Uniform of the engineering troops of the Russian army. Russian infantry uniform Military uniform of the Patriotic War of 1812

In 1812, the small arms of the Russian army were not uniform. Despite the fact that since 1809 a single caliber of 17.78 mm was established for smooth-bore flintlock guns, by the beginning of the war the infantry and foot artillery were armed with Russian and foreign guns of 28 different calibers (from 12.7 to 21.91 mm). The 1808 model infantry rifle with a triangular bayonet (2) was the best domestic rifle of this type. It had a smooth barrel with a caliber of 17.78 mm and a length of 114 cm, a percussion flintlock, a wooden stock and a metal device. Its weight (without bayonet) is 4.47 kg, length 145.8 cm (with bayonet 183 cm). The maximum firing range is 300 steps, the average rate of fire is a shot per minute (some virtuoso shooters fired up to six bullets per minute without aiming). The Jaeger regiments still used the 1805 model fitting with a dirk (1), which was canceled in 1808. They were armed with non-commissioned officers and the best shooters (12 people from each company). The Jaeger fitting had a faceted barrel with 8 grooves, a length of 66 cm, a caliber of 16.51 cm. The weight of the fitting (without a cutlass) was 4.09 kg, the total length with a cutlass was 153.7 cm. In terms of range, it was three times superior to a smoothbore gun, but inferior to it in rate of fire (shot in three minutes). In the cuirassier, dragoon and lancer regiments, 16 people of each squadron were armed with a cavalry rifle of the 803 model (3). Its weight is 2.65 kg, caliber 16.51 mm, barrel length 32.26 cm. The hussar regiments have blunderbusses (4) and carbines were also left with only 16 people from the squadron. Cavalrymen, horse artillerymen, pioneers and officers of all branches of the military had pistols of various types (5), most often models of 17.78 mm caliber with a smooth barrel 26-26.5 cm long. The range of these weapons did not exceed 30 steps.

The percussion flintlock was used in small arms from the Napoleonic Wars era as a mechanism for igniting the charge in the barrel. It was attached to the gun with two locking screws through the stock. All its parts were mounted on a key board. On its upper edge in the middle there is a shelf (2) for priming powder, located opposite the priming hole of the barrel. Above the shelf, a flint (3) is mounted on a transverse screw, opposite which a trigger (1) is placed, mounted on a transverse axis passing through the key board. A flint is inserted into the trigger, clamped with two jaws. Behind it on the board there is a safety hook in the form of a hook that protects the trigger from accidental decocking. On the inside of the board there is a mainspring (4), which serves to move the trigger forward. With one, often long, end it rests on the ankle - a semicircular steel part with two hooks that provide safety and combat cocking of the trigger. The trigger is stopped by a sear, one end of which - the release - is perpendicular to the lock board and comes into contact with the trigger, located outside the lock, below the stock. When the trigger is pulled back, the sear enters the first hook, providing a safety cock, and after loading the gun, the trigger is pulled back a little more, and the sear enters the second hook, keeping the hammer cocked. To fire, you must pull the trigger. In this case, the end of the sear will go down and come out of the firing hook, and the ankle, under the action of the mainspring, will turn sharply and push the trigger forward. He will forcefully hit the flint with flint, which will recoil from the impact, and the sparks generated when the flint hits the steel plate will ignite the gunpowder on the seed shelf. The fire through the seed will ignite the main charge of gunpowder in the barrel.

The combat bladed weapon of officers and generals of the Russian infantry, foot artillery and engineering troops was the infantry sword of the 1798 model (1) with a single-edged straight blade 86 cm long and 3.2 cm wide. The total length of the sword is 97 cm, weight (in sheath) 1, 3 kg. The hilt consisted of a wooden handle with a head and a metal guard wrapped in twisted wire. Privates and non-commissioned officers of the foot forces had a cleaver model 1807 (2 and 3) in a leather sheath, worn on an elk sling over the right shoulder, as a cutting and piercing bladed weapon. It consisted of a single-edged blade 61 cm long, 3.2 cm wide and a copper hilt. Its total length is 78 cm, weight up to 1.2 kg. A lanyard formed from braid and a brush consisting of a nut, a wooden trynchik (colored ring), a neck and a fringe was tied to the handle of the hilt under the head. The braid and fringe in the infantry were white, and the remaining details of the lanyard were colored to indicate company and battalion distinctions. The Russian foot soldier kept ammunition for his gun in a cartridge bag (4-6), worn on a 6.7 cm wide elk sling over his left shoulder. The black leather bag contained 60 paper cartridges, each of them had a lead bullet weighing 23.8 g (for a gun of the 1808 model) and a powder charge (9.9 g) inside. On the rectangular lid of the cartridge pouch was attached a plaque made of yellow copper (for the pioneers - from tinplate), which differed in shape in different branches and types of troops. Thus, the Guards heavy infantry had a badge with St. Andrew's Star (4), the grenadiers had a badge in the form of a grenade with three flaming lights (6), and the army rangers had copper numbers corresponding to the regiment number.

The Russian heavy cavalry in 1812 had several types of broadswords with single-edged blades as combat melee weapons. Among the dragoons, the most common broadsword was the 1806 model (1), carried in a wooden sheath covered with leather, with a metal device. Blade length 89 cm, width up to 38 mm, total length (with hilt, in sheath) 102 cm, weight 1.65 kg. In addition to this sample, older models from the end of the 15th century were also used, as well as “Tsar’s” (Austrian) broadswords issued in 1811 to some dragoon regiments from the Kyiv and Moscow arsenals.
The cuirassiers were armed with army and guards broadswords of the 1798, 1802 (cavalry guard) and 1810 models with steel scabbards and two rings for the belt belts. The broadsword of 1798 (3) consisted of a blade 90 cm long, about 4 cm wide and a hilt that had a guard with a cup and four protective bows and a head in the form of a bird's head. The total length of the broadsword is 107 cm, weight 2.1 kg. The 1810 cuirassier broadsword (2) differed from the previous sample in its greater length (111 cm, including a 97 cm blade) and the shape of the hilt.
In the Russian light cavalry of the Napoleonic wars, two types of sabers were used - 1798 and 1809. The saber of the first model (4) was usually worn in a wooden sheath, covered with leather, with a metal slotted device that covered almost the entire surface of the sheath (there could also be a steel sheath). The total length of the saber is about a meter, the blade length is 87 cm, the width is up to 4.1 cm and the curvature is on average 6.5/37 cm. The saber of the 1809 model (5) by 1812 almost replaced the previous model. It had a blade 88 cm long, up to 3.6 cm wide with an average curvature of 7/36.5 cm. Its total length was 103 cm, weight (in a steel sheath) 1.9 kg.

