Each service branch of the Russian Army had its own structure and organization. The infantry was subdivided into heavy and light. Heavy infantry comprised infantry proper and grenadier regiments. Light infantry was constituted by Jaeger regiments.
In translation from German, the term of ‘Jäger’ means ‘hunter’, ‘shooter’. Jaegers were taught sight shooting and actions in a chain, that is, in extended formation.
During the Battle of Borodino on August 26 (September 7 old style), 1812, a few Jaeger regiments held forward positions defending approaches to the main forces. They were the first to receive the Napoleon’s Great Army onslaught.
In the Battle of Borodino, the 21st Jaeger regiment was fighting within the framework of the Combined Armies left wing in the Utitsky Forest.
The 21st regiment Jaegers had dark-green gear with yellow shoulder boards. The division number was marked on shoulder boards with red cord. Equipment – sword sling, busby, backpack – was black in Jaeger regiments.
The soldier is wearing a busby model of 1808. This head gear appeared in the Russian Army in 1803-05. It was made from felt, with leather bordering at the bottom. In the front, the busby bears a grenade plate “with one fire”, a metal emblem distinguishing infantry and Jaeger regiments.
The busby is decorated with etishket – decorative element made from linen cord. The left etishket was short, reaching down the busby lower edge, and consisted of two small tassels. The right etishket was much longer and was distinguished by a complicated weaving pattern. For officers, etishkets were woven from golden or silver cords.
At the top of the busby, a rowel – wooden oval badge covered with cloth – is fixed. The cloth color indicates reference to a certain battalion and company. A white rowel with green center designated affiliation to the 1st battalion, Jaeger company.
Over the soldier’s left shoulder, a greatcoat roll is slung. Greatcoat appeared in the Russian army during the reign of Emperor Paul I. When it was warm, on the march, the greatcoat was folded or rolled into a tube and worn over the shoulder.
Over the right shoulder, the soldiers wore a shoulder harness – wide leather strap to which, at the hip, a bayonet scabbard was attached. In the scabbard, there was a three-edged bayonet which was fixed to the gun barrel.
On his back, the Jaeger is wearing a leather backpack with a water bottle strapped onto it. Lower, on a harness – a cartridge pouch with the regiment number.
The soldier is armed with an English infantry gun of the model of 1722. The point is that the lack of guns in the Russian Army resulting to losses in the campaign of 1805 forced the Russian Government to purchase about 50 000 guns in England.
Right now, the Jaeger is either pushing the cartridge into the gun barrel with a ramrod or cleaning the barrel after the shot.
In translation from German, the term of ‘Jäger’ means ‘hunter’, ‘shooter’. Jaegers were taught sight shooting and actions in a chain, that is, in extended formation.
During the Battle of Borodino on August 26 (September 7 old style), 1812, a few Jaeger regiments held forward positions defending approaches to the main forces. They were the first to receive the Napoleon’s Great Army onslaught.
In the Battle of Borodino, the 21st Jaeger regiment was fighting within the framework of the Combined Armies left wing in the Utitsky Forest.
The 21st regiment Jaegers had dark-green gear with yellow shoulder boards. The division number was marked on shoulder boards with red cord. Equipment – sword sling, busby, backpack – was black in Jaeger regiments.
The soldier is wearing a busby model of 1808. This head gear appeared in the Russian Army in 1803-05. It was made from felt, with leather bordering at the bottom. In the front, the busby bears a grenade plate “with one fire”, a metal emblem distinguishing infantry and Jaeger regiments.
The busby is decorated with etishket – decorative element made from linen cord. The left etishket was short, reaching down the busby lower edge, and consisted of two small tassels. The right etishket was much longer and was distinguished by a complicated weaving pattern. For officers, etishkets were woven from golden or silver cords.
At the top of the busby, a rowel – wooden oval badge covered with cloth – is fixed. The cloth color indicates reference to a certain battalion and company. A white rowel with green center designated affiliation to the 1st battalion, Jaeger company.
Over the soldier’s left shoulder, a greatcoat roll is slung. Greatcoat appeared in the Russian army during the reign of Emperor Paul I. When it was warm, on the march, the greatcoat was folded or rolled into a tube and worn over the shoulder.
Over the right shoulder, the soldiers wore a shoulder harness – wide leather strap to which, at the hip, a bayonet scabbard was attached. In the scabbard, there was a three-edged bayonet which was fixed to the gun barrel.
On his back, the Jaeger is wearing a leather backpack with a water bottle strapped onto it. Lower, on a harness – a cartridge pouch with the regiment number.
The soldier is armed with an English infantry gun of the model of 1722. The point is that the lack of guns in the Russian Army resulting to losses in the campaign of 1805 forced the Russian Government to purchase about 50 000 guns in England.
Right now, the Jaeger is either pushing the cartridge into the gun barrel with a ramrod or cleaning the barrel after the shot.
