"Color of Russian Jaeger Equipment" Topic

All,

Can one of the venerable resources help me with the correct color of equipment for the Russian Jaeger in 1812? I am going to be painting Front Rank Russian Jaegers. Specifically, I am looking for confirmation or suggestion of the following:

Knapsack and straps: black leather.
Musket/rifle sling: black.
Ammunition pouch: black leather.
Ammunition pouch crossbelt: black leather.
Sword crossbelt: black leather.
Sword scabbard: ??? black leather or brown leather?
Sword knot/cord: ???
Bayonet frog: ??? black leather or brown leather?
Grenadier's Plume: black.

Anything else I am missing? I am not super worried right now about the piping, cuffs or shoulder strap colors. I believe that is regiment-specific.

For summer/fall of 1812 action, I believe the Jaegers wore white trousers. Hourtelle shows them in white trousers. I hope so because I started with green and then had to repaint when I researched and found they were white??? Regardless, not going to back up again and repaint them.

I did look on several different sites and could use helpful confirmation or suggestions of correct colors.

Thank you all in advance for your help.

White trousers for summer, green for winter.
At Borodino there was winter for one Russian Army and summer for another.

All equipment straps-belts were black. Except regiments, who were converted from Musketeers to Jaegers lately, some of them preserved their Musketeers white equipment.

All you want in one easy reference: Redux: The Best TMP Napoleonic Related Information threads.

I believe jaeger had red musket slings like everyone else early on. Perhaps you can use that to differentiate some, just like the breeches/ overalls by season.
Late period isn't for me, but not sure about 'actual' grenadiers being present. I'd not paint them as not effectual to the unit anyway.
cheers

Was it something like 2 platoons out of the battalion could wear a plume, and they probably weren't worn in the field anyway?Jaegers had green collar and cuffs piped red. Red is a safe shoulder strap color for Russians, or go with yellow if you want a splash of color.

Muskets were lacquered black.
The NCO's sword knots would be coloured per battalion – along with pompoms.
Slings were black – mebbe the ex-musketeers kept the red?(*).
I'd have thought that all the leather work (scabbards, frogs) would follow.
Only the grenadier platoon would sport plumes.

(*) Look up: Wiki – Russia Leather. Cross-hatched red treated with birch oil. Mildew and insect-proof. Some of the 17thC houses round here still have furniture covered with it.

Interesting story: Wiki – Cuir de Russe. Created by Coco de Chanel after an affair with a Russian Grand Duke (or at least after the memory of the aroma of his boots).

And, who knew that Wik – Imperial Leather soap smelt of Russian musket slings?

More – I'm on a roll:

Modern leather goods made from salvaged 1786 Russia leather:
George Cleverley Leather goods

Wargamers usually shuffle around in trainers (or slippers) – but, for the sartorially-inclined:
Russia Leather shoes

Stoppage that right NOW!

I would agree on the musket slings, as pointed out those musketeer regiments recently converted into Jäger had still white leather work and I assume also Russian leather musket slings.

Also most likely those units which had Brown Bess muskets – would still have them brown colour for the stock.

some information copied and pasted from old TMP experts (who sadly left)

