How soldiers and officers had fun and lived. Russian army at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century

During the reign Alexandra III there were no wars or big battles. All decisions on foreign policy were made personally by the Sovereign. The position of state chancellor was even abolished.
In foreign policy, Alexander III set a course for rapprochement with France, and in building the army, much attention was paid to restoring Russia's naval power. The Emperor understood that the lack of a strong fleet had deprived Russia of a significant part of its great power weight. During his reign, the foundation was laid for armored squadrons instead of light flotillas of corvettes and clippers and the reconstruction of the Black Sea Fleet. The ships were built by Russian engineers, in Russian factories, from Russian materials.
In 1891, the beginning of the Great Siberian Road was laid - a huge step forward was taken towards understanding Russia. It was laid by Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich during a trip to the Far East.
Nicholas I and Alexander II were military men by vocation. They were often seen at divorces, parades, regimental holidays, in meetings, talking with officers, taking events in the regimental family to heart. Alexander III had no passion for military affairs, but he saw and felt that the fate of the Fatherland entrusted to him depended on the state of his armed forces. Russia has only two true allies - its army and its navy, he said, and, realizing this, he steadily strived for the comprehensive development of Russian military power. Under him, royal reviews began to be held less frequently, divorces were completely abolished, aide-de-camp and retinue monograms, generously distributed by Alexander II to the army regiments, became rare and even in the guard, becoming the privilege of a very small circle of people.
The main concern of the Military Department during the reign of Alexander III was to increase the trained reserve of the army by passing large quantity people through its ranks. Under Alexander II, the annual contingent of recruits was 150,000 people; in 1881, 235,000 people were already drafted.
1882 was the year of reform of the Russian cavalry, the so-called dragoon reform. The highest decision was made to convert all Russian regular cavalry to the dragoon style. The beginning was made by renaming the cavalry regiments and changing the uniforms, which the cavalrymen were so proud of, who considered this an encroachment on the very soul of the cavalry - its traditions. The peaks were abolished, which remained only in the Cossack units. The basis of training was foot formation and shooting, and the horse turned from the main weapon of a cavalryman into simply a means of transportation. Conditions of service in the cavalry became unsightly. Many officers left the ranks of the cavalry, especially after the introduction new form- caftans and army jackets of the new pseudo-Russian cut. In general, the quality of Russian cavalry in the 80s and 90s decreased noticeably, and it became closer to the type of riding infantry.
At the end of the 1880s, all Russian artillery was re-equipped with wedge guns of the 1877 model with good ballistic qualities, which hit 4.5 versts. And in 1891, a mountain artillery regiment was formed, in which mountain guns of various types were tested.
In connection with the intensified construction of fortresses on the western border, the composition of the engineering troops has been significantly increased. At the end of the reign of Alexander III, there were 26 battalions (21 engineer battalions, 5 railway battalions).
Emperor Alexander III did not allow conversations about politics in the family circle and did not involve his heir in state affairs at all, considering him too young and believing that there would always be time for this. But on October 20, 1894, the Tsar-Peacemaker passed away. His heir, the young Emperor Nicholas II, was 26 years old. He had just commanded a battalion in the Preobrazhensky Regiment and was soon to receive the rank of general and a regiment, but instead of the regiment he received the entire Russian Empire. There was no one to turn to for advice.

Reign of Emperor Nicholas II

At first, everything remained as during the previous reign, from the ministers to the cut of the uniforms. The state mechanism seemed to have been established for many centuries - the mighty hand of Alexander III could still be felt everywhere. Russia's international position was brilliant, and the Moscow coronation celebrations of 1896, when all of Europe stood in the retinue of the young imperial couple, were the apotheosis of Russian great power.
When he was heir to the throne, Nicholas II received thorough combat training, not only in the guards, but also in the army infantry. At the request of his sovereign father, he served as a junior officer in the 65th Moscow Infantry Regiment. The Tsarevich became acquainted in every detail with the life of the troops and, having become the Emperor of All Russia, paid attention to improving this life: salaries and pensions were increased, and the allowance of soldiers was improved. He canceled the passage with a ceremonial march and run, knowing from experience how difficult it was for the troops.
Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War revealed serious shortcomings in the central command, organization, recruitment system, combat training and technical equipment of the army.
Back in 1895, the post of cavalry inspector general was restored and Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Younger was appointed to it. In ten years - from 1895-1905 - he managed to eliminate the consequences of the unsuccessful reform of 1882 and the Russian cavalry again became the best cavalry in the world.
The artillery began to be re-equipped with a 3-inch rapid-fire cannon of the 1900 model, and the only type of cartridge adopted was shrapnel. The grenade is reserved only for 6-inch mortars. Rearmament was hastily started in 1900, when the Putilov plant produced 1,500 guns, but was then suspended due to some defects that became apparent. These flaws were eliminated in the 1902 model cannon, which carried out the final rearmament in 1903-1904, starting with the border districts. The 1900 model gun with a buffer knurled later turned out to be excellent anti-aircraft gun.
The terms of active service were shortened (in the infantry and field artillery from 5 to 3 years, in other branches of the military from 5 to 4 years, in the navy from 7 to 5 years), the officer corps was rejuvenated; the life of soldiers and sailors (food and clothing allowances) and the financial situation of officers and long-term servicemen were improved.
The reform of 1910 brought all infantry into a homogeneous composition of field troops and introduced mounted fire guns into the corps artillery. In the same year, the Imperial Air Force was created. This was only the first step towards the planned radical reorganization of the Russian army, which significantly strengthened its composition and technical power. This required finance - 500 million rubles. Only in 1913 did the War Department manage to obtain loans to carry out the Great Program within a five-year period. According to this program, by the end of 1917 the Russian army was compared in equipment with the German one. According to the Great Program, our ground armed forces were increased from 1,230,000 people to 1,710,000 people in peacetime. According to the Great Program, 32 infantry regiments and 6 rifle regiments, 26 cavalry regiments were to be formed again, and the artillery was especially strengthened. All this remained on paper. In the spring of 1914, the 4th Finnish Infantry Brigade was formed - all that they managed to implement from the entire grandiose plan. In 1914, the last war of the Russian Imperial Army began.
The First World War lasted more than four years. It became one of the bloodiest and most significant in terms of consequences in the history of mankind.

Simplifying the economy. [About soldiers' uniforms]

In the Russian army of the late 19th century, economic management took the place that in the first half of the century was occupied by the front - shagistics. With minimal funding, the troops were forced to support themselves. It was necessary to build premises, ammunition, dress and feed the troops economically, without expenses from the treasury. Regimental bakeries, regimental shoe workshops, trash shops, saddlers, joiner's and carpenter's artels began to take up all the forces of the troops and all the attention of the commanders.
Until now, the treasury only provided the army with money and material for the provision of linen, construction of clothing, and sewing. boot and so on, but all this was manufactured in the units themselves. Tailor shoemakers were selected from the soldiers, and all of them were given work according to their trade. For this purpose, each unit had its own scum and workshops. This arrangement is inconvenient because it takes away a lot of people. Instead of serving all the years of military service in the ranks, many, and even very many, soldiers spent more than half of their service sitting at the needle, at the dredge and the awl, and almost did not study military affairs at all. Now that the period of military service has been reduced to three years, it is completely impossible to burden the troops with household chores. There's barely enough time to lower ranks We managed to fully learn what we needed to do.
It is necessary that the uniform items shoes , underwear clothing and bedding were released from the treasury in finished form. Taking care of the preparation of these things for the entire army is the direct responsibility of the commissariat. Combat units of the army should be trained only in real military affairs. It is large, complex and difficult and is becoming more and more difficult. Of course, the commissariat will have to create extensive uniform workshops and, in general, expand its business. Without a doubt, all this will cause new expenses for the treasury, but it is necessary to introduce such a change in the military economy.
The commissariat, having taken upon itself the care of the uniform of the army, must especially vigilantly ensure that all things supplied to the troops are of completely good quality. If the commissary will let go of all rot, then is it possible to demand from the soldier that the government cloth And shoes were worn no less than the prescribed period?..
The commissariat should pay special attention to shoes our lower ranks. Durable, lightweight shoes, a good boot fit is the first priority for an infantryman. It’s not for nothing that they say that half the victory is in the legs!.. Rough, heavy boot, and even poorly fitted, is a disaster for a soldier, especially on a campaign. Because of boot Most of all there are laggards. Because of the same shoes, our infantry is somewhat heavy on the move, unable to move easily and quickly. A Russian soldier can generally walk a lot and endure such a transition that no foreigner can do - but give him shoes better!.. And everything in general equipment The Russian warrior needs a makeover. The last war indicated that the uniform of our soldier and equipment poorly designed for combat time. In winter a soldier is cold because he is lightly dressed, and in summer it is hot because he is forced to carry heavy uniforms and shoes .
How to dress a soldier, how to come up with clothes for him so that he feels good at any time of the year, in any weather - it is difficult to decide; This issue is complex, but it needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so that the army is dressed in a practical, comfortable, inexpensive, and beautiful way. The beauty of a soldier's clothing has its own meaning. A soldier must be dressed not only comfortably and neatly, but he must also feel beautifully dressed. He is the hope, the best flower, the protection of the state; it is indecently wretched, ugly dress: it must correspond to his high rank.
Although the commissariat has already begun to prepare clothing for the army and some items of soldier's uniform are already being released from the treasury in finished form, it is necessary that such a change occurs in the military economy as quickly as possible and is completely completed.

Uniforms

Uniform under Alexander III

The beginning of his reign was marked by a complete change appearance troops. The elegant uniforms of the beautiful army of the Tsar-Liberator did not suit the massive figure of the new Sovereign. Alexander III did not take into account aesthetics, demanding national cut and practicality. The new form was introduced in the summer of 1882. The army became unrecognizable. The guards have disappeared helmets with a plume, cap and shako with sultans, spectacular uniforms with colored lapels, ulankas and mentiks, sabers and broadswords. All this glitter was replaced by long-skimmed kaftans with hooks, wide trousers and low caps of fake lamb. In the army infantry, where backpacks were abolished and duffel bags were introduced instead bags. Not everyone liked the new uniform. Some officers, for example, shortened the uniform according to the previous model, others, on the contrary, lengthened it, bringing it closer to the frock coat, while others, following the example of the riflemen, exaggerated the slouch of the trousers, bringing them to the socks boot. As a result, foreign correspondents who saw the Russian army noted that it was impossible to meet two officers dressed in the same way. The soldiers, leaving for the reserve, refused to take uniforms of the new cut, and at their own expense altered them according to the old uniform - always with lapels. The only positive side of this re-uniform, which everyone appreciated, was the introduction of white shirts during the hot season, which until then had been worn only in the Caucasus and Turkestan.
Alexander III looked at the shiny uniforms as if they were expensive tinsel. But in the eyes of officers and soldiers it was far from tinsel. They maintained continuity with past heroic eras.
Already from cap The glorious memories of Shipka and Sheinov were associated, and the legends of Friedland and Borodin went with the lapels and mentiks.

Uniforms of combatant lower ranks

Lower combat ranks of private troops, military departments and military department establishments are entitled to the following uniform items:
1. Uniform without buttons along the side
a) With side pockets: in grenadier and army infantry regiments; in army rifle, line, reserve and serf infantry regiments and battalions; in army dragoon regiments and reserve cavalry; in engineer (grenadier and army), railway and pontoon battalions; in serf sapper companies and personnel teams; in mine, electrical and fortress mine companies.
b) Without side pockets: in artillery: grenadier, field, reserve and reserve cavalry, mountain, serf and local; in artillery, engineering small flying, mortar and military telegraph parks; in local military units; in the gendarme corps (with the exception of the guards gendarmerie personnel team); in the corps of topographers; in the directorates and headquarters of the above-mentioned military units, as well as in the headquarters and control of the army cavalry; in departments and institutions of the military department; in the master engineering teams (Circus. Chief. Pieces, 1882, No. 137).
2. Shortened bloomers, without piping: in all grenadier and army troops, headquarters, departments and institutions of the military department.
3. Overcoat, with a modified collar, without buttons on the side: in all grenadier and army troops, headquarters, departments and institutions of the military department.
4. Tie new cut.
5. Lamb cap .
6. Cap without a visor. Notes: 1) A cap with a visor is required for ensigns, estandard cadets, sergeants majors, senior sergeants and officer servants (Circus. Glav. Sht. 1882 No. 101). -2) Combatant lower ranks of troops, departments and military institutions of the Transcaspian region cap also relies on a visor, which is summer must always be covered with a white cover - in all cases; lamb cap from uniform items has been completely abolished (According to military history, 1891, No. 331), with the exception of the lower ranks of combat units of troops, which have insignia on their headdresses. (According to military history, 1892, No. 76).
7. Modified cap.
8. Officer's wool sash. Sergeant majors and senior sergeants are supposed to have it in all military units, departments and institutions. Note. The white sash for sergeants and sergeants must be made of thread, so that it can be cleaned (Appendix according to military history of 1881, No. 340 and 1882, No. 6 and 325).
9. Papakha- troops of the Omsk, Irkutsk and Amur military. districts.

Drawing of uniforms and equipment of the lower ranks of the army infantry

Outfit drawing
lower ranks
army dragoons

Uniform under Emperor Nicholas II

In the spring of 1908, to raise the prestige of military service, a beautiful uniform was introduced. This uniform with its colored lapels and shakos with a plume (this headdress- in the guard) was close to the examples of the era of Alexander I. Officers (but only in the army infantry) could wear sabers instead of ugly checkers, as before Alexander III. The cavalry sparkled with the splendor of helmets, shakos, tunics, dolmans and mentiks. The new form had opponents who grumbled about waste, but they were not listened to. The question was raised about lengthening uniforms and overcoats, fitting them at the waist, and introducing a pointed cloth helmet-bump.
In 1910, military protective clothing was introduced into the army: the tunic khaki and officer jacket excellent (with a reddish sparkle) matter.

