HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION
OF THE CLOTHING AND
ARMS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY
A.V. VISKOVATOV
Compiled by HIGHEST direction
Saint Petersburg, Military Typography Office, 1853
[TRANSLATED BY MARK CONRAD, 1998]
VOLUME 11
Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Horse-Jägers, Hussars,
Lancers, Gendarmes, and the Train
1801-1825
Aleksandr Vasilevich Viskovatov (pronounced vi-sko-VA-tof), born 22 April (4 May New Style) 1804, died 24 February (11 March) 1858 in St. Petersburg, Russian military historian. He graduated from the 1st Cadet Corps and served in the artillery, the hydrographic depot of the Naval Ministry, and then in the Department of Military Educational Institutions. He mainly studied historical artifacts and the histories of military units. Viskovatov’s greatest work was the Historical Description of the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Army (Vols. 1-30, St. Petersburg, 1841-62; 2nd ed. Vols. 1-34, St. Petersburg - Novosibirsk - Leningrad, 1899-1948). This work is based on a great quantity of archival documents and contains four thousand colored illustrations. Viskovatov was the author of Chronicles of the Russian Army (Books 1-20, St. Petersburg, 1834-42) and Chronicles of the Russian Imperial Army (Parts 1-7, St. Petersburg, 1852). He collected valuable material on the history of the Russian navy which went into A Short Overview of Russian Naval Campaigns and General Voyages to the End of the XVII Century (St. Petersburg, 1864; 2nd edition Moscow, 1946). Together with A.I. Mikhailovskii-Danilevskii he helped prepare and create the Military Gallery in the Winter Palace. He wrote the historical military inscriptions for the walls of the Hall of St. George in the Great Palace of the Kremlin. (From the article in the Soviet Military Encyclopedia.)
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Changes in the clothing and armaments of Army Cavalry, from 1801 through 1825:
I. Cuirassier Regiments
II. Dragoon Regiments
III. Horse-Jäger Regiments
IV. Hussar Regiments
V. Lancer Regiments
VI. Gendarme Regiment
VII. Army Train
Notes to the Illustrations.
Notes.
__________________
1401. Privates. HIS MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1811.
1402. Private. HIS MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1811.
1403. Private. HIS MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1803.
1404. Noncommissioned Officer. HER MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1803.
1405. Trumpeter. Order Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1803.
1406. Staff-Trumpeters. Yekaterinoslavl and Little Russia Cuirassier Regiments. 1802-1803.
1407. Kettledrummer. Glukhov Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1803.
1408. Officer. HIS MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1803.
1409. General. HER MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1803.
1410. Officer. Order Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1803.
1411. Officers. Yekaterinoslavl Cuirassier Regiment. 1802-1803.
1412. Officers. Little Russia and Glukhov Cuirassier Regiments. 1802-1803.
1413. Cuirassier helmets from 1803 to 1808.
1414. Noncommissioned Officer and Trumpeter. HIS MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1803-1808.
1415. Officer. HER MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1803-1811.
1416. Cuirassier helmet of the Order Regiment, established in 1808.
1417 Field-grade Officer. Order Cuirassier Regiment. 1808-1811.
1418. Company-grade Officers. HIS MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment and HER MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment. 1808-1811.
1419. Noncommissioned Officer. Astrakhan Cuirassier Regiment. 1812-1814.
1420. Company-grade Officer. Novgorod Cuirassier Regiment. 1812-1817.
1421. Cuirass. Established in 1812.
1422. Noncommissioned Officer and Private. Pskov Cuirassier Regiment. 1813-1814.
1423. Private. Starodub Cuirassier Regiment. 1813-1814.
1424. General. Yekaterinoslavl Cuirassier Regiment. 1813-1814.
1425. Field-grade Officer. Yekaterinoslavl Cuirassier Regiment. 1814.
1426. Company-grade Officer and Noncommissioned Officer. Order Cuirassier Regiment. 1814.
1427. Private. Glukhov Cuirassier Regiment. 1814-1825.
1428. Noncommissioned Officer. Yekaterinoslavl Cuirassier Regiment. 1818-1825.
1429. Company-grade Officer and Staff-Trumpeter. Little Russia Cuirassier Regiment. 1818-1825.
1430. Privates. Riga and Starodub Dragoon Regiments. 1802-1803.
1431. Private. Kharkov Dragoon Regiment. 1802-1803.
1432. Noncommissioned Officer. Tver Dragoon Regiment. 1802-1803.
1433. Fahnen -Junker. St.-Petersburg Dragoon Regiment. 1802-1803.
1434. Trumpeter. Smolensk Dragoon Regiment. 1802-1803.
1435. Staff-Trumpeter. Pskov Dragoon Regiment. 1802-1802.
1436. Kettledrummer. Vladimir Dragoon Regiment. 1802-1803.
1437. Officer. Taganrog Dragoon Regiment. 1802-1803.
1438. Officer. Orenburg Dragoon Regiment. 1802-1803.
1439. Company-grade Officer. Kazan and Irkutsk Dragoon Regiments. 1802-1803.
1440. Privates. Courland and Pereyaslavl Dragoon Regiments. 1803-1806.
1441. Private. Livonia Dragoon Regiment. 1803-1806.
1442. Private. Finland Dragoon Regiment. 1806-1808.
1443. Private. Tiraspol Dragoon Regiment. 1806-1808.
1444. Private. Nezhin Dragoon Regiment. 1806-1808.
1445. Private. Serpukhov Dragoon Regiment. 1806-1808.
1446. Field-grade Officer. Arzamas Dragoon Regiment. 1807-1811.
1447. Private. Serpukhov Dragoon Regiment. 1808-1811.
1448. Private. Taganrog Dragoon Regiment. 1811.
1449. Noncommissioned Officer. Vladimir Dragoon Regiment. 1811.
1450. Company-grade Officer. Borisoglebsk Dragoon Regiment. 1811.
1451. Company-grade Officer. Kinburn Dragoon Regiment. 1812-1814.
1452. Company-grade Officer. Kinburn Dragoon Regiment. 1814-1817.
1453. Noncommissioned Officer. St.-Petersburg Dragoon Regiment. 1817-1817.
1454. Helmet, Kiev Dragoon Regiment (with badge for distinction). 1814-1817.
1455. Private. Kargopol Dragoon Regiment. 1816-1817.
1456. Privates. Kazan, Narva, and Moscow Dragoon Regiments. 1816-1817.
1457. Noncommissioned Officers. Smolensk and Finland Dragoon Regiments. 1816-1817.
1458. Company-grade Officers. Ingermanland and Courland Dragoon Regiments. 1816-1817.
1459. Noncommissioned Officer. Nizhnii-Novgorod Dragoon Regiment. 1816-1817.
1460. Cartridge pouch for Dragoon Officers (established in 1817).
1461. Privates. Moscow and Kargopol Dragoon Regiments. 1817-1820.
1462. Privates. Kinburn and Little Russia Dragoon Regiments. 1817-1825.
1463. Noncommissioned Officer. Kazan Dragoon Regiment. 1817-1820.
1464. Privates. Riga, Tver, and Finland Dragoon Regiments. 1817-1825.
1465. Trumpeters. St.-Petersburg and Kharkov Dragoon Regiments. 1817.
1466. Trumpeter. Smolensk Dragoon Regiment. 1817.
1467. Staff-Trumpeter. Courland Dragoon Regiment. 1817.
1468. Company-grade Officer. Ingermanland Dragoon Regiment. 1817-1820.
1469. Field-grade Officers. Narva and Riga Dragoon Regiments. 1817-1820.
1470. Field-grade Officer. Mitau Dragoon Regiment. 1817-1825.
1471. Trumpeter. Mitau Dragoon Regiment. 1817-1825.
1472. Noncommissioned Officer. Mitau Dragoon Regiment. 1819-1825.
1473. Private. Mitau Dragoon Regiment. 1820.
1474. Privates. Livonia Horse-Jäger Regiment 1813-1814.
1475. Noncommissioned Officer. Pereyaslavl Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1813-1814.
1476. Noncommissioned Officer. Seversk Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1813-1814.
1477. Trumpeter. Dorpat Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1813-1814.
1478. Staff-Trumpeter. Tiraspol Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1813-1814.
1479. Company-grade Officers. Chernigov Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1813-1814.
1480. Field-grade Officer and Company-grade Officer. Arzamas and Nezhin Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1813-1814.
