The Crimean War

The Crimean War is known for the logistical and tactical errors during the land campaign on both sides (the naval side saw a successful Allied campaign which eliminated most of the ships of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea). Nonetheless, it is sometimes considered to be one of the first "modern" wars as it "introduced technical changes which affected the future course of warfare," including the first tactical use of railways and the electric telegraph.

One of the many reasons that Russia had lost the Crimean War was because they could not adequately send troops to the front and bring in their reserves of troops. They were forced to leave troops in Poland because of unrest there, as well as the possibility of hostilities from both Prussia and Austria.

Another reason was because the Russian Army was not as well organized and seasoned as their European counterparts who fought a war every couple of years just for the hell of it.

The fact that France and Britain had to bring all their supplies and troops by boat and yet they still managed to beat the Russians in the logistical side of things when the Russians had railways at their disposal, shows a testament to the French and British Navies as well as their overall military organization.

British and Russian soldiers in the Crimea

French Chassures and Russian Soldiers in the Crimea

Dead French Zouaves and Russian Soldiers in the Crimea

Military Commission to Europe 1855 & 1856, Report of Major Alfred Mordecal

In 1855 the US government sent men to report on the militaries  of Europe, Major Mordecal makes some interesting notes about many aspects of the Russian Military, but one that I found that was particularly interesting was about how Russia, like most European Countries, was still arming its troops with smooth-bore muskets based on European Patterns. But the Rifleman in the Russian Army were armed with weapons copied directly off the French and British pattern rifles, not only that but they were produced in Liege, Belgium.

Link to a scan of the book:
Military Commission To Europe, Major Mordecal

Russian Hussars in the Napolenonic War

Hussars originate from Hungarian Cavalry and they became a fad that spread throughout all of Europe, and no army could be complete with out at least one regiment of elegantly clad Hussars.

Russia was no exception, especially at a time like Napoleon's invasion of Russia, where Russia was at a place where they were trying to style themselves very European. And the first thing a country does to mimic another region, is to model their army after those of that area. So the Russian Army had a branch of Hussars that were cloaked in fine red uniforms and were elaborately embellished with gold trim and cords. To look at them one could've thought them to belong to Emperor Napoleon's Army.

Russian Hussars in the Napoleonic War

The Cossack

The term 'Cossack'  brings to mind a large bearded fellow on a horse with a furry round Russian hat and hes probably riding with a large sword, sabre, or lance in his hand. Actually that's not too far off.

It is believed that the Cossack's originally came from either the Ukraine or an an area in Poland-Lithuania in the 15th Century. But since then, Cossack tribes appear in all areas and the look that they have taken on is one that looks as though it has influence from, Turkey, Mongolia, and old Muscovite Russia. For hundreds of years the Russian military has utilized these soldiers in warfare.

Cossack soldiers have a distinct appearance, they often wear bright, baggy, uniforms, adorned with all sorts of traditional accessories. The Cossack became a sort of style in the Russian Military, and even a nick-name for Russian soldiers (regardless if they were actually Cossacks or not.) 

European armies in particular tend to all jump on a band wagon and adopt the newest in military fashion, often creating whole new units of soldiers just to have them wear the latest and greatest. This was never more apparent then in 19th Century Europe, when every army had to include regiments of Cuirassiers that looked like flashy versions of medieval knights, or Zouaves that looked like they were strait from French Algeria, Uhlan Cavalry that carried lances from Poland, Hussar Cavalry that were uniformed in traditional Hungarian garb, Dragoons that came from one of the old German States. But Russia uniquely had the Cossack, perhaps this is due to the fact that Russia had long ruled over the native Cossack populations.

By the time of the Crimean War Cossacks had become almost exclusively Cavalry and Artillery units, and by the time of WWII they would be primarily Cavalry units. Even today Cossack Cavalry units remain a part of the Russian Army. Cossacks became a vital part of the Russian military and became a symbol of Russian Militarism.

Cossack Life Guard Regiment during the Napoleonic War

The Empress with the Czar and Czarevich in Cossack Uniforms

Cossack and his dead horse in the Crimean War

Cossacks in the Soviet Army

Cossacks in the German Army during WWII

There are a few characteristics of Cossacks that never seem to change no matter what side they're on or who they're fighting, they always have facial hair, they wear the fur caps, and they carry traditional Cossack Swords.

Battle of Balaclava

British soldiers of the 93rd Highlander Regiment were the first res-ponders to the Russian attacks on the British and Ottoman redoubts. The leading attack elements of the Russian force was Russian Cossack's, Ulhans, the Dnieper Regiment, followed by the Russian Artillery.

The 93rd was the first to meet the oncoming Russians and they were able to hold their ground, but with high cost, they became known after the battle as "The Thin Red Line." The next available British troops was their Cavalry. The Cavalry commander decided it would be best to use the Heavy Brigade of Cavalry to make a show of force and discourage the Russians from making any further assaults. But alas it did not work and the Heavy Brigade was forced to retire from the field.

With that the Russians attacked redoubt No.1 wihich was occupied by Ottomans and overwhelmed it. Upon seeing the capture of redoubt No.1, redoubts No.2, 3, and 4 were all abandoned. Meanwhile Russian elements were moving on the British flanks to avoid being hit by fire from the Royal Artillery Batteries.

After British officers later in the day observed what appeared to be the Russian taking captured guns from the British redoubts, they ordered the British Cavalry to attack and recapture the guns. However the place that the Light Brigade as well as the Heavy Brigade were ordered to attack was not the captured guns, but a valley in which Russian cavalry commander Ryzhov had placed his artillery to protect the flanks of his regiments of the11th Kiev Hussars, six of the 12th Ingermanland Hussars, three of 53 Don Cossack Regiment, and the 1st Ural Cossacks.

The Light Brigade Comprised of 13th Light Dragoons, the 17th Lancers, the 11th Hussars, the 4th Light Dragoons, and the 8th Hussars. Behind the Light Brigade was the remnants of the Heavy Brigade which was comprised of the Scots Greys, the 6th Dragoons, 4th Dragoon Guards, the 5th Dragoon Guards; and the 1st Royal Dragoons.

A soldier from the 11th Hussars.

The two Brigades charged down the valley into the face of Ryzhov's guns and were cut to pieces, but they still managed to make it through and engage with the Russian Cavalry behind the guns, in the end they were forced to retreat, this fatal blunder had demoralized the two Brigades as well as badly injured Ryzohv's men.

Soldiers of the 11th Hussars and the 17th Lancers attacking the Russian Batteries.

After the attack, neither side was in much of any shape to continue the fight and were both forced to retire making the battle somewhat of a stalemate.

Pictures from Wikipedia

WWI Imperial Russian Uniforms

Uniforms worn by Russian soldiers during the first world war, some would remain after the Communist take over of Russia, but others such as those in figures 4 and 5 would fade away. 4 and 5 show soldiers dressed in the traditional fashion of Cossack's and others from out lying Russian Provinces. Also take note of the weapons carried by the figures 3,4, and 5 demonstrate the tactics used on the Eastern Front during the war. These figures 3 and 5 are armed with Lances used when mounted on horse back, however this was not a weapon only used by the Russians but almost every other European power during that war, armed groups of their soldiers with Lances. They were typically referred to as Uhlans. And figure 4 is armed with a traditional Cossack sword.