Russian jägers of 1812 could, indeed, skirmish in whole battalions (and even regiments and brigades), subject to typical use of reserves/supports, rotation of the troops in the chain of skirmishers, etc. This was their basic function, in addtion to service in advance- and rear- guards, and combat in broken terrain and built-up areas. The jägers accounted for 1/3 of the Russian infantry – a higher ratio than in most other services – and were present in each division at that ratio. This may account for fewer instances of Russian heavy infantry skirmishing – they often didn't need to, as there were plenty of jägers available.
Quality, naturally, varied from unit to unit. Some sense of this variation might be noted in the details below. It's too much detail, I know, I know. I am sorry.
The history of Russian jägers was already 40 years old in 1805. The constant Russian wars saw most units having combat experience by 1812. Overall, I can't see them as different in quality or skill from French light infantry of 1812, and they may have even been a bit better by 1813 and 1814.
====================================
There were two guard jäger formations in the Russian service.
-- ЛЕЙБ-ГВАРДИИ ЕГЕРСКИЙ – formed 1796 as a battalion, from the jäger detachments in the guard heavy formations and the demonstration jäger compnay in the Gatchinskiy troops under Pavel's command, expanded by individual selection of soldiers to a regiment in 1806
-- ЛЕЙБ-ГВАРДИИ ФИНЛЯНДСКИЙ ПОЛК – raised in 1806 initially as a militia battalion from the Emperor's own properties, held in service for excellent perfomance in combat, expanded by individual selection of soldiers to a regiment in 1811
These are the senior army jäger formations, with direct linkage back to the initial formation of jäger detachments in the 1760's. These units were also issued rifles for at least the NCO's and 12 markmen, and often more. They all took their indicated name by 1803. Virtually all of these units that served against the French were given one or more honorific distinctions. Regiments were 3 battalions in 1812.
-- 1-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Finland jäger corps of 1785, St. George award 1807, "For excellence" award 1812, promoted to grenadiers 1814
-- 2-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Finland jäger corps of 1785, St. George award 1814
-- 3-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Estonia jäger corps of 1790, St. George award 1807, promoted to grenadiers 1814
-- 4-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Estonia jäger corps of 1790, St. George award 1807
-- 5-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Estonia jäger corps of 1790, St. George award 1807, "For excellence" award 1812
-- 6-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Livonia jäger corps of 1785, allowed grenadier march 1799 (where it was most/all rifle armed), St. George award 1805
-- 7-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Livonia jäger corps of 1785, allowed grenadier march 1799 (where it was most/all rifle armed), St. George award 1811
-- 8-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Livonia jäger corps of 1785, St. George award 1813, promoted to grenadiers 1814
-- 9-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Ekaterinoslav jäger corps of 1787, assigned to the Caucasus
-- 10-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Belarus jäger corps of 1785, "For excellence" award 1812
-- 11-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Belarus jäger corps of 1785, St. George award 1812 and 1814
-- 12-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Bug jäger corps of 1785
-- 13-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Bug jäger corps of 1785, "For excellence" award 1814
-- 14-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Tauride jäger corps of 1785, "For excellence" award 1812, promoted to grenadiers 1814
-- 15-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Tauride jäger corps of 1785, assigned to the Caucasus
-- 16-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Kuban-Caucasus jäger corps of 1784, assigned to the Caucasus
-- 17-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Kuban-Caucasus jäger corps of 1784, assigned to the Caucasus, promoted to karabiniers in 1816
-- 18-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from 1st Siberian jäger battalion of 1775
-- 19-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from 2nd Siberian jäger battalion of 1775, St. George award 1814, "For excellence" award 1814
-- 20-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – from Olonets jäger battalion of 1790, St. George award 1807, "For excellence" award 1812
The following units were formed from August 1805 to August 1806. They were raised by assigning 4-8 companies from an exisiting unit of musketeers or jägers (noted below) and filling out with 4-8 companies of recruits. Rifles for NCO's and marksmen were issued, usually the new M1805.
-- 21-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – cadre of 4 companies from 2nd Jägers, issued purchased British muskets
-- 22-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – cadre of 6 companies from 11th Jägers, issued purchased British muskets
-- 23-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – cadre of 8 companies from 18th and 19th Jägers, issued M1808 muskets for 1812, St. George award 1813
-- 24-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – issued M1808 muskets for 1812, St. George award 1813