1481. Private and Company-grade Officer. Livonia Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1814.
1482. Horse-Jäger Shakos.
1483. Privates. Seversk, Chernigov, and Nezhin Horse-Jäger Regiments. 1816-1819.
1484. Private. Dorpat Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1816-1817.
1485. Noncommissioned Officers. Pereyaslavl and Livonia Horse-Jäger Regiments. 1816-1817.
1486. Field-grade Officer and Company-grade Officer. Arzamas and Tiraspol Horse-Jäger Regiments. 1816-1817.
1487. Company-grade Officer. Tiraspol Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1817-1825.
1488. Trumpeter. Livonia Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1817-1819.
1489. Horse-Jäger musket, confirmed in 1817.
1490. Private. Tiraspol Horse-Jäger Regiment. 1819-1820.
1491. Private. Mariupol Hussar Regiment. 1802-1803.
1492. Private. Mariupol Hussar Regiment. 1802-1803.
1493. Hussar Shako. 1802-1803.
1494. Noncommissioned Officer. Pavlograd Hussar Regiment. 1802-1803.
1495. Noncommissioned Officer. Aleksandriya Hussar Regiment. 1802-1803.
1496. Trumpeter. Sumy Hussar Regiment. 1802-1803.
1497. Staff-Trumpeter. Akhtyrka Hussar Regiment. 1802-1803.
1498. Officer. Yelisavetgrad Hussar Regiment 1802-1803.
1499. Officer. Olviopol Hussar Regiment. 1802-1803.
1500. Officer. Izyum Hussar Regiment. 1802-1803.
1501. Private and Trumpeter. Belorussia Hussar Regiment 1803-1809.
1502. Noncommissioned Officer's Shako. Belorussia Hussar Regiment. 1803-1809.
1503. Officer and Staff-Trumpeter. Odessa Hussar Regiment. 1803.
1504. Trumpeter. Aleksandriya Hussar Regiment. 1803-1809.
1505. Officer and Trumpeter. Grodno Hussar Regiment. 1806-1809.
1506. Private. Lubny Hussar Regiment. 1807-1809.
1507. Company-grade Officer. Lubny Hussar Regiment. 1808-1810.
1508. Private. Mariupol Hussar Regiment. 1809-1811.
1509. Privates. Pavlograd, Aleksandriya, and Sumy Hussar Regiments. 1809-1811.
1510. Noncommissioned Officers. Akhtyrka and Yelisavetgrad Hussar Regiments. 1808-1811.
1511. Trumpeter. Olviopol Hussar Regiment. 1809-1811.
1512. Staff-Trumpeters. Izyum and Belorussia Hussar Regiments. 1809-1811.
1513. Officers. Grodno and Izyum Hussar Regiments. 1809-1811.
1514. Officer and Privates. Grodno Hussar Regiment. 1812-1817.
1515. Officer and Noncommissioned Officer. Irkutsk Hussar Regiment. 1813-1817.
1516. Hussar shako (with badge for distinction). 1814.
1517. Field and Company-grade Officers. Olviopol Hussar Regiment. 1814.
1518. Company-grade Officer and Noncommissioned Officer. Aleksandriya Hussar Regiment. 1814-1819.
1519. Rifle. 1814-1825.
1520. Hussar shakos, established in 1817, with badge for distinction.
1521. Trumpeter. Grodno Hussar Regiment. 1817-1819.
1522. Officer and Private. Izyum Hussar Regiment. 1817-1819.
1523. Privates. Sumy and Grodno Hussar Regiments. 1820.
1524. Noncommissioned Officers. Grodno, Lubny, and Izyum Hussar Regiments. 1820.
1525. Trumpeters. Pavlograd and Yelisavetgrad Hussar Regiments. 1820.
1526. Staff-Trumpeter. Irkutsk Hussar Regiment. 1820.
1527. Officers. Akhtyrka and Aleksandriya Hussar Regiments. 1820.
1528. Field-grade Officers. Mariupol and The Prince of Orange's Hussar Regiments. 1820.
1529. Company-grade Officers. The Prince of Orange's Hussar Regiment. 1820-1825.
1530. Comrade and Ranker. Tatar-Lithuanian Regiment. 1801-1803.
1531. Officer. Tatar-Lithuanian Regiment. 1801-1803.
1532. Officer and Comrade. Polish Horse Regiment. 1801-1803.
1533. Shapka Headdresses. 1803-1808.
1534. Comrades. Tatar and Lithuanian Horse Regiments. 1803-1806.
1535. Privates. HIS HIGHNESS THE TSESAREVICH CONSTANTINE PAVLOVICH’S Lancer Regiment. 1803-1806.
1536. Noncommissioned Officer. HIS HIGHNESS THE TSESAREVICH CONSTANTINE PAVLOVICH’S Lancer Regiment. 1803-1806.
1537. Trumpeter and Staff-Trumpeter. HIS HIGHNESS THE TSESAREVICH CONSTANTINE PAVLOVICH’S Lancer Regiment. 1803-1806.
1538. Officer. HIS HIGHNESS THE TSESAREVICH CONSTANTINE PAVLOVICH’S Lancer Regiment. 1803-1806.
1539. Noncommissioned Officer. Polish Horse Regiment. 1805-1806.
1540. Privates. HIS HIGHNESS THE TSESAREVICH CONSTANTINE PAVLOVICH’S Lancer Regiment. 1806-1808.
1541. Noncommissioned Officer. HIS HIGHNESS THE TSESAREVICH CONSTANTINE PAVLOVICH’S Lancer Regiment. 1808 and 1809.
1542. Noncommissioned Officer. Polish Horse Regiment. 1808-1811.
1543. Trumpeter. Tatar Lancer Regiment. 1808-1811.
1544. Staff-Trumpeter. Lithuania Lancer Regiment. 1808-1811.
1545. Private and Field-grade Officer. Volhynia Lancer Regiment. 1808-1811.
1546. Officer's and Soldier's Shapka Headdresses. Tatar Lancer Regiment. 1808-1811.
1547. Privates. Chuguev Lancer Regiment. 1808-1811.
1548. Company-grade Officer of the Yamburg Lancer Regiment. Noncommissioned Officer of the Orenburg Lancer Regiment. 1812-1814.
1549. Trumpeter. Izyum Lancer Regiment. 1812-1814.
1550. Private and Staff-Trumpeter. Siberia Lancer Regiment. 1812-1814.
1551. Company-grade Officer. Vladimir Lancer Regiment. 1812-1814.
1552. Field-grade Officer and Private. Taganrog Lancer Regiment. 1812-1814.
1553. Private. Serpukhov Lancer Regiment. 1812-1814.
1554. Company-grade Officer and Private. Serpukhov Lancer Regiment. 1814-1818.
1555. Company-grade Officers. Serpukhov Lancer Regiment. 1815-1818.
1556. Private. 1st Bug Lancer Regiment. 1817 and 1818.
1557. Private and Noncommissioned Officer. 2nd Bug Lancer Regiment. 1817 and 1818.
1558. Trumpeter. 3rd Bug Lancer Regiment. 1817 and 1818.
1559. Private and Company-grade Officer. 4th Bug Lancer Regiment. 1817 and 1818.
1560. Private. Polish Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1561. Noncommissioned Officer. Tatar Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1562. Trumpeter. Lithuania Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1563. Field-grade Officer. Volhynia Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1564. Soldier's and Officer's Shapka Headdresses. Volhynia Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1565. Private and Officer. 1st Ukraine Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1566. Noncommissioned Officer. 2nd Ukraine Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1567. Trumpeter and Private. 3rd Ukraine Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1568. Field-grade Officer. 4th Ukraine Lancer Regiment. 1818 and 1819.
1569. Noncommissioned Officer. 4th Ukraine Lancer Regiment. 1819.
1570. Field-grade Officer and Private. Vladimir Lancer Regiment. 1819-1825.
1571. Noncommissioned Officer. Siberia Lancer Regiment. 1819-1825.
1572. Trumpeter. Orenburg Lancer Regiment. 1819-1820.
1573. Company-grade Officer. Yamburg Lancer Regiment. 1819-1825.
1574. Privates. Taganrog and Chuguev Lancer Regiments. 1819-1825.
1575. Staff-Trumpeters. Borisoglebsk and Taganrog Lancer Regiments. 1819-1825.
1576. Private. 1st Ukraine Lancer Regiment. 1819-1825.
1577. Noncommissioned Officers. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Ukraine Lancer Regiments. 1819-1825.
1578. Noncommissioned Officers. 1st and 2nd Bug Lancer Regiments. 1819-1825.
1579. Company-grade Officers. 3rd and 4th Bug Lancer Regiments. 1819-1825.
1580. Privates. Polish Lancer Regiment. 1819-1825.
1581. Noncommissioned Officer. Tatar Lancer Regiment. 1819-1825.
1582. Trumpeter. Lithuania Lancer Regiment. 1819-1825.
1583. Field-grade Officer and Company-grade Officer. Volhynia Lancer Regiment. 1819-1825.
1584. Trumpeters. Volhynia Lancer Regiment. 1820-1825.
1585. Privates. Gendarme Regiment. 1815-1817.
1586. Noncommissioned Officer. Gendarme Regiment. 1815-1817.
1587. Trumpeter and Staff-Trumpeter. Gendarme Regiment. 1815-1817.
1588. Company-grade Officer. Gendarme Regiment. 1815-1817.
1589. Field-grade Officers. Gendarme Regiment. 1815-1817.
1590. Field-grade Officers. Gendarme Regiment. 1815-1825.
1591. Noncommissioned Officer and Company-grade Officer. Gendarme Regiment. 1817-1825.
1592. Private. Gendarme Regiment. 1817-1820.
1593. Noncommissioned Officer and Trumpeter. Gendarme Regiment. 1820-1825.
1594. Privates. Train Battalions. 1819 and 1820.
1595. Noncommissioned Officers. Train Battalions. 1819 and 1820.
1596. Company-grade Officers. Train Battalions. 1819 and 1820.
1597. Noncommissioned Officer and Company-grade Officer. Train Battalions. 1820-1825.
1598. Noncommissioned Officer. Lithuania Train Brigade. 1820-1825.
1599. Company-grade Officer. Train Battalions of the Grenadier Corps. 1821-1825.
1600. Company-grade Officer. Lithuania Train Brigade. 1822-1825.
1601. Noncommissioned Officer. 1st Battalion of the Lithuania Train Brigade. 1823-1825.
1602. Private and Company-grade Officer. 1st Battalion of the Lithuania Train Brigade. 1823-1825.
__________________
9 April 1801 — Lower ranks are ordered to cut off their curls [pukli] and have queues [kosy] only 7 inches [4 vershka] long, tying them midway down the collar (1).
9 August 1801 — The cuirasses [kirasy] in Cuirassier regiments are withdrawn (2).
27 February 1802 — In place of their previous gloves with gauntlets [perchatki s kragenami], officers of Cuirassier regiments are to have short gloves without gauntlets, of the pattern used at this time by infantry officers (3).
17 March 1802 — Confirmation is given to the regulations for the cut, trim, and pattern of Cuirassier uniforms, for combatant as well as for noncombatant ranks (4).
30 April 1802 — Confirmation is given to a new table of uniforms, accouterments, and weapons of Cuirassier regiments. Based on this table and the previously mentioned regulations, cuirassier privates [ryadovye kirasiry] are prescribed: coat [kolet], pants [pantalony], jackboots [botfory], riding trousers [reituzy], boots [sapogi], neckcloth [galstuk], forage cap [furazhnaya shapka], smock [kitel], greatcoat [shinel], warm coat [fufaika], hat [shlyapa], gloves [perchatki], broadsword [palash] with swordknot [temlyak], swordbelt [portupeya], carbine [karabin] with sling [remen] and lock cover [ognivnyi chekhol], shoulder belt [pogonnaya perevyaz], cartridge pouch [lyadunka], and when mounted — a pair of pistols [pistolety]. Horse furniture and accessories include: saddle [sedlo] with saddle bucket [bushmat], holsters [olstredi], bridle [uzdechka], mouthpiece [mundshtuk], cruppers [pakhvi], chestband [papersti], saddle girth [podpruga], stirrups [stremena], cushion [podushka] for the pack load [vyuk], and small horse cloth [poponka]; shabrack [cheprak], pistol holder covers [chushki], valise [chemodan]. forage sack [furazhnyi sak], bag [torba], and water flask [vodonosnaya flyazha] (5).
The coat is to be double-breasted, of white kersey [kirza], with a standing collar of a special color for each regiment. The cuffs, shoulder strap [pogon] (on the left shoulder), a light or piping [proshiv ili vypushka] at the sleeves’ shoulder seams, and lining on the skirts and turnbacks, are all of the same color as the collar; with flat buttons that are yellow or white (tinned) in accordance with the distinctions listed below (Illus. 1401). This coat, in summer as well as winter, is ordered to be fastened with all its buttons, and the sizes of its parts, assuming a man 6 feet in height, are prescribed as follows:
Collar height, in front, at the edges — 3 1/2 inches, behind, at the middle — 4 inches; the upper edge shorter than the lower by 3 1/2 inches. Cuff (slit) width — 3 inches.
Length of the coat, from the collar to the waist — 17 1/2 inches, and from the waist to the ends of the skirts — 8 3/4 inches; width of the front turnover [i.e. the front breast part of the coat - M.C.] — 3 inches; distance of the first button from the collar — 1 inch; between the first and second buttons and so on — 2 5/8 inches; between the buttonholes and the edges of the turnover — 1/2 inch.
The lower edges of the coat [meaning the bottom of the tails - M.C.], remaining after the skirts are turned back — 4 inches, and the width of the trim [vykladka] on these turnbacks — 1 3/4 inches.
Length of the shoulder strap — 5 2/3 inches, its width at the shoulder — 1 3/4 inches, width at the button — 1 1/4 inches.
Buttons are sewn on in the following numbers: on each side of the front turnover — 6; on the collar, for the shoulder strap — 1; on the cuffs — 2 each; on the waist — 2; on the lower edges of the coat, where the skirt turnbacks meet — 1 at each point.
On the back of the coat, above the waist buttons, are sewn two tabs of white kersey, which fasten onto these buttons and serve to keep the swordbelt in place (Illus. 1401).
Pants, of deerskin [losinnyya] or, when unavailable, of goatskin leather worked like deerskin, are 37 1/2 inches long from the edge of the swordbelt, i.e. reaching to within 8 3/4 inches of the heels, and having a front panel [latsbant] covered by the coat’s skirts.
Jackboots, with blunt toes, reaching to the kneecap, with applied bell tops, pieces over the spurs [nadshporniki], under the spurs [podshporniki], spur straps [shpornye remni], and iron spurs [shpory]; prescribed to be 21 inches tall from the heels, while the heels are 1 3/4 inches tall for men of all heights (Illus. 1401).