Opinion of General M. Dragomirov

A remarkable feature of a long period of peace: proposals for all sorts of improvements in uniforms, weapons, training, and even in internal military order, grow like mushrooms after rain; unfortunately not edible, but more fly agarics.
Here, whatever you want, that’s what you ask for, starting from piping and tabs (with which others would like to distinguish not just parts, but even small subdivisions of parts), and to muzzles that muffle the sound of a shot. Let's take a look at some of these improvements.
So, one of the projectors wants the uniform of the main command of one of the types of weapons to be different from the uniform of combat officers of the same type of weapon; why this is needed for business, who will benefit from it and in what sense is a mystery, wisdom. Is it really possible that, in the fascination with uniform mania, this projector has not observed that simple property of a person, that, regardless of any form, he recognizes and recognizes another person first and most importantly by a portrait, i.e. by his physiognomy, and not at all by what he is wearing or wearing?
Large units of troops have uniform differences, and this is necessary both for control and to make it easier to understand the masses. But for any of the departments, which are, after all, strong in the system and existing for it, to lay claim to some special uniform!.. One cannot help but remember the late Shchedrin, who proposed, of course in mockery, to give a uniform even to writers with a collar on it it would be embroidered: from one edge to the middle owl-lyre, owl-lyre, and from the middle to the other edge - lyre-owl, lyre-owl, lyre-owl.

Uniform reform of 1907

The Sovereign Emperor, on the 1st day of December 1907, deigned to command:
1) Restore to the guards units of infantry, artillery and sapper the uniforms from the reign of Emperor Alexander II, abolished in 1882, with fastened lapels, and in the regiments of the Life Guards Jaeger, Finland and Volynsk have lapels: in the first green, and in the second and third dark -green.
2) For the army infantry, for all artillery units in the engineering troops (except for the guard and horse artillery), install a double-breasted uniform with 6 buttons, diverging at the top by 4 ½ inches, and on the belt by 3 inches, with a slit at the back, pocket flaps and 4 buttons on them.
3) Bloomers with the uniforms specified in points 1 and 2 remain shortened with high boots. Officers should have both short and long trousers, instead of dark green - black.
4) Assign applied weapons to the serf infantry cloth dark orange instead of the existing brown.
5) The fourth regiments of all infantry divisions and reserve brigades are assigned instrument cloth green instead of dark green.
and 6) In all units of troops, departments and establishments of the military department, both combatant and non-combatant lower ranks, have caps on the band instead of codes, cockades new sample.
About the timing of the introduction of newly approved uniforms, applied cloths and cockades will be announced additionally upon approval of samples and descriptions.
(According to the Main Quartermaster Directorate).

Rules on dress code
1. Division of uniforms.
Dress code is divided into:
A) wartime uniform, and
B) peacetime form.
The peacetime form is divided into:
a) front door,
b) ordinary,
c) official
d) everyday.
Dress code in peacetime, ceremonial, ordinary and service - of two types - for the formation and outside the formation.
Formal and ordinary uniforms, of two types - winter and summer .

His Majesty's Retinue
1.St.E.V.Major General. Winter ordinary form.
2. Adjutant General. Winter dress uniform.
3. Aide-de-camp assigned to the Cossack troops. Casual uniform.
4. Adjutant General assigned to the Cossack troops.
Summer dress uniform.
5. Adjutant General. Wartime uniform.
6. Adjutant General winter service uniform

Generals in general general's uniform
7. Ordinary winter uniform out of formation, for those serving in the field artillery. 8. Winter dress uniform in formation, for those enlisted in the infantry. 9. Winter dress uniform out of formation, for those enlisted in the cavalry. 10. Summer ordinary uniform, out of formation and outside the camp location. 11. Winter ordinary uniform, in formation, for those serving in the cavalry in the Siberian district. 12. Everyday uniform for those enlisted in the infantry when visiting subdepartments

Occasions of wearing uniforms.
A. Wartime uniform.
The wartime uniform is worn by all ranks located in the area of military operations and in units mobilized to be sent to the theater of military operations.
When wearing a military uniform, the following are worn: orders, stars, ribbons and badges;
Not worn:
in service - marching bag with binoculars and officer's uniform bag ,
and out of formation - also a revolver in following cases:
1) At services on the following days: the accession to the throne of the Sovereign Emperor, the Holy Coronation of Their Majesties, the birth and namesake of Their Majesties and the Heir Tsarevich.
2) At church parades.
3) At shows and parades.
4) When the oath of allegiance to service is taken.
5) At meetings of the cavalry councils.
6) In military courts - by the composition of the court presence, the accused and witnesses.

Winter forms
13. Corps of military topographers in everyday uniform.
14. General Staff service uniform in service.
15. General Staff uniform out of formation (general). 16. Military doctors in winter, dress uniform, in formation. 17. Main Directorate of the Military. Min. winter, dress uniform, out of formation. 18. Main Directorate of the Military. Min. casual uniform, "business" uniform

Winter forms
19. Adjutant. The usual form in the ranks for those enlisted in the cavalry. 20. Adjutant. Dress uniform, out of formation, for those enrolled in the Cossack troops. 21. Military Campaign Office of His I.V. dress uniform. 22. Adjutant. Dress uniform out of formation, for those enrolled in the Guards. cuirass item 23. Adjutant. Dress uniform out of formation, for those enrolled in the army infantry.
24. Gendarme Corps dress uniform out of formation

Guard. Infantry and Guard. Foot artillery
25. Winter, ordinary uniform, out of order. 26. Guard. Infantry and Guards Foot artillery. Winter dress uniform in service. 27. Guard. Infantry and Guards Foot artillery. Winter dress uniform is out of order. 28. L.-Gv. 4th Page Imp. Surnames battle. Winter dress uniform, out of formation. 29. L.-Gv. 4th Page Imp. Surnames battle. Summer casual uniform. 30. L.-Gv. 4th Page Imp. Surnames battle. Summer service uniform, in ranks

Guards Cuirassier Regiments
31. Winter dress uniform in equestrian formation.
32. Winter, ordinary uniform out of formation (general here).
33. Court uniform (here Cavalry Guard).
34. Summer full dress uniform, out of formation.
35. Winter, ordinary uniform, on foot.
36. Ballroom (festive) uniform

B. Peacetime form.
a) Dress uniform. The dress uniform is worn:
1) Upon presentation to Their Majesties, Persons of the Imperial Family, General Field Marshals, the Minister of War, the Commander of the Imperial Main Apartment, his boss, inspectors general, heads of main departments and commanders of military districts.
2) When bringing congratulations to the Persons of the Imperial Family.
3) At the Highest exits in the Palace.
4) At ceremonial meetings of Persons of the Imperial Family and commanding officials and during honor guards.
5) At official receptions with foreign ambassadors and envoys.
6) At shows and parades, unless ordered to be in a different uniform.
7) At church parades on unit holidays.
8) When consecrating banners, standards and banner flags.
9) When the oath of allegiance to service is taken.
10) When presented to all direct superiors on the occasion of arrival for service in the unit.
11) On highly solemn days: the accession to the throne of the Sovereign Emperor, the Holy Coronation of Their Majesties, the birth and namesake of Their Majesties and the Heir Tsarevich and on solemn days: the New Year, the first day of Holy Easter and the first day of the Nativity of Christ, in the following cases:
a) at church parades and services (at Bright Matins).
b) on duty, under the Sovereign Emperor,
c) in the inner guards at the Palaces of Their Majesties.
d) when bringing congratulations to superiors,
e) at official meetings, dinners and balls.
12) Those participating in the marriage ceremony: the groom, best men and fathers.
13) At burial: generals, staff and chief officers, both in service and in reserve, and retired, as well as lower ranks.
14) In all cases when an order follows to be in full dress uniform.

Guards Cavalry and Guards. Horse artillery
37. Guards.Reserve.cav.p. winter, ordinary uniform, in service.
38-39. L.-Gv. Dragoon Regiment: winter, dress uniform out of formation and ordinary winter uniform in formation. 40-41. L.-Gv. Horse Grenadier Regiment: winter, ordinary uniform out of formation and winter dress uniform in formation. 42. Guards Con.-Art. Brig. winter, full dress uniform

Guards Hussars and Lancers
43. Guards Hussar, winter, full dress uniform, out of formation.
44. Guards hussar, winter, ordinary uniform in formation. 45. Guards hussar, everyday uniform. 46. Guards Uhlan, winter dress uniform out of formation. 47. Guards Ulan, winter ordinary uniform in service. 48. Guards Ulan, casual uniform

Army Dragoon Regiments
49. Primorye Dragoon Regiments, winter, full dress uniform, out of formation. 50. Dragoon regiments, not former cuirassiers, winter, ordinary uniform, in formation. 51. Dragoon and Caucasian cavalry divisions(here Nizhny Novgorod) winter, full dress uniform, out of formation. 52. Dragoon regiments, not former cuirassiers, winter dress uniform, out of formation.
53-54. Dragoon regiments, former cuirassiers, ordinary uniform out of formation and winter dress uniform in formation

Army lancers and hussars
55. Officer cavalry school winter, full dress uniform, out of formation (in cold weather).
56-57. Army lancers, winter ordinary uniform out of formation and winter ceremonial uniform in line.
58. Army Hussar Regiments winter dress uniform, out of formation. 59. Life Hussar Pavlograd Regiment winter, full dress uniform in formation. 60. Army hussar regiments winter ordinary uniform in formation

b) Ordinary form.
The ordinary uniform is worn;
1) Appearing at the Palaces of Their Majesties and Persons of the Imperial Family in the capitals.
2) Appearing on orders to Persons of the Imperial Family.
3) On guard at the Palaces of Their Majesties.
4) When nailing banners, standards and banner flags in the Highest presence.
5) Appearing on business of service or on their own need to Persons of the Imperial Family, Field Marshals, the Minister of War, the Commander of the Imperial Main Apartment, their boss, inspectors general, heads of main departments and commanders of troops of military districts, as well as high-ranking non-military persons departments.
6) Upon arrival for service in the unit, upon introduction to all officers of the unit, except for direct superiors.
7) At church parades on Sundays and holidays.
8) During official prayer services, during the foundation and launching of military courts, during the foundation and consecration of churches and government buildings, at public ceremonial meetings, acts, examinations and noble elections.
9) Those invited to worship on church holidays, partaking of the Holy Mysteries, those present at the marriage ceremony, recipients from the font and during the removal and burial of the Holy Shroud.
10) In the Imperial theaters and in the noble assemblies of Moscow and St. Petersburg on highly solemn days; accession to the throne of the Sovereign Emperor. The Holy Coronation of Their Majesties and the births and namesakes of Their Majesties and the Heir Tsesarevich.
11) At official meetings, dinners and balls (concerts, masquerades).
12) At the burial of civil ranks of all departments, civilians and ladies.
13) At official funeral services.
14) In all cases when an order follows to be in ordinary uniform.

Cossack units
61. Caucasian Cossack troops dress uniform.
62. Plastun battalion of the Kuban Caucasian army, ordinary uniform. 63. Crimean Cavalry Regiment winter dress uniform in formation. 64. His Majesty's convoy winter dress uniform. 65-66. Army Cossack units wear daily uniforms and winter dress uniforms, in formation.
67. Guards Cossack units winter dress uniform, in formation

Summer forms
68-69. Infantry out of formation is ceremonial (adjutant) and ordinary (outside the camp location).
70-72. Cavalry ordinary uniform in formation, out of formation (in a camp disposition) and service uniform out of formation (outside a camp disposition).
73. Artillery: service uniform, in formation (mountain)

Outerwear
74. Short fur coat, service uniform (combat training in the cavalry). 75-76. Coat, dress uniform and service uniform in formation. 77. Cape, out of order ( summer cavalry dress uniform, in a camp location).
78. Coat out of order. 79. Overcoat out of order

Wartime Uniforms and Camping Equipment
80. Artillery officers. 81. Infantry officers.
82-83. Cavalry officers.
84.Officers of the Cossack troops. Engineer officers

c) Service uniform. The service uniform is worn both in winter and summer:
1) Upon entry into service for training in all cases.
2) When performing guard duty, except for guard duty at the Palaces of Their Majesties.
3) With all official duties (on duty in all military units, departments, institutions and establishments).
4) When representing and appearing to the authorities (except for those named in paragraph 1 of the dress form) and local military authorities;
a) on official business, by order and according to one’s own needs;
b) on the occasion of promotion to the next rank, on the occasion of receiving awards, a new appointment or transfer (in the previous place of service), on the occasion of a business trip or going on vacation or returning back from a business trip or vacation to the unit;
c) while on a business trip or vacation - on the occasion of arrival at the place of business trip and vacation, as well as departure from the place of business trip.
5) When nailing banners and standards not in the Highest presence.
6) At meetings of cavalry councils and councils.
7) In military courts - by the composition of the court presence, the accused, witnesses and, in general, all persons summoned at the court hearing.
d) Casual uniform. Everyday uniform is worn outside of formation and combat dress and in all cases when it is not necessary to be in another uniform.

From the history of the regiments

Infantry

Russo-Japanese War

The sight of a military officer in an area of military operations does not amaze anyone, but I am sure that if an officer from a bivouac found himself on Nevsky Prospekt, he would immediately be surrounded by a crowd and... in the end, not asking who he is and what his merits are, would have raised him “with a bang” as an undoubted hero.
Imagine an officer not in a frock coat or uniform, as you are used to seeing him, but in a gray shirt, often worn directly on the body - otherwise it is difficult to bear the heat. On many jackets from khaki. From under caps The back of the head goes down from the back, also because of the heat. Sometimes an ordinary handkerchief serves as a back cover. High boots, if they were cleaned, it was a long time ago, since on a hike for three days you don’t have to take them off. In rainy weather boots They are decorated to such an extent with molded work of Manchu mud that it is difficult to even judge the shape and size of the leg. The tan on the face is so thick that it never reaches at home, and it is supplemented by an even thick layer of dust. Many officers and even soldiers wear closed edges to protect their eyes from dust. glasses .