The pikes used by the Russian light cavalry in 1812-1814 were very diverse. This was especially true for the Cossack peaks, which did not have regulated models. The dimensions of the steel combat tip, the length and diameter of the shaft of the Cossack pikes were arbitrary, they had only one characteristic feature - there was no inflow or veins at the combat tip (2-4). In 1812, cavalry regiments of the provincial militia were also armed with similar weapons (1); in other cases, they received pikes preserved from the zemstvo militia of 1807 (7).
Since 1806, the Uhlans were armed with a cavalry pike (5 and 6), which differed from the Cossack one in having a longer combat tip (12.2 cm) with a tube and long veins. In addition, it had a blunt underflow. Its shaft was thinner than that of a Cossack pike, and was painted in black color. The total length of the Uhlan pike was on average 2.8-2.85 m. A fabric badge was attached to the pike - a weather vane, by the color of which one could identify a particular Uhlan regiment, and within the regiment - a battalion. During an attack on horseback, the weather vanes on the peaks lowered “for battle” whistled piercingly and hummed in the oncoming air streams, exerting a psychic effect on the enemy. Until the summer of 1812, the riders of the first rank of eight army hussar regiments were armed with lances of the Ulan type, but without weathervanes. Thus, almost all of the Russian light cavalry during the Patriotic War was lance-carrying, surpassing Napoleon’s cavalry in this type of weapon.

In 1802-1811, Russian cuirassiers did not wear cuirass, and only on January 1, 1812, a decree was issued on the production of this safety equipment for them. By July 1812, all cuirassier regiments received a new type of cuirass, made of iron and covered with black paint (1). The cuirass consisted of two halves - the chest and the back, fastened with two belts with copper tips, riveted to the back half at the shoulders and fastened on the chest with two copper buttons. The rank and file have these helpers belts had iron scales, while the officers had copper scales. The edges of the cuirass were lined with red cord, and the inside was lined with white canvas lined with cotton wool. Cuirass height 47 cm, chest width 44 cm, back 40 cm, weight 8-9 kg. The cuirass protected the rider's body from blows and thrusts from bladed weapons, as well as from bullets fired from a distance of more than 50 steps.
Cuirassier trumpeters had copper pipes and wore them on a silver cord mixed with black and orange threads (2). The award trumpets of St. George, which were available in some regiments, were silver, with the image of the cross of the Military Order of St. George and decorated with the St. George ribbon with silver tassels (3). The cuirassier kept ammunition for small arms in a black leather bag - a small bag (for 30 rounds). A badge was attached to its lid: in the guards regiments in the form of St. Andrew's Star (4), and in most army regiments - a round copper one, with the image of a double-headed eagle (5).

The 1808 model helmet, worn by Russian dragoons and cuirassiers during World War II, was made of black patent leather. It has two leather visors, the front one is edged with a copper rim. Crown height helmets was 22-26 cm, a leather crest was attached to it on top, rising 10 cm in front. On the front of the crown there was a copper forehead with a stamped coat of arms: in the army dragoon regiments it was a double-headed eagle (1), in the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment - a star Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (3). On the ridge helmets a plume of black horsehair was attached. The trumpeters had it red(2). On the sides helmets- fasteners in the form of belts with sewn copper scales.
The dragoon's horse gear (4) consisted of a black Hungarian saddle with bushmats of a black belt device. The dark green cloth saddle pad (over the saddle) had rounded edges, its trim, edging and monograms in the rear corners were regimental color. The length and width of the saddle pad (at the back) are 111 cm. Attached to the saddle are a suitcase made of gray cloth 59 cm long, 22.25 cm wide, a dragoon bevel gun, a canvas bag and a water-bearing flask .

Russian hussars were girded with a sash (1), which was a mesh of colored cords with interceptions of a different color. In addition to the sash, the hussars wore a belt made of red yuft on their belts, from which a saber was suspended from two belts, and a hussar tashka from the other three. The tashka was a leather pocket, covered on the outside with cloth of a certain color, with the monogram of Alexander I sewn on it, a stripe and piping of a different color. Thus, in the Belorussian, Izyum and Sumy hussar regiments, the tashka was covered with red cloth and had a white lining (3); the Life Hussars had a special type of lining (2).
Ordinary hussars stored ammunition for small arms in a red leather bag (for 20 rounds), which they wore on a red belt (5) over the left shoulder. A pantaler was worn over the sling (a sling to which the carbine or blunderbuss). Hussar officers had metal lids, silvered or gilded, with the image of an eagle. In the Life Guards Hussar Regiment, the officer's chest had a lid covered with blue morocco, with a gilded plaque in the shape of St. Andrew's Star (4).

The Cossacks' combat headdress in 1812 was a cap made of black lamb fur, 22.25 cm high, with a colored cloth top (an overlap on the right side in the form of a tongue) and a white (yellow for the Life Cossacks) etiquette of the infantry type (1 and 2). On the left, the cap was decorated with a tall plume of white horsehair. During the campaign, however, most Cossacks wore cloth caps or hats unshaped samples.
The ammunition of the Cossack troops was very diverse. Along with black (the Life Cossacks had white) baldrics and pantalers (3), they used Asian equipment: narrow belts with a metal set, as well as silk or wool laces and braid. Horse attire (4) consisted of a Cossack saddle (with a higher pommel and cushion), a harness and a dark blue cloth saddle with a colored border. A suitcase, a bag, a sheepskin coat twisted into a roll, and a long rope (lasso) were tied to the saddle.

