"Svodnyy Leib-Gvardii Legkokavaleriyskiy Eskadron" Topic

Hi
I am using the ESR Campaign guide for the first half of the 1812 campaign and this unit
" Svodnyy Leib-Gvardii Legkokavaleriyskiy Eskadron "
is decscribed as being composed of various depot elements:
Leib-Gvardii Gusarskiy, Ulanskiy and Dragunskiy Polk

- how was this element formed when on teh battlefield, and when representing 1 squadron group of it in a game, would it literally be just a with these 3 different types of cavalry – Hussar, Uhlan and Dragoon?
did they have any flags of any sort? i am guessing not

In absence of any other information, I would show the troopers in the uniform of their regiment, and form them on the base with the senior regiment to the right (the Guard Hussars), the next senior to the left, and the junior in the center. Unfortunately, my limited sources only say that both the Guard Dragoons and Guard Uhlans were created in 1810 – I don't know which was considered the senior of the two.

I would expect that the Guard Dragoon reserve squadron at least would have a standard; hussars and uhlans did not ordinarily have them but maybe the Guard played by special rules? But if you're only going to have a single base of these guys, if you give them a standard let the Dragoons carry it.

TMP has members much more learned about the Russian army than I, perhaps they'll contribute an answer.

Combined Guards Cavalry Regiment
Commander Colonel of the Life Hussar Regiment Baron Adam Leontyevich Bennigsen-2, then from mid- July Colonel of the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment Alexander Ivanovich Albrecht

Composed of, in order of regimental seniority, each squadton uniformed per its parent regiment ….

Replacement Squadron of the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment
Commander Guards Captain Kvitnitsky Ksenofont Fedorovich
~115 dragoons as of mid-July – 1 green color standard

Replacement Squadron of the Life Guards Uhlan Regiment
Commander (Guards) Colonel Semyon Alekseevich Volodimerov
~115 uhlans as of mid-July – no standard

Replacement Squadron of the Life Hussar Regiment
Commander Guards Cavalry Captain Nikolai Dmitrievich Skobeltsyn
~130 hussars as of mid-July – no standard

Thanks for the replies, michman, thanks for the flags I go regarding the replacement groups but what about in the context of the combined units – and how were they organised on the battlefield exactly

Thanks eumelus – when you say "right" is that the right side of the unit itself yes, and so my left of I was looking at it from the front?

Combined Guards Cavalry Regiment was as often split up to act as separate squadrons, or teamed with different squadrons, as they were used combined into one single regiment as shown above.

Partly explaining this, the Russians liked to use regular cavalry in 2-squadron "divisions" of about 240 troopers, with each squadron formed in two ranks of about 60 files. The division, depending on the situation, could deploy with both squadrons abreast (120 files, 2 ranks) – or – with 1 squadron leading and the 2nd squadron directly behind, or behind and toward a flank.

The 3-squadron combined guards cavalry regiment with ~360 troopers was thus perhaps seen as unweildy. Also, the mixing of dragoons with light cavalry was odd.

So, for example, at 1st Polotsk ….
The Guards Hussar Replacement Squadron was teamed with an understregth "battalion" (4 squadons of light cavalry) of Grodno Hussars to field ~420 hussars in total (2 divisions).
The Guards Dragoon Replacement Squadron was teamed with the Pskov Dragoons Replacement Squadron to field a division of ~240 dragoons total.
The Guards Uhlan Replacement Squadron was teamed with the other understregth battalion of Grodno Hussars to field ~425 troopers in total (2 divisions), of which 90 of the hussars were then detached to support engineers, leaving ~335 troopers, and breaking the "division pattern".

That was just one example.
Graf Wittgenstein had a rather non-standard, mixed corps and a major economy-of-force task to cover 2 French/Allied corps, support Riga, shield Sebezh/Pskov/Novgorod/Saint-Petersburg and liaise with the main Russian army. He re-mixed and re-matched his forces many times over the campaign.

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"right" is the right side of the formation viewed from behind (i.e. looking past the unit at the enemy), assuming the unit is not formed inverted or on the left. The ranking of seniority or honor was from the right.