-- 25-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – issued M1808 muskets for 1812, St. George award 1812
-- 26-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – issued M1808 muskets for 1812, St. George award 1813, "For excellence" award 1814, promoted to grenadiers 1814
-- 27-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – assigned to Serbia in 1812
-- 28-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – St. George award 1812 and 1814
-- 29-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – promoted to grenadiers 1814
-- 30-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 31-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – assigned to Petersburg garrison in 1812
-- 32-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – cadre of 4 companies from 18th Jägers, St. George award 1812 and 1814
The following units were formed in 1810. They were converted from existing musketeer regiments of varying seniority. Since 1808, rifles were no longer included in the establishment of jäger regiments (it is unclear how many were actually returned from the first 32 regiments), and so were no longer being issued. Some of these units entered the campaign of 1812 with some degree of musketeer/infantry distinctions, such as white belting.
-- 33-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – ex-Senate battalion/regiment, St. George award 1814
-- 34-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 35-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – assigned to Arkhangelsk garrison in 1812
-- 36-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 37-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 38-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 39-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – St. George award 1813, "For excellence" award 1814
-- 40-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 41-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 42-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 43-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – assigned to Serbia in 1812
-- 44-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – St. George award 1812, "For excellence" award 1814
-- 45-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 46-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – assigned to the Caucasus
The following units were raised from various infantry garrison formations in January 1811. The three units that faced the French performed very well. Issue of the M1808 musket was typical.
-- 47-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – assigned to Petersburg garrison in 1812
-- 48-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – St. George award 1812
-- 49-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – St. George award 1812, "For excellence" award 1814
-- 50-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК – St. George award 1812
The following units were raised from April 1813 from the 2nd Reserve and 4th Replacement or Recruit battalions of regiments that had formed the Danube Army at the start of 1812. A fair number of captured French muskets were issued.
-- 50-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК –
-- 51-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК –
-- 52-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК –
-- 53-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК –
-- 54-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК –
-- 55-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК –
-- 56-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
-- 57-й ЕГЕРСКИЙ ПОЛК -
The following units were opolchenie or volunteers formed for the 1812 campaign, and not intended to remain part of the regular Army. Monted jäger units are not included. For units marked * training and capabilities are less uncertain. The others were quite good light troops. Dr. Summerfield may notice that I have forgotten some unit or two.
-- COURLAND MARKSMEN CORPS – regiment size, formed from hunters and forresters, used as scouts and partisans, issued some M1805 rifles
-- LIVONIA MARKSMEN CORPS – regiment size, formed from hunters and forresters, used as scouts and partisans, issued some M1805 rifles
-- VOLOGDA & OLONETS OPOLCHENIE – each battalion size, raised from hunters and forresters, included as the 17th and 18th Cohorts of St-Petersburg Opolchenie, issued some M1805 rifles, retained in service all the way to Paris
-- GRAND DUCHESS EKATERINA PAVLOVNA JÄGER BATTALION – raised from residents on Her Highness' estates in the Tver region, armed with M1805 rifles and M1808 muskets
-- RUSSO-GERMAN LEGION JÄGER COMPANY – formerly the 3rd company of the East Prussian Jäger Battalion, captured enitre in August 1812, and re-equipped with 23 British and the remainder M1805 rifles, later expanded and transferred to the Prussian service
-- PERM & VYATKA OPOLCHENIE – 1 battalion, raised from hunters and forresters, included in the Kostromo Opolchenie [details uncertain, these may have served later as scouts for the 3rd Western Army]
-- MOSCOW OPOLCHENIE – 3 Jäger regiments *
-- RYZAN OPOLCHENIE – 2 Jäger regiments *
-- TULA OPOLCHENIE – 1 Jäger regiment *
-- KALUGA OPOLCHENIE – 1 Jäger battalion *
-- 1st & 2nd FINNISH JÄGER REGIMENTS – each only 2 battalions, mostly ex-Swedish veterans, garrisoned Russian Finland *
-- 3rd FINNISH JÄGER REGIMENT – 2 battalions, 1 each in Vyborg and St-Petersburg, recruited in the Vyborg region by conscription *
By Seroga