Alexandra Feodorovna regiment 1881-1895

Life Guards Ulansky of Her Majesty the Empress
Alexandra Feodorovna regiment 1895-1903

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Archive of Russian uniforms of the 18th-20th centuries.(Part 1)

STAFF OFFICER MINSK INFANTRY REGIMENT

The Minsk infantry regiment was formed on August 16, 1806. In 1812 he was part of the 1st Western Army, in the 2nd Corps of Lieutenant General K. F. Baggovut, in the 4th infantry division. The regiment took part in the battles of Smolensk, Borodino, and Tarutino. The regiment was commanded by Colonel A.F. Krasavin. In the award list for officers who distinguished themselves with courage and bravery in the battle of Borodino, the regiment commander says: “He led the regiment entrusted to him with exemplary fearlessness and, being under strong cannon fire, acted excellently and set an example for his subcommanders with personal courage, and received a strong blow to the leg contusion from the core.” During the foreign campaign, the Minsk infantry regiment took part in many battles, and on March 18, 1813 entered Paris. With a general infantry uniform, the Minsk regiment had a dark color. green shoulder straps with red piping and the number “4”. The uniform of the staff officers did not differ from the combined arms infantry officers' uniform, but the staff officers' epaulettes had thin fringes, the burdocks on their shakos had sparkles, and their boots had spurs and bells. During the campaign, officers wore army-wide gray leggings. Staff officers and adjutants had pistols in their saddle holsters; the holsters were covered with pigs (a kind of decoration made from cloth). The saddle cloths (decorative cloth decoration for a horse's saddle) and ingots for mounted officer ranks were dark green, lined with red cloth and braid.

PRIVATE AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE INTERNAL GUARD

Internal guard is a branch of troops that existed in Russia from 1811 to 1864 for guard and escort duty. In addition to general military duties, the Internal Guard was also assigned special duties in relation to the provincial authorities. It could be used for the execution of court sentences, the capture and extermination of “rebels”, fugitive criminals, the suppression of disobedience, for prosecution, confiscation of prohibited goods, collection of taxes, for maintaining order during natural disasters, etc. Thus, the Internal Guard was police body, but had a military organization. During the Patriotic War of 1812, units of the Internal Guard were used to train recruits and militias and escort evacuated valuables into the interior of the country. As the enemy invaded, they joined the active army. For example, on July 7, 1812, the Mogilev governor Count Tolstoy, having learned about the approach of the French army, “sent 30 people of the Internal Guard to discover the enemy. They reached the first French pickets, captured a Frenchman and received additional information from him.” The next day, the warriors of the Inner Guard bravely met the enemy patrols. The rank and file of the Inner Guard wore gray uniforms with yellow collars and cuffs and gray trousers with leggings. The coattail lapels are gray, with red piping. Instrument metal is white. Non-commissioned officers were dressed in the same way as privates. There is silver braid on the collar and cuffs of the uniform. The difference between the uniforms of the officers of the Internal Guard were dark green uniforms and flaps on the cuffs: the first battalions or half-battalions in each brigade had dark green ones, the second ones had dark green with yellow piping, the third ones had yellow ones.

CHIEF OFFICER AND PRIVATE OF THE LIFE GUARDS OF THE FINNISH REGIMENT

In 1806, in Strelna, a battalion of the Imperial Militia was formed from servants and craftsmen of country palace estates, consisting of five companies of infantry and half a company of artillery. In 1808 it was named a battalion of the Finnish Guard, and in 1811 it was reorganized into a regiment. In 1812, the Life Guards Finnish Regiment was part of the 1st Western Army, 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel M.K. Kryzhanovsky. The regiment took part in the battles of Borodino, Tarutin, Maloyaroslavets, Knyazh, and Krasny. History knows the fate of Private Leonty Korenny. The hero's chest was decorated with the St. George Cross, awarded to him for the courage shown in the Battle of Borodino. In October 1813, in the famous “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig, the 3rd battalion of the regiment was attacked by significantly superior enemy forces and began to fight back. Part of the battalion found itself pressed against a high stone fence. L. Korennoy helped the battalion commander and wounded officers cross it, while he and a handful of brave men remained to cover his retreating comrades. Soon he was left alone and furiously fought off the advancing enemies with a bayonet and butt. In battle he received 18 wounds and was captured. Admiring the courage of the Russian soldier, the French provided the hero with medical assistance and, when his strength returned, he was released as a sign of respect for his valor. For his courage, L. Korennaya was promoted to lieutenant and became the standard bearer of the regiment. He was awarded a special silver medal around his neck with the inscription “For love of the Fatherland.” For military actions in 1812-1814, the Finnish Life Guards Regiment was awarded St. George's Banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." and silver trumpets with the inscription "In reward for excellent gallantry and courage shown in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813."

PRIVATE AND STAFF OFFICER OF THE LIFE GUARDS REGIMENT OF THE PREOBRAZHENSKY REGIMENT

Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment, one of the first two regiments of the Russian Guard (the second was Semenovsky), was formed in the 90s of the 17th century from the amusing troops of Peter I. In 1812, three battalions of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army, commanded by Infantry General M.B. Barclay de Tolly. The regiment commander was Major General G.V. Rosen. On August 26, 1813, the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment was awarded St. George's Banners with the inscription "For the feats performed in the battle of August 18, 1813 at Kulm." Kulm (modern Chlumec) is a village in the Czech Republic, where a battle took place between the allied army (Russian, Prussian and Austrian troops) and the French corps of Lieutenant General Vandamm. At Kulm, the French lost up to ten thousand killed and wounded, 12 thousand prisoners, 84 guns, the entire convoy. The general himself was captured. The allied losses amounted to about ten thousand people. The victory at Kulm inspired the soldiers of the allied armies, strengthened the anti-Napoleonic coalition and forced Napoleon to retreat to Leipzig, where the French suffered a crushing defeat. Uniforms for the guards were made from. the best cloth, they were distinguished by their elegance and fine detailing. No matter how the details of the clothing of the Russian warrior of the Preobrazhensky Regiment changed depending on the time, war conditions, and fashion, the basis was always the tradition of Peter I - a dark green uniform with red trim. From January 1812. In the same year, collars with hooks were introduced for the entire army, the shako became lower than before, with a large “camber” (widened at the top). Staff officers wore epaulettes with thin fringe. The rank and file were armed with 17.7 mm flintlock rifles, with triangular bayonets, a combat range of 300 steps, and half-swords. Staff officers were entitled to pistols and swords.

CHIEF OFFICER AND BOMBARDIER OF THE GARRISON ARTILLERY

Garrison artillery was established by Peter I, who ordered the development of instructions “how to maintain fortresses and where and how much of what artillery should be, and a special anstalt (headquarters).” In 1809, all fortresses were divided into large (20), medium (14) and small (15). In total, on the eve of the War of 1812, there were 69 artillery garrison companies. The artillery garrison depended on weapons that were close combat (anti-assault) and long-range (anti-siege). As a rule, melee artillery predominated. In addition, it was determined to maintain garrison companies not only in all fortresses, but also in places where artillery supplies were stored, as well as in gunpowder factories. Peter I called himself and his comrades bombers, from whom a bombardment company was formed in 1697. In the fortress artillery, bombardiers were appointed by individual commanders. In addition to just bombardiers, there were bombardiers-laborators, bombardiers-gunners and bombardiers-observers. They had to have knowledge of chemistry, keen eyesight, and most importantly, be smart and efficient. The bombardiers had an external difference in their uniform: the braid on the cuffs of the uniform was the same color as the device, and a pipe lad (a brass box with fuses, attached to a narrow white belt). The top epaulettes for officers and shoulder straps for lower ranks are made of black cloth with the company number sewn from yellow cord.

PRIVATE OF ODESSA AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF SIMBIRSK INFANTRY REGIMENT

The Odessa and Simbirsk infantry regiments were formed in 1811 as part of six battalions and included in the 27th Infantry Division of Lieutenant General D. P. Neverovsky. Four active battalions were sent with this division to join the 2nd Western Army, reserve battalions were sent to the 2nd Reserve Corps of Lieutenant General F.F. Ertel. On August 2, 1812, Neverovsky’s soldiers selflessly took the blow of the enemy cavalry near Krasnoye. Having repelled over 40 attacks by the cavalry corps of Marshal Murat and having covered a total of about 26 kilometers, Neverovsky’s 7,000-strong detachment managed to delay the French for a whole day and prevented Napoleon from suddenly attacking Smolensk. The commander-in-chief of the 2nd Western Army, P.I. Bagration, wrote in a report: “...an example of such courage cannot be shown in any army.” The Battle of Borodino was preceded by a stubborn battle for the advanced Russian fortification - the Shevardinsky redoubt. With unsurpassed courage and heroism, about 15 thousand soldiers repelled the onslaught of the forty thousand strong corps of the Napoleonic army. The battle ended to the glory of Russian weapons and played a big role in preparing the Russian side for a general battle. The next day, M.I. Kutuzov reported: “From two o’clock in the afternoon and even into the night, the battle was very hot... the troops not only did not yield a single step to the enemy, but hit him everywhere...” The Odessa battalion was the last to leave the redoubt infantry regiment. Near Borodino, defending Bagration's flushes, the regiment lost two-thirds of its strength. For the campaign of 1812-1814, the Odessa and Simbirsk infantry regiments received military awards: they were awarded the “Grenadier Battle” and signs on their shakos with the inscription “For Distinction.” The Odessa regiment had red shoulder straps with the number “27”, the Simbirsk regiment had dark green with red piping and the number “27”.

ARMY FIREWORKS AND GUARDS HAND ARTILLERY GUNNER

During the Patriotic War of 1812, foot artillery, as a rule, was used in the battle line and to prepare infantry attacks. The guards artillery consisted of two battery, two light companies and two horse batteries; in field artillery - 53 battery, 68 light, 30 horse and 24 pontoon companies. Both foot and horse companies had 12 guns. The artillerymen were divided into fireworks, bombardiers, gunners and gunners. Each artillery garrison had schools in which gunners learned literacy and basic arithmetic. Those who passed the established exam were awarded the rank of bombardier (senior class private). The most capable of them were promoted to fireworks. According to the degree of knowledge, experience and combat distinction, fireworks were divided into four classes. During the Patriotic War of 1812, Russian artillerymen covered themselves with unfading glory; there are countless examples of their courage and heroism. The French officer Vinturini recalled: “The Russian artillerymen were faithful to their duty... they lay down on the guns and did not give them up without themselves.” On the day of the Battle of Borodino, Russian artillery fired 60 thousand shots. The rank and file of the foot artillery wore an infantry uniform, but the collar, cuffs, and coattails were black, with red piping. The shoulder straps of foot artillerymen were red; in army units they had a number or letters made of yellow cord sewn on them, indicating the company's affiliation. A common feature of the uniforms of the entire guard were the buttonholes: on the collar in two rows, on the cuff flaps in three. In the Guards artillery, the shako coat of arms was an eagle with an armature of cannons and cannonballs, in the army - a grenade with one fire and two crossed cannons. The artillerymen were armed only with cutlasses (half sabers).

CHIEF OFFICER AND CONDUCTOR OF THE ENGINEERING CORPS

The engineering troops were intended to use all modern military-technical means in war and perform the most complex and important work (construction of fortresses and fortifications, fortress walls, etc.). In 1802, the “Regulations on the Establishment of the Engineering Department of the Ministry of War” were adopted, which stated that officers were required to study for a year at an engineering school and, after an exam, receive a certificate “with only the knowledge that they will really know thoroughly.” In 1804 such a school was opened. It included a conductor department for training young people to become officers of the Engineering Corps and an officer class, which later became the foundation of the Engineering Academy. Private engineering schools also operated in Vyborg, Kyiv, Tomsk and other cities. They taught mathematics, artillery, mechanics, physics, topography, civil architecture, drawing “situational plans” and geographical maps, and field fortification. In 1812, the “Regulations on the Field Engineering Administration” came into force, according to which fortresses and points of important strategic importance were prepared for defense. In total, there were 62 fortresses on the western border of the Russian Empire. The greatest influence on military operations was exerted by Bobruisk, Brest-Litovsk, Dinaburg and Jacobstadt. The conductors of the Engineering Corps (as cadets) wore the uniform of combat non-commissioned officers of the pioneer regiments. They were armed with cutlasses and pistols. The officers also had a pioneer uniform, but there were silver buttonholes on the collar and cuff flaps, the epaulettes were entirely silver, a hat with a black plume, and dark green trousers instead of gray.

Non-Commissioned Officer and Chief Officer of the 2nd Marine Regiment

In Russia marines founded in 1705, when Peter I signed a decree on the formation of the first regiment in the fleet, consisting of two battalions of five companies each. In total, the regiment had 1,250 privates, 70 non-commissioned officers, and 45 officers. In 1812, the Russian army had four naval regiments and one (Caspian) battalion. The 2nd Marine Regiment was part of the 25th Infantry Division and trained militias in St. Petersburg and Novgorod. The regiment was commanded by Colonel A.E. Peyker. In the fall, the regiment was part of the airborne corps of Lieutenant General F. F. Shteingel. The ten-thousandth corps, embarked on transport ships in Abo, Helsingfors (Helsinki) and Vyborg, was transported to Revel (Tallinn) and Pernov (Pärnu) and in September arrived at the Russian troops of the corps of General I. N. Essen defending Riga. The inhabitants of the city, who had been under siege for more than two months, were liberated from the enemy. On September 15, Steingel's corps approached the Ekau River and attacked Prussian troops. In October, on the eve of P. X. Wittgenstein’s attack on Polotsk, Steingel’s corps arrived in Pridruisk. In December, as part of Wittgenstein's army, he participated in the pursuit of the enemy outside Russia. The naval regiments had a uniform of the Jaeger type, but the piping was not red, but white, the ammunition and shakos were of the grenadier type, but without plumes. The 2nd Marine Regiment had white shoulder straps with the number “25”, which corresponded to the number of the division in which the regiment belonged. Having been formed in the grenadier position, the regiment had a “Grenadier battle”.