So, for a deployed line of squadrons formed on the right, the Combined Guards Cavalry Regiment would have the rightmost be the Dragoons, then the Uhlans in the center, with Hussars on the left. For an inverse/inverted column of squadrons, the Hussars would lead, then the Uhlans, and the Dragoons last.
Always each squadron formed in two ranks.

thanks Michman – and the Polotsk battle is the one i am specifically looking at – what you describe now throughs a little spanner as in the ESR Campaign guide the combined cav is its own unit and not formed with the Grodno hussars and Life Guard Dragoons or Pskov Dragoons, i guess this is where history and wargaming can sometimes separate and compromises made for the sake of gaming

"this is where history and wargaming can sometimes separate"
I don't know what is the level of tactical detail in the ESR system. I am sorry.

If you have individual squadrons separately represented, I think the wargamer should be able to freely mix/match the Replacement Squadrons, just as did Graf Wittgenstein. Except when both of the Replacement Squadrons of a single Army light cavalry unit were together, they was no "regimental integrity" to be lost.

On the other hand, if the game needs to have cavalry regiments, there is nothing wrong with using the Guards Dragoon, Uhlan and Hussar Replacement Squadrons as a single small "regiment". This was how they were intended to be used and indeed how Graf Wittgenstein usually formed them in September through November.

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This one fought as a single unit throughout the campaign.

Combined Cuirassier Regiment / Сводный Кирасирскiй Полкъ
Composed of, in order of regimental seniority, each squadton uniformed per its parent regiment ….

● 1st Division – Commander Colonel of the Life Guards Horse Regiment Alexey Andrianovich Protasov
Regimental Adjutant Cornet of the Chevalier Guards Regiment Grigory Alexandrovich Okunev

Replacement Squadron of the Chevalier Guards Regiment
Commander Guards Cavalry Staff Captain Mikhail Nikolaevich Avdulin-2
There has been no record found of a 5th standard being issued for this squadron. If they had one, it likely appeared as below, with the eagle removed when on campaign.

Replacement Squadron of the Life Guards Horse Regiment
Commander Guards Cavalry Captain Vladimir Karlovich Knorring-1
1 green color standard

● 2nd Division – Commander Colonel of the Chevalier Guards Regiment Ivan Zakharyevich Yershov

Replacement Squadron of His Majesty's Life Cuirassier Regiment
Commander Major Timofey Savelyevich Karsky
1 blue color standard

Replacement Squadron of Her Majesty's Life Cuirassier Regiment
Commander Major Stepan Alekseevich Semeka (or "Sameiko")
1 color standard as per His Majesty's Life Cuirassier Regiment, but with crimson instead of green

Replacement Squadron of the Astrakhan Cuirassier Regiment
Commander Lieutenant Colonel Fedor Vasilievich Gromov
This squadron arrived at the front on 3 October and was distributed as replacements for the two life cuirassier regiments.

thansk again Michman – in ESR the units are battalions and squadron groups – and so in Brigade Helfreich there is listed 1 squadron of Grodno Hussars, 1 squadron group of "Svodnyy Leib-Gvardii Legkokavaleriyskiy Eskadron" and 1 squadron group of Platova 4-go Donskoy Kazachoy Polk" (i assume in english this is Platovs Don cossacks)

the minimum unit in ESR is the battalion and squadron, and it does not concern itself with lower level formations

I see. Thanks !

I think the breakdown of the Russian order of battle for 1st Polotsk can never be "perfect" – as the units were being mixed/matched and assigned/re-assigned on an almost daily baisis – including during the battle of 1st Polotsk.

If the ESR system allows it, and you can model/base this way, it might be good to allow the player to make up his own organization, especially for the cavalry.

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For example, the Don Cossacks ….

Донской Казачiй Платова 4-го Полкъ / Donskoy Kazachiy Platova 4-go Polk / Platov-4's Don Cossack Regiment

Командиръ Подполковникъ Иванъ Ивановичъ Платовъ 4-й / Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Ivanovich Platov-4 (1773-1845, nephew of Ataman Matvey Ivanovich Platov)

Замѣститель Командиръ Войсковой Старшина Василiй Ивановичъ Золотаревъ 8-й / Deputy Commander Cossack Major Vasiliy Ivanovich Zolotarev-8

The regiment started the campaign with 10 officers and 420 other ranks (with 2 horses each), organized in 5 Сотни / Sotni / Hundreds.
From June until mid-August they were often engaged in scouting, raiding (including the capture of général de brigade baron Falcon de Saint-Geniès) and rear guard actions. They were reduced to ~370 other ranks by mid July and ~290 other ranks by mid August, leaving only about 60 all ranks per hundred for 1st Polotsk.