In 1812, Cossack troops (with the exception of the Guards Cossacks) were, as a rule, armed with unregulated sabers (1). Along with the light cavalry saber of the 1809 model, various domestic models of the 18th century were used, as well as all kinds of Asian, Hungarian, Polish and other foreign types of sabers. They were worn in a wooden sheath, covered with leather, with a copper or iron device. Charges and bullets for firearms Cossack kept in a leather little bottle (3), worn on a black sash, to which the metal monogram of Alexander I in a wreath and a chain were attached to the front. The officers of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment had a baldric made of red yuft, sewn with silver thread on the outside, and on the lid of the canopy there was a silver eight-pointed star (2).

Soldiers of the engineering troops in 1812 were armed with a sapper cleaver model 1797 (1), consisting of a steel, slightly curved blade (length 50 cm, width up to 8.5 cm) with a butt in the form saws(the number of teeth reached 49) and the hilt, which consisted of a wooden handle and an iron cross with upward-curved ends. The total length of the cleaver is about 70 cm, weight up to 1.9 kg. The scabbard is wooden, covered with leather, with a metal device. Such a cleaver could be used simultaneously as a military weapon and an entrenchment tool. For various excavation, construction and procurement work in the Russian army they used: an iron entrenching shovel with a shaft 71 cm long and a blade 23x29 cm (3), an ax on an ax handle 73 cm long (7) and a pickaxe (5). Each infantry company was provided with ten shovels, twenty axes and five picks. The pioneer regiments used Sapper shovel(6), crowbar (4) and ax with hook (2). With the help of entrenching tools, Russian troops in 1812 erected earthen fortifications of the Drissa camp, redoubts, flashes and lunettes of the Borodino position and many other defensive structures.

By order of the War Ministry of January 26, 1808, special sewing in the form of golden oak branches was introduced on collars and cuffs of generals' uniforms. The same sewing was placed on the cuff flaps and on the horizontal pocket flaps at the back waist seam. It was stipulated that collars, cuffs, tails and lining of general's uniforms are made of scarlet cloth, and the uniforms themselves, cuff flaps and pocket flaps are sewn from dark green cloth, like most Russian military uniforms. The distinction of the rank of general was also epaulets, introduced by order of September 17, 1807. They were made from gold thread and yarn on a red cloth base. The round fields of the epaulettes were woven with a double row of twisted gold rope: the row running along the inner contour of the epaulette field was about 6.5 mm thick, and the outer row was made of a rope about 13 mm thick. Along the edges of the epaulette fields hung a fringe made of a thick cord, and the edges of the epaulette flaps were trimmed with gold braid. The same epaulets generals wore it on their everyday uniforms, as well as on regimental uniforms, if they were assigned to one or another, most often guards, regiments.
Uniforms with general's embroidery were supposed to be worn while in the ranks, at parades and reviews of troops. The same general embroidery, but in silver, was adopted by 1812 to be worn on the uniforms of garrison service generals and on the checkmen of the generals of the Don Cossack Army.

In 1812, headquarters and chief officers of the Russian army and navy wore epaulets, introduced in 1807. The flaps of the epaulettes were trimmed with narrow braid the color of a metal device, and the fields were braided with a double row of twisted cord (1). The epaulette fields of officers who served in the artillery and pioneer companies had at the edges one strand about 19 mm thick, wrapped in metal foil and thin mesh (2). Staff officers (majors, lieutenant colonels, colonels) had a 6-6.5 mm thick fringe hanging down the edges of their epaulettes (3). The epaulettes of officers serving in the Guard, army cavalry regiments, quartermaster service and field engineering teams were gold or silver. Epaulettes officers of army infantry regiments, foot and horse artillery, and pioneer companies had cloth tops for flaps and brims. Epaulettes field artillery officers were made of red cloth, braids and plaits were made of gold, and on the epaulette field the number and letter of the company were sewn from golden cord. Pioneer officers' braids, plaits and cords from which the regimental number was sewn were silver. For officers of the grenadier regiments, the top of the epaulette was made of red cloth with gold braid and cords, and on the brim of the epaulette the capital letter of the name of the regiment was sewn from thin cord. In the first regiments of the infantry divisions, the top of the epaulette was made of red cloth, in the second - from white, in the third - from yellow, in the fourth - from dark green with red piping, and on the epaulette fields the number of the division to which it belonged was sewn from golden cord. the regiment entered.
The burrs on the shakos of the chief officers were made of silver thread (4), and those of the staff officers were embroidered with silver sequins (5).

By 1812, there was a clear regulation of the signs worn on the front of the shakos in the guards and army regiments. In the regiments of the Guards infantry - Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, Izmailovsky, Yegersky and Finlyandsky - they wore a sign on their shakos in the form of a double-headed eagle with a laurel wreath in the right paw and with a torch and lightning bolts in the left. On the eagle's chest - shield with the image of St. George (1). These signs were introduced on April 16, 1808. The same signs were given to the Life Guards Hussar Regiment. In the Life Guards Lithuanian Regiment, the signs were of the same type, but on. Instead of St. George's shield, a Lithuanian horseman was depicted.
On the shakos of the Guards artillerymen there were signs in the form of Guards eagles, under which there were crossed cannon barrels (2), and in the Guards naval crew formed on February 16, 1810, the eagles on the shakos were superimposed on crossed anchors (3). On December 27, 1812, the Life Guards Sapper Battalion was formed; it was given shako badges in the form of guards eagles, under which were crossed hatchets (4).
In the grenadier regiments, the shako sign was the image of a copper “grenade (grenade) with three lights” (6). The same “grenadians” were on the shakos of officers and lower ranks of the mining companies of the 1st and 2nd pioneer regiments, but not copper, but made of white metal. The naval regiments and column leaders also had “three-light grenades” on their shakos. In the infantry and ranger regiments, the shako badges were “one-fire grenades” (5), made of copper for the lower ranks and gilded for the officers. Officers and lower ranks Pioneer companies had the same grenades on their shakos, but made of white metal (7), and army field artillerymen wore an emblem in the form of crossed cannon barrels on their shakos.

