aJ, all w Ih,,; .. IIhako on......"nl.. willa DO CODCtlIlI;On 10 lb. riSo o( .cti"" ..,.....· ;ce.

r....c..

December 1807 the shako was restyled by the addition of a black leather top, upper and lower bands and V-shaped side reinCorcements. The other ranks' waist bell was replaced by a white leather belt Cor the sabre, worn over the right shoulder; and a new pattern oC sabre was introduced, a straight-bladed, German-style D~gm, with a hilt as beCore, and a brown leather scabbard with bras... fittings. Bayonet scabbards seem to have become common at this time. bayonets ha\;ng previously always been carried fixed on the musket. Later in December 1807 new leg·.vear was authorised: in summer, white one-piece 'gaiter· trousers' extending over the tOp or the Coot, and in winter looser whitc cloth trousers with leather 'booting' which extended part way up the calr. One variety apparently combined the two, with loose 'booting' which could be buttoned ovcr thc gaitcrtrousers, the 'booting' carried atop or within the knapsack when not WOI'tl. InJuJy 1808 lhe shako cockade was replaced lot' musketeers by a grenade badge with single name (as worn by grenadiers Irom 180S); grenadiers now received badges of three-flamed grenades, thc same badges replacing the circular plaques on the cartridge boxes. The cylindrical knapsack was replaced by a rectangular, black leather case worn upon the back and supported by white leather shoulder straps. The rolled greatcoat was usually slung over the left shoulder, atop the knapsack straps and shoulder belt; Crom April IBog the knapsack straps were connected by a horizOlltal

,~, ...... N.,J."

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Russian troops 510r...i"g a d ..f....dM poliition at Monl...aru·" in .8'1' Thil> conl..... porary C ..rman prinl illustral.... a f..alUN' of Russian uniform ...issing i.. th .. c::a ... paign dr..ss of oth.. r nalionli' Ih.. us.. of all shako ornan,enU, .. v.... on c::a ... paign. All .....ar the concave-IOppM ,8". ki"'l'r, with Hile compa.. y plumu m th .. background; t.h.. figu..e wilh upraisM "wo..d rillhl) hal the disti"clive white pl.. me-tip of Ihe NCOI'. The carl..idg" box.... all Ma .. Ihe nume::ral'47'."" p ...... umably Ih .. unil rc::p..e::se::nls the:: 47th Jiaige::rs. All we::ar full field e::quipme"l a ..d while 'gaile::r_.rnUll.,rli'.

(....n"..

I

-•

r,,1

1iiliiio-

sllspended around lhe cap from the upper sides, with a small tassel hanging at the left and two long cords and 'raquettes' at thc right, hanging to the level of the breast; on campaign they might be looped up around the pompon, or secured by passing under the shoulder strap or tied to a button on the jackel. The cords were white for privates; mixed white, black and orange ror NCOs; and mixed silver, black and orange for officers. New pompons were introduced: white with a green centre 1'01' a regiment's Isl Bn., green with white centre for the 2nd, and red with yellow centre for the 3rd. Officers' pompons were silver with an orange centre bearing an embroidered impcrial cypher. In 1809 the NCO lace was translCrn.'d to the top and front edges or the collar, inSlead of the rront and lower edge as berore.

breast-strap, and the lell knapsaek strap was ordered to be worn over the rolled greatcoat. For officers, a new gorget was introduced in November 1808, smaller lhan the previous huge pattern and bearing a crowned double cagle with the shield ofSt. George still upon the eagle's breast, but no longer cnamelled; the gorgets were silver for 2nd lieutenants, silver wilh gilt edge for lieutenants, silver with gill edge and eagle lor 2nd captains, gilt with silver cagle ror captains, and entirely gill ror field officers. Al this time the colours of the halberdshafts and drumsticks changed, the 1st regiment of Refonns of 1810-1812 each Division having yellow; 2nd, 4th and 5th, In 1810 all grcnadiers were ordered to wear red black; and 3rd, white. Halberds were withdrawn in shoulder straps. In February 1811 the huge 18og, all NCOs carrying muskclS instcad. grenadier plume was replaced by a thinner variety In June 180g shako cords were adopted, (as worn by the Guard since 1808), coloured as

before. In thc samc ycar NCOs adoptcd whitc shako cords, and ofTiccl's' cords became silver throughout. New pompons were decreed for the shako, dincrentiating a regimcnt's battalions: lSI 811.: grenadiers, rcd; tirailleurs, yellow; muskeH.'ers, whitc with grccn centrc 2'1/d 8n.: grenadiers, rcd ovcr grcen; tirailleurs, yellow O\'cr grccll; muskctccrs, grecn with white centre