Riding trousers — of grey cloth and lined with black leather along the inner seam; they are prescribed to be 42 inches long from the top edge of the swordbelt, reaching to 4 1/2 inches from the heels, and having eighteen covered buttons along each of the side seams (Illus. 1401).
Boots for the riding trousers have rounded toes and short tops.
Neckcloth, with a small dicky, is made from black cloth backed with linen, and is tied in the back with small black ribbons. Its width and height are not regulated, and there is only the rule for the dicky that if a men has unbuttoned the top coat button and lifts his head, then the shirt must not be seen.
Forage cap — of white kersey, with band and trim the same color as the collar; it has the same pattern as forage caps in the infantry (Illus. 1401). Its height from the lower edge to where it folds over is prescribed to be 8 3/4 inches; distance from the fold to the tassel and tassel top — 10 1/2 inches; width of the round loop at the top of the tassel [gaika] — 1 1/4 inches; tassel — 2 1/2 inches; width of the band — 3 1/2 inches (Illus. 1401). The tassel is of two colors: white and the color of the collar. Tassel tops are according to squadron: in the 1st Squadron — white, in the 2nd — sky blue, in the 3rd — yellow, in the 4th — black, and in the 5th — green. In regard to hair style, care is taken that the front part of the hair (or laverzhet, as it is called) and the temples are cut smooth using a comb, while the back is gathered together into a thick, flat queue, intertwined with black wool tape so that the end of the hair is left out a little. Powder is only used in parades and on holidays.
Smock, of coarse calamanco, prescribed to be the same as in the previous tsar’s reign.
Greatcoat — of undyed cloth, dark or light grey, only being the same shade for the whole regiment; with a similarly grey collar piped the same color as the coat collar, and with two tabs of that color— 1 3/4 inches wide and 2 5/8 inches long. A shoulder strap (on the left shoulder) is also the color of the coat collar; grey cuffs, round (Illus. 1402). It is made so that it can be worn not only over the coat, but also over the warm coat or sheepskin coat [polushubok]. In front it is fastened with seven buttons of the pattern and color as for the coat, sewn on and spaced one from the other so that when the swordbelt is worn over the greatcoat, the lowest button is under the swordbelt, while the upper half of the rear flaps come out above the swordbelt.
Warm coat or sheepskin coat is, as before, of sheepskin [ovchinnaya].
Hat, three cornered, bound with a black woollen cord; with a cockade of black worsted ribbon edged in orange; with a brass or tinned button, according to the coat buttons; with a cord around the crown and two tassels all of red wool, and a plume of white cock feathers. In front—11 1/2 inches, in back—12 1/4 inches, and between the corners and bottom edge of the crown—6 inches (Illus. 1403).
Gloves are chamois, with gauntlets (Illus. 1403).
Broadsword — with brass hilt; scabbard of unblackened leather, in iron mountings. It has a red Russian leather swordknot with a woollen tassel, left in the previous pattern as under EMPEROR PAUL I (Illus. 1403). As before, the color of the swordknot tassel is according to squadron: in the 1st Squadron — white, in the 2nd—sky blue, in the 3rd—yellow, in the 4th—black, and in the 5th—green.
Swordbelt, deerskin, as before, whitened, 2 inches wide, with welts at the edges, with two straps or slings 7/8 inch wide. With one large and two small brass buckles and with two brass rings, worn so that in front it covers the two bottom buttons of the coat, and in back its lower edge lies on the waist buttons (Illus. 1403).
Carbine — with brass fittings, with a strap of red lacquered Russian leather, and with a lock cover of the same material. The crossbelt is deerskin, whitened, 3 3/4 inches wide, with welts at the edges; for the carbine it has a brass buckle, cross piece, and end piece, with an iron hook; for the cartridge pouch it has two brass rings. Cartridge pouch (for 30 cartridges), of thick black leather, with the same brass plate on the cover as for infantry pouches, only smaller in size, and with two brass rings for the crossbelt. Pistols with brass mountings. All of these items remain the same as they were in the previous tsar’s reign, with the only change being that the cartridge pouch is directed to be worn not over the right shoulder, but over the left, and not on its own strap, but on the same crossbelt used for the carbine, i.e. in that form which was used for dragoons under EMPEROR PAUL I (Illus. 1403).
Saddle, German, of black leather, with the holsters, saddle bucket, and other items of the same material; the strirrups and bridle and curb bits [uzdechnyya i mundshtuchnyya udila], of which the last has a raised image of a two-headed eagle, remain without the least change from those used in Cuirassier regiments under EMPEROR PAUL I.
Horse cloth [popona] of grey cloth.
Shabrack and pistol holder covers — cloth, of the same color as the collar, the latter being five-cornered and the first having rounded corners. These are trimmed around the edges with a cloth strip 1 3/4 inches wide, of the same color as the buttons. In both Life-Cuirassier regiments the shabracks and pistol holder covers have a worsted embroidered image of a black double-headed eagle on an orange field, surrounded by similarly embroidered white rays in the form of a star (Illus. 1403). The other Cuirassier regiments had the HIGHEST monogram under the Imperial crown, with a laurel wreath along the sides of this monogram, all cut out of cloth the same color as the buttons and sewn on (Illus. 1405).
Valise, of grey cloth, round, fastened with four brass buttons. Prescribed to be 23 1/2 inches long, 23 inches in circumference, 9 inches wide, and with a cover 16 1/2 inches long and 5 inches wide. [This cover refers to a flap over the valise - M.C.]
Forage sack, made of raven’s duck.
Sack, of thick linen.
Water flask, wooden, wrapped or covered with leather.
Besides all these items, each squadron is issued with 16 tinned copper kettles with covers, the same number of sickles for gathering hay, 8 axes, and 8 iron spades. The last two items have leather cases and straps made from leather items and deerskin swordbelts and crossbelts that have passed their wearout time.
Cuirassier horse — no taller than 5 feet 3 inches, and not shorter than 5 feet. There is no prescribed color, but the cost, less delivery fee, is authorized to be 100 roubles.
Noncommissioned officers and first sergeants [vakhmistry] of Cuirassier regiments have the same uniform as cuirassier privates, but with gold and silver (according to the color of the buttons) galloon along the bottom (6) and side edges of the coat collar and on the cuffs, tassels on the hat that are white worsted with centers of orange and black, and the additional distinction of the top of the plume being of mixed orange and black feathers (Illus. 1404). Like infantry noncommissioned officers, they are authorized stick canes [trosti] which in mounted order are fastened, as before, to the butt of the right-hand pistol, putting the lower end through the horse’s chest band. Of the arms and accouterments of cuirassier privates, they do not have the carbine and its crossbelt, and they wear the cartridge belt on a whitened deerskin crossbelt 2 5/8 inches wide, with welts at the edges, and no buckle, cross piece, or end piece. The tassels of their swordknots are white with a mix of black and orange, and their saddles do not have saddle buckets.
Distinguished officer candidates [estandart-yunkera] are uniformed and armed as noncommissioned officers, and have all the same horse furniture, except that the coat shoulder strap has gold or silver galloon (according to the color of the buttons) sewn down the whole length of its middle, and the saddle has a bucket for the standard [shtandart].
Trumpeters [trubachi] are uniformed as cuirassier privates, with a red plume instead of white. They are also distinguished from privates by wings or swallow’s nests [kryltsy ili naplechniki] of the same color as the collar, and by trimming in the form of sewn-on woollen tape, 1 1/4 inches wide. In the Order Cuirassier Regiment this tape was of three black and two orange stripes, following the pattern for the ribbon of the Order of St. George (Illus. 1405). In the other Cuirassier regiments the tape is white with two stripes of the same color as the collar and, between them, similarly colored checks [in outline, not solid – M.C.] (Illus. 1406). Of cuirassier weapons, accouterments, and horse furniture, trumpeters do not have the carbine, carbine crossbelt, cartridge pouch, and saddle bucket. Trumpets [truby] remain the same as they were in the reign of EMPEROR PAUL I, with woollen tassels and cords of the colors of the coat’s tape trim. This tape is sewn: along the round or lower edges of the swallow’s nests and along the left front turnover of the coat — like buttonholes, doubled; on the swallow’s nests — down the whole width, in three rows; on the upper halves of the length of the sleeves — over the whole width, in six rows, with the points upward; on all seams and along the turnbacks of the skirts — with the tape’s whole width, while on the left turnover and on the cuffs — with doubled tape like a buttonhole (Illus. 1405).
Staff-trumpeter [shtab-trubach] — distinguished from the preceding squadron trumpeters in that, like noncommissioned officers, he has gold or silver galloon on the coat’s collar and cuffs (according to the color of the buttons), a plume with a top of black and orange feathers, tassels on the hat and swordknot that are white with black and orange, and a cane (Illus. 1406).
The kettledrummer [litavrshchik] is uniformed and armed completely the same as the staff-trumpeter. Kettledrums [litavry] remain the same as used in the preceding reign. Drum banners [zanavesy]—of the same color as the collar, with embroidery and fringes in the color of the buttons—keep the previous pattern, except that the monogram of EMPEROR PAUL I is changed to that of EMPEROR ALEXANDER I.
When in full uniform and in formation, officers of Cuirassier regiments wear a cloth coat [kolet] of the same colors and cut as for cuirassier privates, but with white instead of colored piping at the sleeves’ shoulder seams. Pants and jackboots were also like those of cuirassier privates; spurs are steel; instead of a neckcloth there is a black silk kerchief tied in back. Three-cornered hat, with the same decorations as in the infantry, but bigger, namely: in front — 10 1/2 inches; in back — 11 1/2 inches; and on the sides, from the crown to the edge — 6 inches. The feather plume is white, with black and orange at the base. Gloves are chamois, without gauntlets (Illus. 1408). A broadsword is prescibed to go along with this uniform, of the same pattern as the cuirassier privates’, with a brass hilt, brass or iron (according to the color of the buttons) mountings on the scabbard, and with a swordknot whose strap is of black leather with silver thread stitching on the edges, while the tassel is flat, silver, with a fringe and a mix, in the middle, of black and orange silk. The swordbelt for this sword is the same as used by the privates, except that it is whitened under lacquer; it has buckles of the same color as the buttons. Sashes [sharfy] are exactly like those of infantry officers. Cartridge pouches are of black, lacquered leather, 8 inches long and 4 1/2 inches high, with two rings of the same color as the buttons. In both Life-Cuirassier regiments, pouches have a silver aureole in the form of an eight-pointed star, with a double-headed eagle in the center. In the Order Regiment, the pouch has gilt star of the Order of St. George, and in the rest of the regiments a stamped and forged (silver or gold, according to the color of the buttons) Imperial monogram under a crown. These cartridge pouches are carried over the left shoulder on a whitened and lacquered deerskin strap 2 5/8 inches wide, with a buckle, cross piece, and end piece of the same color as the buttons (Illus. 1408, 1409, 1410, and 1411). shabracks and pistol holder covers are the same color—the first having pointed corners and the latter round ones, with gold or silver (according to the color of the buttons) galloon, and with embroidered designs: in the Life-Cuirassier regiments—stars, and in the rest—the monogram, as related above in the description of the shabracks and pistol holder covers for cuirassier privates (Illus. 1408 and 1410).
Generals [Generaly] are prescribed the same uniform, weapons, and horse furniture as officers, from whom they are distinguished only by white plumage on the hat (Illus. 1409).
