This year would be another stepping-stone for Napoleon Bonaparte, once a committed republican but since 18 May 1804 --by his own hand-- Emperor of the French, towards his goal of total domination of Europe. In 1805, he had crushed Austria in a lightning campaign at Ulm and then defeated the joint Russo-Austrian Army at Austerlitz on 2 December of that year.

At right, infantry of the line, officers 1804-1808. Left figure: general with white plumage to his bicorne, gold or silver embroidery to collar, cuffs, and shoulder straps on his dark green jacket indicates his rank. Large star on chest is Order of St. George. Sash is silver with black and orange threads. Right figure: junior officer with spontoon, which is in regimental color and after 1802, not carried into the field. Gorget bearing Imperial double eagle worn only on duty.

In 1806, he had scattered the Prussians at Jena and Auerstadt and completed their destruction in the string of shameful capitulations which followed them, but a small corps of 20,000 under General l'Estocq had evaded his clutches and was in eastern Prussion. King Freidrich Wilhelm III of Prussia was not yet ready to submit to Napoleon and had now been joined by Tsar Alexander I of Russia who had obviously recovered his nerve from Austerlitz. Alexander's timing is difficult to understand since all of Europe except for the crippled Prussians, the British, and peripheal kingdoms of Iberia and Scandinavia were prostrate at the Corsican's feet.

As the campaign of 1807 unfolded, Napoleon's strategic genius asserted itself over the mediocrity of his floundering opponents. At Eylau, he beat the Allies, at Heilsburg, it was a draw, but the Prussians retreated north, splitting from the 61,000-strong Russian corp under Bennigsen facing Napoleon and 87,000 French. The subsequent Russian defeat broke the Tsar's will to continue the struggle, with a peace treaty signed among the three leaders on 9 July. Prussia was already reduced to poverty, Russia had to join Napoleon's "Continental System" embargo on trade with Britain-- which ruined the Russian economy and subsequently led to a break with the French and the catastrophic war in 1812.

It is against this background that we shall examine the uniforms of the Russian army. The line infantry wore dark green coats with red turnbacks and yellow buttons, the jaegers wore grass green (with grass green turnbacks piped red and no shoulder straps), cuirassiers wore white tunics, dragoons grass green, lancers dark blue tunics and the hussar regiments were their usual, multi-coloured selves. Line infantry regiments were differentiated by their facings (worn on collars and cuffs) which varied according to the inspectorate to which they belonged, the colour of their shoulder straps (which showed seniority within each division), their shako pompons: the outer was in the battalion colour (1st white, 2nd yellow, 3rd red), the inner was in the company colour (1st white, 2nd red, 3rd sky blue, 4th orange) and the colours of their drumsticks and spontoon staffs. The traditional brass-fronted mitre caps of the grenadiers and fusiliers had been withdrawn in 1804 and replaced with the shako with a flaming grenade badge on the front.

Following the war of 1806-1807, the Favlovsky Grenadier Regiment was re-issued with their mitre caps as a mark of respect for their valour in these campaigns. They continued to wear them until the First World War; new recruits 'inheriting' them from the old soldiers. It is said that many of these museum pieces bore bullet marks .

There were three regiments of footguards; they wore line infantry uniforms but with the addition of red and yellow guards lace (gold for officers and senior NCO's) to the shako top band, the collar (two loops) and the cuffs (three loops). The facings were as follows: Preobrazhensky - red; Semenionovsky - light blue; Ismailovsky - dark green. The artillery wore line infantry coats and buttons with black facings piped red; the pioniers wore artillery uniform but with white buttons and lace. The pontonniers were dressed as the navy: black felt hat with the brim turned up all the way round, dark green tunic lined red, yellow buttons, white waistcoat with green collar and cuffs, wide dark green trousers, black knee boots. Badges as for the foot artillery.

The colours of the various inspectorates were as follows :Finland - yellow, St Petersburg - red, Livonia - turquoise, Lithuania - light green, Brest buff, Ukraine - pink, Dniestr - dark green piped red, Kiev - raspberry, Moscow - orange, Orenburg camel, Crimea - buff, Caucasus - mid blue, Smolensk - white, Siberia - grey .

In the chart shown G=Grenadier Regiment; M=Musketier Regiment.