3'd 8n.: as 2nd, but light bluc instcad of green The s\\'ord knot now had a white strap and fringc, with thc 'bell' and its upper and 10\\'cr rings as follows: 1St 811.: grenadicrs, red bell and rings; tiraillcurs, yellow bell and rings; lSI musketeer company, whilC bell and rings; 2nd, white bell, blue rings: 3rd, white bcll, orange rings. :md B".: grcnadiers, red bell, green rings; tiraillcurs, yellow bell. green rings; 1St company grccn bell, whitc rings; 2nd, green bell, blue rings; 3rd grcen bell, orange rings. 3'd 811.: as 2nd, with sky blue replacing green Also in lSI I, the greatcoat currs bccame coloured (which do nO( appear to havc been uni\'crsal); and in September a new foragc cap was introduced, a dark green round c10lh cap with a widcr tOp and red headband. Piping around the lOp was red for grcnadicrs, whitc for muskcteers of the 1st Bn., lighl green for Ihe 2nd and sky blue for the 3rd; piping on the head-band was similar, except that tirailleurs had yellow piping. A glazed leather peak was worn only by officers. The final major changc in uniform occurred in 1812, with the adoption ofa ncw shako, a scuttleshaped cap with concave top and sloping sides, with leather top surface and reinforcing as before, (This is coillmonly tcrmcd the kiwer, though this is actually merely the Russian word for ·shako'.) Ornaments, cords and plumes remained as before, though all shakos now had hrass chinscales ,,'ith circular brass bosses. Though authorised on I January, the usual delays in adoption, exaccrbated by the French invasion. resulted in some units wearing Ihe previous pattcrn as late as 1814. Also in 1812, thc jackct collar was lowered and closed, concealing the stock; and in the intcrcsts of economy, officers were allowed to replace aU their silver lace (sash, shako cords, pompon, CIC.) with worsted. The black dummy boots worn in winter

G ..... rds offi~r, campai!" drKS, ('.18'4' nis shows a common campais- wlifo....., dark flrer-o (rock coal wilh searlel collar. cuff" and liniDll> flold collar loops .nd subahcrn!l' rpauJell~ WOrD wilh • hicor...nd flr..y ov......lls wilh red !ltri~. Black knapsack and cavatry"lyte waist belt with lIilt fininll'" The G rdsm .... in thehackllrou.. d~arth... S." Ihako with cords r o ...ed. and beill" lI aleolllll wilh lcart..1 collar, culT.. aod shoulder st.... ps. (CO mpo.... ry prinl)

were now cxtended 10 the knee. Uniform changes instigated in 1814 again suffered long delays before their implementation; most notably, a single-breasted jacket with nine buttons 011 the breast was authorised, but was nOt actually adopted berol'c thc cnd of the Napoleonic. Wars. Grenadier regiments were ot'dered to adopt yellow shoulder straps instead of rcd (grenadier regimcnts having a red initial all thcir straps), those infantry regimcnts with yellow straps adopting blue instead. Weapons Russian muskcts included a varict)' of patterns; cven in .812 there existed 28 dillcrcnt calibres of musket, plus I I varicties of shoTt rifle and carbine (issued to t6 men Ixcr squadron of cuirassiers and dragoons, and 12 10 the NCOs and best shots of

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boots. The sword \'Ias worn in undress, but the gorget and sash were usually omitted. The wear and tcar of active service usually rcsulted in a ragged appearance, and lattcrly little attempt was made by the more enlightcncd commanders to maintain regulation uniform. KUtllZOV once stopped a unil from polishing its buttons and pipec1aying its belts during the 1812 campaign, saying: 'I don't wal1l anyorthat , .. A soldier has no time forsmannesson campaign. He must rcst after his tiring cfforts and prepare for victory'; and to Denis Davidov, who apologised for wearing peasant dress in KUluzov's presence: 'Act ... with your head and your heart. It doesn't matter to me that one is covered with a cap and not a shako, and the other bealS under a)'QlIwj; lsmockJ and not under a uniform'.