While on campaign, instead of deerskin pants and jackboots, Generals and Cuirassier officers are prescribed to be in riding trousers of grey, semi-fine [polutonkoe] cloth, like those for cuirassiers, except with flat metal buttons in place of covered ones, in the same color as the coat buttons (Illus. 1409).
When off duty, Cuirassier Generals and officers wear a white cloth undress coat [vitse-mundir] lined with stamin of the same color, and with the same buttons, collar, and cuffs as on the dress coat. The undress coat has horizontal pocket flaps with three buttons, skirts with white cloth turnbacks that are edged with cloth of the same color as the cuffs and sewn down flat, with a gold or silver, according to the color of the buttons, aiguilette [akselbant] on the right shoulder. With this undress coat is worn a cavalry rapier [shpaga] identical to that used in EMPEROR PAUL I’s reign, with an infantry swordknot, and carried on a swordbelt worn under the coat. shabracks and pistol holder covers with embroidery (according to the color of the buttons) are of the same pattern as was introduced in 1796-97 for officers’ shabracks and pistol holder covers in Dragoon regiments (Illus. 1411).
Noncombatants have uniforms, accouterments, and weapons like those of noncombatants in the Army infantry, with the only difference being that their hats are a little bigger, as for combatant ranks.
The manner of wearing the hair and queue in Cuirassier regiments is exactly the same as in regiments of Army infantry (7).
In Cuirassier regiments the colors of collars, cuffs, shoulder straps, and the trim on skirt turnbacks, as well as of shabracks and pistol holder covers, are as follows:
In HIS MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment
— sky blue; white buttons (Illus. 1401, 1402, 1403,
and 1408).
In HER MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment
— light raspberry; white buttons (Illus. 1404 and
1409).
In the Order Regiment
— black, yellow buttons (Illus. 1405 and 1410).
In the Yekaterinoslavl
Regiment — orange; white buttons (Illus. 1406 and
1411).
In the Little Russia
Regiment — dark green; yellow buttons (Illus. 1406
and 1412).
In the Glukhov
Regiment — blue [sinii]; white buttons (Illus. 1407 and
1412).
For everyday use, both while carrying out duties as well as when off duty, and also when on campaign, dark-green single-breasted cloth coats called surtouts [sertuki] are established for Generals and company and field-grade officers. These have similarly colored stamin linings, horizontal pockets, round cuffs, and turnbacks on the skirts — all dark green. The collar, shoulder straps, and trim or piping down the front, on the cuffs, on the turnbacks, and on the pocket flaps are all the same color as the dress coat collar. Buttons are flat (7/8 inch in diameter). These last are sewn onto: the front — 8, on the waist — 2, on the pockets — 3 each, on the shoulder strap — 1. Three more covered buttons are on the rear seams of the cuffs, to close them. In length and width these surtouts are prescribed to be the same as undress coats (Illus. 1412). While on campaign they are worn with riding trousers and boots with short tops, and during the rest of the time — with pants and jackboots. When carrying out duties, the broadsword is worn, belted over the surtout; when off duty, it is replaced by the rapier on a swordbelt worn under the surtout. (Illus. 1412).
18 October 1803 — In Cuirassier regiments all combatant ranks, beginning with General Officers, are ordered to wear helmets [kaski], of black, lacquered pompovyi [? of unknown meaning - M.C.] leather, consisting of a round crown with visors in front and in back, two ear pieces on the sides, and a comb for a thick plume of hair, which is black for privates (Illus. 1413). For noncommissioned officers the plume is black with a white top that has one orange and two black stripes down the middle (Illus. 1413 and 1414); for trumpeters — red (Illus. 1414); for staff-trumpeters — red with the same top as for noncommissioned officers; for officers — white with a black top with an orange stripe next to it (Illus. 1415). The front of the helmet, starting from the top of the comb down to the visor, is decorated with a brass plate stamped with a double-headed eagle. The lower edge of the front visor is trimmed with a brass strip, doubled over. On the sides, over the ear pieces, are fixed two brass knobs, and on the inside are sewn (for covering the ears in winter weather) two cloth flaps, to which are tied leather straps, as for the infantry shakos established in 1803. At first, these straps were fastened over the flaps only in winter weather, but later this was done in any weather (9). In this same year, the hats prescribed for field and company-grade officers of Cuirassier regiments when not on duty are ordered to be of the pattern confirmed at this time for field and company-grade officers of the infantry, i.e. with a small button loop of narrow galloon and a high plume (10).
5 March 1805 — Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have pistols that are shorter than before, being the same model as pistols throughout the cavalry (11).
1 July 1806 — There is the same change in the uniforms of regimental doctors as described above for Grenadier regiments (12).
1 October 1806 — Warm coats [fufaiki] are withdrawn from lower ranks in Cuirassier regiments (13).
2 December 1806 — Lower ranks are ordered to cut off their queues, leaving their hair cut short under a comb. Regarding this, however, generals and field and company-grade officers are allowed to proceed according to their own wishes (14).
17 September 1807 — Generals and field and company-grade officers of Cuirassier regiments are given epaulettes [epolety] patterned after those of the infantry and described above in detail for Grenadier regiments, but with a completely silver or gold field, according to the color of the buttons, and with cloth backing of the same color as the collar. On the kolet coat and the single-breasted coat, these epaulettes are prescribed to be worn on both shoulders, while on the undress coat [vitse-mundir] these are only worn on the left, leaving the aiguilette on the right (15). Around this same time canes are discontinued for officers and noncommissioned officers (16).
26 January 1808 — During parades, or on officially listed holidays, and, in general, whenever troops are gathered, both in peace and in war, generals of Cuirassier regiments are ordered to wear the newly established standard general-officer’s uniform, but when in regimental uniform and not on duty, they are to have dark-green pants instead of white (17).
Note: A description of the standard general-officer’s uniform is found in a subsequent volume at the end of the overview of EMPEROR ALEXANDER I’s reign, in the chapter about general officers’ uniforms.
12 November 1808 — On ordinary days [budni], Cuirassier Generals and officers in the surtout established in 1802 are allowed to wear dark-green cloth pants (18).
26 November 1808 — All Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have new-style flat plumes on their helmets while on campaign. For officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates, these are black; for musicians — red. The previous chinstrap is replaced by new ones with flat brass scales (Illus. 1416 and 1417) (19). In this same year, long-skirted dark-green frock coats [sertuki] are introduced for officers of Cuirassier regiments, of the pattern described above for Army infantry. The collar (of velvet in the Order and Little Russia Regiments), cuffs, and buttons are according to the colors for the kolet coat (Illus. 1418). The previous surtouts introduced in 1802 now begin to be called dark-green undress coats [vitse-mundiry] (20).
11 February 1809 — In place of their previous hats and forage caps with tassels, noncombatant lower ranks not holding noncommissioned officer rank are given new-pattern caps [shapki] identical to those which at this same time are introduced for Grenadier regiments, except that they are completely dark green with red piping around the edges of the band (21).
27 March 1809 — The current aiguilettes on Cuirassier officers’ undress coats are withdrawn, and subsequently undress coats are ordered to be worn with two epaulettes (22).
4 April 1809 — noncommissioned officers are ordered to have galloon not on the bottom and side edges of the collar, but on the top and side edges (23).
8 June 1809 — The plumage on generals’ hats is discontinued and the former style of buttonhole loop is replaced by a new one, made of four thick twisted cords of which the two middle ones are intertwined in braid-like fashion (24).
13 August 1809 — Instead of one shoulder strap, lower ranks in Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have two (25), and in this same year the laurel wreaths around the monograms on shabracks and pistol holder covers are abolished (26).
16 June 1810 — Carbines and pistols for Cuirassier regiments are ordered to be made according to the newly confirmed patterns. Both of these, and infantry muskets, are of identical caliber (seven lines, measured in English inches [i.e. 0.7 inches - M.C.]), and along with this the first of these are prescribed to no longer be called carbines, but cuirassier muskets [kirasirskiya ruzhya] (27). In this same year, new-pattern broadswords [palashi] are introduced, with a brass hilt and full iron scabbard, without any leather (Illus. 1419). Also, the high plumes are shortened on the general’s and officer’s hat in use since 1804 (28).
16 September 1811 — The rings on cuirassier cartridge pouches are taken away, and it is ordered that these pouches are to be worn in the fashion of infantry pouches, i.e. with the ends of the crossbelt put under the cartridge pouch (29).
23 September 1811 — Lower ranks of Cuirassier regiments are given new-pattern forage caps, in the style of those established at this time in the infantry, except that they are white with the band and piping in the same color as the collar, and with the squadron number. Officers wear the same cap, but without a number and with a visor of black lacquered leather (30).
12 October 1811 — The newly established Cuirassier regiments, Astrakhan and Novgorod, are prescribed the same uniforms as for other Cuirassier regiments: the first—with yellow as the distinctive color, and the second—with rose; both with white buttons and silver (Illus. 1419 and 1420) (31).
5 December 1811 — The kettledrummers now in Cuirassier regiments are abolished (32).
17 December 1811 — In place of the uniform they have had since 1802, noncombatant lower ranks are given a new one identical to that established at this time for noncombatant lower ranks in Grenadier and Musketeer regiments (33).
At the beginning of 1812 — All ranks in Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have collars on coats and greatcoats lower than currently, fastened by little hooks (Illus. 1419 and 1420), and cuirassier privates and noncommissioned officers are given black, iron cuirasses, lined around the edges with red woollen cord and consisting of two halves: the front or chest piece and the back. To the latter of these, at the shoulders, are fixed two support straps with black iron fittings in the form of scales, with brass end pieces fastening to two small brass buttons fixed to the front half. (Illus. 1421). Officers receive the same cuirasses but with brass scales, while musicians are not authorized them at all. From this time on, the thick plumage on officers’ helmets for parades is completely abolished, and officers of Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have gloves with gauntlets (34).
12 April 1812 — Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have shoulder straps of the following colors:
1st Cuirassier Division: in HIS MAJESTY’S
Life-Cuirassiers — sky blue; HER MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassiers
— light raspberry; Astrakhan — yellow.
2nd Cuirassier Division: in the Yekaterinoslavl
— orange; Military Order — black; Glukhov —
blue; Little Russia — dark green; Novgorod — rose
(35).
10 November 1812 — Carbines are withdrawn from all Cuirassier regiments, and subsequently the only firearms left are pistols and 16 rifles [shtutsera] in each squadron (Illus. 1422 and 1423) (36).
29 November 1812 — In order to lessen their expenses, officers of Cuirassier regiments are allowed to have: instead of gold and silver fittings to the epaulettes — bronze, colored yellow or white according to the buttons; instead of silver sashes and swordknots — white ones, of linen [iz beli]; and also linen [belelyi] galloon and embroidery on shabracks and pistol holder covers: instead of gold — orange, and instead of silver — white (37).
17 December 1812 — The Cuirassier regiments renamed from Dragoons are prescribed uniforms:
Pskov
— with raspberry distinctions and yellow appointments (Illus.
1422).
Starodub
— with sky-blue distinctions and yellow appointments (Illus. 1423)
(40).
The first of these regiments, instead of black cuirasses, is left with the colored (brass and steel) ones it captured from the enemy in the Patriotic War of 1812 (41).
27 December 1812 — The newly added squadrons to the establishments of Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have tassels and rings on their swordknots: 6th — red; 7th, Replacement [Zapasnyi] — white with a mixture of red (42).
3 April 1813 — Officers of HIS MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment are ordered to have silver embroidered lace bars on their coat collars and cuffs, and lower ranks are ordered to have sewn-on tape [bason], white with red tracery (43).