For the ranks of the imperial retinue - adjutant generals and adjutant wings - at the beginning of the reign of Alexander I on collars and for the cuffs of uniforms, sewing of a special design was introduced, established under Paul 1; for adjutant generals, gold (1), for wing adjutants (staff and chief officers appointed to be in the tsar’s retinue) of the same design, but silver. If the adjutant general and the adjutant wing served in the cavalry, they wore white cavalry-cut uniforms with red collars and split cuffs; they had sewing on the collars in one row, on the cuffs in two rows. Adjutant generals and adjutants in the infantry, artillery and engineering troops wore dark green uniforms with red collars and cuffs, which had dark green flaps. Sewing on the collar was also in one row, and on the cuff flaps - in three rows against each buttons .
Generals and officers of the quartermaster service (as the general staff was called in 1812) also had gold embroidery on their collars and cuffs with a special design in the form of intertwined palm leaves (2), on the collars - in one row, on the cuffs - in two rows. The headquarters and chief officers of the Don Cossack Army had silver embroidery on the collars and cuffs of their checkmen, similar to the retinue, but with a slightly different design (3). The same sewing was on the collars and cuffs of officer jackets in the Life Guards Cossack Regiment.

In the oldest regiments of the heavy guards infantry - Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, Izmailovsky - even at the beginning of the reign of Alexander I, it was introduced collars and the valves of the cuffs of officer uniforms, sewing a special pattern in each regiment, established in 1800 by Paul I.
In the Preobrazhensky Regiment, the sewing looked like eight oak and laurel branches intertwined. Two such “eights” were worn on each side of the collar and three on each cuff flap (1).
Sewing in the Semenovsky regiment had the form of elongated patterned buttonholes, bordered with a twisted ornament (2). The most complex sewing with weaving in the form of double braids on each buttonhole, ending in the likeness of plumes, was in the Izmailovsky regiment (3). As in the Preobrazhensky Regiment, the sewing of the Semenovsky and Izmailovsky regiments was in two rows on each side of the collar on officer uniforms and in three rows on the cuff flaps.
Non-commissioned officers of all three regiments wore one straight buttonhole made of gold braid on their collars and three small buttonholes on the flaps of their cuffs. In addition, smooth gold braid was sewn along the upper and side edges of the collars and on the edges of the cuff flaps.
Buttonholes the privates had yellow woolen braid, two on their collars and three on the flaps of their cuffs.

In the Lithuanian Life Guards Regiment, formed on November 7, 1811, with red cloth collars, cuffs and lapels, headquarters and chief officers were given gold-embroidered straight lines buttonholes, commonly called coils (1). Two each buttonholes sewn on each side of the collar and three on each cuff flap. Buttonholes By 1812, such uniforms were also worn in the Life Guards Jaeger and Finnish regiments, in the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment and in the Life Guards Garrison Battalion, as well as in the Guards cavalry regiments: Life Guards Horse, Dragoon, Uhlan. The same buttonholes, but embroidered in silver, were worn by military engineers and officers of the Cavalry Regiment. Exactly the same buttonholes were given to officers transferred to the guard for distinguished service in the Patriotic War of 1812 to the Life Guards of the Pavlovsk, Grenadier and Cuirassier regiments. In the Guards naval crew formed on February 16, 1810, officers were given collars and cuff flaps of uniforms, naval officer embroidery that existed since 1803 in the form of anchors entwined with rope and shkerts (thin cables), but along the edges of the collars and cuff flaps a gold braid about 13 mm wide was also sewn (2). In addition to the uniforms that were worn in the ranks and on parades, the officers of the Guards crew had uniforms for everyday wear; there were cuffs on the collars and flaps buttonholes in the form of coils. On March 27, 1809, generals, staff and chief officers serving in the Guards artillery were given gold embroidery in the form of patterned buttonholes of a special design. Two each buttonholes sewn on each side of the collar and three on the cuff flaps (3). The same buttonholes, but embroidered in silver, were given to the officers of the Life Guards Sapper Battalion formed on December 27, 1812.

By 1812, the main headdress of generals, members of the imperial retinue and quartermaster service, military engineers, military doctors and officials were black triangular hats of the 1802 model made of thin dense felt or felt. The front brim of the hat was about 25 cm high, the back brim was about 28 cm, and the side corners of the hat were 13.5 cm from the crown on each side. The brim was sewn to the crown and stitched together at the top. For rigidity, strips of whalebone or metal wire were sewn into the edges of the fields from the inside. On the front field was sewn a round cockade made of black silk with an orange trim and a button on which a braided buttonhole was fastened for headquarters and chief officers (3) or a twisted plait of braided cord for generals (2). Buttonholes on the officers' hats and the harnesses on the general's were the color of the metal device. From above, a plume of rooster feathers was inserted into a special nest: black with an admixture of white and orange for artillerymen, infantrymen, engineers and white with an admixture of orange and black for cavalrymen. Small silver or gold tassels were inserted into the side corners of the hats. The same hats were worn outside of duty by headquarters and chief officers of infantry and cavalry regiments, as well as artillery and pioneer companies. Scarves (1), tied around the waist on the uniforms of generals, staff and chief officers of the army and navy, were introduced under Paul 1. They had the form of nets woven from silver thread, with a mesh of 2-3 mm, with a weave of three rows of black and orange silk threads. The scarf ended in tassels on both sides. The length of the scarf is about 1.4 m, the length of the brush is about 27 cm.