INFANTRY REGIMENTS, 1807-14 There was considerable re-allocation of regimenLS to different Divisions during this period; regiments are listed here alphabctically with twO sets or symbols, the first for 1807-11 and the second 1812-14, Shoulder strap colours were red for lhe 1st RUS$ian c:ourtesy, .8'4' Tbi$c:onl~mporaryprint ~ndlled Ad""u regiment or each division, 2nd white, 3rd yellow, d'lm Hu,<s.. 1i luIO(lolsk 7Bit Y: PololSk in "h·ilia.. dr,,~~ an: ia Ih", b;o"k&round. and a Gu rd.ll officer . ..h.. riShl (aole Ihe 'Guard OiIar' On hi" hols.er-cap); Ih", "nnnr.1 c!C .!IG; Poha\'a 138 :.16Y: Il~kO\' ]Y/7R. 6JUrO!S an: • sn:nadirr in a lypi.,...lI)'.lons &n:.,,,......, .nd Revel fiG 3Y: Ri:u,an 17R 17R: Riask 9Y/9Y: (oraS'" cap; the olh"r ..........,. a j,i........ Both w"ar ~pri,!;s orrotia.IIl" in .. h..ir h..... d-dffS5 (a "·rlJ:.ric"lw" or 'r.",ld."isn'). and .. h" Riga 23Y '.!3R. 'lilH:ntlion hras"",rd' .round Che I"rl arm. NOI'" alS Ih" sn:n::o.di.,r's .-arlridse box with l";pl.,.na..,NIn:nad." Saralov '..!u hun'shOllldl'" :.tra psI I3\,': SchluSSl'lhun\" 8\\'fH\,: Seh:l:.tolX)1 IgG 19G: Selt.·guinsk :qR ·.!3Y: Shinall c!SR 2-1R: Sic\'Sk 5Y 5"': Silllbir:sk '..!]C: Smokll:.k I'..!Y l.lR: Solin 613 7C: lusdal 19\' 19"': Slaro:.kol ~.!\\' nY. Tambov Elm Iff\\": Tarnopol .!7Y: Tarutino Following til(" ahandnnmellt ur till' 'POlcmkin' lonnc~1 1813, '.!3nl Di\'.: Tdwrnigm' 3Y'3R: uniform. thcJitgcr:. re-adoptl-tllhe: bic"ru and light TC'llgllill~k 1.1\\' q\\': Tim:. ~lOG .10\\': Toho!!:k green coat ,,'ilh colollnxl cllns and falling collar; Iheir lealhcrwol'k was black. and the:ircanndgc box _~R -IR: Tom... k qYi'2,~G: Troitsk 20'"''2uR: Tula was carried at the: frOllt or the \\ aist belt, In lBe) 1-02 14 R . Ukraine 9\\" 8G: \'diki-!'olltzk '..!I R 13R: the uniform rescmbled Ih:.tt of till' Line:. with \'iazma '.!'.!Y'.!c!\\'; Viborg '12K ''2'2K: \'ilna sianding collar but no shoulder straps. and .I\\'/'..!]\\': \'Iadimir 7(;118R: Vite:bsk 15R/ISR: remained ligl\( gree:n with f;l('il1g-coIOllrl~1 collar \'olhynia IY/,,\\'; \'ologda 19B/1gB: \'ol'One:zh and cuffs (some SOIlI'Cl'S indicate light grecn 8e '25R: \\'ilrnanstrand 17G/I ]G: YakulSk turnhacks inSlead of the usual red); breeches wcre rHC:I~IG. whitc in summer and lighl gn'l'll with facingcoloured piping in wimer. Mosl othn delails For tBr'.!, the Cl'cnadier regimellts were: with- resembll:d tIl(' Line: JiigcI"S carrit'd thl' inliulIr'y drawll 10 forlll Ill'W lSI ilnd 'lnd (Grenadier) musket, except NCOs and l:l sharpshootlT'; pCI' Di\'isions; tht, regiments comprising: thesc were as company, who had rifled muskets; a sword-bayonet lollo\l's. with their carliel' divisional wlours in was also carried. In rUO'2 tIle bil'Or'l1 was replact:d by parcl1tlH'ses: a fC'1t 'round hat' r('sembling a shako but with a IJI (,'r/?//fldia DiI,,: Al'ilkchccv (formerly RoslOv. large peak extending around the side:s or 1I1l· cap, 14R1, Ekaterinosla\' (7R), Life 11K). Pavlov including the reM, with iI cockadc and pompon likl: (2Y), SL P('lcrsburg ('2R), Tauridc (3R). l.he infantry shako. Rank distillctions wC'n' as for the 2//d G,.('//(/(Ii" DirT.: Aslrakhan IgR). Fanagoria Line, C);ce:pt that 110 poleanns \\t'n' carril-tl. and (I2R), Kil'\' ( roR), Little Russia (I IY). J\loscow officers had gret'll-pIUllll-t\ l,it;ol'Tls. ~lusicial1s' (8R), Siberia (1IR). dislinctions were lik(' those or the Line. with black. (CallC;L"uS Grt.·nadiers !':wYlrc-nam("d Gcorgin drum hoops and Slicks. Le;\tlu:f\\ork n:main('0); at till" Ii-mIt ortlw waist

