Uniforms of the
Russian Artillery

1757-1762

by Ed Phillips

The Russian artillery in 1757 consisted of the 1st and 2nd Regiments (each of 2 battalions consisting of 1 company of bombardiers and 4 companies of cannoniers), the artillery of the Observation Corps, Corps of Secret Howitzers -- Licorns of Chouvalov -- and detachments of regular artillery assigned to the infantry, dragoons, and mounted grenadiers.

In 1757, a new uniform was given to the artillery. The hat was a black tricorn bordered with a 1/2 inch wide tape, a brass button and white loop holding down a white cockade. The bombardier's cap resembled that of the line grenadiers, in black leather having a 4 1/2 inch high frontal plate of brass bearing the Imperial cypher, eagle, and "trophies of arms"

The coat, vest and breeches were red and had brass buttons. The collar, cuffs and coat lining were black as were the sleeves and gaiters and stock. The gaiters had protective tops of white, the color of the gloves and belting. The cuffs and collar had 1 gold lace band for fourrier, 2 for Captains d'armees and 3 for sergeants.

The officers were as for the men except for a gold border on the hat and buttons and laces in gold, buff ieather gloves and red cloak. The waist sash was yellow and black with yellow and black tassels. They carried an epee which had a yellow and black sword-knot, and were also armed with a fusil and a waist cartridge box of black leather which had a brass plate having a cypher and "trophies"

The musicians were drummers in the cannonier and bombardier companies, fifers for the bombardiers, and kettledrum -- hautbois (oboe) -- and trumpets for the regiment. Their uniforms were as for a private with the addition of red swallow's nest epaulettes bordered by a braid of ocre and having X's in the center of white. The Brass drum was embossed with an imperial eagle and had red and black diagonal tops and bottom rings, and white sliders.

New Uniform

In 1759, a new uniform was issued. It consisted of red coats having black collar, cuffs, lapels, and lining. Lace as previously and a white vest for officers. Officers also now carried a briquet instead of the epee and the waist-cartridge box became white instead of black.

Sergeants were armed with the epee, musket, bayonet, and carried a haversack. Privates as for sergeants with the addition of the canteen. The Porte-feu carried by corporals had a red painted staff.

The artillery train wore a black tricorn bordered in white and a black stock. Blue coat with blue lining, red collar and cuffs, brass buttons, and blue breeches. Boots were worn with white protectors for the breeches. The officers had the sash as for artillery.

The Corps of Engineers wore the identical uniform as artillery except silver buttons.

SOURCE:

Zwegyubtziwm, W., L'Armee Russee, 1st Partie, 1700-1762., Paris, 1967.
Excellent illustrations of these artillerymen appear in Funken's THE LACE WARS part 2.

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