These descriptions apply mainly to Russian forces after the Crimean War. Prior to the Crimean War most of the settlers were second class soldiers and royal serfs. It would be only during the 1860s until the 1880s that serious efforts were made to conquer their main adversaries in Central Asia.

Most Russian uniform and weapon trends reflected the dominant opinion in the West. Soldiers prior to 1860 preferred the soft cap ‘furiska’ rather than the Prussian style helmet. In the 1860s and 1870s some troops along the frontier would continue to wear a variant of the ‘furiska’ while other troops wore a French style kepi 9pictures show it being lower in the American style). Russian troops often wore a neck flap with the kepi that had a white cover. Most troops wore a long white unbleached tunic that extended to the thighs. During the winter a dark green tunic was authorized. Pants tended to be a red-brown though there is some indication that white loose and baggy pants were worn. Belts were black with most boots being a dark brown. Numbers on their colored shoulder straps and kepis distinguished units. The colors indicated their types of units with blue for infantry, pink-red for rifles and mid-green for dragoons.

Cossacks wore uniforms and their region of origin was denoted by colored collars and lapels.. Their traditional fur caps distinguished them. Though in the summer, many troopers wore the furiska rather than the fur cap.

The Russians employed various factions of tribes located in Central Asia, as mercenaries or allies. These troops would have worn traditional clothing and been armed as the other tribes.

Examples of Russian Organizations

Organization of the Khiva Expedition. (The actual numbers of the initial unmergered columns varies in some reports, as do the Dates of battles during the campaign.)

Lomakin Column. (1800 OR 2000 men) 12 infantry Companies + one Sqdn (Sotnia) of Cossacks + 2 Bns (Sotnias) of Mounted Caucasian Mountain troops + one battery of horse artillery + one battery of Rockets.

Orenberg Column. (3000 OR 3400 men) 9 infantry companies + 9 Sotnias Cossacks + one horse battery + one rocket battery + four mortars.

Tashkent-Kasala (Kaufman) Column (3900/5500) 19 infantry companies + one company of Sappers + 6 sotnias of Cossacks + one battery of horse artillery + two rocket batteries + one mountain battery + four mitrailleuses MG guns.

Russian Enemies of Central Asia

Afghanistan
Bokhara Khanate
Khiva Khanate (a.k.a. Khwarizm or Khorezm)
Khokan Khanate
Turcoman Tribes
Russians