Jitger Ulliforllls

wa_~

replaCf'd hy an inr,lI11ry pill(Crn on a shoulder bdt. ,hI' flap Of,1l1' box lwarillg it brass regimenlal numher li'olll 180g. III Septcmber 1807 IheJager eap was rcplaced by an inHlIItry shako: and in Nowrnbcr 18, I] a dark green Lim'-pat tel'tl unirorm was imrodLlced, with red cuffs and wllite collar piped rl'd for all. wilh while brecches in summcr alld dark green piped 1'I.:d in winter. Olliccrs' shabraqucs heoul1c dark green, wilh red stripes hCI\\'{TIl tht: gold bCl'S.

In 1808 shouldcr Sl raps were introd Llccd iII red rOJ" Ihe senior regiment in cach Division, and lighL blue for ,hejunioJ", bearing Lhe divisional number: these changed in 180g, the red becoming yellow. and changed again in 18JO-I~. Sword-bayonets and rifled mllskets were withdrawn in JlIlW 1808. the inrantry muskc' becoming Ihe standard weapon; in November it was ordered that the bayonet should always be carried fixed, as for the Line, Ihough (II a laler dalc at least it appcar~ that scabbards were used. In 1809 Lhe shako's evolution fottowcd Ihal orthe infantry. and collar and cuffs became dark green piped red for all, like the tumbacks. In 181 I the grenade shako badge of the Line was adOpLI.:d. and in February it was ordered Lhat the carabinier companies would wear lhe black plume or Lim· grenadiers, bUl laLcr in Ihe month it was discontinued for tirailleur platoons. The 1812 shako was adopted as by the Line, with the plullle again restricted to carabinier platoons. The newly-named Grenadicr-Jiigers of April 1814 adopled yellow shoulder straps; Ihose previously wearing yellow took light bIlle, and those wilh light blue lOok green piped with rccl. In Augusl 1814 lhe Grenadier~Figers were rc-desigllcrs givcn arc lhosc for 1812. "Ballalion' under Lhe pompOll~Cel1lre indicales lhaL regimental colouring was llsed: 1st Bn., white; 2nd, yellow; 3rd, red. Rr,!!.I, ColfnrlclIJfs

I'Olllj}l)1I Ullin'

DiI,. tw.

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Th" i"'l.r."."i,·" Russian gr"n,..li"r uniform was a popular subj"ec with "","I"l1lporar)' "rli"cs, e"l.c"i"lI)' during ch" occupation of "rane., in ,8'1 '5' Th" ecncral figur., h"r" i" " G",.rdSIll:on-n,,"· ,hI' ""glc 1'1"1,, on th" shako, th" searlec 1"....,1" .. ndp,.,'it;;-w;th:o P:ovto ... G""rd"m,,n III righI, wearing lit... "Id j ..ekct wilhout la,,"''' but wich lh.. 'Guard' loops. H .. "'ellrS """, ..... r 'g:oiu,,,-Irouscrs', while his companion has "·int,,r lcg...·c:or. The fig"r" at left i~ " "r"""ian.