Horn player of the 1st Jaeger Regiment

Among the musical instruments used in the Russian army, in addition to flutes, drums and timpani, there were horns, which were used to give signals. The sounds of the horn instilled in the soldiers a mood of solemnity and the significance of the upcoming trials. During the Patriotic War of 1812, both active battalions of the 1st Jaeger Regiment were in the 1st Western Army, 4th Corps of Lieutenant General A.I. Osterman-Tolstoy, in the 11th Infantry Division. The reserve battalion was sent to the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. The regiment was commanded by Colonel M.I. Karpenkov. The 1st Jaeger Regiment distinguished itself in a counterattack against Delzon's 13th Division, which pushed back the Guards Jaegers and captured the bridge across the Kolocha River. The united efforts of the soldiers of this regiment led to the complete defeat of Delzon's division, after which the enemy no longer dared to act against the right wing of our troops and limited himself to only a firefight. M.I. Karpenkov at the head of the regiment, holding the crossing over Kolocha, was severely shell-shocked. For his heroism he was promoted to major general. The regiment fought near Tarutino, drove the enemy to Vyazma, liberated Dorogobuzh, and won a victory at the Solovyova crossing. During his campaigns abroad he took part in many battles. In March 1814 he entered Paris. For the military actions of 1812-1814, the regiment was awarded shako badges with the inscription “For Distinction” and the rank of grenadier. In the general Jaeger uniform, the regiment wore yellow shoulder straps with the number “11”. The uniform of the horn player had the same differences as that of the battalion drummers.

CHIEF OFFICER OF THE GUARDS NAVAL CREW

The Guards Navy crew of four was formed in 1810 from teams of court yachts, training ships of the Naval Cadet Corps, as well as from especially distinguished lower ranks of ship crews. In 1812, the crew was in the 1st Western Army, 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. The Guards naval crew was commanded by Captain 2nd Rank I.P. Kartsev. During the Patriotic War, the crew participated in work to strengthen military camps, including Drissky, build bridges, mine and destroy crossings with explosions. Often companies of the Guards naval crew worked together with pontoon and pioneer companies. In August 1812, the exhausted and tired Russian army continued to retreat east. The speed and order of retreat largely depended on the serviceability of roads and crossings, in which the guards sailors showed considerable participation. For military actions in 1812-1814, the Guards naval crew was awarded the St. George Banner with the inscription “For the feats rendered in the battle of August 17, 1813 at Kulm.” Chief officers of the Guards naval crew (lieutenants and midshipmen) wore a dark green uniform with white piping on the collar and cuffs; gold embroidery on the standing collar without bevels and sleeve flaps depicted an anchor intertwined with cables and rope. Gold braid was sewn along the edges of the collar and cuff flaps. Outside of service they wore a uniform with gold buttonholes on the collar and cuff flaps. The overcoat is army, but with a dark green collar. The weapon of the uniform was a dagger with a white bone handle and a gold device on a black belt belt; in the ranks and on parade they wore an officer's half-saber with a gilded hilt on a black lacquered belt over the right shoulder.

STAFF OFFICER AND NON-COUNTER OFFICER OF THE LIFE GUARDS JEGER REGIMENT

The Jaeger regiments were staffed by hunters who were distinguished by accurate shooting, and often operated independently of the closed formation in places “the most convenient and advantageous, in forests, villages, and on the passes.” The rangers were charged with the duty of “in ambuscades (ambuscades) to lie quietly and maintain silence, always having foot patrols in front of them, in front and on the sides.” Chasseur regiments also served to support the actions of light cavalry. In 1812, the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment was part of the 1st Western Army, in the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel K.I. Bistrom. On the Borodino field, Delzon's division acted against the life rangers. In this battle, even the clerks grabbed the guns of their killed comrades and went into battle. The battle tore 27 officers and 693 lower ranks from the ranks of the regiment. The commander of the 2nd battalion, B. Richter, received the Order of St. for his courage. George 4th grade. In the battle of Krasnoye, the life rangers captured 31 officers, 700 lower ranks, captured two banners and nine cannons. While pursuing the enemy, they captured another 15 officers, 100 lower ranks and three guns. For this operation, K.I. Bistrom received the Order of St. George 4th grade. The regiment had military awards: silver trumpets with the inscription “For distinction rendered in the battle of Kulm on August 18, 1813”, St. George banners with the inscription “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia in 1812.” In addition, he was awarded the “Jäger March” on the horns. With the general Jaeger uniform of the Life Guards, the Jaeger Regiment had officer embroidery in the form of straight buttonholes, piping and shoulder straps of orange color. The huntsmen were armed with somewhat shortened guns with bayonets and fittings with daggers, which were reserved for the best shooters.

CHIEF OFFICER OF THE BELOZERSK INFANTRY REGIMENT

The Belozersky infantry regiment was formed in 1708. In 1812, its two active battalions were in the 1st Western Army, in the 2nd Corps of Lieutenant General K.F. Baggovut, in the 17th Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Lieutenant Colonel E.F. Kern. The regiment fought valiantly at Krasnoye, Smolensk, Dubin, Borodino. The Belozersk people also distinguished themselves in Tarutino, defeating the vanguard of the enemy armies. The Russian army, having organized defense at the turn of the Nara River, not only prevented Napoleon’s troops from entering the interior of the country, but also secured favorable positions for launching a counteroffensive. M.I. Kutuzov wrote: “From now on, its name (the village of Tarutino. - N. I3.) should shine in our chronicles along with Poltava, and the Nara River will be as famous for us as Nepryadva, on the banks of which countless people died hordes of Mamaia. I humbly ask... that the fortifications made near the village of Tarutina, the fortifications that terrified the enemy regiments and were a solid barrier, near which the rapid stream of destroyers, threatening to flood all of Russia, stopped - that these fortifications remain inviolable. Let time, and not the hand of man, destroy them; let the farmer, cultivating his peaceful field around them, not touch them with his plow; let them in later times be sacred monuments of their courage for the Russians...” For the distinction rendered in the battle of Vyazma, regiment commander E.F. Kern was promoted to major general. The battle for Vyazma lasted about ten hours. 37 thousand French and 25 thousand Russians took part in it. The French lost more than six thousand killed and wounded, two and a half thousand prisoners, left the city and hastily retreated to Dorogobuzh. The regiment also took part in foreign campaigns. With the general infantry uniform, the regiment had white shoulder straps with the number “17”.

PRIVATE OF THE 20TH AND NON-COUNTER OFFICER OF THE 21ST JAGER REGIMENTS

In 1812, there were 50 Jaeger regiments in the Russian army. The rangers acted in battle in loose formation, mainly against enemy officers, and were distinguished by accurate shooting. Here is how French artillery major artist Faber du Fort wrote about the courage and heroism of the Russian non-commissioned officer of the Jaeger regiment (the events took place near Smolensk): “Among the enemy riflemen entrenched in the gardens on the right bank of the Dnieper, one in particular stood out for his courage and fortitude. Positioned just opposite us, on the very bank behind the willows and whom we could not silence either by the rifle fire concentrated against him, or even by the action of one specially designated weapon against him, which smashed all the trees from behind which he acted, he still did not let up and fell silent only towards nightfall. And when the next day, while crossing to the right bank, we looked out of curiosity at this memorable position of the Russian rifleman, in a pile of mangled and splintered trees we saw prostrate and killed by a cannonball from our enemy, a non-commissioned officer of the Jaeger regiment, who courageously fell here at his post.” The brigade commander of the 20th and 21st Jaeger Regiments was Major General I. L. Shakhovskoy. Both regiments were in the 1st Western Army, 3rd Corps under Lieutenant General N.A. Tuchkov, in the 3rd Infantry Division. With the general Jaeger uniform, the 20th Regiment had yellow shoulder straps, the 21st Regiment had light blue ones with the number “3”. In April 1813, the 20th Jaeger Regiment was awarded shako badges with the inscription “For Distinction,” and then both regiments were awarded “Grenadier Battle” for their distinction.

PRIVATE AND CHIEF OFFICER 1st PIONEER REGIMENT

Until the 30s of the 19th century, soldiers of the sapper unit of the engineering troops were called pioneers. In 1812, there were two pioneer regiments (24 companies in total), which had an organization similar to the infantry: a regiment of three battalions, a battalion of one engineer and three pioneer companies. The engineering company has the same number of sappers and miners. Companies of the 1st Pioneer Regiment were distributed to the 1st Western Army, Aland and the fortress of Bobruisk, Dinaburg, Riga, Sveaborg. In order to reliably cover the main forces of the retreating Russian army, a common rearguard was formed from the 1st and 2nd armies under the command of Lieutenant General P. P. Konovnitsyn. Near Tsarevo-Zaimishche, the rearguard took part in a battle, the successful outcome of which was facilitated by the courage and resourcefulness of the soldiers of the 1st Pioneer Regiment, who “with the rapid advance of the enemy, under strong shots, with special courage and fearlessness, quickly lit the bridge... thereby stopping the enemy army and through this they saved our retreating rangers, whom the enemy intended to cut off.” The rank and file of the Pioneer Regiment wore infantry-type uniforms, but the collar, cuffs and trims of the coattails of the uniform were black, with red piping along the outer edge. The sleeve valves are dark green with red piping. The coat of arms on the shako of the sapper and miner platoons is the metal Grenada “with three lights”, for the pioneer companies - “with one fire”. The pioneers were armed with pistols and cutlasses. The uniform of the officers was made of a thinner dark green cloth than that of the rank and file. Instead of shoulder straps, they were given epaulettes with a wide single-row coil, covered with foil and a thin mesh in the color of a metal device.

CADET AND STAFF OFFICER OF THE 1ST CADET CORPS

Cadet corps in Russia were educational institutions in which the children of nobles and military personnel received their initial education before becoming officers. The word "cadet" means "junior". The Cadet Corps was first opened in 1732 on the initiative of Field Marshal B. K. Minich. The curriculum included the study of Russian and foreign languages, rhetoric, mathematics, history, geography, jurisprudence, morality, heraldry, drawing, calligraphy, artillery, fortification; physical activities include fencing, horse riding, dancing and soldier exercise (front). The corps prepared young people for not only military but also civilian service. His students in the 18th century were A.P. Sumarokov, M.M. Kheraskov, and his teacher was Ya.B. Knyazhnin. In the 90s, the director of the Cadet Corps was M.I. Kutuzov. Noble children of nine to ten years of age were allowed to be admitted to the Cadet Corps; their stay there lasted almost 10 years. In 1797, the corps was given the name 1st Cadet. Its officers enjoyed seniority of one rank compared to the army. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the uniform of the 1st Cadet Corps was as follows: a dark green uniform, double-breasted, with red cuffs and flaps. Officers have gold ring-shaped embroidery on their collars, flaps and cuffs, while cadets have gold braid. The officers' hats were without braid, with two silver tassels, a cockade, a gold buttonhole and a plume of black feathers. Officers wore gold epaulettes. During reviews and parades, officers and cadets wore shakos with a gilded or copper coat of arms depicting a half-sun and a double-headed eagle. They were armed with swords and cutlasses. Belts were worn over the shoulder: officers under the uniform, cadets - on top. The overcoats are gray with a red collar.

CHIEF OFFICER AND PRIVATE OFFICER OF THE BUTYRA INFANTRY REGIMENT

The Butyrka infantry regiment was established on November 29, 1796. In 1812, both of its active battalions were in the 1st Western Army, the 6th Corps of Infantry General D.S. Dokhturov, in the 24th Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Major I.A. Kamenshchikov. In the Battle of Borodino, the regiment, together with other regiments of the division, distinguished itself at the Raevsky battery. In the archival documents there is an entry: “Major Kamenshchikov, being with the regiment during the battle and commanding it, carried out the instructions given to him with special zeal and activity and during the retreat fought his way through the enemy cavalry with bayonets, despite a saber wound in the left shoulder, arranged with good orders military ranks of the regiment and encouraged them to be brave and fearless, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir with a bow." For Battle of Borodino The Butyrka Regiment was granted the St. George's Trumpets. He also had other awards: St. George’s Banners with the inscription “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812.” and a sign on the shako with the inscription “For Distinction.” With the general infantry uniform, the privates of the Butyrsky Regiment had white shoulder straps with the number “24”. The ammunition consisted of a satchel of blackened calfskin, in the middle of which was attached a tin flask (a traveling metal flask with a screw-on lid in the shape of a glass). The cleaver was worn in a sling over the right shoulder, and the sheath of the cleaver and bayonet were inserted into the blade of the sling. In addition to the shako and triangular hat, the officers wore a cap, the same as that of the lower ranks, but with a visor without a number or letter on the band.