Unless otherwise noted, each infantry regiment had three battalions; cuirassier and dragoon regiments had five squadrons and hussar regiments had ten. Each artillery battery had 12 guns.

In November 1806, Bennigen's army in western Russia consisted of the following troops:

THE 2ND DIVISION OF LT. GEN COUNT OSTERMANN
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Life Guard Cuirassiers	light blue	white	light blue	-	-
Kargopol Dragoons	capucine	white	capucine	-	-
Isum Hussars: see the caption to black and white Plate 3
Cossacks of Ilowaiski IX see caption to colour plate 4
Cossacks of Jefremov III see caption to colour plate 4
INFANTRY
Pavlov G	red	-	white	white	buff
Rostov M	light green	-	turquoise	yellow	brown
Petersburg G	turquoise	-	red	red	straw
Jeletzk M	red	-	yellow	turquoise	black
1st Jaegers	straw	-	-	straw	black
20th Jaegers	dark green	-	-	dark green	black
ARTILLERY:
2x 12 pounder, 2x 6 pounder foot and 1x 6pounder horse batteries 60 guns Pioniers- 1 company
TOTAL: 544 officers, 1, 1 10 NCOs, 344 musicians, 14,246 soldiers, 1,267 non - combatants, 3,434 chargers 2,479 draught horses.

3rd DIVISION OF LT. GEN. BARON SACKEN
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER ST RAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Little Russia Cuirassiers	green	yellow	green	-	-
Curland Dragoons	turquoise	yellow	turquoise	-	-
Sum Hussars: see the caption to black and white Plate 3
Cossacks of Ilowaiski X see caption to colour plate 4.
Cossacks of Papuzin see caption to colour plate 4.
INFANTRY
Tauride G	turquoise	-	white	white	straw
Lithuanian M	red	-	light green	light green	black
Kaporsk M	turquoise	-	turquoise	turquoise	?
Murom M	light green	-	raspberry	light green	brown
Tchernigov M	turquoise	-	grey	yellow	black
Dneprowsk M	turquoise	-	light green	pink	straw
21st Jaegers	red	-	-	white	black
ARTILLERY:
2x 12 pounder, 3x 6 pounder foot and I x horse- batteries (72 guns). Pioniers: 1 company. Pontoniers: 1 company ( 50 pontoons
TOTAL: 644 officers, 1,269 NCOs, 344 musicians, 17,216 soldiers, 1,467 non - combatants, 3,770 chargers and 2921 draught horses

4TH DIVISION OF LT. GEN. PRINCE GALLIZIN V
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
St George Cuirassiers	black	yellow	black	-	-
Pskow Dragoons	light brown	yellow	light brown	-	-
Polish Lancers	raspberry	white	dark blue	-	-
Cossacks of Greckow IX see caption to colour plate 4.
Cossacks of Greckow XVIII see caption to colour plate 4.
INFANTRY
Tula M	light green	-	white	light green	brown
Tenginsk M	red	-	pink	pink	brown
Nowoginsk M	orange	-	white	light green	straw
Tobolsk M	turquoise	-	pink	light green	white
Polotzk M	white	-	yellow	dark green	black
Kostroma M	light green	-	light green	lilac	?
3rd Jaegers	red	-	-	red	black
ARTILLERY
2x 12 pounder, 3x6 pounder foot and 1x 6 pounder horse batteries (72guns) Pioniers : 1 company. Pontoniers: 1 company (50 pontoons)
TOTALS: 649 officers, 1,279 NCOs, 429 musicians, 16,901 soldiers, 1,477 non-combatants, 3,948 chargers and 2,654 draught horses.

6TH DIVISION OF MAJ. GEN. SEDMORATZK
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Ekaterinoslav Cuirassiers	orange	white	orange	-	-
Kiev Dragoons	raspberry	white	raspberry	-	-
Tartar Lancers	dark blue	white	dark blue	-	-
Alexandrow Hussars: see the caption to black and white Plate 3.
Cossacks of Popov V see caption to colour plate 4.
INFANTRY
Wilna M	straw	-	straw	light green	?
Nizov M	light green	-	pink	pink	white
Reval M	turquoise	-	turquoise	light green	white
Wolhynia M	light green	-	light green	grey	?
Starokol M	orange	-	lilac	pink	white
4th Jaegers	grey	-	-	grey	black
ARTILLERY
2 x 12 pounder, 3 x 6 pounder foot and 1x horse batteries ( 72 guns ) Pioners: 1 company.
TOTALS: 606 officers, 1,164 NCOs, 395 musicians, 14,540 soldiers, 1,359 non-combatants, 3,866 chargers and 1,842 draught horses

Further to the east was the army of General of Infantry Count Buxhoevden; most of these regiments had fought at Austerlitz and they were under orders not to move to the front until their reinforcements had joined them.