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

"

pink red

ballaliOIl pink red

grey

~;Tl.·Y

IlIrquoisc dark orangt: whilC medium bluc

IW'quoisl' liglll grecn white dark hilI('

~G

yellow

yellow

20

black "prieot

b!:l("k lig-hl gnTIl

straw yellow

" "G 4

~I

II >0

'I

7

1~

13

raspbary lighl uchrt,

light !{1'1'{'11 light J.:n;ell

q

dll'SlllUl

('hC'SUllll

I';

15 t6

Iron grc} chamois violet

.w

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iron grey dlalllois \'iokt bmwn lilae dark gn,Tll red pip(..1:1 whitt" \I hitl' piped red 0I~1I1~1" pipnl \Ihilt· liglll grn"lI l)iIM...1 liL:hl hlue ~Jr;lll }dloll pil)(:d 1"'-'(1 dark bllli' pipc.-d n:d

:!;

n...i

I; IH

19 ~o ~I

'1:! 13 ~I

15

:!8

}dIH\I

19 3(' 31 3'1

IIlrquoisc II hill' r.~pocrf}

1:1

19 19

IJrO\l1I

~3

lilac I\hite II hitl"

~"I

(('(I

13

3 :3

hlack li~ht

,

13

hluc

1'..11

;) ;) 14

rt.-d q baualiOIl 16 hallalioll 18 ballalion 12 batlalioll 17 Ioallalion 17 !>.111.Jlion 18 I>iped ill the cull' ('olour for

black Colla'" \\t"f(' Ih;lu ~n"('n Re~lS. '!-; 3:! , Shoulder ~1r.lP lolHllIing ch:IIIW-d ","\('ral lirn~ bl'lwenl 18n; ;Ind IRI -l. For 181 J. IIIl' "'oluur I\;b }dlO\1 for RI"gb, I 13, III J.O. .13• .15. 17 31. and "9, ;llId light hlul' flll'lhe rt'nl.tilldeT. Di\'i~ional ll11mlM'rs ill 18u for lht bit... rcgillwlIts \lTre: 33nl. I 1111 Di\.; :H lh i. 3:)lh 6. 36th;. 38th 9. 391h 10, IlIlh :,q. "I~l l'l. plld .16, nrd 16, ,I ph J.I. E)lh,~U, '16th J:\. 171h J5. 181h I;. l!Jth ~i, :')oth J.;.

CLlrml UNiforms, 1801-14 Guard unilorllls resl'mhled thost, or lhe Line, Wilh the addition of Gllard distinClions; two Gcrlllanstyle yellol1' 1:lcc loops (fJrlli/:::.i) \\'orn on each side of" \h(.'collar and tllrc(' 011 ('ach culfflap,
35

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_8

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~D I.efr Grenadier abre, lal" .8th "nfUry: 8.1cm 0 eraJJ. ouJd"d brass hilt with grooved bra grip' slightly curved bl de with black I alh I' cabb I'd with b ....d throa., belt-hook and chape, most of the Ian I' covered with black leather.

(""/If""

Infantry officer word a used throughoul the reign of Alexander I. Gill hilt Wilh single knuckle bow, shell guards and urn pOlTU1Jel' rip bound witb silver wi,·e. L ather scabbard with gilt chape and locket filted with a hook for suspension from the b -It-frog. 1l~r:/1/

'Gua.rd loop : the di linctiv in ignia of Guard regiDlenls lwo loop' being worn on each id of the eoUar. From top to bollom: (A) design of ordinary pc/lid' (8) embroidered loop \ orn by offic I' of IbePreobraj n ki R gt.; ( ) rnbroidered loop worn b)' officer of the c.menovski RegJ..; (D) embroidered loop worn by officer of the lzmailo ski Regiment. Cuff-flap loops w re of t.h same design but muc.h sborter.

larg I' version until 180g), and a br~ s double agle hako pial Wel.'; ad pled b I uard r· gjm nl . In 1 0. officl'1 . abandoned lh aiguilclt nd I' civcd paul He. for both hould I all thre regim Ilts ad ptin.~ red houlder lraps. In 181 the. hako rc iv d 01 p~r hin cal" 1 Q. shako cords Ie 'ame whit \ iLh Ila k rang and whi la" J • and mrs'· I'd I "am sil I' in pia f th ir previolls . ilv I' bla k and orange, The uniform in 1812 slill I' mbled that of th Linc, the t 812 kil er ha\ ing a large brass doul leagle pIal(" p I11p ns and \ I'd Knots w r like th Lil c; and < II \ re gn-nadier plum (I' d for '2 ) .1

mu. i ian. wh w I' rclinar' uniform Wilh y 'lIow v.riLh in! rw \'en I' d .trip ). Th 11l'!li/~i w r' I' y II w \"rilh a I' d Lrip I .iLi n d as b forc (n collar I op fc I' whos rank-lace upi d th pa' f Ih 'ncl 10 pl. nIcel' 'habraque W redark lac (gold 1'01' oln rs) and ontinued Lo car th i.. bras' mit.. al '. Th ir m rs ,habraqucs had a whit strip b tw I lh ir t\ 0 Ja bands. h Guard Jagcrs originally I' th light gr II rth Lin Jager' ilh ran ollar and ull:' nd