BATTALION DRUMMER OF THE SEMENOVSKY LIFE GUARDS REGIMENT

In 1812, three battalions of the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment were in the 1st Western Army, 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was K. A. Kridener. Possessing exceptional courage, he enjoyed the love and respect of the soldiers. The list of regiment personnel was decorated with the names of P. Ya. Chaadaev, who was promoted to ensign for distinction under Borodin, I. D. Yakushkin and M. I. Muravyov-Apostol, who were with the battalion banner. In the field notes of regimental lieutenant A.V. Chicherin we read: “The dream of giving my life for the heart of the Fatherland, the thirst to fight the enemy, the indignation at the barbarians who invaded my country, unworthy even to pick up the ears of corn in its fields, the hope of soon expelling them, defeating them with glory - all it lifted my spirit.” The life of the young officer was cut short near Kulm. On August 26, 1813, the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment was awarded the St. George Banners with the inscription “For the feats performed in the battle of August 18, 1813 at Kulm.” Each regiment of the Russian army had a regimental, three battalion and 48 company drummers. The drum was a drill, signal and marching instrument. Its sound raised the morale of soldiers before battle, encouraged them on the march, and accompanied soldiers in the parade. The drummers beat marches: “on guard”, “ordinary”, “column”, “funeral”, as well as battle signals: “under the banner”, “honor”, “campaign”, etc. In Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky and Izmailovsky The regiments had their own special battle signal “Guards March”. With the general guards uniform, the Semenovsky regiment had light blue collars with red piping and buttonholes made of yellow braid. The drummers wore special pads on their shoulders—“porches”—matched to the color of their shoulder straps. The sleeves and both sides of the guard uniform were embroidered with yellow braid.

INFANTRY GENERAL

In Leningrad, in one of the halls of the Hermitage, there is the “Military Gallery of 1812”, which has become a kind of monument to the feat of the Russian army and its military leaders. It contains 332 portraits of generals - heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. Story battle path every general is an example of selfless love for the Motherland. In 1812, 14 were killed and died from wounds. Russian generals, seven of them died in the battle of Borodino, 85 generals began serving as lower ranks of the guard, 55 began their combat career in army units. The name of Dmitry Sergeevich Dokhturov, an infantry general, is associated with all the most important events of the War of 1812. In the Battle of Borodino, after P.I. Bagration was wounded, he was appointed by M.I. Kutuzov as commander of the 2nd Army. Skillfully organizing the defense of the Semenovsky Heights, he repelled all French attacks. The great role of D.S. Dokhturov in the battle for Maloyaroslavets, when his corps repelled the attack of an entire enemy division. For this battle, the general was awarded a very rare military award - the Order of St. George 2nd degree. Infantry generals had epaulets with twisted fringes, a twisted buttonhole made of gold or silver cord on their hat, and a plume of black, orange and white rooster feathers. They did not wear shakos or badges. The boots are like those of staff officers. During the campaign they wore general army leggings. Saddle cloths and ingots made of bear fur with St. Andrew's stars on the back corners of the saddle cloth and on the ingots. In 1808, the generals were granted a uniform with embroidery on the collar, cuffs and cuffs in the form of golden oak leaves, which they were required to wear when at the head of several units on a campaign and always in battle.

CHIEF OFFICER OF THE LIFE GUARDS IZMAILOVSK REGIMENT

The Izmailovsky Guards Regiment was formed in 1730. During the Patriotic War of 1812 he was a member of the 1st Western Army, 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel M.E. Khrapovitsky. Under Borodin, the Izmailovites covered themselves with unfading glory. Infantry General D.S. Dokhturov, whom the soldiers called iron for his bravery, reported to M.I. Kutuzov about their feat: “I cannot help but speak with satisfied praise about the exemplary fearlessness shown that day by the Izmailovsky and Lithuanian Life Guards regiments. Arriving on the left flank, they unwaveringly withstood the heaviest fire from enemy artillery; the ranks showered with grapeshot, despite the loss, arrived in the best order, and all ranks from the first to the last, one in front of the other, showed their eagerness to die before yielding to the enemy...” The Life Guards Izmailovsky, Lithuanian and Finnish regiments were built in square on Semenovsky Heights. For six hours, under continuous enemy artillery fire, they repelled the attacks of the cuirassiers of General Nansouty's corps. Every second guardsman remained on the battlefield, the regiment commander was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield. At the end of the battle, Lieutenant General P. P. Konovnitsyn said to the hero: “Let me hug the brave commander of an unparalleled regiment.” For participation in the Battle of Borodino, M. E. Khrapovitsky received the rank of major general. As a reward for courage, the Izmailovsky Regiment was awarded St. George's Banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." The Izmailovites also distinguished themselves in the battle of Kulm, for which the regiment was awarded two silver trumpets. With the general guards uniform, the lower ranks of the Izmailovsky regiment had dark green collars with red piping and buttonholes made of yellow braid. The officers had dark green collars with red piping and gold embroidery, as well as gold epaulettes.

NON-COMBATTLE LIFE GUARDS IZMAILOVSK REGIMENT

Non-combatant lower ranks in the Russian army included clerks, paramedics, artisans, orderlies, etc. According to the “Institution for the management of a large field army” dated January 27, 1812, for carrying the wounded from the battlefield to a dressing station and their subsequent evacuation in each regiment twenty or more non-combatant soldiers with four stretchers and two light lines were provided. Non-combatants had a special uniform: a cap with a visor, a single-breasted uniform with six buttons and gray leggings - all made of gray cloth. There was piping along the band and crown of the cap, the free edge of the collar, cuffs and cuff flaps of the uniform, and along the seams of the leggings. The color of the piping in heavy infantry was red, in light infantry it was dark green, in special troops it was black. Shoulder straps were only worn by the guards (in the infantry - the colors of the caps of combat ranks, in the artillery - red). In addition, in the guard, buttonholes made of yellow braid were sewn on the collar in one row and on the cuff flaps in three rows. Non-combatant non-commissioned officers wore gold braid on their collars and cuffs. Overcoats and knapsacks were of the same cut as those worn by combat troops. Non-combatants were armed only with cutlasses.

CHIEF OFFICER OF THE LIFE GRENADIER REGIMENT

In 1756, the 1st Grenadier Regiment was formed in Riga. The title of Life Grenadier was awarded to him in 1775 for the differences shown in actions against the Turks; in addition, the regiment had two silver trumpets for the capture of Berlin in 1760. During the Patriotic War, two active battalions of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army, 3rd Corps of Lieutenant General N.A. Tuchkov, in the 1st Grenadier Division; reserve battalion - in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. The regiment was commanded by Colonel P.F. Zheltukhin. In August 1812, the regiment took part in the battle of Lubin. This was one of Napoleon’s attempts to draw the Russian army into a general battle in an unfavorable situation for it. The attempt ended unsuccessfully. Of the 30 thousand people of the French army who took part in the battle, about 8800 were killed and wounded; Russian troops, out of 17 thousand people, lost about five thousand. In the Battle of Borodino, both battalions of the regiment were on the extreme left flank, near the village of Utitsa, and repelled all attacks by Poniatovsky’s corps. In this battle N.A. Tuchkov was mortally wounded. Then the regiment took part in the battles of Tarutino, Maloyaroslavets and Krasny. The 2nd battalion fought at Yakubov, Klyastitsy, near Polotsk, at Chashniki, and on the Berezina. For the bravery and courage shown in the Patriotic War of 1812, the regiment was assigned to the guard (as a young guard) and named the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment; he was awarded the St. George Banners with the inscription “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812.” The regiment also took part in foreign campaigns; in 1814, its 1st and 3rd battalions entered Paris. With the general grenadier uniform, the regiment had the letters “L. G.”, on collars and cuff flaps there are buttonholes: for officers - gold embroidery, for lower ranks - from white

MOUNTABLE ARMY FOOT ARTILLERY

In Russia, the word “artillery” came into use under Peter I. By the end of his reign, there were regimental, field, siege and fortress artillery. Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, its types and military organizational structures changed repeatedly. When the Military Land Ministry was formed in 1802, the Artillery Department was one of the first to become part of it. He was entrusted with supplying the army and fortresses with artillery, artillery supplies and horses, setting up gunpowder and saltpeter factories, as well as arsenals, foundries, factories for the production of guns, gun carriages, firearms and bladed weapons. The riders drove the artillery teams and looked after the horses, and also helped the artillery crews in battle. The order of the chief of artillery of the 1st Western Army A.I. Kutaisov on the eve of the Battle of Borodino eloquently characterizes the actions of the Russian artillerymen: “Confirm from me in all companies that they do not withdraw from their positions until the enemy sits astride the guns. By bravely holding on to the closest shot of grapeshot, we can only ensure that the enemy does not give up a single step of our position. Artillery must sacrifice itself; let them take you with the guns, but fire the last shot of grapeshot at point-blank range, and the battery, which will be captured in this way, will cause harm to the enemy, which will completely atone for the loss of the guns.” The artillerymen carried out the orders of their superiors, but the twenty-eight-year-old general himself - a musician, poet, artist, everyone's favorite - died a hero.

CHIEF OFFICER QUARTERMASTER

At the beginning of the 19th century, in the Russian armies there was an auxiliary body of military administration and command, which bore the name “His Imperial Majesty’s Retinue for the Quartermaster Unit.” Its head in 1810-1823 was Prince P. M. Volkonsky. The quartermaster unit was entrusted with such tasks as reconnaissance of the area, drawing up plans and maps, and dislocating troops. Due to the wide range of responsibilities, a variety of people served in it, among them one could meet scientists, foreigners, combat officers, etc. Many of them became outstanding military leaders, for example, Major General K. F. Tol, Major General I . I. Dibich and others. In January 1812, the “Institution for the Management of a Large Active Army” was published; M. B. Barclay de Tolly, P. M. Volkonsky and others took part in its compilation. According to the “Establishment...” the commander-in-chief represented the face of the emperor and was invested with his authority. Under the commander-in-chief there was a staff, at the head of the staff there was a chief. The Office of the Chief of Staff was divided into five main departments, under the authority of the Quartermaster General, the General on Duty, the Chief of Engineers, the Quartermaster General and the Chief of Artillery. The activities of the quartermaster general consisted of conducting the combat activities of troops, movement, assignment, etc. Subordinate to the quartermaster general was such a responsible person as the captain over the column leaders. Quartermaster officers wore the uniform of the Guards Artillery, but without buttonholes, cuffs without flaps, and general officer swords. There is gold embroidery of a special design on the collar and cuffs. On the left shoulder is a gold epaulette with a gold field, on the right shoulder is a shoulder pad twisted from a gold cord with an aiguillette. Scarf, hat, white trousers or gray marching leggings and boots like those of officers in the heavy infantry.

NON-COUNTER OFFICER LIBAV INFANTRY REGIMENT

The Libau Infantry Regiment was formed in 1806 from parts of the Peter the Great Musketeer Regiment. During the Patriotic War of 1812, both of its active battalions (1st and 3rd) were in the 1st Western Army, the 6th Infantry Corps of Infantry General D.S. Dokhturov, in the 7th Infantry Division. The regiment was commanded by Colonel A.I. Aigustov. In August, the 1st and 3rd battalions took part in the battle of Smolensk and, defending the Mstislav suburb, lost nine officers and 245 lower ranks. During the Battle of Borodino, both battalions were in the center of our position, near the Gorkinsky ravine, and repelled several attacks by enemy cavalry. The Libavians covered the retreat of the Russian army from Moscow, fought valiantly for Maloyaroslavets, where the 6th Infantry Corps took the blow of the advanced units of the Napoleonic army and detained them until the main forces of the Russian army arrived. The significance of the Battle of Maloyaroslavets is eloquently evidenced by the words of M.I. Kutuzov: “This day is one of the most famous in this bloody war, for the lost battle of Maloyaroslavets would have entailed the most disastrous consequences and would have opened the way for the enemy through our most grain-producing provinces.” The 2nd battalion was in the defense of Dinaburg (Daugavpils), participated in the battles of Polotsk, in the battles on the Ushach River and at Yekhimania. In 1813, the 1st and 3rd battalions were assigned to the corps that besieged the Glogau fortress (Glogow). Then the Libavians fought as part of the Silesian army and took part in the siege of the Kassel fortress. On January 17, 1814, at the Battle of Brienne-le-Chateau, the Libavians heroically attacked the enemy and, despite heavy fire, drove them out of the village and castle with bayonets. With the general infantry uniform, the Libau Regiment had yellow shoulder straps with the number “7”.

COLUMN LEADER

A column leader is a non-commissioned officer in the quartermaster service preparing to take the officer examination. At the end of the first decade of the 19th century, a society of mathematicians was formed in Moscow. The soul and organizer of the society was N. N. Muravyov. The society established a private school in which column leaders were trained. The school accepted civilians who, after completing the appropriate course, were promoted to officers of His Imperial Majesty's Retinue in the quartermaster unit. Since 1816, the school became a state school. The Moscow school for column leaders trained many future Decembrists: I. B. Abramov. N. F. Zaikin, V. P. Zubkov, P. I. Koloshin, A. O. Kornilovich, V. N. Likharev, N. N. Muravyov. P. P. Titova, A. A. Tuchkova, Z. G. Chernysheva, A. V. Sheremetev and others. The column leaders had the uniform of private guards artillery, but without buttonholes. The shoulder straps are black, with red piping. Cuffs without valves, foot artillery shakos with non-commissioned officers' burrs and red etiquettes, instead of an eagle, a grenade "with three lights", cavalry sabers with a belt were worn according to the officer type, that is, under the uniform, dark green trousers with leggings, as in the guards foot artillery, officer-style overcoats, gray, with a black corduroy collar and red piping. Dragoon-type saddle cloths with black corduroy lining, red piping and a black imperial monogram with red edging.

PRIVATE GARRISON REGIMENT

The garrison service was intended to protect treasuries, warehouses of state property, arsenals, prisons, fortifications, etc. If necessary, garrison regiments participated in restoring public order during popular unrest and during natural disasters. In 1812 there were 44 internal provincial half-battalions, 4 internal provincial battalions, and garrison regiments and 13 garrison battalions. During World War II, garrison regiments participated in the training of recruits. As the Napoleonic army advanced, parts of the garrison regiments joined the active army. Privates of the garrison regiments in the field were entitled to: a dark green uniform (yellow collar and cuffs, maroon lapels), trousers, boots with gauntlets, a shako without an etiquette, an overcoat, a sweatshirt, a sword in a sling with a cleaver blade, a lanyard, a gun with a bayonet, a satchel, a mannerism, a pouch with a sling without a coat of arms. The shoulder straps of all regiments were red with white numbers. On the shoulder straps of the Moscow Garrison Regiment there was the number “19”.