5TH DIVISION OF LT. GEN. TUTCHKOV I
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Riga Dragoons	red	yellow (with two yellow laces to collar and cuffs)	red	-	-
Kazan Dragoons	raspberry	yellow	raspberry	-	-
Lithuanian Lancers	white	white	dark blue	-	-
Elisabethgrad Hussars: see the caption to black and white Plate 3.
Cossacks of Gordejov: see caption to colour plate 4
INFANTRY
Siewsk M	turquoise	-	yellow	turquoise	black
Kaluga M	turquoise	-	turquoise	turquoise	?
Perm M	white	-	raspberry	yellow	white
Mohilev M	light green	-	light green	grey	?
24th Jaegers	light green	-	-	light blue	black
25th Jaegers	straw	-	-	red	black
ARTILLERY
2 x 12 pounder, 2 x 6 pounder foot and 1x horse batteries (60 guns).
TOTALS: Not known exactly.

7TH DIVISION OF LT. GEN. DOCHTOROV
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Moscow Dragoons	pink	white	pink	-	-
Ingermannland Dragoons	black	white	black	-	-
Pavlograd Hussars- see the caption to black and white Plate 3.
Cossacks of Malachov: see caption to colour plate 4.
Cossacks of Andronov: see caption to colour plate 4.
INFANTRY
Ekatherinoslav G	light green	-	>red	red	straw
Moscow M	raspberry	-	red	red	white
Vladimir M	camel	-	white	light green	white
Voronesch M	white	-	light green	light green	white
Pskov M	light green	-	yellow	white	straw
Azov M	straw	-	turquoise	red	straw
5th Jaegers	turquoise	-	-	turquoise	black
ARTILLERY
2 x 12 pounder, 3 x 6 pounder foot and 1x horse batteries 72 guns Pioniers: 1 company Pontoniers: 1 company

6TH DIVISION OF LT. GEN. ESSEN III
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Petersburg Dragoons	pink	yellow	pink	-	-
Livland Dragoon	red piped	red piped	white	yellow	white
Olviupol Hussars: see the caption to black and white Plate 3.
Cossacks of Kieselev: see caption to colour plate 4.
Cossacks of Sysojev: see caption to colour plate 4.
INFANTRY
Moscow G	white	-	red	red	straw
Viborg M	straw	-	yellow	white	brown
Schluesselburg M	orange	-	turquoise	white	black
Old Ingermannland M	straw	-	red	yellow	white
Podolia M	straw	-	straw	pink	?
Archangelgorod M	light green	-	light green	turquoise	black
7th Jaegers	white	-	-	white	black
ARTILLERY
4 x, 12 pounder foot and 1 x horse batteries Pioneers: 1 company.

14TH DIVISION OF LT. GEN. ANREPP
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Finland Dragoons	white piped red	yellow piped red	white	-	-
Mitau Dragoons	white piped red	white piped red	white	-	-
Grodno Hussars: see the caption to black and white Plate 3.
INFANTRY
Bielosresk M	red	-	turquoise	light green	black
Riasan M	buff	-	white	turquoise	black
Uglitzk M	white	-	turquoise	turquoise	straw
Sophia M	turquoise	-	raspberry	grey	brown
23rd Jaegers	orange	-	-	white	black
26th Jaegers	dark blue	-	-	red	black
ARTILLERY
1 x 12 pounder, 2 x 6 pounder foot batteries (36 guns). Pontoniers: 1 company

Although the totals of the individual divisions are not known, the overall totals for Buxhoevden's corps were: 85 squadrons, 5 cossack regiments (Pulks), 78 battalions, 216 guns, 2 pionier and 2 pontonier companies or 37,794 combatants including 29,000 infantry, 7,000 cavalry and 1,200 artillery.

Marching up from the Turkish border was another corps under Lt. Gen. Essen I which only reached Brzesc in mid December.