In 1812, to distinguish the ranks of headquarters and chief officers serving in the infantry, artillery and pioneer regiments, insignia of the 1808 model were used: sickle-shaped, with a double convex rim and a double-headed eagle crowned with a crown. Signs were made from thin sheet brass with silver and gilding of the rim, eagle and field of the sign, depending on the rank. So, ensigns had their badges completely silvered, and second lieutenants had gilded rims on their badges. For lieutenants, along with a silver field and rim, the eagle was gilded, and for headquarters captains, only the field of the badge was silver, and the eagle and rim were covered with gold. For captains, on the contrary, the field of the sign was gilded, and the rim and eagle were silver. On major badges the field and rim were gilded, but the eagle remained silver (2). On the insignia of lieutenant colonels, the field and eagle were covered with gold, and only the rim remained silver. The colonels' badges were entirely gilded. The signs were worn on black ribbons with orange borders, threaded into metal ears soldered on the back of the signs.
Officers who served in the Guards Infantry, Life Guards Artillery Brigade and Life Guards Sapper Battalion, established at the end of 1812, had wider insignia in the middle part, and the eagle on them was smaller (1), with laurel and oak branches and the attributes of military glory placed under it.
The difference in the details of the signs, depending on the ranks of the officers of the guards units, was the same as in the army units, with the difference that the ranks of majors and lieutenant colonels were absent in the guards. On the insignia of the chief officers of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments there were also raised images of numbers indicating the date of the battle of Narva - “1700.NO.19.” (November 19, 1700).

By the beginning of the Patriotic War, there were two types of award weapons in the Russian army: golden swords and sabers (1) and Annensky swords and sabers with the insignia of the Order of St. Anna 3rd class (2). The awarding of gold swords and sabers with the inscription “For Bravery” was introduced in 1788: for headquarters and chief officers of the army and navy, swords and sabers with a gilded hilt and an engraved inscription “For Bravery” were intended; for generals, the hilts of swords and sabers were decorated with diamonds and they were also engraved with the inscription “For bravery,” the commanders of armies or individual corps were awarded swords and sabers, the hilts of which were decorated with diamonds, gold laurel wreaths, and the inscription contained the date and place of the battle. Under Paul I, the awarding of golden weapons was abolished. By decree of November 18, 1796, it was stipulated that when the Order of St. Anna for three classes, the 3rd class should be worn on the hilts of infantry swords and cavalry sabers and intended to reward officers for distinction in combat operations. Badge of the Order of St. Anna 3rd class received the form of a round gilded medallion topped with a crown. On the front side of the sign - red enamel cross enclosed in red enamel ring, on the reverse side there is a screw with a nut for attaching the sign to the hilt. The sign measures approximately 25.4 mm in diameter. Alexander I resumed awarding golden weapons in all types, and by decree of September 28, 1807, officers awarded golden weapons were equated with holders of Russian orders. In 1812, 274 people were awarded gold swords and sabers, and 16 people were awarded gold weapons with diamonds for distinguished service in battles with the French. The Annensky weapon became the most widespread award for junior officers. In 1812 alone, 968 people received it.

Even before 1812, among officers awarded with gold and Annen weapons, there was a fashion in which holders of gold swords and sabers with the inscription “For Bravery” wore frames or strips with miniature skewers or sabers on the left side of their uniform, placing folded St. George ribbons under them ( 3). The officers who had Annensky weapons placed an Annensky ribbon under the same frames, sometimes placing a miniature sign of the Order of St. Anna 3rd class (2).
After the Patriotic War of 1812 and the foreign campaign of 1813-1814, when officers received several military awards, including gold or Annen weapons, it became fashionable to wear unique miniature strips or frames depicting award sabers or swords. Crosses and medals made in reduced sizes were hung from the bottom of the slats. This fashion spread most of all among cavalry officers, on whose uniforms there was very little space left for wearing awards of regular size between the edge of the side of the uniform and the shoulder belt. The postcard shows two types of such planks. One of them is made in the form of a miniature saber (1), from which is suspended the badge of the Order of St. Anna 3rd class, combat silver medal for 1812, medal for the capture of Paris and bronze noble medal in memory of 1812. The other bar (4) is made with the image of a saber and the inscription “For bravery”. The badge of the Order of St. Anna 3rd class, silver medal for 1812, a gold officer's cross for the capture of the Turkish fortress of Bazardzhik on May 10, 1810, and a bronze medal in memory of 1812.

The first insignia, awarded by order of April 13, 1813 to the 1st, 5th, 14th and 20th Jaeger Regiments, took the form of small shields made of sheet copper rounded at the bottom with the inscription “For Distinction” (5). The exception was the badges in the form of a metal ribbon, granted to the Akhtyrsky, Mariupol, Belorussian and Alexandrian Hussar regiments by order of September 15, 1813. These signs bore the inscription: “For distinction on August 14, 1813.” (1). As you know, these regiments distinguished themselves that day in the battle on the Katzbach River. By decree of December 22, 1813, a silver medal was established to reward all combat ranks of the army and navy who took part in hostilities with the French from the beginning of their invasion of Russia. medal on St. Andrew's ribbon (3). By decree of August 30, 1814, exactly the same medal, but made of bronze for rewarding officers who took part in the foreign campaign of 1813-1814, as well as for nobles and officials who participated in the formation of militia units and made donations to the army and militia. She was worn on a Vladimir ribbon (4). The same medal, but on the Annensky ribbon it was given to the townspeople and merchants for donations to the militia and the army. Medal“For the Capture of Paris” was also designed by decree of August 30, 1814, but due to the difficulties of the international situation, its coinage followed only after the decree of March 19, 1826. Medal was silver and was worn on a St. Andrew's ribbon (2). In addition to all participants in the capture of the French capital, it was awarded to all participants in the battles of the winter-spring campaign of 1814.