Addendum : 12th and 22nd Jägers remained on the Danube in 1812 and joined the fight against the French in late 1813.
Errata : Vyatka and Perm forresters went to the Kazan opolchenie, not Kostromo.
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@Timbo W
Thank you very much for your kind words. I again apologize to anyone who didn't want to see so much detail.
Your questions invite opinion. I will be happy to share mine. But, it is only opinion. Soemone else could take a different course and may be more correct.
In general, Russia did not rush units of un-trained conscripts into the campaign. They were pretty careful to raise new units (even opolchenie!) with a good leavening of experienced soldiers, long-service NCO's, captains and majors. You can see that in the list above. And except for the opolchenie, they really didnt rush the process of unit formation. And to some extent they couldn't – given the distances and the need to collect the designated men and the necessary material. And that material was greater in the Russian case, as many of the logistical and support functions of other armies were "pushed down" to their regiments. We see that the most "rushed" units for the Army jägers were ordered raised in January 1811 – that's not a great rush for June 1812 – and these did very well indeed.
When it came to replacements for losses, the Russians were also pretty careful. For example, after Borodino the most heavily damaged brigades reformed the senior regiments to a respectable level and sent the remaining cadres back to the regimental depot and divisional recruit depots to re-raise the junior regiments. [Note : A Russian division was 2 brigades of heavy infantry, 1 of jägers. Each brigade had 2 regiments. Each regiment had 2 "active" battalions, the 1st Shef's batalion and the 3rd Commander's battalion.]
The new recruits were not exactly so new either. The regular conscription and special levies had been decreed in early 1811. The recruits would have been taken into service locally to their home villages, under the "guidance" of long-service soldiers in the internal guard. They would have had their legal status changed from "serf" to "soldier", had the shave of beard and hair, the legendary "funeral" by their families, and been uniformed (more or less) in recruit gray. On the long march to the divisional recruit depots, they would have learned quite a bit of drill, and some bivouac tradecraft. On arrival to the divisioanl recruit depots, they would have been formed into 4th Reserve or Recruit battalions under NCO's and junior officers of their intended regiment. They would be issued (hopefuly rather complete) uniforms and weapons and begin more advanced training. When ready, they would then be forwarded to the regimental depots, about 9-12 months after becoming soldiers.
The 2nd Replacement battalions at the regimental deopts would have already detached their grenadier companies (6 per division, forming 2 combined grenadier battalions) with the active battalions and have used the best men of their center companies to bring the active battalions to full strength. It was intended that the arriving 4th Reserve/Recruit battalions would then be used to re-build the 2nd Replacement battalions, awaiting the next call for replacements – while a new 4th Reserve/Recruit battalion was formed from the next year's levy.
Actually, as the campaign started in 1812, the remaining depleted center companies of the 2nd Replacement battalions and the arriving 4th Reserve/Recruit battalions were often used differently. An example is the formation of the 50th through 57th Jäger Regiments from 2nd and 4th battalions of the former Danube Army (whose active battalions were by then very very far from the regimental and divisional depots). But the planned method was essentially re-established by mid-1813. Even in 1811 and early 1812 the process of of manning the active battalions and the combined grenadier battalions went about as planned. And so these were really rather well-prepared and well-trained.
For jägers, I think that their role as light infantry would have been the first thing stressed in regimental training. Maybe units re-built in late 1812 and early 1813 might not have been the best at the formed evolutions.[And conversely for the re-built heavy infantry regiments not so great on skirmishing.] But the jäger regiment cadres were deepely experienced battle-hardened light infantry veterans.
As to the jägers' use as "shock" troops, I see your idea, but would have expressed it differently. The jägers were used to storm obstacles in terrrain (broken, wet, built-up) where formed units could not easily operate. Also, they were habitually posted to advance- and rear- guard duties. By the nature of these assignments, they would indeed often act as "schock" troops. But if the terrain and situation permitted it, the more normal usage for the Russians was a formed unit, often of grenadiers.
As to variablity, I think it was about normal for any arm-of-service in any large army. Some regiments were really quite good : the guards (especially the "Finns"), the regiments with "For excellence" 1812, the ones promoted to grenadiers, the Ekaterina Palovna battalion (a very large battalion, retained with the guards all the way to Paris), the 23rd through 26th regiments (fighting on the north flank), the 48th through 50th regiments (with Bagration). I don't know of any really "bad" regiments. Some may think the Life Guard Jägers were not up to the high level expected of them. 18th Jägers got picked over twice in forming new regiments, and were brigaded with a heavy infantry unit. So, not too famous as light infantry. Ditto the units in the series 33rd through 46th Jägers that faced the French, but never received awards. Not too famous, but not known to be "bad" in any way.
Anyway, my opinion is that rules for 1812-1814 that give the Russian jägers any over general disadvantage compared to the French légère are not warranted. But it is just my opinion. Nothing more.
[Oh dear, I am writing on and on again …. I hope it is OK.]
===================================================
@rabbit
Your usage seems pretty much historical to me. It was not that Russian musketeer/infantry/grenadier battalions could not skirmish (indeed sometimes they did), but that the jägers usually were there to do the job of their specialty. If I had to make a superfine comparison, I might say that French were better marksmen on average (but not alot, and not all units – for example, the forrester opolchenie units were pretty much like assassins for French officers and gun crews), but the Russian jägers tended to be tough for an attacker to move – including the "play dead and get up again" trick – and so perhaps a very slight melee advantage.
Alexandre
16 May 2014 7:52 a.m. PST