yello\\' la : lhcir I 'alh n\ ark was black, the 1'1' maJ cartrid J'e: b x bcin . repla 'd b . lhe . houlder-bell ·tyle in 18n, nlike lbe LineJacrcr" th y \ 1" th infanlry . hako 01' lh oth r uard, ",iLh a \ hil pompon inslead or tJJe grenadi r plum . and n badg '. I n I 07 lh 'Y adopl d lark green ullir I'm \ lth eI, rk r 11 011 1', uffs and 'h uldcr :trap' piped orangC', white summer br eche wiLh gait rs and . rk grc n" il1l T br h 5, piped orange, wiLh lcaLh I' ral e boots, \\' apon er lik Lho e or lh Lin Ja 1'.. In 1807 lhe hak recei cd lealher I' in r 'ing and th lull -'a I bad e a 'I' lher uards reQ"imenl.: ",hen the carabinier' w're ronnd in 1811 lhe)' had bla k plume. Red plum. were worn by musicians, and in 181'1 lh n av topped kiwf'r wa. adopled. The Finland regim I1l \ or' th . am' un if" I'm hUl with r·d pipin o ', The Guard Militia battalion wore d rk green \ ilh red piping on lhe brea'l and hould r ,lrap.' lh·ir sir ko b r a opp I' gr nad , with a I' d pompon lor crrenadi l' ellm ror Lirailleur and 0'1' ., ('n r I' .Jag'r.

.

Opelc/Ie/zie (Militia) O('SpiLc e labli hmcm fear' l'armin lh p 'anlr (caus lb· m mori . or Puga hey's err Revoll) Ihe IJ/Joldll'1/ie or militia was I' al d in Novemb l' 180 lo lrain . I'D I I ngin t privat landowners: Ihe rew unit rc I'm d were di 'banded in IU07.Th organi.ali n w p n d I all III I' in 1812, nd 223,361 III n w re enr lied in lhal year thl'1' I' (' leming one f lh principaJ xpr sin nf"nationaJ cmhusia m. Training" a rudim ntar. lhnugh KUl IZOV (ommandin Lbe l. P lersbur mililia in 1812) mad it a: ' mpr h nsive a im allow d, empha i b 'ing pi 'd up n Lh abilit 'to hop and 10 hOOl' rather than to mana U\T , I' ani, ali n \\'a in' h 11'1. " probabl imilar 1 a pI' p 'cd 'NationaJ u rei' or 1811 in \ hjch l\ 0 pik ballaJi ns weI' to b mbined wilh a Ji er ballali n I'm d with mu. k t, plu. one grenadier company per cohort; pike companics W rc Lo be '1 tr ng, Jager 1'20 and grenadicrs 100. The follO\ ing inli:Ultr 'ohor were rc I'm 'd by lhe provjnc~: M em T\" I' and Jarosla five c ell' Kalliga and ladimir. ix ach' imbir'k,

Guard shako plate, ,807 '7' At Lhis period the shako plates of Guard infantry were generall ofLhis p It rn, witb on • 1head lower than the oth r. larger "a 1 \Va' authorised i,n .8'7, though reta'niDg the ame ba ic con.figuration.