Note: On 3 October 1813 HIS MAJESTY’s Life-Cuirassiers, assigned to the Young Guard, adopted the title Life-Guards Cuirassier Regiment.
3 October 1813 — Officers of the Order and Little Russia Regiments are ordered to have cloth collars on their frock coats instead of velvet: in the first — black as before; and in the last (in place of the former dark green) — green, with this same color also for officers’ shabracks and pistol holder covers in this regiment (44).
7 December 1813 — Officers of all Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have white linings to the frock coat, with collars of the same dark-green cloth as used for the frock itself, piped in the same color as the dress coat’s collar, and which piping is also prescribed to be on the cuffs and pocket flaps (Illus. 1424) (45).
6 April 1814 — The white double-breasted undress coats [vitse-mundiry] used by Cuirassier officers since 1802 is replaced by a single-breasted one with nine flat buttons, a collar closed with small hooks, and piping down the front in the same color as the collar (Illus. 1425). Along with this, the dark-green undress coats are also ordered to have nine buttons down the front, instead of eight (46).
20 May 1814 — Officers as well as lower ranks, in all Cuirassier regiments, are given single-breasted dress coats [kolety] with nine buttons, in place of the double-breasted ones. These have piping—in the same color as the collar—down the front and around the bottom to the tails, and white piping on the collar (Illus. 1426) (47).
At this same time, the campaign riding trousers with buttons, used by officers since 1802, are replaced by new ones: grey as before, with two wide stripes [lampasy] and piping, both of the same color as the dress coat’s collar, and without leather on the inner seams (Illus. 1426) (48).
19 August 1814 — Similar riding trousers, except with leather on the seams, are given to lower ranks of Cuirassier regiments (Illus. 1427), while the deerskin pants and tall boots or jackboots are only left for parades (49).
15 September 1814 — Each Cuirassier regiment is ordered to have 1120 carbines [karabiny] and 112 rifles [shtutsera]. In this same year a white band or ribbon is added to the cockade on officer’s hats, and which is later replaced with a silver one (50).
16 December 1815 — In Cuirassier regiments, trumpeters are to have grey horses, and other ranks — dark colors (51).
24 January 1816 — Scabbards for officers’ rapiers are ordered to be of black, lacquered leather (52).
21 September 1816 — For carrying rifles when in formation, carabiniers of Cuirassier regiments are ordered to have bandoliers [pantalery] with hooks on which hang the rifles, as used at this time in Lancer and Horse-Jäger regiments (53).
24 December 1818 — In Cuirassier regiments, the scales on helmets are ordered to be raised or convex, instead of flat, and of yellow brass as before (54). In this same year, the supporting straps on cuirasses are ordered to be longer than before (Illus. 1428 and 1429) (55).
17 April 1821 — The Pskov Cuirassier Regiment is ordered to have rose collars, coat facings, and shabracks, with white buttons and silver, i.e. as previously for the Novgorod Regiment, while the Novgorod is to have raspberry, with yellow buttons and gold, i.e. as previously for the Pskov (56).
26 July 1821 — The regiments of the 2nd and 3rd Cuirassier Divisions are ordered to have horses of the following colors:
Yekaterinoslavl and Order — light chestnuts
[svetlognedye].
Glukhov and Starodub — sorrels [ryzhie].
Astrakhan and Little Russia — dark chestnuts and bays
[temno gnedye i karie].
Pskov and Novgorod — blacks and dark browns [voronye
i temnoburye]
(57).
HER MAJESTY’S Life-Cuirassier Regiment, along with the Cavalier Guards, Life-Guards Horse, and Life-Guards Cuirassiers—making up the 1st Cuirassier Division assigned to the Guards Corps—have dark-chestnut, light-bay, and dark-brown horses (58).
29 March 1825 —For faultless service, chevrons sewn on the left sleeve are established for combatant lower ranks: for 10 years of service — one; for 15 years — two; and for 20 — three, one over the other; all of yellow tape [tesma] (59).
1 April 1801 — Dragoon regiments are ordered to have:
a.) In the Vladimir — sky-blue cloth
collars, lapels, and cuffs; yellow buttons and aiguilettes; for officers
— gold lace-bars, with tassels
(60).
b.) In the Taganrog — yellow cloth collars,
lapels, and cuffs; yellow buttons and aiguilettes; for officers — gold
lace-bars, with tassels
(61).
c) In the Narva — sky-blue cloth collars,
lapels, and cuffs; white buttons and aiguilettes; for officers — silver
lace-bars, with tassels
(62).
d) In the Nizhnii-Novgorod — black cloth
collars, and cuffs; white buttons and aiguilettes; for officers — silver
lace-bars, with tassels
(63).
e.) In the Irkutsk — white cloth collars,
and cuffs; yellow buttons and aiguilettes; for officers — gold lace-bars,
without tassels
(64).
f.) In the Siberia — white cloth collars,
and cuffs; white buttons and aiguilettes; for officers — silver lace-bars,
with tassels
(65).
Based on this, the Vladimir, Taganrog, Narva, Irkutsk, and Siberia regiments receive the same uniform colors as they had since the beginning of EMPEROR PAUL I’s reign through 3 April, 1800 (65), and the Nizhnii-Novgorod—since that same time through 29 May 1798 (67).
9 April 1801 — Lower ranks are ordered to cut off their curls and have queues [kosy] only 7 inches [4 vershka] long, tying them at the middle of the collar (68).
27 February 1802 — In place of their previous gloves with gauntlets, officers of Dragoon regiments are to have short gloves without gauntlets, of the pattern used at this time by infantry officers (69).
17 March 1802 — Confirmation is given to the regulations for the cut, trim, and pattern of Dragoon uniforms, for combatant as well as for noncombatant ranks (70).
30 April 1802 — Confirmation is given to a new table of uniforms, accouterments, and weapons of Dragoon regiments. Based on this table and the previously mentioned regulations, Dragoon privates are prescribed: caftan [kaftan] or coat [mundir], pants, boots, riding trousers, neckcloth, forage cap, smock, greatcoat, warm coat, hat, gloves, saber [sablya] with swordknot, sword belt, musketoon [mushket] with bayonet, sling, and lock cover, cartridge pouch with crossbelt and hook, and, when in mounted formation, a pair of pistols. Horse furniture and accessories include: saddle with saddle bucket, holsters, bridle, mouthpiece, cruppers, chestband, saddle girth, stirrups, cushion for the pack load, and small horse cloth; shabrack, pistol holder covers, valise. forage sack, bag, and water flask.
The caftan or coat is prescribed to be double-breasted, of light-green cloth, with a standing collar that is of a particular color in each regiment, cuffs and shoulder strap (on the left shoulder) of the same color as the collar, with red linings to the skirts and tails, and with flat buttons—white or yellow in accordance with the particular instructions set forth below (Illus. 1430). This caftan, in winter as well as summer, is to be buttoned with all its buttons, and the sizes of its parts, assuming a man of 6 feet in height, are prescribed as follows:
Collar height, in front, at the edges — 3 1/2 inches, behind, at the middle — 4 inches; the upper edge shorter than the lower by 3 1/2 inches. Cuff width (slit) — 3 inches.
Length of the caftan, from the collar to the waist — 17 1/2 inches, and from the waist to the ends of the skirts — 12 1/4 inches; width of the front turnover — 3 inches; the distance of the first button from the collar — 1 inch; between the first and second buttons, and so on — 2 5/8 inches; between the buttonholes and the edges of the front turnover — 1/2 inch.
Lining on the skirts [poly] [before being turned back – M.C.]: on the straight [front] edge — 16 1/4 inches, on the other edge — 15 3/4 inches; top overlap [nakos] — 1/2 inch, below — 3 inches.
Lining on the skirts [faldy] [after being turned back – M.C.]: on the straight [front] edge — 11 3/4 inches, on the other edge — 11 1/4 inches; on the top end — 1/2 inch, on the bottom end — 3 inches.
Length of the shoulder strap — 5 2/3 inches, its width at the shoulder — 1 3/4 inches, width at the button — 1 1/4 inches.
Buttons are sewn on: on the right side of the front turnover — 7, on the left — 6, on the collar, for the shoulder strap — 1; on the cuffs — 2 each; on the waist — 2; at the joinings of the skirt and tail linings — 1 each.
Above the waist buttons, as on cuirassier coats, there are to be two cloth tabs, of the same color as the coat, to fasten onto these buttons and keep the swordbelt in place.
Pants, of white cloth, 37 1/2 inches long from the top edge of the swordbelt, i.e. reaching to within 8 3/4 inches of the heels, and having a front panel [latsbant] covered by the coat’s skirts.
Boots for the pants, blacked [smaznye], with blunt toes, with screwed-on iron spurs. Prescribed to be 17 inches tall from the heels up, with a 2 1/4 inch cutout indentation in back, as in the infantry, and with 1 1/4 inch heels (Illus. 1430).
Riding trousers — of grey cloth and lined with black leather along the inner seam. With these are worn boots (blacked, round toed) and a neckcloth of black cloth, both prescribed to be the same as those established at this same time for cuirassiers (Illus. 1430).
Forage cap — of light-green cloth, with band and trim the same color as the collar; it has the same pattern, size, and colors for the tassels, and the round loop at the top of the tassel [gaika], as in Cuirassier regiments (Illus. 1430).
Smock, of coarse calamanco, greatcoat, of grey cloth, with collar, shoulder strap, and buttons, all the same colors as on the dress coat, and warm coat or sheepskin coat; hat, three-cornered, with plume of white feathers, and gloves with gauntlets; all the same size and pattern as described above for cuirassiers.
A saber, with steel scabbard, is prescribed for all Dragoon regiments, but from 22 June, in the same year of 1802, it is kept only for the regiments of the Kazan Inspectorate: the Vladimir, Nizhnii-Novgorod, Taganrog, and Narva. In all others it is replaced by broadswords of the previous pattern from the time of EMPEROR PAUL I (Illus. 1431).
Swordbelt for the saber, prescribed to be of the same pattern as established for Cuirassier regiments, with the addition of a small loop or frog between the two hanging straps or slings, for the bayonet scabbard. There is also a small leather strap with a small iron hook on which, in dismounted formation, the saber is fastened so as to be right up against the swordbelt. For regiments with broadswords, the swordbelt has a frog as used under EMPEROR PAUL I (Illus. 1431).
Musketoon, — with a bayonet, brass mountings; red strap and lock cover, and with a frizzen cover [polunagalishche] of Russian leather—remaining the same as previously.
Cartridge pouch, — with a brass plate, and attached to a crossbelt with buckle, cross piece, end piece, and hook—prescribed to be the same as for cuirassiers.
Saddle, — of black leather, with holsters, saddle bucket, and all other accessories being of the same material. An Hungarian pattern is introduced, of the pattern which was used by the entire Russian Regular cavalry from 1786 through 1796.
Horse cloth of grey cloth.
Saddlecloth [valtrap], — 44 1/2 inches long; 44 inches wide at the rear end, and 40 inches wide at the front—prescribed to be of cloth, the same color as the coat collar; with edging, monogram, and trim on the edges all yellow or white, according to the color of the buttons. The edging, 2 5/8 inches wide, is sewn on at a distance of 1/2 inch from the edge, while the trim goes along the very edge, so that on being bent over, 1/4 inch of it remains visible (Illus. 1431).
Valise, of grey cloth; forage sack, of raven’s duck; sack, of thick linen, and water flask, wooden, wrapped with leather. All these are prescribed to be the same as for Cuirassier regiments.