PRIVATE PAVLOVSKY GRENADIER REGIMENT

In 1812, two active battalions of the Pavlovsk regiment were in the 1st Western Army, the 3rd Corps of Lieutenant General N.A. Tuchkov, in the 1st Grenadier Division; reserve battalion - in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. In the Battle of Borodino, 345 soldiers and officers of the Pavlovsk regiment were out of action, commander E. Kh. Richter was wounded. Then the regiment took part in the battles of Tarutino, Maloyaroslavets, and Krasnoye. The 2nd battalion especially distinguished itself at Klyastitsy, “passing through a burning bridge under heavy enemy fire” and knocking the French out of the city with bayonets. The regiment fought near Polotsk, Chashniki and Berezina. For his bravery and courage, he was assigned to the guard (as a young guard) and named the Life Guards Pavlovsky Regiment. He was awarded the St. George Banners with the inscription “For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812.” During the campaign abroad, the regiment took part in many battles, and in 1814 it solemnly entered Paris. The Pavlovsk regiment had a glorious heroic history and special military traditions. People who were tall, brave and experienced in military affairs were selected for the grenadier units. The grenadiers covered the flanks of the combat disposition of the troops. They were armed with smoothbore rifles and half-sabers. On the head they wore a high hat - a "mitre" - with a copper forehead, on it was a chased double-headed eagle. At the beginning of the 19th century, the "mitre" in other regiments was replaced by a shako. But these changes did not affect the Pavlovsk regiment, since Alexander I, wishing to reward “excellent courage, bravery and fearlessness with which the regiment fought during repeated battles”, ordered “so that in honor of this regiment the caps now in it should be left in the form in which it left the battlefield, at least some of them were damaged “May they remain an everlasting monument of excellent courage...”

FLUTE PLAYER AND COMPANY DRUMMER OF THE ORYOL INFANTRY REGIMENT

The Oryol infantry regiment was formed in 1811. During the Patriotic War, its two active battalions were in the 2nd Western Army, the 7th Corps of Lieutenant General N.N. Raevsky, in the 26th Infantry Division. -The regiment was commanded by Major P.S. Bernikov. The Orlovites valiantly participated in the defense of Smolensk. In August 1812, the 1st and 2nd Western Russian armies united near Smolensk. Napoleon's goal to defeat them one by one was thwarted. A bloody battle ensued near the walls of the ancient key city, in which infantrymen of the Oryol regiment took part. Near Borodino, the regiment covered Raevsky's battery and distinguished itself in repelling the first enemy attack. In this fierce battle, the enemy lost about three thousand people. The danger of a breakthrough in the center of the Russian position was eliminated. Another feat of the soldiers of the Oryol regiment is also known: Near the village of Dashkovka, the French captured the regiment's banner from a killed ensign. The non-commissioned officer snatched it from the enemy, but was killed. Then the regiment's adjutant rushed into the thick of the battle, took the banner and carried it out.
Being in the vanguard of the Main Army of Infantry General M.A. Miloradovich, the Oryol Regiment fought at
Maloyaroslavets, Vyazma, near Krasnoye. For valor and courage
he was granted

Camp of Catherine's soldiers. Illustration by Alexander Benois for the publication “Pictures on Russian History.” 1912 Wikimedia Commons

A recruit of the 18th century, after a long journey, ended up in his regiment, which became a home for young soldiers - after all, service in the 18th century was lifelong. Only since 1793 its term was limited to 25 years. The recruit took an oath that forever separated him from his former life; received from the treasury a hat, caftan, cape, camisole with pants, tie, boots, shoes, stockings, undershirts and trousers.

“The Colonel’s Instructions for the Cavalry Regiment” of 1766 ordered that privates be taught to “clean and dry their trousers, gloves, baldric and sword belt, tie a hat, put a casket on it and put on boots, put spurs on them, graft a braid, put on a uniform, and then stand in the required a soldier’s figure, to walk simply and march... and when he gets used to all this, begin to teach rifle techniques, horse and foot exercise.” It took a lot of time to teach a peasant’s son to behave in a smart manner, “so that the peasant’s mean habit, dodging, grimacing, scratching during conversation would be completely exterminated from him.” The soldiers had to shave, but they were allowed to grow a mustache; They wore their hair long, down to their shoulders, and on special days they powdered it with flour. In the 1930s, soldiers were ordered to wear curls and braids.

It took a lot of time “for the peasant’s mean habit, evasion, grimace, scratching during conversation to be completely exterminated from him.”

Coming to a company or squadron, yesterday's peasant community members joined their usual form of organization - a soldier's artel (“so that there were at least eight people in the mess”). In the absence of a developed supply system (and the usual shops and stores for us), Russian soldiers adapted to provide themselves with everything they needed. Old-timers trained newcomers, experienced and skillful ones purchased additional provisions with artel money, repaired ammunition themselves and sewed uniforms and shirts from government-issued cloth and linen, and efficient ones were hired to earn money at billets. Money from salaries, earnings and bonuses was transferred to the artel treasury, at the head of which the soldiers elected a sedate and authoritative “expenditer”, or company leader.

This arrangement of military life made the Russian army of the 18th century socially and nationally homogeneous. The feeling of connection in battle provided mutual assistance and supported the soldier's morale. From the very first days, the recruit was inspired that now “he is no longer a peasant, but a soldier, who, by his name and rank, is superior to all his previous ranks, differs from them indisputably in honor and glory,” since he, “not sparing his life, ensures his fellow citizens, defends the fatherland... and thus deserves the gratitude and mercy of the Sovereign, the gratitude of fellow countrymen and the prayers of spiritual ranks.” The recruits were told the history of their regiment, mentioning the battles where this regiment participated, and the names of heroes and commanders. In the army, yesterday’s “mean man” ceased to be a serf, if he had been one before. A peasant boy became a “sovereign servant” and in an era of constant wars could rise to the rank of non-commissioned officer and even, if lucky, to chief officer. Peter I’s “Table of Ranks” opened the way to obtaining the title of nobility - thus, approximately a quarter of the infantry officers of Peter’s army “came into the public eye.” For exemplary service, a salary increase, a medal, and promotion to corporal and sergeant were provided. “Faithful and true servants of the fatherland” were transferred from the army to the guard, received medals for battles; For distinguished service, soldiers were paid “a ruble” with a glass of wine.

Having seen distant lands on campaigns, the serviceman broke with his former life forever. The regiments, consisting of former serfs, did not hesitate to suppress popular unrest, both in the 18th and 19th centuries. 19th centuries the soldier did not feel like a peasant. And in everyday practice, the soldier got used to living at the expense of ordinary people. Throughout the 18th century, the Russian army did not have barracks. In peacetime, it was billeted in the houses of rural and urban residents, who were supposed to provide the military with quarters, beds and firewood. Exemption from this duty was a rare privilege.

In everyday practice, the soldier got used to living at the expense of ordinary people.

Fusiliers of infantry regiments 1700-1720 From the book “Historical description of clothing and weapons of Russian troops”, 1842

IN short days After resting from battles and campaigns, the soldiers walked with all their might. In 1708, during the grave Northern War The brave dragoons “became billets in the towns. Wine and beer were collected to the wagon train. And some members of the gentry drank too much. They vilified them vehemently, and also beat them in the name of their sovereign. But fornication still appeared. They sent the shwadron gentry into the nooks and crannies of the dragoons. Those children were young and the girls and women had no way out of these whores "Nobles"- nobles (gentry) who served in the dragoon squadron (“shkvadron”). It was these young nobles who did not allow women passage.. Our colonel and worthy cavalier Mikhail Faddeich Chulishov ordered to frighten all those who are impudent and beat them to batogs.<…>And those dragoons and granodiers who came out of small battles - they rested and drank kumis from the Kalmyks and the Tatars, flavored with vodka, and then fought with their fists with the neighboring regiment. Where we reproached, fought and lost our bellies, and where you hovered and lost our lives Svei- Swedes. were afraid. And in the distant shvadron they staggered and barked obscenely, and the colonels did not know what to do. By the sovereign's command, the most malicious were caught and broadcast and fought on goats in batogs in front of the entire front. And our two from the squadron also got the dragoon Akinfiy Krask and Ivan Sofiykin. They were hanged by the neck. And Krask’s tongue fell out from being strangled, so much so that it even reached the middle of his breasts, and many were amazed at this and went to look.” “Service notes (diary) of Simeon Kurosh, captain of the Shvadron of the Dragoons, Roslavsky.”.

And in peacetime, the station of troops in any place was perceived by ordinary people as a real disaster. “He debauchs his wife, dishonors his daughter... eats his chickens, his cattle, takes his money and beats him incessantly.<…>Every month, before leaving their quarters, peasants must be gathered, questioned about their claims, and their subscriptions taken away.<…>If the peasants are unhappy, then they are given wine, they get drunk, and they sign. If, despite all this, they refuse to sign, then they are threatened, and they end up falling silent and signing,” General Langeron described the behavior of soldiers at the post in Catherine’s time.

The soldier debauchs his wife, dishonors his daughter, eats his chickens, his cattle, takes his money and beats him incessantly.

Officers had the opportunity for more refined leisure, especially abroad. “...All the other officers of our regiment, not only young but also elderly, were engaged in completely different matters and concerns. In almost all of them, the zealous desire to be in Konigsberg stemmed from a completely different source than mine. They had heard enough that Koenigsberg is a city that is filled with everything that can satisfy and satiate the passions of the young and those who spend their lives in luxury and debauchery, namely: that there were a great many taverns and billiards and other places of entertainment in it; that you can get anything you want in it, and most of all, that the female sex in it is too susceptible to lust and that there is a great many young women practicing dishonest needlework and selling their honor and chastity for money.
<…>Before even two weeks had passed, to my great surprise, I heard that there was not a single tavern, not a single wine cellar, not a single billiard room and not a single obscene house left in the city that was no longer known to our gentlemen officers. but that not only are they all on the list, but quite a few have already made close acquaintances, partly with their mistresses, partly with other local residents, and have already taken some of them into their household and to support them, and all of them have already drowned in all the luxuries and debauchery “,” recalled former lieutenant of the Arkhangelsk infantry regiment Andrei Bolotov about his stay in Koenigsberg, conquered by Russian troops in 1758.

If “insolence” was allowed towards the peasants, then in the “front” discipline was demanded from the soldiers. Soldiers' poems from that era truthfully describe everyday drill:

You go on guard - so woe,
And when you come home, it will be doubled
On guard we suffer,
And when you change, it’s learning!..
The guards are holding their suspenders,
Expect stretching during training.
Stand up straight and stretch
Don't chase the pokes,
Slaps and kicks
Take it like pancakes.

Violators of the “Military Article” were subject to punishment, which depended on the degree of the offense and was determined by a military court. “Witchcraft” was punishable by burning, and desecration of icons was punishable by beheading. The most common punishment in the army was the “spitzruten chase,” when the offender was marched with his hands tied to a gun between two ranks of soldiers, who struck him on the back with thick rods. Those who committed an offense for the first time were led through the entire regiment 6 times, those who committed an offense again - 12 times. They were strictly questioned for poor maintenance of weapons, for deliberate damage to them, or for “leaving a gun in the field”; Sellers and buyers were punished for selling or losing their uniforms. For repeating this offense three times, the perpetrator was sentenced to death. Common crimes for servicemen were theft, drunkenness and fights. Punishment followed for “inattention in formation”, for “being late in formation”. Anyone who is late for the first time “will be taken on guard or for two hours, three fuzes each.” Fusee- smoothbore flintlock gun. on the shoulder." Those who were late for the second time were subject to arrest for two days or “six muskets per shoulder.” Whoever was late for the third time was punished with spitzrutens. Talking in the ranks was punishable by “deprivation of salary.” For negligent guard duty in peacetime, a soldier faced “serious punishment”, and in wartime - the death penalty.

“Witchcraft” was punishable by burning, and desecration of icons was punishable by beheading.

Escape was especially severely punished. Back in 1705, a decree was issued according to which, of the three fugitives caught, one was executed by lot, and the other two were sent to eternal hard labor. The execution took place in the regiment from which the soldier fled. Flight from the army was widespread, and the government had to issue special appeals to deserters with a promise of forgiveness for those who voluntarily returned to duty. In the 1730s, the situation of soldiers worsened, leading to an increase in the number of fugitives, especially among recruits. Punishments were also increased. The fugitives faced either execution or hard labor. One of the decrees of the Senate in 1730 reads: “Which recruits learn to run abroad and are caught, then from the first breeders, for fear of others, be executed by death, hanged; and for the rest, who are not factory owners themselves, to inflict political death and exile to Siberia to do government work.”

A common joy in a soldier's life was receiving a salary. It was different and depended on the type of troops. The soldiers of the internal garrisons were paid the least - their salary in the 60s of the 18th century was 7 rubles. 63 kop. per year; and the cavalrymen received the most - 21 rubles. 88 kop. If you consider that, for example, a horse cost 12 rubles, then this was not so little, but the soldiers did not see this money. Some went to debts or into the hands of resourceful sutlers, and some went into the artel cash register. It also happened that the colonel appropriated these soldiers’ pennies for himself, forcing the rest of the regiment officers to steal, since they all had to sign the expense items.

