Emperor Alexander II granted the Black Sea Cossack Host the Banner St. George and a letter of commendation for the heroic defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. The text of the commendation was as follows, ‘For bravery and exemplary service in the war against the French, the British, and the Turks in 1853, 1854, 1855, and 1856’.
The defense of Sevastopol, which lasted 350 days in 1854 and 1855, was one of the main events in the military history of Russia. The Black Sea Cossacks also took part in it: the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the Black Sea Cossack Host under the command of Venedikt Golovinsky and the 8th Infantry Battalion of Iov Bednyagin. Many publications claim that these were associations of Cossack ‘plastuns’ — spies, who were carefully selected and trained to shoot, move silently, and wait in an ambush for a long time. In fact, these battalions consisted of foot soldiers, although they did include some plastun teams as well.
On June 27, 1854, Cossack battalions set out on a campaign, crossed the Kerch Strait, and moved to Feodosia. On July 3, they joined the Feodosia detachment. For two months — until September 2 — they had military training. Then the Cossacks were sent back to the army, but on their way, they were returned to the same detachment. On September 6, they marched toward Sevastopol and on September 10 already joined the army, which was located to the south of the city.
On September 13, the Black Sea Cossacks entered the vanguard of Major-General Joseph Zhabokritsky and advanced through the Inkerman Heights to the area of Belbek and the village of Duvanka. On the same day, some of the Cossacks took part in attacking four combat fortifications near Balaklava. The next time they distinguished themselves was on October 13, 1854, when the Russian troops under the command of Lieutenant General Pavel Liprandi attacked the Kadikoy heights.
In total, during the defense of Sevastopol Cossacks made more than 150 sorties into the enemy camp. However, the enemy was well trained and armed, the Cossack battalions were suffering losses, and after eight months of fighting, the commandment decided to send them back to the Kuban.
The defense of Sevastopol, which lasted 350 days in 1854 and 1855, was one of the main events in the military history of Russia. The Black Sea Cossacks also took part in it: the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the Black Sea Cossack Host under the command of Venedikt Golovinsky and the 8th Infantry Battalion of Iov Bednyagin. Many publications claim that these were associations of Cossack ‘plastuns’ — spies, who were carefully selected and trained to shoot, move silently, and wait in an ambush for a long time. In fact, these battalions consisted of foot soldiers, although they did include some plastun teams as well.
On June 27, 1854, Cossack battalions set out on a campaign, crossed the Kerch Strait, and moved to Feodosia. On July 3, they joined the Feodosia detachment. For two months — until September 2 — they had military training. Then the Cossacks were sent back to the army, but on their way, they were returned to the same detachment. On September 6, they marched toward Sevastopol and on September 10 already joined the army, which was located to the south of the city.
On September 13, the Black Sea Cossacks entered the vanguard of Major-General Joseph Zhabokritsky and advanced through the Inkerman Heights to the area of Belbek and the village of Duvanka. On the same day, some of the Cossacks took part in attacking four combat fortifications near Balaklava. The next time they distinguished themselves was on October 13, 1854, when the Russian troops under the command of Lieutenant General Pavel Liprandi attacked the Kadikoy heights.
In total, during the defense of Sevastopol Cossacks made more than 150 sorties into the enemy camp. However, the enemy was well trained and armed, the Cossack battalions were suffering losses, and after eight months of fighting, the commandment decided to send them back to the Kuban.
