"Russian Jagers Musicians" Topic

I am about to paint Russian Jagers drummer and hornist.

Questions:

1) The pom-poms are the usual battalion colors?
2) Did they have white piping in their shoulder straps and collar?
3) What color are the chords in the horn?
4) What color are the chords in the drum? white?, I have seem some pictures in which they are black, just as the belts.

Some link to a good picture would be much appreciated.

Jäger of 1799? 1805? 1812?

1812, sorry!!

Have a look here: link . Normal Jager collars and cuffs in 1812 are dark green, piped red, shoulder strap colour varied by regimental seniority within the Jager regiments attached to a specific infantry Division. This musician is an NCO, hence the gold piping inside the red at collar and cuffs. If in doubt, consult Mark Conrad's translation of Viskovatov: link .

1. pompons (also plumes for the grenadiers) just like other Army units
2. tapes just like other Army units – I don't see any on the collar (this place was used for rank and Guard insignia)
3. chords of the horn – don't know : maybe none used, maybe orange and black mixed (althogh this may be reserved for St. George horns) – see below
4. chords of the drum are shown as natural leather or gut color by Parkhaev and white by Ulanov (so, I would say pipeclayed for parade, but natural in campaign)

Also :
A. Drum's sling, the exterior upper and lower bouts, the leather tension adjusters on the sides and drumsticks all black.
B. Hornists were part of the musiciens, not the field companies – it is often now claimed to be a "myth" that Russian jägers of 1812-1814 were using anything but drums for tactical signals, although one officer of the 49th Jägers wrote that he bought a whistle for himself.
C. The drummers were : 1 regimental drummer (he also was the battalion drummer for the 1st battalion), 2 battalion drummers and 36 company drummers (3 per company – 2 with the senior platoon, one with the junior platoon). The regimental and battalion drummers were unter-ofitsers.
D. There were also 8 fifers – 2 per battalion (one with each of the elite platoons, the grenadiers and strelkov), plus 2 additional with the musicians
E. The regiment's muscians (all supposed to be of NCO or unter-ofitser rank) were : 2 фагота, 2 валторны, 2 кларнета, 2 флейты, 1 барабан (the horns were brass) – I leave the names of the instuments in Russian so you can search for images, as they are somewhat particluar looking
F. For every award of the the St. George Order to the unit, they were authorized 2 trumpeters who had silver trumpets with orange and black St. George cords and/or tapes. These were added to the musicians.

Come back at me if I didn't explain well, please.
Chuey

A little detail on horns possibly used for tactical signals ….

Through the Shtat (table of organization) of 1802 there were 8 hornists assigned in place of 8 fifers as noted above. The waldhornists were authorized brass cases on black slings to carry their instruments. By summer of 1806, the jäger regiments were brought to essentially the same organization as the other units.

So, the 1st through 20th Jägers definitely once had horns and sufficent hornists. The 21st and 22nd Jägers (formed mid 1805) might have had them. Possibly the 23rd Jägers (formed early 1806). These three regiments were even formed with transfers of 4 – 6 companies drawn from exisitng jäger regiments.

Whether the regiments that previously had horns and hornists still had them and actually used them in the field tactically in 1812-1814 is rather speculative. Again, the only contemporary sourced information that I know of says they used drums, not horns or the authorized fifes, in 1812-1814. But the issue remains somewhat "open".

Chuey