On February 13, 1807, the insignia of the Military Order (soldier's St. George's Cross) was established to reward non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the army and navy for military exploits. It repeated the shape of the sign of the Order of St. George, but was made of silver and worn on a black and orange ribbon (1). For exploits in battles in 1812, 6,783 people were awarded this cross. Before the establishment of the insignia of the Military Order, non-commissioned officers and soldiers who distinguished themselves in battles with the enemy were awarded the insignia of St. Anna. The badge was established on November 12, 1796 and was a round gilded medal(3) with a diameter of about 25 mm, worn on the ribbon of the Order of St. Anna. At the top medals- an image of a crown, and in the center there is an enamel brownish-red cross, enclosed in an enamel ring of the same color. There was also a ring on the reverse side of the badge, where the serial number of the award was engraved. With the establishment of the insignia of the Military Order, the insignia of St. Anna began to reward non-commissioned officers and soldiers for 20 years of “unblemished” service. By decree of August 30, 1814, a silver medal “For Love of the Fatherland” was established to reward the most distinguished militia and partisans (2). They wore it on a Vladimir ribbon. About 80 such medals were distributed. To distinguish officers and lower ranks of the militia, a “militia” cross was established to be worn on hats (4). On August 18, 1813, after the defeat of the French corps of General Vandamme at Kulmomprussky, the king ordered that all Russian officers and soldiers who were in the battle be awarded the so-called Kulm Cross (5). The badges were made directly on the battlefield from captured cuirasses, metal casings of charging boxes and had a look and shape close to the Order of the Iron Cross. About 10,000 of these signs were distributed.

The gun with a conical charging chamber received the name “unicorn” from the mythical animal depicted on the coat of arms of Feldzeichmeister General Shuvalov, which was stamped on the breech of the gun. Since 1805, they stopped using all kinds of decorations, except for friezes, but the name was preserved. Combining the qualities of cannons and howitzers, unicorns successfully fired cannonballs, grenades, and buckshot. This effect was achieved by using a conical-shaped charging chamber and a shorter barrel length compared to guns (1). Reducing the weight of the barrel made it possible to reduce the weight of the carriage, thereby achieving greater maneuverability. The only drawback to both the unicorns and the cannons was the lack of iron axles (introduced in 1845). Wooden axles often broke and needed constant lubrication. For this purpose, each weapon had a cradle bucket with lubricant (3). There was also a second bucket with the gun, containing water (mixed with vinegar) for wetting the banner (2). Horizontal aiming was carried out using rules (4) - right and left, which were inserted into special sockets on the rear pillows carriage. Vertical aiming was carried out using the wedge handle. We aimed using a Kabanov sight, which had to be removed before each shot.
The maximum firing range of a 1/2-pound unicorn is 2300 m, 1/4-pound unicorn is 1500 m, the sighting range (distance of the most effective fire) for a 1/2-pound unicorn is 900-1000 m; for a 1/4-pound unicorn, buckshot was used long-range (cast iron bullets with a diameter of 30.5-49.5 mm) for shooting at distances of 400-500 m and short-range (cast iron bullets with a diameter of 21.6-26 mm) for shooting at distances of 150- 400 m.

In 1802, a commission was organized to transform the artillery under the chairmanship of Arakcheev, which included the famous Russian artillerymen I. G. Gogel, A. I. Kutaisov and X. L. Euler. The commission developed a weapon system called the Arakcheevsky, or system of 1805: a 12-pound gun (1) has a caliber of 120 mm, a barrel weight of 800 kg, a carriage weight of 640 kg; 6-pound gun caliber 95 mm, barrel weight 350 kg, carriage 395 kg; caliber 1/2-pound unicorn (2) 152 mm, barrel weight 490 kg, carriage weight 670 kg; caliber 1/4-powder unicorn 120 mm, barrel weight 335 kg, carriage 395 kg. Since 1802, the sight of A. I. Markevich (3) was introduced into artillery. On a vertical brass plate there was a range scale with divisions from 5 to '30 lines (the distance between the divisions is 2.54 mm). They aimed through a hole in a rectangular plate, which, depending on the target range, was installed on one of the divisions. Then, changing the elevation angle of the barrel, the gunner sighted the target through the hole in the bar, that is, he ensured that the hole in the bar, the front sight and the target were located on the same imaginary line, called the aiming line. Before the shot, the sight plate was lowered towards the barrel. Aiming was carried out by number 4 of the crew.
In the stowed position, to prevent contamination, the gun barrels were covered with wooden plugs on leather straps (4). The ignition holes were covered with lead plates, which were secured with leather straps (5).

To load the guns, special devices were used: a bannik with a hammer (a bristle brush for extinguishing the remains of a smoldering cap, moistened with water and vinegar) - for cylindrical guns (5), for unicorns - conical (4). The cap was sent in with a hammer and compacted. To clean the bore, a scraper with a feather duster (1) was used. Rapid-fire tubes (reeds stuffed with gunpowder pulp) were stored in a tube jar (3). The crew of each gun had two pins (2). A smoldering wick was inserted into the pin's clamp. Since the tip of the fuse was torn off after the shot, the next shot was fired with another finger. In rainy weather, scorching candles were used (a flammable composition was placed in a rolled paper sleeve up to 40 cm long). This candle burned for 5 minutes, which was enough to fire five shots. The candles were stored in a brass “candlestick” (6). A “night light” (7) with a door and three holes in the bottom (for air access) served as a constant source of fire; a wick smoldering in oil was placed inside. The charges were carried in charging bags (9). To clean the ignition hole, we used etching agents - copper and steel, which were worn on the belt of the pouch. In the crew, each artilleryman was assigned a number that determined his duties: No. 1 acted as a bannik, No. 2 carried a charging bag, No. 3 had a pistol and candles, and No. 4 had a pipe bottle and pickles. These artillerymen were called gunners and were required to know all the rules of loading and shooting. The remaining numbers, who served as assistants, were called gandlangers (from German - long-armed). They carried additional charging bags and hooks with a rope cable (8), which were used when rolling and moving guns.