9TH DIVISION OF LT. GEN. PRINCE VOLCHONSKI III
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Gluchov Cuirassiers	mid blue	white	mid blue	-	-
New Russian Dragoons	turquoise	white	turquoise	-	-
Mariupol Hussars: see the caption to black and white Plate 3.
Cossacks of Tschernosubov IV: see caption to colour plate 4.
Cossacks of Andrejonov: see caption to colour plate 4.
INFANTRY
Astrakhan G	orange	-	red	red	white
Galician M	pink	-	pink	turquoise	?
Orlov M	orange	-	light green	turquoise	straw
Ukraine M	orange	-	raspberry	grey	white
Crimean M	dark green	-	dark green	dark green	?
Pensa M	straw	-	straw	grey	?
10th Jaegers	black	-	-	black	black
ARTILLERY
2 x 12 pounder, 3 x 6 pounder foot and 1 x horse batteries 72 guns Pioniers: 1 company

10TH DIVISION OF LT. GEN MUELLER - SAKOMELSKI
REGIMENT	FACINGS	BUTTONS	SHOULDER STRAPS	POMPON CENTRE	PIKES AND DRUMSTICKS
CAVALRY
Charkov Dragoons	orange	yellow	orange	-	-
Tschernigov Dragoons	light blue	white	light blue	-	-
Achtyrski Hussars: see the caption to black and white Plate 3.
Cossacks of Karasov: see caption to colour plate 4.
Cossacks of Kirsanov: see caption to colour plate 4.
INFANTRY
Kiev G	pink	-	white	white	white
Riask M	straw	-	white	turquoise	black
Jaroslav M	dark green piped red	-	yellow	turquoise	straw
Briansk M	pink	-	raspberry	light green	brown
Wiatka M	light blue	-	?	?	buff
8th Jaegers	mid blue	-	-	dark blue	black
ARTILLERY
4 x 12 pounder foot and 1 x 6 pounder horse batteries 60 guns Pioniers: 1 company.

The totals of these two divisions were 40 squadrons, 4 cossack Pulks, 42 battalions, 132 guns, 1 company each of pioniers and pontoniers or about 37,250 men.

The Guard, the St Petersburg division and some Lithuanian regiments (33 battalions, 28 squadrons or 18,000 combatants) did not reach the front until mid - April.

THE SOURCES

Begunova, Alla: 'Sabli Ostri, Koni Bistri (Sharp Sabres, Fast Horses); Molodia Gvardia Press, Moscow, 1992. A history of the Russian cavalry from the XV Century to the First World War; lavishly illustrated in colour with plates from the Wiskowatow (see below).

Gayda, Marcel, and Krijitski, Andre: 'L'Armee Russe sous le Tsar Alexandre ler de 1805 - 1815'. A very detailed account of the development of all items of uniform and equipment.

Knoetel, Richard, Professor, and Sieg, Herbert, 'Handbuch der Uniformkunde' HG. Schulz Press, Hamburg, 1937. THE basic reference work on world military, airforce and naval uniforms up to 1937.

Knoetel, Richard, Professor and Knoetel, Herbert: 'Uniformenkunde'. A multi-volume series of hand Coloured uniform plates, many of which were reproduced by the late Juergen Olmes in his series 'Heere der Vergangenheit' (Armies of the Past ). This work supplements the 'Handbuch' mentioned above; the plates are excellent, but (unfortunately) rarely gives any details of the exact sources used.

Stein, F Freiherr von: 'History of the Russian Army from its Origins to the Accession of Tsar Nicholas Pavlovitch I'. Zuckschwert and Co. Leipzig, 1895. This book concentrates mainly on the organizational changes within the Russian army; it is not illustrated but does give some details of uniform development.

Wiskowatow: 'Historical Description and Illustration of the Uniform and armament of the Russian Army.' St Petersburg, 1841-1862. A beautifully engraved series of several hundreds of plates showing, in great detail and fidelity, the development of the Russian army's uniforms, weapons, equipment, colours and standards. Most copies are black and white but a few Coloured examples exist; Alla Begunova's book contains many.

More Russian Army 1807

Russian Army 1807: Introduction and OOB
Russian Army 1807: Black and White Plates #1-7
Russian Army 1807: Black and White Plates #8-14
Russian Army 1807: Color Plates