The soldier squandered the rest of his salary in a tavern, where sometimes, in a dashing spirit, he could “scold everyone obscenely and call himself a tsar” or argue: with whom exactly is Empress Anna Ioannovna “living prodigally” - with Duke Biron or with General Minich? The drinking buddies, as expected, immediately informed, and the chatterbox had to make the excuse of “immense drunkenness,” which is usual in such matters. At best, the matter ended in “persecution of spitsruten” in the native regiment, at worst - with a whip and exile to distant garrisons.

The soldier could argue with whom exactly Empress Anna Ioannovna was “living fornicatingly”—with Duke Biron or with General Minich?

Bored at the garrison service, the young soldier Semyon Efremov once shared with a colleague: “Pray to God that the Turk rises up, then we’ll get out of here.” He escaped punishment only by explaining his desire to start a war by saying that “while he’s young, he can serve.” The old servicemen, who had already smelled gunpowder, thought not only about exploits - among the “material evidence” in the files of the Secret Chancellery, the conspiracies confiscated from them were preserved: “Strengthen, Lord, in the army and in battle and in every place from the Tatars and from the various faithful and of unfaithful tongues and from all kinds of military weapons... but make me, your servant Michael, like a leftist by force.” Others were driven by melancholy and drill, like private Semyon Popov, to terrible blasphemy: the soldier wrote with his blood a “letter of apostasy,” in which he “called upon the devil to come to him and demanded wealth from him... so that through that wealth he could leave military service.”

And yet the war gave a chance to the lucky ones. Suvorov, who knew the psychology of a soldier very well, in his instruction “The Science of Victory” mentioned not only speed, pressure and bayonet attack, but also “holy booty” - and told how in Izmail, which was taken by a brutal assault under his command, soldiers “divided gold and silver by the handful " True, not everyone was so lucky. To the rest, “whoever remained alive - to him honor and glory!” — the same “Science of Victory” promised.

However, the most big losses The army suffered not from the enemy, but from illness and lack of doctors and medicines. “Walking around the camp at sunset, I saw some regimental soldiers digging holes for their dead brethren, others already burying, and others completely buried. In the army, many people suffer from diarrhea and putrid fevers; when officers settle into the kingdom of the dead, for whom during their illness they are certainly better looked after, and for money they are used by doctors with their own medicines, then how can soldiers who are left in illness to the mercy of fate not die and for which medicines are either dissatisfied or Not available in other regiments at all. Diseases are born from the fact that the army stands in a square, a quadrangle, that excreted feces, even though the wind blows a little, spreads a very bad smell through the air, that the estuary water, being consumed raw, is very unhealthy, and vinegar is not shared with the soldiers, which On the shore, dead corpses are visible everywhere, drowned in the estuary in the three battles that took place there,” this is how army official Roman Tsebrikov described the siege of the Turkish fortress of Ochakov in 1788.

The majority suffered the usual soldier’s fate: endless marches across the steppe or mountains in the heat or mud, bivouacs and overnight stays in the open air, long evenings in “winter apartments” in peasant huts.

Returning to the beginning of the 19th century, it is useful to become familiar with the general structure of the army that had developed by that time and the differences that existed between its individual units. And there were many parts that differed from each other both in status and in the traditions that had developed within them.

The most privileged part of the army was the guard, but the guard also had regiments that differed from one another. The first regiments of the empire were the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky infantry regiments, and they could be distinguished from the rest of the army not only by their banners, but also by their uniforms and other distinctive signs.

For example, on the uniform of the general of the Preobrazhensky Regiment in 1800 there was only one twisted epaulette on the left shoulder. And all the officers of the guards infantry wore white leggings, the same camisole, and a caftan of their traditional green color. Since 1796, the officer scarf- it was worn around the waist like a belt. The boots were above the knee and had no cuffs; on the hands were white gloves with cuffs. An obligatory attribute of an officer was a cane.

It began its existence in 1807 militia, which played a certain role in the fight against Napoleonic army. It was formed on a voluntary basis, but had its own form - a caftan with decorations and a cocked hat with a green feather.

On the day of the holiday dedicated to the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (November 30), the guards had a special tradition: they put on a cloak-epancha, fastened in front of the neck, and appeared at the holiday ceremony with a hat in hand.

The guardsmen of the Semenovsky regiment had their own tradition: during the campaign they put a cover on their shako, unfastening the plume, and marched in overcoats and certainly with backpacks. Officers on a campaign wore a frock coat, gray traveling trousers, a satchel and a cocked hat facing forward. This tradition was maintained until 1815.

During the Patriotic War, it became customary to replace the uniform headdress capless cap. Such a cavalry guard's peakless cap with a red band can be seen in the portraits of M.I. Kutuzov.

Of the infantry regiments, the most notable were the Life Jaeger regiments, created in 1812. These were light infantry, dressed in black tailcoat-cut uniforms with a high stand-up collar. The pants were shoe-length, loose, with four-stripe stripes. The huntsman's shako had a bent bottom. The Chasseur regiments performed well in the war against Napoleon.

Guards cavalry regiments appeared in the first half of the 18th century; their list was opened by the Horse Guards Regiment, formed in 1730. Then his uniform consisted of a red camisole and a cornflower blue caftan with a red collar and cuffs; the uniform was trimmed with gold braid. In 1807, the Horse Guards were dressed in a white uniform and leggings, and a helmet appeared on their heads.

Since 1796, there were regiments of Life Hussars and Life Cossacks. The life hussars of 1808 were dressed in red dolman and mentik, blue chakchirs (chikchirs, chekchirs) - narrow trousers length to the heel - and boots with cuffs under the knee. The officer's uniform was decorated with gold braid; the ordinary hussar's braid was yellow. Since 1812, the hussars were put on a shako of the general army type, decorated with a white plume. The plume with a black top meant that its owner was a non-commissioned officer. On the shako, in the form of a cockade, was a double-headed eagle. The hussar's saber was worn on a belt belt.

Uhlan regiments became part of the army in 1809. The lancers wore a blue uniform, but the collar and cuffs of each regiment were of a different color. Epaulets were also of different colors - each regiment had its own. All lancers, regardless of rank, wore epaulettes, but only staff officers had epaulettes with fringes. The lancers of the Life Guards had gold epaulets. The main weapon of the lancer was the pike, which had vane- small

flag (pennant). In addition to the pike, the lancers were armed with pistols.

In the 1820s, an Ulan regiment consisting of Poles appeared in the Russian army; They were called that way - Polish lancers. They were distinguished by epaulettes without fringe and collars without sewing.

The regiment of cavalry guards was formed by Paul I in 1800, replacing the personal guard of the reigning persons, created back in 1724. Now it was heavy cavalry. The cavalry guards brought a cuirass, a helmet with a horsetail crest, and were armed with a broadsword. Chief officers had silver epaulettes without fringe. The cavalry guard's legs were covered in white suede leggings and black boots above the knees. White gloves completed the outfit. In this outfit, Alexander I met with Napoleon when signing the Peace of Tilsit.

The variety in details, colors and finishes of uniform suits was so great in all branches of the military that it is simply impossible to list them without fear of missing something. For example, about the uniforms of the Guards Fleet it would be little to say that they had embroidery at the collar with images of anchors and epaulettes with fringe, but to describe the uniform and insignia of all naval ranks it would take more than one more page to fill. One must assume that this is not necessary: the picture seems quite clear. If we take into account that changes were constantly made to the uniform, and sometimes completely new types of uniforms were introduced, then anyone who wants to have full information on this issue one should refer to works on the history of military costume.

Of the state laws that marked the beginning of the 19th century, one had to do with the rights of the military class on an equal basis with other sectors of society. Its importance cannot be overestimated: it was a law passed in 1801 prohibiting torture during judicial investigations.

The social life of the officer, who spent most of the day on duty, intensified during ball season - from Christmas to Lent. At this time there was no such day when

in several houses there would be no ball or party, and all that was left was to choose where to go first. Even married officers with children spent only the first days of the holidays in the apartment with their families, and then went to balls - it was necessary to maintain social connections in society.

Etiquette required the officer to appear at social balls in a ceremonial uniform with epaulettes and short culottes. Only at the home ball could one attend in uniform. The remaining etiquette rules were preserved from previous times and stemmed from the Charter.

However, the Charter is one thing, but real regimental life is something else, and here, from the very beginning of the 19th century, there were very noticeable trends towards changes in the lifestyle of the officer class. Firstly, the army consisted of units that differed in status. Even the privates of privileged regiments had some advantages over the soldiers of the land army; Moreover, they were very noticeable among officers. Representatives of hereditary noble families, whose fathers and grandfathers had high ranks, considered themselves heirs to the merits of their ancestors; The belief spread among them that it was they who provided the state with a service by serving in the army, and not the state who gave them its trust, instructing them to defend the country from enemies. Moreover, service in privileged regiments began to be expensive: an officer’s salary did not cover the costs of a lifestyle that was considered worthy of, say, a guards officer. In addition, the experience of the wars with Napoleon contributed to the development of free-thinking: it was clear to everyone that the true dignity of a person is not measured by the step assigned to him in the “Table of Ranks.” By the way, the “Table”, which was reprinted several times during the 18th and 19th centuries, survived until 1917, although its text was edited several times and, in the end, changed very significantly; The only thing that remained unchanged was the division of all ranks into 14 classes. But already at the beginning of the 19th century, in many cases it was treated

only as a historical value, without considering it necessary to comply with all the rules of behavior prescribed by it.

Of course, the Patriotic War of 1812 had the strongest influence on officers’ self-awareness. Military successes associated with the manifestation of personal initiative fed the officer’s pride and sense of responsibility for his behavior not only under enemy fire, but also in everyday life. So the idea of personal officer's honor came to replace the articles of the disciplinary order. Moreover, there were many examples of how going beyond “regularity” brought professional success and personal glory - just remember Denis Davydov.

All this gradually affected both military etiquette and the behavior of officers. They began to allow themselves, at first, harmless liberties: for example, many grew beards, following the example of partisan commanders, introduced features into clothing that were not provided for by the regulations, began to use strollers instead of riding horses, etc. Further - more: constant stay in the regiment began to seem like a boring formal duty, and friendly meetings in restaurants became fashionable; playing cards has become such a massive hobby that if it were necessary to apply the penalties established for the game to the players, half of the officer class would be sitting in the guardhouses. Circles of young officers began to form for friendly meetings; but if among the most educated officers from these circles grew secret societies, nourished by civic ideas, in most cases the matter was limited to daring revelry. During the time of Alexander I, it became fashionable to go to taverns on Krestovsky Island, in Ekateringof; “Red Zucchini” was very popular. After a night of revelry, troikas carrying companies of officers scattered from these establishments in all directions, and by nine o'clock in the morning the revelers showed up for the morning divorce at their place of duty. If complaints came about their excesses in restaurants, they never refused to admit their guilt: it was believed that

lying is shameful, while rowdying is not so shameful. The regimental guardhouse was often crowded with arrested officers.

This was especially true for cavalry units. As the famous F. Bulgarin wrote, the cavalry youth did not want to know any authority other than their regimental (well, the highest military, of course): not having a real armed enemy in front of them, they fought with the police, civilian officials and in general with everyone who was outside the military class. Although rioting was subject to punishment, it was believed that it did not stain the officer’s honor. Duels between officers of the same regiment over any trifle occurred at every step, and such duels only strengthened comradely friendship: after them they usually drank champagne and made peace in the most cordial way. They fought with swords or sabers, and only in case of a blood grievance did they shoot. If one of the officers was offended or slandered by someone from the outside, several fellow soldiers immediately stood up for the comrade, because it was believed that the regiment was one family, the members of which had everything in common: honor, time, work, money, entertainment and danger. It happened that the entire regiment collected money to pay off the monetary debt of one of the officers, in the firm belief that he would return the collected amount at the first opportunity; and often the money was not even given as a loan, but in the form of irrevocable friendly assistance. An officer who betrayed his word or did not stand up for a comrade at the right moment was refused to be tolerated in the regiment. Daredevils and rakes were not very afraid of the consequences of their antics: the squadron “father-commander”, as a rule, was himself punished more than once in his youth, even demoted to soldiers for duels or other noisy pranks, and therefore understood the youth. He was the real (and only) authority in the regiment; its doors were always open, and the table was laid, although not very elegantly, for all the officers of the regiment. And the stricter the requirements to comply with statutory norms of behavior, the more unpredictable the officer’s amusements became: young energy demanded a way out

limits of the parade drill. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, the cavalrymen lived stupidly and cheerfully. Even in drills they brought dandy and subtleties not approved by the regulations. But they did not tolerate self-important and arrogant people in their midst, especially those who boasted of knowledge French: they said about such people that, for the sake of greater harmony, they wear tight corsets, which prevent them from breathing, for which they were nicknamed “wheezers.”

Even in the Guards regiments, many of whose officers belonged to high society - Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, Kavalergardsky - did not shy away from adventures of a dubious nature in the first quarter of the 19th century, choosing for them, as a rule, prestigious summer cottages on the outskirts of St. Petersburg.

The officers of these regiments, maintaining a tone of refined politeness and aristocratic courtesy in their social relations with each other, during their escapades somewhere on the Chernaya Rechka organized mass entertainments like the clownish “champagne funeral”: a black coffin with bottles of this wine was accompanied as torchbearers, with singing “Rest with the saints,” young cavalry guards dressed in black epanches with flair. Another elite regiment had a dog that was trained at the word “Bonaparte!” rush at the specified random passerby and rip off his hat. If news of such pranks came to the attention of the Grand Duke, and from him it became known to the emperor, the matter could end in being sent to active army to the Caucasus, sometimes even with deprivation of the officer rank.

