"headgear of the Russians in 1805" Topic

Information that may be of interest for early Russian army collectors and wargamers.
In a new book about uniforms of the Russian army( link the author found documents of the military department which specified that in 1805 at least one Jaeger regiment (the 15th) and some Musketeer regiments were issued with old-fashioned 1802 pattern hats.The reason was that the military department had the stocks of previously ordered hats.

Uniform researchers also specify that 1802 hats pattern most of the regiments in reality received in 1803. Period of usage was defined for two years. I can assume that some musketeer regiments could extend this limit due to various supply difficulties and campaigns. All this means that some regiments may wore hats in Austerlitz or even in 1806-1807 campaigns.

Link required authorization. Who is the author(s) and what is the title?

Author Popov Sergei. The book Armeiskaya_i_garnizonnaya_pehota_Aleksandra_Pervogo
link

I clarify that the information above regarding the use of bicorn hat type and not the cylindrical shako which of course used by many Musketeer regiments in 1805.

Thank you for clarifying. Interesting--so you think this is a worthwhile pickup, even if I have the Leonov/Popov/Kibovskii set?

It worth it if you are interested in uniformology of specific regiments for example. And old bicorn hats in 1805 undoubtedly new information about Russian infantry.
The author also point out the army instruction that the Grenadier mitres were supposed to be replaced to shako only after they wear out.
Earlier there was information about at least 16 musketier and grenadier regiments with prescribe expiry date for mitres in 1808! So not only Pavlovski fought in mitres in 1807.

Spasibo Anton!

Although your 1805 Campaign Guide is colorful and very useful for wargames you can not guarantee that it is completely accurate regarding the uniforms of the Russian regiments. I dont have your 1805 guide but particularly your official example sheet shows Vladimir regiment in bright purple collar with red shoulder straps, which were replaced in 1804 to dark green collar with white shoulder straps. This fact is specified in several Russian works on the uniforms. Also in your example image the grenadiers of the Vyatka regiment pictured with 1805 pattern shako with a thick black plume wich is also questionable.Russian military researchers only have information that the guards and grenadiers of the Apsheron regiment definitely wore new shako with plume during Austerlitz. It is also worth noting that even the French have mentioned that the Russians were fighting in greatcoats during the 1805 campaign.

Thanks for the clarification regarding your products. As I said it is colorful and very useful for wargames. In fact your guide is actually very good for what it is. And I'm even consider to buy it))

Thanks Anton, great information. This all makes perfect sense to me, no army throws away perfectly good, un-used uniforms! Certainly not in this period when the uniforms cost more than the manpower. I love the earlier uniforms and use them in my 1807 Russian forces, AB do a great early Russian range.

The book at the link is not exactly brand new : it was published in 2010. However, I do concur with Anton that any general "campaign guide" could do with some double-checking unit-by-unit for those who would care about such precision.

That said, the 15th Jäger regiment was in the Crimean (later Caucasian) Inspection, then the 20th Infantry division. They served in the Caucasus through the entire period, and wore forage caps except when ordered into "parade dress". So, their supply/equipment situation may not too informative as an example for regiments facing the French and their allies. More interesting (and not included in the linked book by Popov) is how perhaps ephemeral was the use of the round "top-hat" style headgear by Russian jäger : use only by 8 regiments for a few months in 1803 has been confirmed.

The Musketeer regiments noted by Sergey Alekseyevich for this late issue of bicorns (Sevastopol, Saratov and Vologda) were also in the Caucasus.

Where in Russia are you Anton?
Big in everything, thing in wargamers, thinner in numbers I can talk to;)

This may be of help:

link

Paul :)

I did not know that the book is quite old. Le Breton, can you clarify about jager «ephemeral use of the round top-hat»? What headgear used particularly for the 1805 campaign – 5,6,7 regiments? According to Popov and other works jagers ordered to wear line infantry shako only in 1807. So if not «top round hats» then bicorns might be?

Hi Jcfrog, Im from Moscow

I will be making my 1805 Russians with a selection of different headgear, mitres bicorns and shakos.

Dibble Link above only gives a general idea of headgear.