A long list of regiment numbers is a little hard to individualize. So, expanding a post on TMP from April 2012 by Seroga, let me try to give a little bit of the details by unit.
There were two guard jäger formations in the Russian service.
-- Лейб-Гвардии Егерский полк – formed 1796 as a battalion, from the jäger detachments in the guard heavy infantry formations and the demonstration jäger company in the Gatchinskiy troops under Pavel's command, expanded by individual selection of soldiers to a regiment in 1806, Saint George flags for 1812, silver trumpets for Kulm
-- Лейб-Гвардии Финляндский полк – raised in 1806 initially as the militia battalion from the Emperor's own properties, held in service for excellent perfomance in combat, expanded by individual selection of soldiers to a regiment in 1811, Saint George flags for 1812, silver trumpets for Leipzig
These are the senior army jäger formations, with direct linkage back to the initial formation of jäger detachments in the 1760's. They maintained their regional characteristics at least to 1803 (recruited from and located in the named regions). These units were also issued rifles for at least the NCO's and 12 markmen, and often more. They all took their indicated name by 1803. Virtually all of these units that served against the French were given one or more honorific distinctions. Regiments were 3 battalions in 1812, and had been established at the same size as heavy infantry regiments since 1806. In 1812, there were 2 jäger regiments per division. Beginning after Borodino, in several cases the two regiments of a division would be consolidated into the senior regiment, and the cadre of the junior regiment sent back to refit and take in replacements. The consolidations in the 2nd Western Army are noted below for the 41st, 42nd and 50th Jager.
-- [1-й Егерский полк] – first formation, from Finland jäger corps of 1785, disbanded after substantial losses from sickness in the descent on Holland led by the Duke of York …. the then-exisitng 19 other regiments were each promoted by one number, and a new 20th regiment was formed
-- 1-й Егерский полк – from Finland jäger corps of 1785, St. George award for 1807, imperial family member as "shef" from 1811, issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1812, promoted to grenadier-jäger in 1814
-- 2-й Егерский полк – from Finland jäger corps of 1785, silver trumpet award for 1814, silver trumpt award from the Dutch government
-- 3-й Егерский полк – from Estonia jäger corps of 1790, St. George award and grenadier march music for 1807, issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets, promoted to grenadier-jäger in 1814
-- 4-й Егерский полк – from Estonia jäger corps of 1790, silver trumpet award for 1807, grenadier march music for 1808, issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets
-- 5-й Егерский полк – from Estonia jäger corps of 1790, St. George award 1807, grenadier march music for 1808, issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets, "For excellence" shako badge award 1812
-- 6-й Егерский полк – from Livonia jäger corps of 1785, allowed grenadier march music for 1799 (where it was largely rifle armed), silver trumpet award for 1805, the regiment is closely associated with prince Bagration who had led the regiment earlier in his career and then under whom the regiment served for many years and with the comte Emmanuel de Saint-Priest who was also a long-time deputy to the prince Bagration
-- 7-й Егерский полк – from Livonia jäger corps of 1785, allowed grenadier march for music 1799 (where it was largely rifle armed), silver trumpet award for 1812
-- 8-й Егерский полк – from Livonia jäger corps of 1785, silver trumpet award for 1813, promoted to grenadier-jäger in 1814
-- 9-й Егерский полк – from Ekaterinoslav jäger corps of 1787, assigned to the Caucasus
-- 10-й Егерский полк – from Belarus jäger corps of 1785, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1812-1814
-- 11-й Егерский полк – from Belarus jäger corps of 1785, St. George award for 1812-1814
-- 12-й Егерский полк – from Bug jäger corps of 1785, remained on the Danube through 1812 and joined operations against the French only in 1813
-- 13-й Егерский полк – from Bug jäger corps of 1785, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1814
-- 14-й Егерский полк – from Tauride (Crimea) jäger corps of 1785, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1812, promoted to grenadier-jäger in 1814
-- 15-й Егерский полк – from Tauride (Crimea) jäger corps of 1785, assigned to the Caucasus
-- 16-й Егерский полк – from Kuban-Caucasus jäger corps of 1784, assigned to the Caucasus
-- 17-й Егерский полк – from Kuban-Caucasus jäger corps of 1784, assigned to the Caucasus, promoted to karabiniers in 1816
-- 18-й Егерский полк – from 1st Siberian jäger battalion of 1775, issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets
-- 19-й Егерский полк – from 2nd Siberian jäger battalion of 1775, silver trumpet award for 1814, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1814
-- 20-й Егерский полк – from Olonets jäger battalion of 1790, silver trumpet award for 1807, issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets, allowed grenadier march music for 1812, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1812, promoted in seniority to 1st Jäger in 1815, the regiment is associated with the rather famous jäger commander Karl Ivanovich Bistrom-1 who led the regiment until his promotion to command the Life-Guard Jäger in 1809
The following units were formed from August 1805 to August 1806. They were raised by assigning 4-8 companies from an exisiting unit of musketeers or jägers (jäger cadres are noted below) and filling out with 4-8 companies of recruits for a total of 12 companies. Rifles for NCO's and marksmen were issued, usually the new Russian obr. 1805 jäger rifle.
-- 21-й Егерский полк – raised at Uglich near Yaroslvl' with a cadre of 4 companies from 2nd Jäger, issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets, allowed grenadier march music for 1812, promoted in seniority to 3rd Jäger in 1815
-- 22-й Егерский полк – cadre of 6 companies from 11th Jägers, issued purchased Brown Bess British muskets,remained on the Danube through 1812 and joined operations against the French only in 1813
-- 23-й Егерский полк – cadre of 8 companies from 18th and 19th Jäger, issued M1808 muskets for 1812, silver trumpet award for 1813
-- 24-й Егерский полк – issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets for 1812, silver trumpet award for 1812
-- 25-й Егерский полк – issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets, silver trumpet award for 1812
-- 26-й Егерский полк – issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets, silver trumpet award for 1812, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1813, promoted to grenadier-jäger in 1814
