"Cossacks in mixed cavalry brigades (role)?" Topic
10 Posts
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79thPA | 24 Mar 2013 6:36 p.m. PST |
I'm working on some 1805/07 Russians and it is not uncommon for Cossack regiments to be part of mixed cavalry brigades. Are the Cossacks just integral scouts and skirmishers or where they actually expected to take their place in the line of battle when brigaded with line cavalry regiments? Thanks for your guidance. |
Narratio | 24 Mar 2013 8:38 p.m. PST |
"Integral" may be pushing the limits of the word if you try and apply it to cossacks. You're talking about a basically feudal organization following a clan leader with personal honor and loyalty to the family being the reason for fighting, rather than just obeying some puffed up Muskovite with fancy lace
They were scouts and raiders yes, but I can't find them ever appearing in the middle of large battle fields. They were great for the deep raids, hit & run on small garrisons and covering a retreat or harrying the retreating enemy. |
79thPA | 25 Mar 2013 6:40 a.m. PST |
I don't dispute that but why then were some of them part of a set regular cavalry brigade organization instead of just being assigned to one of the Cossack brigade hordes? |
Camcleod | 25 Mar 2013 9:11 a.m. PST |
At Borodino the Cossacks were deployed at the north and south ends of the Russian line:
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steamingdave47 | 25 Mar 2013 9:33 a.m. PST |
Some units ( designated "lifeguards" for example) were virtually regular cavalry. Interesting article here about versatility of Cossacks: link |
summerfield | 25 Mar 2013 9:53 a.m. PST |
Cossacks had been often used in flying columns, part of vanguard and rearguard as explained in my books on the Cossacks. Cossacks could be added at divisional level but not formerly at Brigade level. These were additions not an integral part. Note that the Leib Garde Cossacks should be regarded as a regular lancer regiment and not irregular cossacks. Stephen link link |
14Bore | 25 Mar 2013 1:01 p.m. PST |
After the start of the French retreat after leaving Moskow, my readings tell me ad hoc units with mixed Cossacks, Hussars, Jagers were used in small skirmishes hunting loose formations and keeping wereabouts on main columns. |
79thPA | 25 Mar 2013 3:51 p.m. PST |
Eylau 1807: 3rd Div Cav Brigade: 1 reg't ea cuirassier, dragoon and hussar, and 2 Cossacks reg'ts. 4th Div Cav Brigade: 1 reg't ea cuirassier, dragoon and uhlan, and 2 Cossack regiments. In Nafziger's Austerlitz book he clearly notes that Cossacks are attached to cavalry brigades, while in his Eylau-Friedland book no such distinction is made. So, are these Cossacks attached divisional troops that are nominally assigned to the cavalry brigade? |
summerfield | 26 Mar 2013 3:33 a.m. PST |
We are now down to the problems of OOB and what do they represent. The attachment of Cossacks was adhoc and at the whim of the General. They were there to serve a tactical reason. Eylau and Friedland were battles rather than meeting engagements and skirmishes. The Cossacks were not battle cavalry. The use of flying columns was an old Russian tradition. 1812 is an example of this. Stephen |
Wu Tian | 26 Mar 2013 5:10 a.m. PST |
In fact, Cossacks had defeated some Elite French cavalry units in Eylau, as Wilson‘s eyewitness account showed: The Cuirassiers alone preserved some confidence, and appeared to baffle the arm and the skill of the Cossaque; but in the battle of Pruess Eylau, when the Cuirassiers made their desperate charge on the Russian centre, and passed through an interval, the Cossaques instantly bore down on them, speared them, unhorsed them, and, in a few moments, five hundred and thirty Cossaques re-appeared in the field equipped with the spoil of the slain. But they did not propose to cover their bodies with this iron harness in future combats; they were sensible that an heart fortified by courage requires no coat of mail. They were worn but for the day, to make them more valuable to those for whom they were destined, and then, by subscription, they paid the expense of their conveyance to the Don and the Volga, where they are suspended as memorials of their prowess, and respect for the pride of their kindred, and the glory of their nations. Brief remarks on the character and composition of the Russian army: and a sketch of the campaigns in Poland in the years 1806 and 1807 Page 27 Regards, Robert |
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