Besides all these items, each squadron is issued 16 tinned copper kettles with covers, the same number of sickles for gathering hay, 15 axes, 8 spades, 4 picks and mattocks, with leather cases and straps for the last three items, made from leather items and deerskin swordbelts and crossbelts which have worn out.
Dragoon horse — no taller than 5 feet, and not shorter than 4 feet 10 inches. There are no prescribed colors, but the cost, less delivery fee, is authorized to be 50 roubles.
Noncommissioned officers and first sergeants [vakhmistry] of Dragoon regiments have the same uniform as dragoon privates, but with gold and silver galloon (according to the color of the buttons) along the bottom and side edges of the coat collar, tassels on the hat that are white worsted with centers of orange and black, and the additional distinction of the top of the plume being of mixed orange and black feathers (Illus. 1432). Like infantry and cuirassier noncommissioned officers, they are authorized stick canes which in mounted order are fastened, as before, to the butt of the right-hand pistol, putting the lower end through the horse’s chest band. Of the arms and accouterments of dragoon privates, they are not authorized the musketoon, and their crossbelt for the cartridge pouch is only 2 5/8 inches wide, without a buckle, cross piece, end piece, or hook. The tassels of their swordknots are white with a mix of black and orange; swordbelts do not have bayonet frogs, and their saddles do not have saddle buckets.
Distinguished officer candidates [fanen-yunkera, from the German “Fahnen-Junker”] are uniformed and armed as noncommissioned officers and have all the same horse furniture, except that the coat’s shoulder strap has gold or silver galloon (according to the color of the buttons) sewn down the whole length of its middle; their swordknots are of officer pattern (Illus. 1433), and the saddle has a bucket for the standard.
Note: Distinguished officer candidates [fanen-yunkera], as other noncommissioned officers, have cartridge pouches, but when they are in formation with a standard, these are not worn.
Trumpeters are uniformed the same as dragoon privates, with a red plume instead of white. They are also distinguished from privates by wings or swallows’ nests of the same color as the coat, and by trimming in the form of sewn-on cotton tape, as for musicians in the Army infantry except more densely placed, namely: 5 rows on the wings, and 8 on the sleeves (Illus. 1434). Trumpeters have the same weapons, accouterments, and horse furniture as noncommissioned officers, with the exception of the cartridge pouch, which is not at all authorized for them. Trumpets remain the same as they were in the reign of EMPEROR PAUL I, with tassels and cords of white worsted.
Staff-trumpeter — distinguished from the preceding squadron trumpeters in that, like noncommissioned officers, he has: gold or silver galloon on the coat’s collar and cuffs (according to the color of the buttons) (Illus. 1435); a plume with a top of black and orange feathers, tassels on the hat and swordknot—as well as tassels and cords on the trumpet—that are white with black and orange, and a cane.
Kettledrummer — uniformed and armed completely the same as a staff-trumpeter. Kettledrums remain the same as used in the preceding reign, and their drum banners remain the same color as the collar, with embroidery and fringes in the color of the button—keeping the previous pattern, except that the monogram of EMPEROR PAUL I is changed to that of EMPEROR ALEXANDER I (Illus. 1436).
Officers of Dragoon regiments are prescribed the same coat as privates, but with red stamin [stamednaya] lining, without shoulder straps or the seventh button on the right side of chest. It has horizontal pocket flaps with three buttons, with turnbacks that reach within a palm’s breadth of the knee. In the Riga Dragoon Regiment the coat also has gold embroidered lace-bars on the collar and cuffs. When carrying out duties, officers wear: deerskin pants; boots with screwed-on spurs, of the pattern prescribed for lower ranks. Instead of a neckcloth, they wear a black silk kerchief, tied in back. Hat, gloves, swordknot, swordbelt (for the dress coat), and sash — all the same as for cuirassier officers, and a saber with a steel hilt (Illus. 1437). This last item, as mentioned above, was left only in the regiments of the Kazan Inspectorate, and replaced in all other regiments on 22 June, 1802, with the broadsword of EMPEROR PAUL I’s time, with the same swordbelt that was worn in that reign. Horse furniture remains the same as before, except for the saddle, which is replaced by an Hungarian pattern covered with a cloth saddlecloth of the same pattern, size, and color as described above for lower ranks, with gold or silver galloon and an embroidered monogram under a crown, according to the color of the buttons (Illus. 1438). Dragoon officers wear the same greatcoats as in the Army infantry and Cuirassiers, with a collar in the same color as that on the coat.
Generals, in regard to uniforms, weapons, and horse furniture, are prescribed the same as for officers, only with the addition of white plumage on the hat.
While on campaign, instead of deerskin pants and the boots described above, Generals and Dragoon officers are to have riding trousers and boots with short tops, as in Cuirassier regiments.
When off duty, Dragoon Generals and officers wear white cloth pants. Instead of the broadsword, they have a cavalry rapier [shpaga] with an infantry swordknot, and a swordbelt with frog, worn under the coat (Illus. 1439).
Noncombatants, both officers and lower ranks, are given the same uniforms, accouterments, and weapons as prescribed for noncombatants in Cuirassier regiments.
The manner of wearing the hair and queue in Dragoon regiments is exactly the same as in Cuirassier regiments (71).
In Dragoon regiments, the colors of the collars, cuffs, shoulder straps, and saddlecloths are as follows:
In the Riga Regiment — red; yellow
buttons (Illus. 1430).
In the Starodub Regiment — red;
white buttons (Illus. 1430).
In the Kharkov Regiment — orange;
yellow buttons (Illus. 1431).
In the Seversk Regiment — orange;
white buttons.
In the Tver Regiment — blue
[sinii]; yellow buttons (Illus. 1432).
In the Chernigov Regiment —
blue; white buttons.
In the St.-Petersburg Regiment —
rose; yellow buttons (Illus. 1433).
In the Moscow Regiment — rose;
white buttons.
In the Smolensk Regiment — yellow;
yellow buttons (Illus. 1434).
In the Kinburn Regiment — yellow;
white buttons.
In the
Pskov Regiment — flame colored [ognevyi]; yellow buttons
(Illus. 1435).
In the Kargopol Regiment — flame
colored; white buttons.
In the
Vladimir Regiment — blanched [planshevyi]; yellow
buttons (Illus. 1436).
In the Nizhnii-Novgorod Regiment
— blanched; white buttons.
In the Taganrog Regiment — grey;
yellow buttons (Illus. 1437).
In the Narva Regiment — grey;
white buttons.
In the Orenburg Regiment — black;
yellow buttons (Illus. 1438).
In the Ingermanland Regiment —
black; white buttons.
In the Irkutsk Regiment — white;
yellow buttons (Illus. 1439).
In the Siberia Regiment — white;
white buttons.
In the Kazan Regiment — light
raspberry; yellow buttons (Illus. 1439).
In the Kiev Regiment — light
raspberry; white buttons
(72).
14 June 1803 — In the newly formed Dragoon regiments—Courland, New Russia, Borisoglebsk, and Pereyaslavl—collars, cuffs, shoulder straps, and buttons are ordered to be of the following colors:
In the Courland Regiment — turquoise
collar, cuffs, and shoulder straps; yellow buttons (Illus. 1440).
In the New Russia Regiment — turquoise
collar, cuffs, and shoulder straps; white buttons.
In the Borisoglebsk Regiment — violet
collar, cuffs, and shoulder straps; yellow buttons.
In the Pereyaslavl Regiment — violet
collar, cuffs, and shoulder straps; white buttons (Illus. 1440) (73).
18 October 1803 — In Dragoon regiments, all combatant ranks are given helmets in place of hats, of the same pattern as established at this time for Cuirassier regiments. Officers’ hats are ordered to be worn only when off duty (74).
In 1804 — Field and company-grade officers of Dragoon regiments are ordered to have hats of the same pattern as confirmed at this time for Cuirassier and Dragoon regiments, i.e. with a button loop of narrow galloon. These ranks, as well as Generals, are given high plumes, twice as big as before (75).
5 March 1805 — Dragoon regiments are ordered to have pistols that are shorter than before, of the same model as pistols throughout the cavalry (76).
2 September 1805 — For the newly formed Dragoon regiments: Livonia and Zhitomir, collars, cuffs, and shoulder straps are prescribed to be red with white piping, while buttons are: for the first — yellow (Illus. 1441), and for the second — white (77).
20 June 1806 — In the newly formed Finland and Mitau Dragoon Regiments, collars, cuffs, and shoulder straps are prescribed to be white with red piping, while buttons are: in the first — yellow (Illus. 1442), in the second — white (78).
1 July 1806 — There is the same change in the uniforms of regimental doctors as described above for Army infantry and Cuirassier regiments (79).
1 October 1806 — Warm coats are withdrawn from lower ranks in Dragoon regiments (80).
2 December 1806 — Lower ranks are ordered to cut off their queues, leaving their hair cut short under a comb. In this regard, however, generals and field and company-grade officers are allowed to proceed according to their own wishes (81).
16 December 1806 — With their light-green coats, newly formed Dragoon regiments are ordered to have:
Tiraspol
— light-green collar with red lining and crimson piping; red cuffs and
shoulder straps; yellow buttons (Illus. 1443).
Yamburg
— light-green collar with red lining and crimson piping; red cuffs and
shoulder straps; white buttons.
Nezhin
— light-green collar with turquoise lining and piping; turquoise cuffs
and shoulder straps; yellow buttons (Illus. 1444).
Arzamas
— light-green collar with turquoise lining and piping; turquoise cuffs
and shoulder straps; white buttons.
Serpukhov — light-green
collar with yellow lining and piping; yellow cuffs, shoulder straps, and
buttons (Illus. 1445).
Dorpat
— light-green collar with yellow lining and piping; yellow cuffs and
shoulder straps; white buttons.
In all these regiments, the greatcoat’s shoulder straps and collar piping are prescribed to be the same color as on the coat (82).
These regiments, just as all other Dragoon regiments, except those in the Caucasus Inspectorate which have sabers (Vladimir, Nizhnii-Novgorod, Taganrog, Narva, and Borisoglebsk), receive new-pattern broadswords and swordbelts: the first item — with all-iron scabbards and brass hilts; and the second — with two slings, as for cuirassiers (Illus. 1442, 1443, 1444, 1445, and 1446). A new pattern of boot is also given, without a cut-out indentation in the back, and higher than before, up to under the knee (Illus. 1442, 1443, 1444, and 1445) (83).
17 September 1807 — Generals and field and company-grade officers of Dragoon regiments are ordered to wear epaulettes on both shoulders, patterned after those described above for Cuirassier regiments, but in gold or silver according to the color of the buttons (Illus. 1446) (84). Around this same time canes are discontinued for officers and noncommissioned officers (85).
7 November 1807 — In all Dragoon regiments, the light-green color of the coat is changed to dark green (86).
26 January 1808 — When in parades, on holidays officially listed on the table, and, in general, whenever troops are gathered, both in peace and in war, generals of Dragoon regiments are ordered to wear the newly established standard general-officer’s uniform, but when in regimental uniform and not on duty, they are to have dark-green pants instead of white (87).
21 February 1808 — All Dragoon regiments are ordered to have saddlecloths [valtrapy] of a new pattern: dark green, with trim, piping, monogram, and crown in the same color as the collar (88).
12 November 1808 — On ordinary days, Dragoon officers are allowed to wear dark-green pants (89). In this same year for these officers, there are introduced surtouts [sertuki] following the pattern confirmed for regiments of Army infantry and Cuirassiers, with a collar and cuffs of the same color as on the dress coat (90).