-- 27-й Егерский полк – assigned to Serbia garrison in 1812
-- 28-й Егерский полк – St. George award for 1812-1814
-- 29-й Егерский полк – promoted to grenadier-jäger in 1814
-- 30-й Егерский полк – issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets
-- 31-й Егерский полк – issued captured Swedish long arms, assigned to Petersburg garrison in 1812
-- 32-й Егерский полк – cadre of 4 companies from 18th Jäger, St. George award for 1812-1814
The following units were formed in 1810. They were converted from existing musketeer regiments of varying seniority. Since 1808, rifles were no longer included in the establishment of jäger regiments (it is unclear how many rifles were actually returned from the first 32 regiments), and so were no longer being issued. Some of these units entered the campaign of 1812 with some degree of musketeer/infantry distinctions, such as white belting.
-- 33-й Егерский полк – ex-Senate battalion/regiment (picked security troops for the Russian Senate in Petersburg), issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets, silver trumpet award for 1814, the regiment is closely associated with the second of the Bistrom brothers, Adam Ivanovich who led the regiment until his promotion to command the Life-Guard Pavlosvskiy regiment in 1815
-- 34-й Егерский полк – issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets
-- 35-й Егерский полк – issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets, assigned to Arkhangelsk garrison in 1812
-- 36-й Егерский полк – issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets
-- 37-й Егерский полк – issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets
-- 38-й Егерский полк – issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets
-- 39-й Егерский полк – issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets, silver trumpet award for 1812-1813, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1814
-- 40-й Егерский полк – issued purchased British Brown Bess muskets
-- 41-й Егерский полк – allowed grenadier march for music 1799 (then a musketeer regiment), consolidated into 6th Jäger after Borodino
-- 42-й Егерский полк – consolidated into 5th Jäger after Borodino
-- 43-й Егерский полк – assigned to Serbia garrison in 1812
-- 44-й Егерский полк – "For excellence" shako badge award for 1814
-- 45-й Егерский полк -
-- 46-й Егерский полк – issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets, assigned to the Caucasus, promoted in seniority to 17th Jäger in 1816
The following units were raised from various infantry garrison formations in January 1811. The three units that faced the French performed very well. Issue of the Russian obr. 1808 musket was typical. The 49th and 50th Jäger were in Neverovskiy's newly formed 27th infantry division, which Napoléon rather famously under-estimated as a formation of raw recruits and invalids.
-- 47-й Егерский полк – assigned to Petersburg garrison in 1812
-- 48-й Егерский полк – issued Russian obr. 1808 muskets, silver trumpet award for 1812
-- 49-й Егерский полк – St. George award for 1812, St. George award again for 1814, "For excellence" shako badge award for 1812-1814
-- 50-й Егерский полк – silver trumpet award for 1812, consolidated into 49th Jäger after Borodino
The following units were raised from April 1813 from the 2nd Reserve and 4th Replacement or Recruit battalions of regiments that had formed the Danube Army at the start of 1812. A fair number of captured French muskets were initially issued to these units, for want of the much more favored Russian obr. 1808 and British Brown Bess muskets. When the grenadier-jäger were renamed and renumbered as karabiniers in 1815, in some cases their old numbers and seniority were assigned as a distinction to other regiments, as noted above. The following units were then re-numbered to fill-in the missing numbers.
-- 51-й Егерский полк – renumbered 8th Jäger in 1815
-- 52-й Егерский полк – renumbered 14th Jäger in 1815
-- 53-й Егерский полк – renumbered 20th Jäger in 1815
-- 54-й Егерский полк – renumbered 21st Jäger in 1815
-- 55-й Егерский полк – renumbered 26th Jäger in 1815
-- 56-й Егерский полк – renumbered 29th Jäger in 1815
-- 57-й Егерский полк – assigned ot the Caucasus, renumbered 46th Jäger in 1816
The following units were opolchenie or volunteers formed for the 1812 campaign, and not intended to remain part of the regular Army. But they turned out to quite good light infantry and many were retained until the end of the 184 campaign.
-- Vologda & Olonets opolchenie – each 1 battalion size, raised from hunters and forresters, included as the 17th and 18th cohorts of the Petersburg opolchenie, issued some Russian obr. 1805 rifles, retained in service all the way to Paris
-- Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna Jäger battalion – over-sized battalion raised from residents of Her Highness' rural and forest estates in the Tver region, armed with Russian obr. 1805 rifles and Russian obr. 1808 muskets, retained in service all the way to Paris
-- Russo-German Legion Jäger company – formerly the 3rd company of the East Prussian Jäger Battalion, captured/changed sides as a unit in August 1812, re-equipped with 23 British Baker and the remainder Russian obr. 1805 rifles, later expanded and transferred to the Prussian service
-- Perm & Vyatka opolchenie – 1 battalion size, raised from hunters and forresters, included in the Kazan opolchenie, served later as scouts for the 3rd Western Army, retained in service into 1814
-- Courland Marksmen corps – regiment size, formed from hunters and forresters, used as scouts and partisans, issued some Russian obr. 1805 rifles
-- Livonia Marksmen corps – regiment size, formed from hunters and forresters, used as scouts and partisans, issued some Russian obr. 1805 rifles
"Honorable mention" ….
-- Saint-Persburg opolchenie, 1st cohort – battlaion size, called the "Merchants" or the "Philistenes" as they were volunteers drawn from the Petersburg middle class and foreign residents, with experiened senior officers, armed with Russian obr. 1808 muskets, actually performed markedly well as skirmishers in support of the 1st separate corps operating in defense of the approaches to Petersburg and the north flank of the main Russian army in 1812
The following were called "jäger", but were light infantry mostly in name only.
-- Moscow opolchenie – 3 jäger regiments
-- Ryzan opolchenie – 2 jäger regiments
-- Tula opolchenie – 1 jäger regiment
-- Kaluga opolchenie – 1 jäger battalion
-- 1st & 2nd Finnish Jäger regiments – each only 2 battalions (not the usual 3), volunteer formation, mostly ex-Swedish veterans, garrisoned Russian Finland, some light infantry capability
-- 3rd Finnish Jäger regiment – also 2 battalions, 1 each in Vyborg and Petersburg garrisons, recruited in the Vyborg region by conscription
- Sasha