If this epidemic of irrepressible daring captured even the most elite regiments in the 20s, then what can we say about the life hussars, life lancers, life rangers and life Cossacks, for whom reckless youth was considered the main feature of a true military spirit. Among them, a very popular pastime was called “cooking burnt food.” A group of young bachelor officers gathered in the apartment of one of them and sat in a circle on the carpeted floor. In the center of the circle of mouth

There was a “bonfire” - a hearth on which sugar in rum was burned in some vessel. Each one had a pistol in his hand, the primer of which was sealed with sealing wax. As soon as the sugar dissolved, champagne was poured into the vessel and then the “burnt drink” was poured into pistols. This glorious hussar drink was drunk from them. The drinking was accompanied by regimental musicians, trumpeters and songwriters playing musical instruments, who were treated to the remains of the drink. Often the commander also took part in such a company; If the drunken commander reprimanded one of his drinking buddies, even ordered him to go to the guardhouse, the offender had no thought of resisting. He left, and the drinking party continued with the same merriment. However, drinking alone was strictly condemned and was extremely rare.

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Description of the presentation by individual slides:

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GROUND FORCES The Armed Forces of the Russian Empire - the regular army and navy, as well as irregular troops (Cossacks), created by the first Russian Emperor Peter I. Initially, the Armed Forces of the Russian Empire were formed on the basis conscription(compulsory service for nobles also remained until the mid-18th century),

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Until the middle of the 19th century, there were no particularly serious changes in the structure of the armed forces. In the second half of the 18th century, huntsmen appeared in the infantry, and cuirassiers and hussars appeared in the cavalry. Flintlock guns of the 1753 model were adopted. By 1853, the size of the army was about 31 thousand command personnel, 911 thousand regular soldiers, 250 thousand irregular troops.

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ARMED FORCES The Armed Forces (ground - Army) were divided into field (army branches - infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineering troops), local (garrison troops and land militia) and irregular (Cossacks, Kalmyks and some other steppe peoples) troops. In 1722, a system of ranks (ranks) was introduced - the Table of Ranks, and the “gens” and “types” (in the modern sense) of the armed forces were determined: ground forces, guards troops, artillery troops and the navy.

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Russian infantry during the Patriotic War of 1812 was divided into line (or heavy), light, naval and garrison. The line infantry (L Guards Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, Izmailovsky, Litovsky regiments, grenadier and infantry regiments) were dressed in dark green double-breasted closed uniforms with tails and a stand-up collar. In l-guards. The Lithuanian regiment's uniforms had red lapels. In the remaining regiments, the uniforms were fastened with six rows of buttons. The coattails were trimmed with red instrument cloth. The collars and cuffs of uniforms in the infantry and grenadier regiments were made of red instrument cloth.

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The main weapon of the infantry soldier was a smoothbore flintlock rifle with a triangular bayonet and a red shoulder strap. There was no single model of guns; in one regiment there could be up to forty calibers of weapons. The problem of supplying soldiers with appropriate ammunition was solved simply: each soldier cast round lead bullets for himself, fortunately this could be done right at the stake, and equipped himself with paper cartridges. For cartridges, bullets, gunpowder, as well as gun accessories, there was a bag made of black hard leather with a copper plaque (coat of arms) on the lid, which was worn at the back on a bleached belt over the left shoulder. On his left side, the soldier wore a half-saber (cleaver) in a brown leather sheath. The hilt and scabbard frame were made of yellow copper. The half-saber hung from a bleached leather sword belt over his right shoulder. The bayonet sheath tilted on the same sword belt. A lanyard was attached to the hilt. By the color of the lanyard, one could determine whether a soldier belonged to a particular company. The warrior's personal belongings were placed in a leather backpack. During the warm season, while camping, the overcoats were rolled up into a roller (roller), and this roller was worn over the shoulder. In this case, the backpack was put on over the roll. Some of the small things were worn behind the lining of the shako.

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1. Battalion drummer of the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment (musician of non-commissioned officer rank); 2. Flute player of the Oryol Infantry Regiment. The positions of musicians were often filled by teenagers, the sons of soldiers. 3. Company drummer of the Oryol Infantry Regiment. 4. Horn player of the 1st Jaeger Regiment. Musician of non-commissioned officer rank.

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The internal guard is a branch of the military that existed in Russia from 1811 to 1864 for guard and escort duty. In addition to general military duties, the Internal Guard was also assigned special duties in relation to the provincial authorities. The rank and file of the Inner Guard wore gray uniforms with yellow collars and cuffs and gray trousers with cuffs. The lapels were gray with red piping. Instrument metal - white. Shako - like in garrison regiments. Non-commissioned officers were uniformed in the same way as privates. There was silver braid on the collar and cuffs of their uniform. Non-commissioned officers were uniformed in the same way as privates. There was silver braid on the collar and cuffs of their uniform. The difference between the uniforms of the officers of the Internal Guard were dark green uniforms and flaps on the cuffs: the first battalions or half-battalions in each brigade had dark green ones; the second ones are dark green with yellow edging, the third ones are yellow.

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RUSSIAN CAVALRY HEAD OFFICER OF THE LIFE GUARDS HORSE REGIMENT. The Life Guards Horse Regiment was formed in 1730. During the Patriotic War of 1812, 4 active squadrons of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army in the 1st Cuirassier Division of Major General N.I. Depreradovich. The regiment was commanded by Colonel M. A. Arsenyev (after being wounded in the Battle of Borodino, he was replaced by Colonel I. S. Leontyev). The reserve squadron was located in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein in the combined cuirassier regiment.

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Russian cuirassiers in 1812 wore a uniform (tunic) made of white tarpaulin (a type of thick cloth). In full dress they wore elk trousers and over the knee boots, while on the march they wore gray leggings hemmed with black leather leis. The lower ranks had instrument (regimental) color piping on their tunic along the armhole seam. The cuirasses were black, with red edging, the scales of the clasps for the lower ranks were black, and for the officers they were gilded. Leather helmets, black, with a copper forehead.

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PRIVATE OF THE GLUKHOVSKY CURRASSIER REGIMENT The Glukhovsky Cuirassier Regiment was formed in 1796 from the carabineer regiment of the same name. During the Patriotic War of 1812, 4 active squadrons of the regiment were in the 2nd Western Army in the 2nd Cuirassier Division of Major General I.M. Duka, the reserve squadron was in the reserve corps of Lieutenant General F.V. Saken. The regiment was commanded by Colonel S.I. Tolbuzin 1st. Each cuirassier was armed with a broadsword, two pistols of the 1809 model, and a cavalry rifle of the 1809 model without a bayonet (caliber 17.7 mm, firing range 250 steps). 16 people in the squadron had cavalry rifles of the 1803 model (caliber 16.5 mm).

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Timpani player of the cavalry guard regiment The cavalry guard regiment was formed in 1800. During the Patriotic War, 4 active squadrons of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army in the 1st Cuirassier Division of Major General N.I. Depreradovich, the reserve squadron was in the combined cuirassier regiment in the corps of Lieutenant General P . X. Wittgenstein. The cavalry guards (with the general cuirassier uniform) had a red collar and cuffs of the uniform, with guards buttonholes, yellow braid for lower ranks, and silver thread for officers. Instrument metal is white. The saddle cloths and ingots are red, with a black border, lined with yellow braid for lower ranks, and silver braid for officers. The timpanist, like the staff trumpeter in the guards regiments, had non-commissioned officer rank and a helmet with red bristles. The tunic was embroidered with yellow and red checkered braid

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PRIVATE OF THE LIFE GUARDS OF THE DRAGOON REGIMENT The Life Guards Dragoon Regiment was formed in 1809 “on the model of the dragoons of the Napoleonic Guards.” During the Patriotic War, 4 active squadrons of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army in the 1st Cavalry Corps of Lieutenant General F. P. Uvarov, the reserve squadron was part of the combined guards cavalry regiment in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. The Life Guards Dragoon Regiment was commanded by Colonel P. A. Chicherin. The Life Guards Dragoon Regiment had a dark green uniform with red lapels of the Uhlan type. The shoulder straps, collar, cuffs and lapels are red. There are guards buttonholes on the collar and cuffs. The instrument metal is yellow.

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HUSSAR GENERAL Generals who were in the cavalry and who were chiefs of hussar regiments wore, as a rule, the uniform of their hussar regiment. The general's hussar uniform differed from the officer's in more complex and delicate sewing. General's order ribbons were worn over the dolman.

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PRIVATE OF THE LIFE GUARDS HUSSAR REGIMENT The Life Guards Hussar Regiment was formed in 1796. During the Patriotic War, 4 active squadrons of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army in the 1st Cavalry Corps of Lieutenant General F. P. Uvarov, the reserve squadron was in the consolidated guards cavalry regiment in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. The guards hussars were commanded by Colonel N. Ya. Mandryka, and after he was wounded near Vitebsk, the regiment was led by Colonel Prince D. S. Abomelik. Russian hussars in 1812 wore a dolman (a jacket embroidered with cords), a mentik (a jacket worn on the left shoulder and trimmed with fur, white in the army regiments, black in the guards), chakchirs (gray leggings on the march) and short boots with black wool tassels. The shako was a general army shako, but with a white plume, a burdock and an instrument metal etiquette. The saddle cloths had sharp back corners and a jagged lining trimmed with cord. On the left side of the hussar hung a bag - a tashka.

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PRIVATE OF THE NAZHINSKY HORSE REGIMENT On December 17, 1812, a number of dragoon regiments were transferred to other types of cavalry: 2 - to cuirassier regiments, 1 - to hussars, 8 - to uhlans. In addition, “they formed a new kind of cavalry regiments” - horse rangers. The Nizhyn Dragoon Regiment was also transferred to the Horse Regiment. During the Patriotic War, he fought at Ostrovno and Vitebsk as part of the 1st Cavalry Corps under Lieutenant General F.P. Uvarov. In the Battle of Borodino he took part in a cavalry raid by Uvarov’s corps on the enemy’s left flank. The equestrian regiments received a dark green double-breasted uniform and leggings of the same color with double stripes. The piping on the stripes and on the dark green collar, as well as the shoulder straps, lapels and pointed cuffs of the Uhlan type were instrument-colored (turquoise in the Nezhinsky regiment). The shako of the horse huntsmen was of the hussar type, but with a light green etiquette and burdock. The instrument metal in all shelves is white. The saddle cloths remained those of the dragoons.

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OBER OFFICER OF THE LIFE GUARDS ULAN REGIMENT The regiment was formed in 1809. During the Patriotic War of 1812, 4 active squadrons of guards lancers were in the 1st Western Army in the 1st cavalry corps of Lieutenant General F. P. Uvarov, the reserve squadron was part of the combined guards regiment in the corps of Lieutenant General P. Kh. Wittgenstein. The commander of the Life Guards Uhlan Regiment was Major General A. S. Chalikov. Russian lancers in 1812 wore a dark blue uniform: lapels, cuffs and piping along the back seams in instrument color; Garous (woolen) epaulets of instrument metal; dark blue leggings, with double-row stripes; hat with a square top and a white plume.

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CAVALRY GENERAL Cavalry generals wore a general general's uniform. The plume on the hat is white, with black and orange feathers. Generals in the heavy cavalry were given swords, while generals in the light cavalry were given sabers.

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SENIOR ADCUTANT Adjutants of the Russian army - officers attached to the commander to carry out official assignments or carry out staff duties - at the beginning of the 19th century were divided into battalion, regimental, senior, or general. A distinctive detail of the senior, or general's, adjutants was a twisted half-epaulet on the right shoulder, turning into an aiguillette. The semi-epaulet and aiguillette were made from cords of gold or silver thread, depending on the instrument metal of the regiment where the adjutant was posted. The aiguillette was a necessary accessory for adjutants, not only as an element of distinction, but also as a handy tool for making notes, because lead pencils were inserted into its tips.

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CAVALRY OFFICERS IN VITSMUNDIRS of the Cavalry Guard, Her Majesty's Life Cuirassier and Pavlograd Hussar Regiments) Outside the ranks, cuirassier and hussar officers, in addition to the general army frock coats, wore a uniform, which was a ceremonial uniform. Cuirassier officers had a white, infantry-style uniform with a collar and cuffs, like a tunic. The hussars' uniform was dark green, and the collar and cuffs were the same as on the dolman. Along with their uniform, the hussars wore dark green chakchirs without embroidery with short boots. In the Cavalry and Life Guards Cavalry Regiments, the uniform was red. In the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, the collar and cuffs are dark blue, with gold buttonholes, and in the Cavalry Guards - black velvet, with silver buttonholes; Moreover, the buttonholes were also embroidered on the sleeves and tails. In addition to the red, in these regiments there was a second uniform - dark green: in the Cavalry Regiment - with a black collar and cuffs and silver buttonholes, in the Life Guards Horse collar and cuffs were dark green, with red piping and gold buttonholes.

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HORSEMAN OF THE NOBLE SQUADRON Officer cadres in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century were replenished mainly by graduates cadet corps. But these corps could not provide the army with a sufficient number of officers, especially since the constant wars in which Russia was involved at that time led to a large loss of officers. The riders of the Noble Squadron, with the general dragoon uniform, had red shoulder straps, coattail lapels, cuffs and cuff flaps, facings and imperial monograms on their saddle cloths. There was dark green piping along the collar and cuff flaps. The instrument metal was yellow.

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FIREWORKS OF THE GUARDS HORSE ARTILLERY The Guards horse artillery in 1812 consisted of two horse batteries. Each of them had 4 quarter-pound "unicorns" and 4 six-pound guns. Horse batteries were assigned to the 1st Cuirassier Division. They were commanded by Colonel P. A. Kozen. Guards horse artillery was brought into action only at the decisive moments of the battle. Guards horse artillerymen wore a dark green uniform with red shoulder straps and stripes on their leggings. The collar, cuffs, and lapels are black, with red piping. There are yellow guard buttonholes on the collar and cuffs. A shako, as in the Guards Foot Artillery, but with a white plume.

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