At 1st Polotsk, most accounts indicate that 2 (reduced) hundreds were posted far on each flank in the 2nd Line, the pair on the right under Lieutenant Colonel Platov and the pair on the left under Cossack Major Zolotarev. The last (reduced) hundred was detached, with a division (2 squadrons) of the Yamburg Dragoon Regiment, to Druya on the river Dvina about 90 km or 55 miles north-east of Polotsk.

Michman – while i have got you and thnak you always i have two other questions:

the flags, – the white one and the colour – which one is one the right and which on the left?

also in the Hourtoulle book on Borodino he writes:

"The number of flags varied. There was a colonels flag per regiment with a white flag at the beginning, then all white in 1812" – only the all the white colonel standard? i see all these variations of hte "white flag" but then in 1812 there was still the old model colonel flags being used by regiments too? – and then when it came to 1813, was the white flag dispensed with and just the standard green inspection type flag used?

he also writes:
There were also colour flags for the battalions, in 1812, the first battalion had the colonels flag in one colour and the others had flags with two colours"
- this confuses me more.
did each battalion have one or two flags?

lastly – teh Pavlograd Hussars, i have seen 3 different colour variations of their uniform, i am sure they cant all be correct. what is the correct actual uniform for these hussars – can you tell me pleasE?

In both images linked above, the "white" standard is on the left and the "color" standard is on the right. In general, for Russian flags or standards of the era, either the majority of the field or the main Maltese Cross is white on the "white" regalia.

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"The number of flags varied …. did each battalion have one or two flags?"
For typical Army heavy infantry regiments in 1812, the 1st Chief Officer's Battalion had a "white" and a "color" flag. The 3rd Commander's Battalion and the 2nd Replacement (i.e. depot) Battalion each had two "color" flags. Combined Grenadier and 4th Reserve (i.e. recruit) Battalions had no flags.
Army Jägers had no flags.
Now …. if you lost a flag under "less than honorable" circumstances, you did not get it replaced until the regiment did something worth distinction. Some regiment's received honorific "Saint-George" flags. There were differennt models of flags issued. The Guards were different. And so on. So, it is best to ask about a specific unit at a specific time.

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Павлоградскiй Гусарскiй Полкъ / Pavlogradskiy Gusarskiy Polk / Pavlograd Hussar Regiment

From 1810 ….
Pelisse : all turquoise with red cords, yellow buttons, white sheep fleece "fur" trim for hussards
Dolman : dark green, with turquoise collar and cuff inserts, and with red cords and trim, yellow buttons
Sash : red cords with turquoise barrels
Shako : red pompon and cords, with white plume (with dark gray at the base) for hussards
"Parade" Breeches : dark green with red embroidery and trim
"Campaign" Trousers : middle gray – typically with black leather seat, along the inner seam and around the bottom of the legs
Cloak : middle gray with turquoise collar
Lance Pennants : white over turquoise in one battalion (5 squadrons) & turquoise over white in the other
Sabertache : dark green with red embroidery & trim
Saddle Cloth : dark green with red cords & trim

Unusually, the regiment was awarded Saint-George standards for Schöngraben in 1805. The 1st Chief Officer's Squadron had a "white" standard (shown below – "open in a new window" to see full size) and the other 9 squadrons had a green "color" standard of identical design but with a green field.

Mr. Gingerich's uniform "charts":
link

link

There's my boy Nikolai again. I know he's fictional, but I love him all the same. The scene where his letter arrives home and the Countess won't let it out of her hands always grabs at my heart (sentimentally picturing her as _my_ mother when I went off to the Army).

"For typical Army heavy infantry regiments in 1812, the 1st Chief Officer's Battalion had a "white" and a "color" flag. The 3rd Commander's Battalion and the 2nd Replacement (i.e. depot) Battalion each had two "color" flags. Combined Grenadier and 4th Reserve (i.e. recruit) Battalions had no flags."

- what are "heavy infantry" – are you just meaning line infantry?

and is the 1st chief officers battalion's white flag, actually a white flag? and the 3rd and replacement were those two varied colour flags?
I thought grenadiers did have flags? i had not heard of grenadier battalions combined with recruits – recruit infantry or recruit grenadiers?
sorry also questions begetting questions when it comes to the complicated russian army of 1812

all answers are for 1812 ….