Since 1805, the siege artillery was armed with: 24-, 18- and 12-pound cannons (large proportions), 5-, 2-pound and 6-pound mortars. Siege artillery was organized into battalions of five companies each. Maximum firing range at
elevation angle 25° 5-pound mortar - 2600 m, 2-pound mortar - 2375 m, 6-pound mortar - 1810 m. Mortars were fired from special trenches. In this case, aiming at an invisible target was carried out as follows: they drove into the parapet of the trench
two stakes; a tripod with a plumb line was installed behind the mortar; to eliminate swinging, the plumb line was placed in a bucket of water; a white line was drawn on the barrel of the mortar, parallel to the axis of the bore; moving the stakes along the parapet, they were combined with a plumb line and aimed at the target; then they moved the mortar so that the target, the stakes on the parapet, the white line on the barrel and the plumb line were on the same straight line; the elevation angle was given by a quadrant or cushion of the lifting mechanism, which was a prism of a multifaceted cross-section, with the faces making angles of 30°, 45° and 60° with the horizon; The muzzle of the mortar was lowered onto the edge with the required angle of inclination.
The rate of fire of mortars is one shot in 5-7 minutes. They fired bombs and incendiary shells (brandkugel); they rarely fired cannonballs.
Mortars were transported on special four-wheeled drays.
Mortars were widely used in the 1813 campaign, for example during the siege of Danzig.

The guns of the light artillery companies (1/4-pound unicorn, 6-pound cannon) had limbers with boxes for shells. Often the combat situation required opening fire, as they say, on the move. For this purpose, charging boxes with a supply of first shots were used, located on the limbers. Each box contained 20 shots for a 6-pound cannon and 12 shots for a 1/4-pound unicorn. The limbers, charging boxes and all artillery pieces were painted grass green, metal parts - black. To move cannons and unicorns, the rear cushion of the carriage was put on the pin (vertical axis) of the front end and secured with a chain. The harness used was a clamp one. - Eight horses were harnessed for a l/2-pound unicorn, six horses for a 12-pound cannon, four horses each for a 6-pound cannon and a 1/4-pound unicorn. The 1/4 pound horse artillery unicorn had a team of six horses. The total weight of the artillery systems in the stowed position was: 12-pound gun - 1700 kg, 6-pounder - 1090 kg, 1/2-pound unicorn - 1600 kg, 1/4-pound - 1060 kg. To transport gun ammunition - at least 120 rounds - three charging boxes were required for each battery gun (1/2-pound unicorn and 12-pound gun), and for each light and horse-drawn gun (1/4-pound unicorn and 6-pound gun) - two charging boxes.

The ammunition carried with the guns in charging boxes could accommodate 162 rounds for a 12-pounder gun, 174 rounds for a 6-pounder gun (including 20 rounds carried in the limber), 120 rounds for a 1/2-pound unicorn, and 120 rounds for a 1/4-pound unicorn. pood - 120 shots (including 12 shots in the front end). In battles, charging boxes were located at a distance of 30-40 m from the guns. According to the regulations, in battle, more than two artillerymen could not be near the charging box. Three horses were harnessed to the cart with the charging box, one horse between two drawbars, the other two on the sides of it. The gun crew on the charging box was not transferred; the rider was sitting astride the left horse.

All-army wagon - a covered wagon of an army convoy, used for transporting food, ammunition, tents, infantry and cavalry ammunition, as well as tools. Depending on their purpose, the trucks had special markings (white paint); ammunition, food, military equipment, etc.
The reorganization of artillery in 1805 was also reflected in army wagons: wheels and axles began to be made the same size as gun wagons.
The trucks opened from above. For greater tightness, a cloth or leather canopy was installed on the lid of food and cartridge trucks. At the back there was a folding feeder where fodder for horses was placed. Depending on the weight of the truck, it was transported by teams of two or four horses.
The convoy also included ambulance trucks that could accommodate from four to six wounded. When the number of wagons was insufficient, peasant carts were used.

The camp forge was used for minor repairs and the manufacture of simple devices in camp conditions. It was served by a blacksmith and two craftsmen. They repaired wheels, axles, carriages, charging boxes, trucks, and made nails, wedges, and horseshoes. The forge, bellows, and lever were mounted on a machine with two wheels. Wood (birch) charcoal was blown into the furnace using bellows driven by a lever. To facilitate the work, a counterweight was attached to the end of the lever - an empty mortar bomb. The anvil and blacksmith tools were transported in a special wagon, and supplies of charcoal were transported in another wagon. One forge was attached to 36-48 guns.

Each infantry and cavalry regiment had a wagon drawn by two horses with apothecary boxes (1). In addition to medicines and dressings, surgical instruments were placed in removable boxes. One of the drawers contained a leather bag for ten surgical instruments. In addition, each doctor had a pocket set of surgical instruments.
The truck was driven by a coachman who sat on the front removable box (3). On the back drawer (2) there was space for the slightly wounded or sick.

Sub-lieutenant in dress uniform, 9th Dragoons, 1805.
This officer wears a frock coat, which was used as part of every uniform except the dress uniform.
Above the collar of the frock coat one can see the collar of the shirt, which was usually worn with a double-breasted vest, which had flaps rounded at the bottom.
The junior lieutenant wears simple breeches, but there were also Hungarian chikchirs with monograms on the front flap and braid along the outer seam.
The officer was wearing boots of the Hungarian type, often additionally decorated with tassels suspended at the lower point of the V-shaped neckline on the top.
A tall hat was part of the evening and ballroom uniform. The sides of the hat were often decorated with heavy silver tassels, which gave the headdress additional solidity.
With their dress and ball uniforms, officers preferred to wear a narrow, light sword rather than a heavy saber.