Awesome info in this thread. Much appreciated, all.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I was curious about the statement on Russian muskets being painted black. Was this something that they had always done, something new?

@maj:

Random internet: Prussia – The stock was black for fusiliers and brown for musketiers. The fittings were brass and the sling was red.

Discussed at length, with interesting details re stains and painting:

TMP – Black Russian Muskets

Interesting, thanks.

Shoulder straps were NOT red. Light blue or yellow, usually depending on regimental seniority in the Division.

The stock was black for fusiliers and brown for musketiers.

I cannot agree – all information I have state that the New Prussian musket of 1809 was varnished black (regardless of serving for the Füsiliere, Grenadiere and Musketiere)

(Covers eyes)
I see NOTHING

@vonW

I did label it "Random internet"!

@rmaker, really? I thought all of the shoulder strap colors applied to the jagers as well. I guess I stand corrected. I'll have to reread what sources I have.

Well, do I paint the Jaeger musket black or brown? LOL. I cannot tell from the posts above.

Also, what color are the swordknots (or the tassles that hang from the sword hilt as modeled on Front Rank miniatures)?

Shoulder straps according to Viskovatov:
9 January 1810—The shakos in all Jäger regiments are to have a brass grenade with one flame, instead of the ribbon, and shoulder straps —with the divisional number—are as follows:

1st Jäger Regiment- yellow, with a No2; 2nd – yellow, with No21; 3rd – yellow, with No6; 4th – yellow with No4; 5th – yellow, with No7; 6th – yellow, with No12; 7th – yellow, with No8; 8th – yellow, with No10; 9th – sky blue, with No20; 10th – yellow, with No9; 11th – yellow, with No11; 12th – yellow, with No13; 13th – sky blue, with No15; 14th – yellow, with No15; 15th – yellow, with No20; 16th – yellow, with No19; 17th -sky blue, with No19; 18th – yellow, with No24; 19th – yellow, with No25; 20th – yellow, with No3; 21st – sky blue, with No3; 22nd – sky blue, with No13; 23rd – yellow, with No5; 24th – sky blue, with No5; 25th – yellow, with No14; 26th – sky blue, with No14; 27th – yellow, with No16; 28th – yellow, with No18; 29th – yellow, with No22; 30th – yellow, with No17; 31st – sky blue, with No17; 32nd – sky blue, with No18 (820).