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"heavy infantry" = army grenadier and infantry (formerly musketeer) and all guard infantry *except* Life-Guard Jäger and Life-Guard Finland regiments

"light infantry" = army jäger and guard Life-Guard Jäger and Life-Guard Finland regiments

================

Army heavy infantry regiments typically fielded 6 banners : 1 "white" and 5 "color". The so-called "white" flag had a white Maltese Cross and the "color" flags had the Maltese Cross in one or more color(s).
Example – Sevsk Infantry Regiment :
"white"

"color"

Example – Kaluga Infantry Regiment :
"white"

"color"

Each Army heavy infantry battalion typically had 2 banners. The 1st Battalion had 1 "white" and 1 "color". The 2nd and 3rd Battalions each had 2 "color" banners.

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In the 1st and 2nd Western and 3rd Reserve Obvervation Armies, the 1st and 3rd Battalions were the "active" battalions. The were of 4 companies : one elite Grenadier Company and 3 center companies. For example, the 1st Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division under Major General Kazachkovskiy was composed of 4 "active" battalions : the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the Sevsk and Kaluga Infantry Regiments for a total of 4 Grenadier anf 12 Musketeer (or Infantry) companies.

The 2nd Battalion of each regiment detached its grenadier company to form Combined Grenadier Battalions – two for a typical division, each of 3 companies. For example, the 2nd Grenadier Companies of the Sevsk and Kaluga Infantry Regiments, together with the 2nd Grenadier Company of the 23rd Jäger Regiment, formed the 3-company 1st Combined Grenadier Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division under Major Telegin of the 23rd Jäger. The 4 combined grenadier battalions of the 5th and 14th Infantry Divisions served in various roles with 1st Separate Corps. Such combined grenadier battalions had no banners.

The 2nd Battalion was otherwise used to fill up the active battalions of the regiment. This left an understrength, non-elite 3-company battalion that was intended to act as a depot. However, due to the French invasion, they were sent on campaign. These second battalions are correctly called "Replacement" battalions. However, they are also called in English "reserve" or "depot". Be careful. In our example, the six 2nd Replacement Battlions (3-companies each) of the 5th Infantry Division initially formed a brigade under Major Afrosimov of the Mogliev Infantry Regiment, and were sent to reinforce the Riga garrison. These 2nd Battalions of heavy infantry regiments typically carried 2 "color" banners each.

Every Army infantry (not grenadier or guard) division had a dedicated recruit depot. At this depot, each regiment of the division had a 4th Reserve Battalion composed of 3 Recruit Companies. The depot for the 5th Infantry Division was at Kholm (about midway between Novgorod and Vitebsk – about 260 miles due east of Riga) under command of Major Zherdev of the 23rd Jäger. These depots were supposed to provide initial training and equipping for recruits and then send them to the 2nd Replacement battalions of each regiment. Mostly this did not happen due to the French invasion. The six 4th Reserve Battalions of the 5th Infantry Division were instead sent to Riga where they were used first as fortification laborers and then to provide replacements to various units. 4th Reserve Battalions had no banners.

================

Please don't apologize for questions. I like to help. Not just because it is polite, but also because I learn new things while finding answers. Also, I feel that it is more fair when I ask my own questions if I have found answers for other Colleagues.

thanks Michman, you are the greatest when it comes to this dense subject

i do have another query – the Life Guard Cuirassiers and the Mounted Guards Cuirassiers – in the F.G. Hourtoulle book "Borodino" the former has the red saddle cloth with the white and blue edge, whereas the latter, the mounted guard has a blue cloth with yellow and red edge.

In the ESR Campaign guide however it is the other way around with the Life Guard having the blue cloth and the Mounted Guard having the red cloth with with blue and white edge

which is correct? do you have the correct information for this?

I am sorry. I am having a little trouble mapping "Life Guard Cuirassiers" and "Mounted Guards Cuirassiers" to the actual regiments' names.

Army Units for 1812
--- Лейбъ-Кирасирскiй ЕГО ИМПЕРАТОРСКАГО ВЕЛИЧЕСТВА Полкъ / His Imperial Majesty's Life Cuirassier Regiment : azure blue saddleclothes with white galons and azure blue between the galons …. promoted for distinction in the 1812 campaign to the Guard on 13.IV.1813 as the Лейбъ-Гвардiи Кирасирскiй ЕГО ИМПЕРАТОРСКАГО ВЕЛИЧЕСТВА Полкъ / His Imperial Majesty's Life-Guard Cuirassier Regiment
--- Лейбъ-Кирасирскiй ЕЯ ИМПЕРАТОРСКАГО ВЕЛИЧЕСТВА Полкъ / Her Majesty's Life Cuirassier Regiment : light crimson saddleclothes with white galons and light crimson between the galons

