Post by flippyxtrem on Jan 10, 2005 9:48:49 GMT -5
It should be noted that the Russian soldier was formidable in attack, the Russian regulations "Precepts for Infantry Officers on the Day of Battle", issued in June 1812, held "that the bayonet was the true Russian weapon and that the push of the bayonet was far more decisive than musketry". The regulation also stated that "In a bayonet charge, the true place of the officer was at the head of his men". This doctrine cost Prince Bagration his life at Borodino and that of countless officers, but the tactic unnerved the Franco-Allied Army. On the defensive "they displayed a bovine endurance, clinging together in dense masses in which the living were jammed together with the dying and dead. As Fredrick the Great found in the Seven Years War, and the British were to discover in the Crimea, it was not enough simply to kill Russians - you had to knock them down as well". 
Russian Infantry of 1812 was devided into heavy and light Infantry. Heavy Infantry acting in close columns consisted of grenadier and infantry regiments. Grenadiers were the most stalwart and phisically strong soldiers. Before the beginning of the Patriotic War Russia had 14 grenadier regiments, 12 of them, constituting the 1st and the 2nd grenadier division, participated in the campaign. But it was Army Infantry who bore the brunt of war. Army Infantry counted 104 infantry and 3 marine regiments organized into 27 infantry divisions of 4-regiment composition. While forming, grenadier and infantry regiments were named after some city or region. The Saint-Petersburg and the Pavlovsk grenadier regiments covered themselves with the most glory in 1812.
Light Infantry consisted on the eve of the war of 50 chasseur regiments. Besides generally infantry habit, chasseurs were teached to act in loose order, and their ability of accuracy was given consideration. As a rule chasseurs were recruited of middle stature soldiers. A chasseur brigade of 2-regiment composition was attached to each of 27 infantry divisions. While forming, Army chasseur regiments had got its ordinal number which became the name of a unit (The 1st chasseur regiment , etc.).
(Russian Guards at Borodino)
The first guards regiments in Russia - Preobragensky and Semyonovsky - were organized by Peter the First in the end of the 17th Century and particularly manifested themselves in the years of the North War. During the next reigns the Guard was mostly of political role. Only in the time of Imperor Alexander the First, increased in the number, it became one of the most efficient troops of the Russian Army.
The officers of the Guard were recruiting mostly from representatives of Russian aristocracy and the eldest noble families of Russia. Rank and file was remaned withbest soldiers of the Army regiments; especially distinguished non-commissioned Guards officers were transferred to the Army regiments as officers. Majority of the Guards regiments had Imperor Alexander the First as their Chief.
In 1812 Russian Guard consisted of 6 regiments of Infantry, 6 regiments of Cavalry, Mounted and Foot Artillery, and Marine Guards crew.
The eldest Russian Army's regiments - Preobragzensky and Semyonovsky regiments of Life-Guard - constituted the 1st Brigade of the Guards Infantry Division. In the course of 1812 campaign including Borodino battle, they mostly were in the reserve. But, nevertheless, they sustained losses in the personnel.
In the battle at Borodino the most glorious were the Guards Izmailovsky, Lithuanian and Finnish regiments. While in a battle caree on the Semyonovskyie eminences for 6 hours under continuous fire of hostile Artillery were repulsing attacks by cuirassiers of General Nansouty's Corps. Every second guardsman was left on the battlefield. For distinction at Borodino and in jther combats all 3 regiments were awarded with St.George's banners. The same banners were given to the Life-guard Chasseur regiment (combined with the Finnish regiment it formed the Light Brigade of Guards Infantry Division) distinguished himself at Borodino. In the fighting at Krasnoye chasseurs of Life-Guard imprisoned 31 officers and 700 men of lower ranks, captured 2 banners and 9 cannons of the enemy.
Not so conspicuous but very responsible task was given to Marine Guards crew' ranks. Together with the engineer units of the Army they fortified military camps, made bridges, mined and demolished crossings. Rapidity and order of Army movement depended greately of roads and crossings' good condition, to what Guards sailors contributed a great deal.
And the Guards Cavalry was of no less courage. In the battle at Borodino, Horse Guardsmen and Mounted Guard (forming the Cuirassiers Brigade) participated in the notable attack of cuirassiers at Rayevsky' Battery. And the Guards Dragoons, Hussars, Cossacks and Uhlans took part in a daring raid in the enemy rear.