26 November 1808 — Combatant lower ranks of Dragoon regiments are given plumes for their helmets of the new pattern confirmed at this same time for Cuirassier regiments (Illus. 1447). Officers are prescribed to have such plumes only when on campaign, and during the rest of the time their plumes are to remain of the previous style introduced on 18 October, 1803 (91).
11 February 1809 — In place of their previous hats and forage caps with tassels, noncombatant lower ranks not holding noncommissioned officer rank are given new-pattern caps [shapki] identical to those which at this same time are introduced for Grenadier regiments, except that they are completely dark green with red piping around the edges of the band (92).
4 April 1809 — noncommissioned officers are ordered to have galloon sewn not on the bottom and side edges of the collar, but on the top and side edges (93).
8 April 1809 — The slings [pogonnye remni] on musketoons are ordered to be of a new pattern, as established at this same time for muskets in the infantry (94).
8 June 1809 — The plumage on generals’ hats is discontinued and the former style of buttonhole loop is replaced by a new one, made of four thick twisted cords of which the two middle ones are intertwined in braid-like fashion (95).
13 August 1809 — Instead of one shoulder strap, lower ranks in Dragoon regiments are ordered to have two (Illus. 1448) (96).
14 November 1809 — Lower ranks of Dragoon regiments are ordered to have the skirts and tails of their dress coats shorter than before, like those of cuirassier kolet coats (Illus. 1448) (97).
16 June 1810 — Musketoons and pistols for Dragoon regiments are ordered to be made according to the newly confirmed pattern. Both of these, and infantry muskets, are of identical caliber (seven lines, measured in English inches [i.e. 0.7 inches — M.C.]), and along with this the first of these are prescribed to no longer be called musketoons, but Dragoon muskets [Dragunskiya ruzhya] (98). In this same year the plumes on generals’ and officers’ hats are shortened (99).
16 September 1811 — In Dragoon regiments, combatant lower ranks’ buckles, cross pieces, and end pieces on the belts for the cartridge pouch, as well as the hook for the musket and the ring on the cartridge pouch, are all discontinued, while the cartridge pouches themselves are ordered to be worn in the manner of infantry pouches, i.e. passing the ends of the crossbelt underneath the cartridge pouch (Illus. 1448) (100).
23 September 1811 — New-pattern forage caps are confirmed for lower ranks of Dragoon regiments, identical with those established at this time for Grenadier and Musketeer regiments, with the band in the same color as the coat collar and with the squadron number. Officers wear the same cap, but without a number and with a visor of black lacquered leather (101).
11 November 1811 — The following Dragoon regiments are prescribed colors:
Taganrog
and Narva — dark-green collar, with rose piping; rose cuffs and
shoulder straps; rose piping, trim, and monogram on the saddlecloth; yellow
buttons for the first regiment (Illus. 1448), and white for the
second.
Vladimir
and Nizhnii-Novgorod — dark-green collar, with white piping;
white cuffs and shoulder straps; white piping, trim, and monogram on the
saddlecloth; yellow buttons for the first regiment (Illus. 1449), and white
for the second.
Borisoglebsk and
Pereyaslavl — dark-green collar, with raspberry piping; raspberry
cuffs and shoulder straps; raspberry piping, trim, and monogram on the
saddlecloth; yellow buttons for the first regiment (Illus. 1450), and white
for the second. (102).
5 December 1811 — The kettledrummers in Dragoon regiments are discontinued (103).
11 December 1811 — In place of the uniform they have had since 1802, noncombatant lower ranks are given a new one identical to that established at this time for noncombatant lower ranks in Grenadier and Musketeer regiments (104).
12 April 1812 — Dragoon regiments are ordered to have shoulder straps of the following colors:
1st Cavalry Division: in the Kazan —
light raspberry; Riga — red; Nezhin — turquoise;
Yamburg — red.
2nd Cavalry Division: in the Moscow
— rose; Pskov — flame colored; Ingermanland —
black; Kargopol — flame colored.
3rd Cavalry Division: in the Siberia
— white; Orenburg — black; Irkutsk — white;
Courland — turquoise.
4th Cavalry Division: in the Kharkov
— orange; Kiev — light raspberry; Chernigov —
blue; New Russia — turquoise.
5th Cavalry Division: in the
Starodub — red; Tver — blue; Zhitomir —
red, with white piping; Arzamas — turquoise.
6th Cavalry Division: in the
St.-Petersburg — rose; Seversk — orange;
Kinburn — yellow; Livonia — red, with white
piping.
7th Cavalry Division: in the
Smolensk — yellow; Pereyaslavl — raspberry;
Tiraspol — red; Dorpat — yellow.
8th Cavalry Division: in the
Vladimir — white; Taganrog — rose;
Nizhnii-Novgorod — white, Serpukhov — yellow.
Separate brigades: in the Narva
— rose; Borisoglebsk — raspberry; Finland and
Mitau — white, with red piping (105).
At almost this same time, collars on dress coats and greatcoats in Dragoon regiments are ordered to be worn lower than before, closed with small hooks (Illus. 1451), and the thick plumage on officers’ helmets, prescribed for parades, is completely discontinued (106).
10 November 1812 — Muskets are withdrawn from all Dragoon regiments, and subsequently the only firearms left are pistols, except for flankers (16 in each squadron), who receive rifles [shtutsera] (107).
29 November 1812 — In order to lessen their expenses, officers of Dragoon regiments are allowed to have: instead of gold and silver appointments on their uniforms — bronze, colored yellow or white; instead of silver sashes and swordknots — white ones, of linen; and also linen galloon and embroidery on shabracks: instead of gold — orange, and instead of silver — white (108).
27 December 1812 — The newly added squadrons to the establishments of Dragoon regiments are ordered to have tassels and rings on their swordknots: 6th — red; 7th Replacement [Zapasnyi] — white with a mixture of red (109).
20 May 1814 — The campaign riding trousers with buttons, used by Dragoon officers since 1802, are replaced by new ones: grey as before, with two wide stripes and piping, of the same color as the dress coat’s collar, and without leather on the inner seams (Illus. 1452) (110).
19 August 1814 — Similar riding trousers, except with leather on the seams, are given to lower ranks of Dragoon regiments (Illus. 1453) (111).
30 August 1814 — The Kiev Dragoon Regiment is ordered to have, on the helmet plate above the eagle, a brass shield with the inscription: “Za otlichie” [“For Excellence”], following the pattern for similar badges in the Army infantry (Illus. 1454) (112).
14 September 1814 — Each Dragoon regiment is given 1120 muskets, separate from the 112 rifles in use since 1812 (113), and in this same year a white tape is added to the cockade on officers’ hats, this later being changed to silver (114).
16 August 1815 — The gold lace-bars on officers’ coats in the Riga Dragoon Regiment, worn since 1802, are abolished (115).
16 December 1815 — In Dragoon regiments, trumpeters are to have grey horses, and other ranks — dark colors (116).
1 February 1816 — Dragoon regiments are to have the following colors for collars, cuffs, and buttons (117):
In
the Kargopol — red collar
and cuffs; white buttons (Illus. 1455).
— Riga— red collar and cuffs; yellow buttons.
— Kazan— raspberry collar and cuffs; yellow buttons
(Illus. 1456).
— Kiev— raspberry collar and cuffs; white buttons.
— Narva— orange collar and cuffs; white buttons.
— Kharkov— orange collar and cuffs; yellow buttons.
— Moscow— rose collar and cuffs; white buttons (Illus.
1456).
— St.-Petersburg— rose collar and cuffs; yellow
buttons.
— Smolensk— yellow collar and cuffs; yellow buttons
(Illus. 1457).
— Kinburn— yellow collar and cuffs; white buttons.
— Finland— white collar and cuffs; yellow buttons
(Illus. 1457).
— Mitau— white collar and cuffs; white buttons.
— Ingermanland— light-blue [svetlosinii] collar
and cuffs; white buttons (Illus. 1458).
— Tver— light-blue collar and cuffs; yellow buttons.
— Courland— turquoise, or sky-blue [goluboi],
collar and cuffs; yellow buttons (Illus. 1458).
— New Russia— turquoise, or sky-blue, collar and cuffs;
white buttons.
— Nizhnii-Novgorod— brick collar and cuffs; white
buttons (Illus.
1459).
18 September 1816 — Dragoons are given a new pattern of straight spurs (118).
28 February 1817 — Officers of Dragoon regiments are ordered to have cartridge pouches of the pattern for Horse-Jägers, of black, lacquered leather, with a silver cover decorated with a gold eagle, on a crossbelt trimmed with gold or silver galloon (according to the color of the buttons), with a silver belt plate and pair of prickers and chains (Illus. 1460) (119). In this same month, all Dragoon regiments are given a new uniform as follows:
1.Shako [kiver] of
the pattern established on 17 September, 1817, for Grenadier regiments, except
with a red pompon [repeek], a white plume, and metallic appointments
according to the color of the buttons (Illus. 1461). For privates, the base
of the plume, and for noncommissioned officers the top, has black hair thinly
mixed with orange; trumpeters and staff-trumpeters have the same plumes,
but with red hair instead of white.
2.Coat [mundir],
single-breasted, of dark-green cloth, with nine buttons; collar and cuffs
in the colors laid down on 1 February, 1816; trim on the skirts and piping
the same color as the collar; two buttons on each cuff; coat lining of red
kersey; epaulettes: yellow worsted when buttons are yellow, and white when
buttons are white (Illus. 1461 and 1462).
3.Riding trousers
[reituzy] of dark-green cloth, with broad stripes and piping the same
color as the collar; with one button at the bottom, and with sewn-on boot
cuffs [kragi] (Illus. 1461 and 1462).
4.Saber [sablya]
and swordbelt [portupeya] with small hook; of the pattern
used at this time in the Horse Artillery (Illus. 1461 and 1463).
5.Gloves (only for
noncommissioned officers), short, without gauntlets (Illus. 1463).
Officers are prescribed the same uniform, with the usual distinctions differentiating them from lower ranks (120).
Regimental colors distinguishing the Dragoon regments among themselves are at this time as follows:
1st Dragoon
Division
In the Moscow — rose, white
buttons (Illus. 1461).
— Kargopol — red, white buttons
(Illus. 1461).
— Kinburn — yellow; white buttons
(Illus. 1462).
— New Russia — sky blue; white
buttons (Illus. 1462).
2nd
Dragoon Division
In the Kazan — raspberry,
yellow buttons (Illus. 1463).
—
Riga — red, yellow buttons (Illus. 1464).
—
Tver — light blue; yellow buttons (Illus. 1464).
—
Finland — white; yellow buttons (Illus. 1464).
3rd Dragoon
Division
In the St.-Petersburg —
rose, yellow buttons (Illus. 1465).
—
Kharkov — orange, yellow buttons (Illus. 1465).
—
Smolensk — yellow; yellow buttons (Illus. 1466).
—
Courland — sky blue; yellow buttons (Illus. 1467).
4th Dragoon
Division
In the Ingermanland —
light blue, white buttons (Illus. 1468).
—
Narva — orange, white buttons (Illus. 1469).
—
Kiev — raspberry; white buttons (Illus. 1469).
—
Mitau — white; white buttons (Illus. 1470)
(121).
14 March 1817 — Field and company-grade officers of Dragoon regiments, when in formation with troops or when wearing sashes, are ordered to be in dress coats with short tails and wearing cartridge pouches (122).
16 April 1817 — Dragoon regiments which have received badges for distinction [znaki otlichiya] are ordered to have them of the same pattern that is established for the infantry, i.e. in the form of a shield (123).