Guard Units for 1812
--- Кавалергардскiй Полкъ / Chevalier Guards Regiment : scarlet saddleclothes with yellow galons and black between the galons
--- Лейбъ-Гвардiи Конный Полкъ / Life-Guard Horse Regiment : dark blue saddleclothes with yellow galons and scarlet between the galons

Comments :
--- "Life" = a most distinguished regiment, can be Army or Guard, foot or horse
--- The Chevalier Guards (no "Life") were intended as a regiment by and for the (high-ranking) nobility : the tradition goes back to the honor guard of nobles/hostages who attended an ancient tsar's coronation as a sign that the noble families accepted the new ruler.

i was using the terms in teh hourtoulle book, but i think the Chevalier Guards is what i meant with "Mounted Guards"

the Lifeguard i have come across in a few sources, but mainly in the Campaign Guide – where it uses the russian name
"Leib-Gvardii Konnyy Polk" – i guess it doesnt have cuirassier in teh name, just that they look like cuirassiers

For sure :
"Leib-Gvardii Konnyy Polk" = Лейбъ-Гвардiи Конный Полкъ = Life-Guard Horse Regiment
"Kavalergardskiy Polk" = Кавалергардскiй Полкъ = Chevalier Guards Regiment

"terms in the hourtoulle book"
Does he have an order of battle or list for the 1st Cuirassier Division ?
Or give any commanfer's names ?

In that book it's only listed that they are 5th corps and part of the combined grenadier division

There is also this section, which adds some further confusion as it says the life guard had a black stripe with two yellow stripes on either side, but in the image of the cavalryman the stripes are white and black

sorry i think there is a small mistake on my part though – also in the ESR Campaign guide – the first image i sent the edging on the shabraque is not white and black, but is yellow and dark blue, i just didnt see it in a clear enough light- it is however still the case that in the Hourtoulle book it is shown as white and dark blue
this however may be a mistake in that book in that i think that is the Officer colour and not the cavalryman colour which is actually yellow and blue,
there is still some confusion and the details you listed confuse me more

So to be clear there was teh Guard Cavalry, who looked like Cuirassiers
but also his and her majesty's Life Horse cuirassier regiments –

i think i am just specifically referring to the Guard regiments here – the Life-Guard and Chevalier-Guard

another source i have is the Uniforms book by Richard Knoetel, which has been pretty good for the most part, but is for 1813-1814 and lists teh Chevalier and Horse Guard as having both red shabraques:

OK! Clearer and clearer !

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"in the ESR Campaign guide – the first image I sent"
I assume you man in your post of 20 Oct 2022 2:27 p.m. PST.

"Life Guards" = "Kavalergardskiy Polk" = Кавалергардскiй Полкъ = Chevalier Guards Regiment
scarlet saddleclothes with two yellow (silver for officers) galons and black (velvet for officers) between the galons, white (silver for officers) Saint-Andrew star – just as shown in the image

"Horse Gurds" = "Leib-Gvardii Konnyy Polk" = Лейбъ-Гвардiи Конный Полкъ = Life-Guard Horse Regiment
dark blue saddleclothes with two yellow galons (gold for officers) and scarlet between the galons, white (silver for officers) Saint-Andrew star – just as shown in the image

Yes, both wore cuirasses on campaign in 1812.

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"they are 5th corps and part of the combined grenadier division"

For 1812, the Russian cuirassiers were officially organized as follows, with * = 4 "active" squadrons.

Except where noted. "yellow" galons = gold for officers – and – "white" galons or Saint-Andrew star = silver for officers. The black details for the Chevalier Guards & (Military) Order Cuirassiers, and the dark green details of the Little Russia Cuirassiers were velvet for officers.

1st Western Army
--- [5th Guards Corps] (actually reported to the Army)
------ 1st Cuirassier Division
--------- Guards Cuirassier Brigade
------------ Chevalier Guards Regiment * : scarlet saddleclothes with two yellow (siver for officers) galons and black between the galons, white Saint-Andrew star
------------ Life-Guard Horse Regiment * : (dark) blue saddleclothes with two yellow galons and scarlet between the galons, white Saint-Andrew star
--------- 1st (Army) Cuirassier Brigade
------------ His Imperial Majesty's Life-Cuirassier Regiment * : azure ("light") blue saddleclothes with two white galons and azure blue between the galons, white Saint-Andrew star
------------ Her Imperial Majesty's Life-Cuirassier Regiment * : light crimson ("dark pink") saddleclothes with two white galons and light crimson between the galons, white Saint-Andrew star
------------ Astrakhan Cuirassier Regiment * : yellow saddleclothes with one wide white galon, white imperial monogram