12 April 1812—The 20th, 4th, 23rd, 3rd, 11th, 7th, 10th, 8th, 1st, 6th, 12th, 25th, 13th, 27th, 30th, 28th, 16th, 9th, 2nd, 29th, 18th, 19th, 31st, 5th, and 49th Jäger regiments, being the senior in their brigades, are assigned yellow shoulder straps, while all the rest are to have sky-blue ones (827).

From Viskovatov:

22 February 1811— Consequent to the organizational changes of Grenadier regiments, the colors of the pompons and swordknots are also changed, as follows:

a.) Pompons.
1st battalion, in the 1st Grenadier company – red for Grenadiers, yellow for Marksmen; in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Fusilier companies – white with a green center (Illus. 1320).
2nd battalion, in the 2nd Grenadier company – red with green below for Grenadiers, yellow with green below for Marksmen; in the 4th, 5th and 6th Fusilier companies – green with a white center (Illus. 1320).
3rd battalion, in the 3rd Grenadier company – red with sky blue below for Grenadiers, yellow with sky blue below for Marksmen; in the 7th, 8th and 9th Fusilier companies – sky blue with a white center (Illus. 1320).

b.) Swordknots.
1st battalion, in the 1st Grenadier company – for Grenadiers, red acorns [derevyashki], loops [gaiki], and bands [okolyshi] or trinchiki, yellow for Marksmen; in the Fusilier comapnies – white acorns with the loops and bands according to the company: in the 1st company – white, in the 2nd – sky blue, and in the 3rd – orange (Illus. 1320).
2nd battalion, in the 2nd Grenadier company – for Grenadiers, red acorns and green loops and bands; for Marksmen, yellow acorns and green loops and bands; in the Fusilier companies – green acorns with the loops and bands according to the company: in the 4th company – white, in the 5th – sky blue, and in the 6th – orange (Illus. 1320).
3rd battalion, in the 3rd Grenadier company – for Grenadiers, red acorns and sky blue loops and bands; for Marskmen, yellow acorns and sky blue loops and bands; in the Fusilier companies – sky blue acorns with the loops and bands according to the company: in the 7th company – white, in the 8th – sky blue, and in the 9th – orange (Illus. 1320).

The following directives, described above, for Grenadier and Musketeer regiments were also applied to Jäger regiments: 22 February 1811 —about pompon colors in all companies and swordknot colors in Grenadier compa­nies, and also about Marksmen not wearing plumes; 8 April 1811 — about Grenadiers and Marksmen having three-flamed grenades on their shakos;

I painted my jagers with green trousers solely to easily distinguish them from the musketeers. Don't care that much about summer/winter.

Dawnguard I did too for most part

hm I see that my message referring to the excellent and state of the art home page of Jonathan Gingerich was removed – a pity there this home page is answering such an a lot of questions, but one of the editors of TMP wrote this

Russian Facings of the Napoleonic Era
Description
"I started this page first just to capture the facing revisions. But as new discoveries continued to be announced, I have tried to make this both a quick visual reference and a comprehensive record of information supplemental or contrary to that found in Viskovatov."
Publication Date
9 March 2021
Link
zaotlichiye.net63.net/allfacings.html
Categories
Uniforms

Submitted by von Winterfeldt

there exists a links Directory on TMP

TMP link

Still I would appreciate that my message would not be deleted even when I mention that J. Gingerich is one of the many Russian experts who left TMP.

here the link

link

Mmmm, Links…

Reminds me of the Yahoo Directory – that got killed off or died of natural causes.

Embedding links in a thread provides – often superb (vW, PoE, et Al) – supplementary side matter.

>>Well, do I paint the Jaeger musket black or brown? LOL. I cannot tell from the posts above.

There is NO ONE ANSWER.
Choose your own and you cant be wrong. The source and provision of arms was wide and nobody had coordinated this.
Only those coming from the Russian only facilities would have been their 'pure' black.

>> home page of Jonathan Gingerich was removed -
really more censorhsip?

Both Gingerich site and comments, link

as well as Mark Conrads link are the ultimate sources for much. These have all been highlighted over and over in Redux thread! Please use it.

regards d
If we must, start a forum for links elsewhere then…

Mmmm, Historical Stack Overflow…