1 iazan and lila, fI ur each: Sl. Petersburg 1-: N "gar cI 1_; K Slr m' f( ur and a hall'. Jag I' I' gimenls v ere formed in a lclition b: ~,loscow (lbJ'ee regl .). Tula (1\ ) al d Kaluga l ne) plus t a addiLional pike I' gim n: I y Riazan, The opolcheni \\'a used a a resen' (or lhc regular ome appal' ntly bing Ii lril lit 'd mung the r gular I' 'g-imclll', bOlh to perft m m nialla ki; uch evacuaLin ea ualtie or w rking 'l~ pioneer, and in anion La ex u l Lhc h rp.; irtually Ihe only lactj in \ hi h Lhey w r lrain d. \ 'ilson nOled thaI The very mililia who hnd.iu L join d (and wh , I in arm d 0111 Wilh pikes. lormed a third rank to Ih' ballaUon ) not onl L od a Lead und I' lh cann nad as Ih ir \' t ran comrade, blll harg d Lh salJ ing 'n 'm . \ iLh ardent 1'0 'ity'. \\'illgCll t in rCj )rt'd Ihal the. l. P t I' bur rp w~ Ii Lril uled am( ng lhe regular in October 181_, whclI 'La Lh dclighl of" v I' b dy Ih·s ward I' have f" uO'hl \ ilh . u h good will and courag' thai Ihey ould nIb exceeded by lheir comrades the old soldier:, t n I lh hay distingui.h dth m.c1ve· in I articular manner in columns wiLh the ba OIlCt'. B· Ol1Lra:1. n' habb -I oking miL' " ho wore 'I' ugh gr y c alS wiLhout a collar and c1in loth p, at Leipzig fired a v lIey in the air nel iml11 'dialcJy lu.rn·d on lheir h el., de.pil C'ul'.e)ii and kn L11blow Ii'om Lh i r fli 'CI .. Equipmenl was ruclimentary: il iLiall' only Jag rs and gr nadi rs I ad fir 'arms lh remaindcr pik sorcrlaiv -lik w'apon .. th ·P'LT:burg orp'al I a thad a;o,. nel.h v I., i:u'd at Kutuzov's re'lu l. Mo I \- or a p a, am kC!j(fl/l and eiLh r a rc II

:n

hal or peakcd doth cap. with a haversack or knapsack: later, grey or beige greatcoats wcre used. 5uhr l>hows militiamen wearing peaked caps C{lv(:n:d \\ilh blad oilskin, and the Elbl'rli:'ld \IS, a round fur bal. Their universal insignia was a cross worn on tIl(" cap, inscribed 'Fur Faith and the Czar', latel' copit'd by the Prussia It LO/ldwl'hr. Officers wore illl;ll1t 1') LIlli IOrm. Exam plcs of" regimcntal 51 yles arc shown in Plate 1-1: others included the 'l\'cr corps. \\ hich wt)rt' Illedi um-grc) kajiol/s likc \ loscow, \\ i t h Jiigers, frnm a contemporary print of 1'•• Son, Onl" wl"ars Ihe lighl gr""n coal with I"p"h,. lInolh"r ....ith Ih., 1"p"ls do.. "d, NOle •.h., ""rtridg" box on Ih" fronl of •.h.. w"isl !>cit, •. h .. shorl gail"rs (wnrn also h)' ab.. offic.,r "lief•• iden.ified by his gorg.. I), and .h.. "hor! nn.. or carbin...

red. blue. brown or olT-whi Ie bellS and grey caps like St. Petershurg, bearing a cross badge over the Imperial cypher, and black t'C]uipmeIlL N"ovgorod corps wore a grey Ii'ock coal with grey belt, grey trousers with red stripe, and a grey pcakless C?..flpka Wilh black fur headband and the cross-and-cypher badge. Partisan bands werc formcd during the r812 campaign, often mobs of disord(Tcd pC:lsants who were reponsiblc for the \\'OI'St atrocities against lhe invaders. Some were armed Wilh captured weapons, bUIl1'1any h:ld only agl'iulllUral implclllellls; :; ThisJiiger weal's the restyled shako with cords, lhl' later pattei'll of knapsack, ami till' black leather equipment of theJiigers, illStead of thc white of" the Line. The wintcr legwear iii shown here; white brecches wcre uscd in iiumlllt'r. 'fhe Iilcings \\·orn arc those of I Bog, dark green piped wilh red. rcplacing the red cuffs and white collar which inilially supplanted the old regimenliJl facingcolours. D3: Captain. SeMI/sst/burg Rtgimrnl,jitld Juss. lOoy This depicts the officers' uniform after the introduction of the first shako, before the revised pallern with its leather reinforcing bands; it carries

a gill chain suspended rrom eagle badges at the sides. The COol tee now has the universal red racings, wilh tht.: epault.:tlt.:s ha,'ing a ground or the reginwntal colour (white), !.>caring the Divisional numher (8) in gilt. Also shown is thc 1808-pattern gorget. silver ,,'ith brill edge and cagle, indicative or captain's rank.

DF Prim/~. SmolmJk Rl'giml'lll, flkJ8 This musketeer ,\'eal'S the rcstykd shako with Ic..'l.lher reinforcing bands, and the grenade badge which replaced the cockade in 1808. Hc wears a typically voluminous greatco.'l.t with collar and shoulder siraps coloured as ror the jackel-no longer the InSIX1:tion colour as on prcvious greatco