--- 1st Separate Corps
------ [9th Cavalry Division] (actually reported to the Corps)
--------- (1st) Combined Cuirassier Regiment
------------ 1st Division (of the regiment)
--------------- Chevalier Guards' Replacement Squadron
--------------- Life-Guard Horse's Replacement Squadron
------------ 2nd Division (of the regiment)
--------------- His Imperial Majesty's Life-Cuirassiers' Replacement Squadron
--------------- Her Imperial Majesty's Life-Cuirassiers' Replacement Squadron
--------------- Astrakhan Cuirassiers' Replacement Squadron (arrived in early October and was broken up to provide replacements for the two Life-Cuirassier regiments)

2nd Western Army
--- [8th Infantry Corps] (actually reported to the Army)
------ 2nd Cuirassier Division
--------- 2nd (Army) Cuirassier Brigade
------------ Yekaterinoslav Cuirassier Regiment * : orange saddleclothess with one wide white galon, white imperial monogram
------------ (Military) Order Cuirassier Regiment * : black saddleclothes with one wide yellow galon, yellow imperial monogram (but likely instead a yellow Saint-George star for musicians, and perhaps for officers)
--------- 3rd (Army) Cuirassier Brigade
------------ Glukhov Cuirassier Regiment * : blue saddleclothes with one wide white galon, white imperial monogram
------------ Little Russia (or Malorussia) Cuirassier Regiment * : dark green saddleclothes with one wide yellow galon, yellow imperial monogram
------------ Novgorod Cuirassier Regiment * : rose saddleclothes with one wide white galon, white imperial monogram

3rd Reserve Observation Army
--- Baron Osten-Saken's Separate Corps
------ [11th Cavalry Division] (actually reported to the Corps)
--------- (2nd) Combined Cuirassier Regiment
------------ 1st Division (of the regiment)
--------------- Yekaterinoslav Cuirassiers' Replacement Squadron
--------------- (Military) OrderCuirassiers' Replacement Squadron
------------ 2nd Division (of the regiment)
--------------- Glukhov Cuirassiers' Replacement Squadron
--------------- Little Russia (or Malorussia) Cuirassiers' Replacement Squadron
--------------- Novgorod Cuirassiers' Replacement Squadron (arrived in early October)

Similar to the Grenadier regiments in the Army and the Guards Infantry, the Army Cuirassiers typically recruited by selection from the best troopers from the Army Dragoon regiments plus individual volunteers, and the Chevalier Guards and Life-Guard Horse typically recruited by selection from the Army Cuirassiers plus individual selectees. Thus there were no recruit squadrons for these regiments in divisional depots.

For distinction in the 1812 campaign, on 17 December 1812 the Pskov Dragoons and Starodub Dragoons were promted to Cuirassiers – and – on 13 April 1813 His Imperial Majesty's Life-Cuirassiers were promoted to the Guard. From 27 December 1812, all the Army and Guard Cuirassier regiments were increased to six "active" squadrons and one Replacement Squadron.

thanks michman – okay so it is the F G Hourtoulle book that is incorrect with its details, ie, the chevalier guard in that book are the ones with the blue saddle cloth, while in the ESR guide it is the Leib-Gvardii who have the blue cloth

I don't have the Hourtoulle book or the ESR guide. I think the image you posted on 20 Oct 2022 2:27 p.m. PST is from the ESR guide. And the illustrations in that image are correct.

The only "odd" thing is that the Chevalier Guards are being called "Life Guards" and, less oddly but still not right, the Life-Guard Horse is being called the "Horse Guards".

By the way, if you field your cuirassiers in the middle gray "campaign" canvas trousers (and this is indeed what they wore on campaign), you can put your higher ranking officers and some of the company-grade officers in dark, almost charcoal, gray worsted wool trousers. It was the "fashion" among cuirassier officers who could afford it.

Ah interesting so the officers weren't wearing white trousers at all, I have seen that depiction in places

It is funny that I am going to all this trouble regarding these uniform details when it is all for my 3mm paper project, I have spent so long on the Russians and have to keep doing and redoing them to get things right enough lol. I have like four different concurrent designs for my cavalry units and for each I have a selection of regiments I am doing