6 May 1817 — Trumpeters of Dragoon regiments are ordered to have wings [kryltsy] on their coats in the same color as the collar (Illus. 1471) (124).
16 February 1819 — For Dragoon regiments, when on campaign, covers [chekhly] are established for shakos and plumes, of raven’s duck or Flemish linen, painted with black oil-paint, in the manner of oilskin (Illus. 1472), so that they do not allow water to pass through them. Detailed directives in this regard include the following:
“1. About the shako cover: the plume, cords, and pompon are removed from the shako (more is said below about the first item), and the remaining items are stored in the valise. The cover is put over the shako with visor, sewn to fit closely to it, with an overlap on the left side and fastening with small hooks. Over the cover, in the place where the pompon should be, is sewn a piece of cloth, of the same color as the pompon, and a shaped piece of wood is inserted here under the cover. In order to differentiate squadrons [eskadrony], squadron numbers in yellow cloth are sewn onto the front of the shako covers: in the first squadron a Cyrillic 1.E., in the second — 2.E. and so on. The size of these numbers is 2 1/4 inches. To protect the rear of the soldier’s head and his ears, there must be sewn onto the lower edge of the cover, in back, a piece of oilskin, painted on both sides, whose width is defined by the ends of the visor, and whose length by the height of the shako. In good weather this piece of oilskin in folded up and its side edges fastened to the shako cover with small hooks; in rainy weather, however, it is let down and in this manner protects the soldier from the wet.”
“2. About the cover for the plume: the cover for the plume is to be 21 inches long, i.e. 1 3/4 inches longer than the plume itself, while its width is to be the same as the plume, and on both ends it has openings that can be tied and closed by small cords passed through it. Two leather loops are sewn onto this cover, lengthwise to the ends; the plume in its cover, with its upper end to the right and the loops underneath, is put into the valise on the horse, behind the saddle, and is held fast by two straps of this valise, passed through the above mentioned loops.”
“3. About cleaning the covers for the shako and plume: these covers are to be cleaned with a brush, rubbing with a strong wax boot polish, so that they have a glossy luster; the cloth numbers and letters, though, are to be cleaned with ocher (125).”
20 February 1820 — Shakos in Dragoon regiments, instead of hair plumes, are ordered to have small oblong woollen plumes [sultanchiki] or pompons [pompony]; yellow or white, according to the color of the buttons (gold or silver for officers) (Illus. 1473) (126).
18 April 1820 — These pompons are discontinued (127).
7 August 1820 — Generals who are assigned to Dragoon divisions, and field and company-grade officers of Dragoon regiments, are allowed to wear moustaches (128).
29 March 1825 — Sewn-on chevrons on the left sleeve are established for combatant lower ranks who have rendered faultless service: for 10 years service — one, for 15 years — two, and for 20 years — three, one above the other; all of yellow tape (129).
At the end of EMPEROR ALEXANDER I’s reign, it was ordered that horses be of the following colors in each regiment:
In the first regiments of each division (Moscow, Kazan,
St.-Petersburg, and Ingermanland) — sorrels.
In the second regiments — (Kargopol, Riga, Kharkov, and
Narva) — blacks.
In the third regiments — (Kinburn, Tver, Smolensk, and
Kiev) — grey.
In the fourth regiments — (New Russia, Finland, Courland,
and Mitau) — chestnuts (130).
17 December 1812 — The Horse-Jäger regiments renamed from Dragoons are ordered to have uniforms, weapons, and horse furniture as follows:
Coat [mundir] — dark green, of the pattern of the current cuirassier kolet coats; with similar dark-green collars, with piping on the edges of the collar, shoulder straps, pointed cuffs, and with trim on the skirts and tails, all in each regiment’s particular color, and with white buttons (Illus. 1474).
Pants [pantalony] — dark green, with wide stripes, piping, covered buttons at the bottom, and a cord for fastening these buttons, in the same color as the piping and cuffs on the coat (Illus. 1474).
Shako [kiver] — of the same pattern and shape as that used at this time in Grenadier regiments, except with a white metallic buttonloop and black cockade with orange edges, in place of a small grenade; with a green pompon — instead of red; with similar green cords — instead of white, and with a white plume, instead of black, with a black and orange bottom (Illus. 1474).
Saber [sabli] — of the pattern in use at this time by Hussars; with an iron hilt and scabbard fittings (Illus. 1474).
Swordbelt [pourtupeya] — of the pattern introduced a short time before in the Horse Artillery; with a small hook in front instead of a buckle (Illus. 1474).
Carbines [karabiny], bandoliers [pantalery], cartidge-pouch belts [lyadunochnyya perevyazi], saddles [sedla], and saddlecloths [valtrapy] — following the patterns in use at this time in Lancer regiments; the last items being dark green, with trim and a monogram the same color as the piping and cuffs on the coat (Illus. 1474) (131).
Noncommissioned officers [unter-ofitsery] are distinguished by silver galloon on the collar and cuffs; by the swordknots, pompons, and shako-cord tassels prescribed for this rank in other regiments; by plume tops of black and orange, and by gloves. They do not have carbines or bandoliers (Illus. 1475 and 1476) (132).
Trumpeters [trubachi] — wearing the the same uniform as privates, they are distinguished from them by white chevrons on the coat and red plumes instead of white (Illus. 1477) (133).
Staff-trumpeters [shtab-trubachi] — compared with the preceding squadron trumpeters, these have the same distinctions as do noncommissioned officers compared to privates (Illus. 1478) (134).
Officers [ofitsery] — wearing the same colors and pattern of uniform as privates, they are distinguished from them, as in other regiments, by their pompons, shako cords, swordknots, sashes, and silver monograms and crowns on the saddlecloths. They have cartridge pouches that are the same as those given in 1817 to officers in Dragoon regiments (Illus. 1479 and 1480). Besides this they are authorized dark-green frock coats, with white buttons, and piping on the collar, cuffs, and pockets that is the same color as the piping on the dress coat (135).
The prescribed colors for piping, shoulder straps, cuffs, pants stripes, and trim on the saddlecloth are as follows:
In the Livonia Regiment— red (Illus. 1474).
— Pereyaslavl — — raspberry (Illus. 1475).
— Seversk —
— orange (Illus. 1476).
— Dorpat — — rose (Illus. 1477).
— Tiraspol — — yellow (Illus. 1478).
— Chernigov —
— blue [sinii] (Illus. 1479)
— Arzamas — — light blue [svetlosinii] (Illus.
1480) (Note: The same color as the collar in the L.-Gds. Semenovskii
Regiment.)
— Nezhin —
— sky blue [goluboi] (Illus. 1480) (Note: The same color as the
collar in the Courland Dragoon Regiment.)
(136).
26 June 1814 — Horse-Jäger regiments are ordered to have a single-breasted coat with nine buttons, piping down the front and over to the tails, the same color as the piping on the collar (Illus. 1481). In this same year, officers of these regiments are allowed to wear grey riding trousers for campaigns, with the same stripes and piping as on the pants (Illus. 1481) (137).
19 August 1814 — Similar riding trousers, except with leather on the legs, are given to lower ranks of Horse-Jäger regiments, and the dark-green pants are kept for parades (138).
30 August 1814 — The Livonia Horse-Jäger Regiment is awarded badges for the shako, inscribed “Za Otlichie”, in the shape of a ribbon and the same color as the helmet plate (Illus. 1482) (139).
In the same year of 1814, the cockades on officers’ and lower ranks’ shakos and on officers’ hats are ordered to have a white ribbon around them, which is later changed to silver (Illus. 1482) (140).
1 February 1816 — In Horse-Jäger regiments, it is ordered that cloth tabs [klapany] be sewn onto the collars of coats and frocks, of the same color as the piping and cuffs, with a white button at the end of each one (Illus. 1483) (141).
7 February 1816 — In Horse-Jäger regiments, piping around the collar and down the front of the coat, cuffs, and trim on the pants, riding trousers, and saddlecloths, are to be as follows:
In the Seversk — orange (Illus. 1483), Chernigov — white (Illus. 1483), Nezhin — turquoise or sky blue (Illus. 1483), Dorpat — rose (Illus. 1484), Pereyaslavl — raspberry (Illus. 1485), Livonia— red (Illus. 1485), Arzamas — light blue (Illus. 1486), Tiraspol — yellow (Illus. 1486) (142).
12 July 1816 — When not in formation with the troops, officers of Horse-Jäger regiments are allowed to wear coats with long tails, as in the infantry, but without horizontal flaps for the pockets (143).
16 July 1816 — The monograms and crowns on the saddlecloths in Horse-Jäger regiments are to be trimmed with white cord (144).
18 September 1816 — In Horse-Jäger regiments, spurs are ordered to be curved instead of straight (145).
8 March 1817 — In Horse-Jäger regiments, the green shako cords are replaced with white ones (146).
17 March 1817 — The undress coat [vitse-mundir] for Horse-Jäger officers, established on 12 July 1816, is to have dark-green trim on the skirts and tails, with piping of the same color as the cuffs (Illus. 1487) (147).
16 April 1817 — In Horse-Jäger regiments the shako is to have a plate of the same pattern as confirmed in this year for Dragoon regiments, and in the Livonia Regiment with a badge for distinction in the form of a shield (Illus. 1488) (148).
6 May 1817 — Trumpeters in Horse-Jäger regiments are ordered to have wings on their coats of the same color as the shoulder straps (Illus. 1488) (149). In this same year, Horse Jägers are given new sabers and new carbines or, as they are called, Horse-Jäger muskets. The first have iron hilts and scabbards, and the second — bayonets (Illus. 1489) (150).
16 February 1819 — Horse-Jäger regiments are to have covers for the shako and plume, identical with those established at this time for Dragoon regiments (151).
4 April 1819 — In Horse-Jäger regiments the dark-green pants are ordered to have sewn-on cuffs of black leather, as for Dragoons (Illus. 1490) (152).
20 February 1820 — Instead of hair plumes, the shakos of Horse-Jäger regiments are to have small oblong plumes or pompons: of white wool for lower ranks, and silver for officers (153).
20 April 1820 — These pompons are abolished (154).
29 March 1825 —For faultless service, chevrons sewn on the left sleeve are established for combatant lower ranks: for 10 years of service — one; for 15 years — two; and for 20 — three, one over the other; all of yellow tape (155).
At the end of EMPEROR ALEXANDER I’sreign, it was ordered that horses in Horse-Jäger regiments be assigned by color:
In the first regiments of each division (Seversk and
Pereyaslavl) — sorrels.
In the second regiments (Chernigov and His Highness the King
of Württemberg’s, formerly the Livonia) —blacks.
In the third regiments (Nezhin and Arzamas) — grey.
In the fourth regiments (Dorpat and Tiraspol) — chestnuts
(156).
30 April 1802 — Confirmation is given to a new table of uniforms, accouterments, and weapons, and on 25 May of this year colors are prescribed and rules laid down, on the basis of which Hussar regiments are to have:
Privates: pelisse [mentiya], dolman [dulaman], chakchiry pants, riding trousers [reituzy], boots [sapogi], neckcloth [galstuk], forage cap [furazhnaya shapka], smock [kitel], cloak [plashch], warm coat [fufaika], shako [kiver], saber with swordknot [sablya s temlyakom], swordbelt [portupeya], sabertache [tashka], sash [poyas], carbine [karabin], shoulder belt [pogonnaya perevyaz], cartridge pouch [lyadunka] with strap, and when mounted — a pair of pistols [pistolety]. Horse furniture and accessories include: saddle [sedlo] with holsters [olstredi], bridl