Corporal of the elite company of the 22nd Dragoons, 1810.
His fur hat and epaulettes indicate that he belonged to the elite cavalry dragoon unit.
Scarlet headdress decorations in the elite units of other regiments were often replaced with red or white decorations.
One of the features of the uniform of this elite unit is that the aiguillette is located on the left shoulder.
On the cartridge bag there is a very characteristic feature of the uniform of this company (if not this one corporal) - a copper badge in the shape of a grenade. The grenade is also featured on the corporal's belt buckle.
The lower ranks wore approximately the same uniform. Rank insignia - chevrons - were worn on the lower part of the sleeves.
The officer's uniform was additionally decorated with silver cords and tassels on the headdress, as well as silver epaulettes.
Trumpeters in 1810 wore tunics of an inverse color: lemon yellow with green trim.
As for the plumes, the trumpeters of the linear units wore a white plume with a lemon-yellow tip, and the trumpeters of the elite companies wore a scarlet plume.
The uniform was additionally trimmed with white braid and white epaulettes.

Trumpeter of the central company in marching uniform, 1st Dragoon Division, 1810.
This drawing illustrates a fairly common deviation from the rule of uniforming trumpeters in an inverse color.
This trumpeter wears a regular frock coat, which is decorated with orange braid covering five of the frock coat's nine buttons.
Usually the lapels of a frock coat were cut from the same fabric as the rest of the frock coat, but this trumpeter's frock coat has lapels in the color of the regiment. Additionally, the lapels are decorated with images of a grenade.
The leggings are decorated with a colored stripe running along the outer seam.
The trumpeter is holding a standard cavalry trumpet of the 1812 model.
The cord and tassels on the headdress are usually woven from yellow and green strands; this trumpeter is entirely red.
Each company had two trumpeters, who always had gray horses. A bright uniform and a gray horse were required to quickly locate trumpeters on the battlefield and convey orders to them.

Chief of the sapper detachment of the 19th Dragoon Regiment, after 1810.
The statutory uniform is decorated with silver insignia and the famous emblem of sappers - crossed axes. Red epaulettes are fringed with silver and crimson strands.
The sapper's specialty is confirmed by an axe, a long apron made of bull leather and a fur hat.
The dragoons were the only cavalry units to have sappers, a custom that had been preserved since the days when the dragoons were mounted infantry.
A sapper's fur hat without a red plume and white cords - these decorations were worn only in parades.
An interesting detail of the sapper’s uniform is the copper head of the Gorgon Medusa on a sling.
Usually, an image of a grenade was worn at this place.

Dragoons of the 4th Regiment in field uniform.
The jacket of this dragoon is fastened with several hooks, its flaps are turned back, sewn together and decorated with the image of a grenade - a traditional symbol of heavy cavalry.
A very interesting detail of the uniform is the baggy trousers. The thing is that ordinary uniform trousers and leggings wore out too quickly, and therefore many French soldiers preferred to wear trousers that were sewn from coarse brown, but very durable fabric.
Short leggings gather the lower part of the trousers into folds.
The red stripes on the left sleeve indicate that this soldier served in the French army for 16 to 20 years.

Colonel of the 12th Dragoons in marching uniform, 1814.
The colonel was wearing a new type of officer's doublet, which differed from the soldier's in longer tails, better quality cloth, silver buttons and heavy silver epaulettes.
The helmet is elegant and expensive, with a beautiful plume and horse mane, common for officers. Additionally, the helmet is trimmed with leopard skin, emphasizing the officer's dignity of the owner.
Black leather gloves with bells and a black leather waist belt are a clear violation of the requirements of the charter, however, excusable for such a high-ranking officer.

Musician of the 16th Dragoons in full dress uniform, 1810.
Regimental musicians either constantly served in the regiment or were hired by the regiment during parades.
Often, the peculiarities of the uniform of military musicians (similar to the uniform of trumpeters) consisted only of replacing the epaulettes with shoulder straps in the shape of a trefoil. However, this musician wears white fringed epaulets similar to those worn by soldiers.
The peculiarity of the musician’s uniform is that the jacket is trimmed with crinkled galloon.
The trumpeters of the 16th Dragoons wore pink uniforms with green trim and white braid.
Instead of dragoon helmets, the musicians wore black felt hats. Hats got wet in the rain, so when hiking, hats were covered with a waterproof cover.
The tall plume, inserted behind the cockade, was used only in parades, and at other times it was kept packed in the saddle bag.

Trumpeter of an elite company in full dress uniform, 25th Dragoons, 1813.
This drawing illustrates not only the changes in the uniform of the French army after 1812, but also shows the distinctive features of the uniform of trumpeters of the elite companies.
The helmet is decorated white horsehair, as opposed to black for dragoons, and a red plume, which was characteristic of elite units.
Uniform of the 1812 model with special braiding, which depicted alternating eagles and the monogram “N”.
There were two types of braid: vertical and horizontal.
The uniform was fastened with nine buttons, five of which were surrounded by braid. The galloons around the buttons and along the lapels are of the same type.
Epaulets further emphasize the status of the trumpeter.
The cords and tassels that decorate the pipe are woven from green and yellow strands.
The trumpet pennant, common before 1812, was no longer used because this part of the dress uniform was too expensive and practically useless.

Senior Sergeant (Marechal des Logis Chef), 12th Dragoons, 1813.
This senior non-commissioned officer of an elite dragoon company wears a uniform that fully illustrates the features of dragoon uniforms that appeared after 1812.
Although the 1812 regulations required elite company dragoons to wear the usual brass dragoon helmets, distinguished only by the red plume, the Masses d'Habillement, published in 1812 by Magimel, states that dragoons, mounted chasseurs and hussars must wear fur caps.
This contradiction made it possible to leave the final decision on this issue to the regimental commanders.
The dragoon is wearing a new camisole, fastened to the waist with hooks. The camisole differed from the previous tunic by shorter hems with lapels.
All military personnel of linear regiments received camisoles. The color of the camisole trim remained the same.
Rank insignia - silver chevrons - are sewn onto the lower part of both sleeves.
Silver crescents on epaulettes serve as a distinctive feature of the elite company.
Note the leather overlay that enhances the leggings as you walk. The escutcheon has a serrated edge, which was very popular during the Imperial period.

20th Dragoons, line company.