The Guards Artillery in 1812 was devided into Foot (attached to the Guards Infantry Division) and Mounted (operating with the 1st Cuirassiers Division's regiments) Artillery. In the combats of Patriotic War Artillery Brigades under the command of Captain R.Zakharov, Colonel N.Kozen and others, were among the best.
Cheers
all this info was found at
www.fortunecity.com/victorian/riley/787/Napoleon/
Russian Infantry of 1812 was devided into heavy and light Infantry. Heavy Infantry acting in close columns consisted of grenadier and infantry regiments. Grenadiers were the most stalwart and phisically strong soldiers. Before the beginning of the Patriotic War Russia had 14 grenadier regiments, 12 of them, constituting the 1st and the 2nd grenadier division, participated in the campaign. But it was Army Infantry who bore the brunt of war. Army Infantry counted 104 infantry and 3 marine regiments organized into 27 infantry divisions of 4-regiment composition. While forming, grenadier and infantry regiments were named after some city or region. The Saint-Petersburg and the Pavlovsk grenadier regiments covered themselves with the most glory in 1812.
Light Infantry consisted on the eve of the war of 50 chasseur regiments. Besides generally infantry habit, chasseurs were teached to act in loose order, and their ability of accuracy was given consideration. As a rule chasseurs were recruited of middle stature soldiers. A chasseur brigade of 2-regiment composition was attached to each of 27 infantry divisions. While forming, Army chasseur regiments had got its ordinal number which became the name of a unit (The 1st chasseur regiment , etc.).
(Russian Guards at Borodino)
The first guards regiments in Russia - Preobragensky and Semyonovsky - were organized by Peter the First in the end of the 17th Century and particularly manifested themselves in the years of the North War. During the next reigns the Guard was mostly of political role. Only in the time of Imperor Alexander the First, increased in the number, it became one of the most efficient troops of the Russian Army.
The officers of the Guard were recruiting mostly from representatives of Russian aristocracy and the eldest noble families of Russia. Rank and file was remaned withbest soldiers of the Army regiments; especially distinguished non-commissioned Guards officers were transferred to the Army regiments as officers. Majority of the Guards regiments had Imperor Alexander the First as their Chief.
In 1812 Russian Guard consisted of 6 regiments of Infantry, 6 regiments of Cavalry, Mounted and Foot Artillery, and Marine Guards crew.
The eldest Russian Army's regiments - Preobragzensky and Semyonovsky regiments of Life-Guard - constituted the 1st Brigade of the Guards Infantry Division. In the course of 1812 campaign including Borodino battle, they mostly were in the reserve. But, nevertheless, they sustained losses in the personnel.
In the battle at Borodino the most glorious were the Guards Izmailovsky, Lithuanian and Finnish regiments. While in a battle caree on the Semyonovskyie eminences for 6 hours under continuous fire of hostile Artillery were repulsing attacks by cuirassiers of General Nansouty's Corps. Every second guardsman was left on the battlefield. For distinction at Borodino and in jther combats all 3 regiments were awarded with St.George's banners. The same banners were given to the Life-guard Chasseur regiment (combined with the Finnish regiment it formed the Light Brigade of Guards Infantry Division) distinguished himself at Borodino. In the fighting at Krasnoye chasseurs of Life-Guard imprisoned 31 officers and 700 men of lower ranks, captured 2 banners and 9 cannons of the enemy.
Not so conspicuous but very responsible task was given to Marine Guards crew' ranks. Together with the engineer units of the Army they fortified military camps, made bridges, mined and demolished crossings. Rapidity and order of Army movement depended greately of roads and crossings' good condition, to what Guards sailors contributed a great deal.
And the Guards Cavalry was of no less courage. In the battle at Borodino, Horse Guardsmen and Mounted Guard (forming the Cuirassiers Brigade) participated in the notable attack of cuirassiers at Rayevsky' Battery. And the Guards Dragoons, Hussars, Cossacks and Uhlans took part in a daring raid in the enemy rear.
The Guards Artillery in 1812 was devided into Foot (attached to the Guards Infantry Division) and Mounted (operating with the 1st Cuirassiers Division's regiments) Artillery. In the combats of Patriotic War Artillery Brigades under the command of Captain R.Zakharov, Colonel N.Kozen and others, were among the best.
Cheers
all this info was found at
www.fortunecity.com/victorian/riley/787/Napoleon/
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