Napoleonic Wars

Evgraf Davydov, 1809. Colonel of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment

The regiment took part in the Napoleonic Wars. On June 2, 1807, the regiment distinguished itself near Friedland, where the Russian army, nevertheless, suffered one of the most crushing defeats.

In the history of the cavalry, the Friedland Battle is interesting because here, on a wide and level space in front of the city of Friedland, between the Sortlak and Domeraus Forests, a hand–to–hand fight of significant detachments of Russian and French cavalry took place (a total of 85 squadrons operated on the field). Moreover, the French army was represented by cuirassiers and dragoons, that is, heavy cavalry, and the Russian – by hussars, lancers and Cossacks, that is, light cavalry. In the course of a long battle, in which the infantry did not participate, the Russian horsemen prevailed, showing excellent training, courage and stamina.
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Squadrons of the Life Guards of the Hussar Regiment took part in this cavalry battle: the Life Squadron under the command of Colonel Zagryazhsky, the squadron of Colonel Mandryka (commanded by Captain Troshchinsky) and the squadron of Colonel Tutolmin (commanded by Captain Selifontov). The Life Squadron especially distinguished itself: it attacked and overturned the enemy four times. During the oncoming attack of the division of General Latour–Mobourg, the squadron commander, Colonel Zagryazhsky, received several wounds and fell unconscious from his horse, then he was captured by the French dragoons who surrounded him. At this time, the captain Prince Abamelek immediately took command of the hussars left without a chief, encouraged his subordinates with personal fearlessness and rushed forward with them, stopped the enemy and, together with the staff captains Borozdin and Zabelin, took away three guns, which the French had previously captured from the Voronezh Musketeer Regiment.

Near Friedland, four Life Hussar officers were wounded: Colonel Zagryazhsky, Captain Troshchinsky (with a bullet in the leg), Lieutenant Korovkin (with a bullet in his left leg and a broadsword in his right arm) and Lieutenant Dekhanov, whose leg was blown off by a cannonball. The regiment lost 52 lower ranks and 88 combat horses killed. For the courage shown in battle, the Order of Saint George of the 4th Degree was received by Colonels Tutolmin and Zagryazhsky, captains Troshchinsky and Prince Abamelek, staff captains Prince Bagration and Count Saltykov.^[4]

On August 26, 1812, the regiment as part of the 1st Cavalry Corps of General Fyodor Uvarov distinguished itself in the Battle of Borodino.

At about twelve o'clock in the afternoon, Kutuzov ordered Uvarov's cavalry corps (28 squadrons, 12 mounted guns) to attack the left flank of the French. In the first line there were two regiments: Elisavetgrad Hussar and Life Guards Kazachy, in the second line: Life Guards Hussars, Life Guards Dragoons, Life Guards Ulansky and Nezhinsky Dragoons. The cavalry corps ford the Kolocha River near the village of Mal, attacked the cavalry division of General Ornano, overturned it and swiftly walked across the Voynu stream almost to the village of Borodino. Here the cavalrymen saw the division of General Delzon (four infantry regiments), which quickly formed into regimental squares.

All four squadrons of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment several times rushed into the attack against the infantry, but they failed to break through in the square. Horse artillery entered the action, and under its fire the 84th French Linear Regiment withdrew across the river, leaving one cannon to the hussars. Our horsemen could not go further than the village of Bezzubova and remained there until the evening.

In this combat episode, the officers of the Life Guards of the Hussar Regiment especially distinguished themselves: Colonel Troshchinsky (wounded by a bullet in the chest), Captain Andreevsky (wounded by buckshot), Captain Borozdin (seriously wounded by bullets, later died of wounds), Lieutenant Yushkov (wounded by a bullet in the chest), Staff Captain Dyakov 1st (shell–wounded). In addition, 2 non–commissioned officers, 1 trumpeter and 21 privates, 43 combat horses were killed.^[5]

Russian–Turkish Wars

Portrait of the Heir Tsarevich Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, Chief of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment, in the Uniform of the Regiment. 1868

Attack of the Life Guards of the Hussar Regiment Near the Village of Telish, War of Independence, artist Viktor Mazurovsky

The regiment took part in the Russian–Turkish Wars.

• September 11–29, 1828 – participated in the siege of Varna;
• October 12–16, 1877 – battle near the village of Telish;
• January 2–5, 1878 – battles near Philippopolis.

The first successes of the Russian Army, crossing the Danube, the capture of the cities of Nikopol and Tyrnov, but defeats occurred on our right flank when Osman Pasha moved from the city of Viddin to Plevna and fell on the Russian troops. Before the arrival of reinforcements, the Russian Army went on the defensive, and on July 22, 1877, the mobilization of a part of the Guard was announced, including the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division, which included His Majesty's Life Guards Hussar Regiment.

The troops were sent in echelons by rail to the Zhmerynka Station, where the gathering point for arriving reinforcements was located. Arriving on August 20 at the Romanian border, the entire division lined up for a review carried out by the Chief of the Division, Major General Gurko.

On August 24, General Gurko, at the head of his division, crossed the Prut River into Turkish territory and followed forced marches to the Danube River.

Passing Rymnik and Focsani, recalling the glorious campaigns of the times of Suvorov and Dibich, passing through Bucharest, the regiment arrived at Yaimnitsa on the banks of the Danube on 11 September.

Crossing the Danube, the Russian Army headed through Bulgaria and on September 17, the Division stopped at Gorny–Studna, where the main apartment of the Sovereign Emperor was, who inspected the arriving troops.

The current Russian Army under the High Command of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Elder, was divided into three detachments: the eastern one was under the command of the Heir to the Tsarevich, the southern one was commanded by General Radetzky, the western one was commanded by Prince, later King, Carol I of Romania, with an assistant General Adjutant Totleben.

The Turkish army was divided into three groups: Suleiman Pasha was in the Balkans in the south, Abdul Kerim Pasha was in the east – Ruschuk direction, and Osman Pasha in the west. The Russians had to fight in the fall and winter with difficult transportation. To cut off the supply of the Turkish army, it was necessary to cut off the Sofia Highway and overlay the city of Plevna. Osman Pasha was in Plevna with his troops.

The division marched in the indicated direction in brigade, behind the Life Guards Hussar regiment was the glorious 5th Battery, then the Life Dragoons followed. When they reached Dolyen Lipnice, everyone stopped there until October 6. At that time, General Gurko was appointed commander of all cavalry, controlling access to Plevna.

Moving towards Plevna, the movement slowed down. The regiment met the 3rd Guards Infantry Division. Narrow trails, ravines, and forests delayed progress. On the approaches closer to Plevna, the regiment again entered the command of Adjutant General Gurko. In this area, in addition to the besieged Plevna, there were fortified places: Gorny Dubnyak, Dolny Dubnyak and Telish, surrounded by redoubts and fortifications. Those had to be taken for further advancement.

There were large Turkish forces in this area, and Osman Pasha with 35 thousand troops. Against them were troops under the command of General Gurko – cavalry, and under the command of General Skobelev – Russian infantry. On October 10, a large reconnaissance was carried out between Telish and Dolny Dubnyak. On October 12, an order was given to the troops to move to the Plevno–Sofiyskoye Highway, take positions and Gorny Dubnyak and close the enemy blockade in Plevna. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Guards Cavalry Division, Life Guards Jaeger Regiment, our batteries and a hundred Cossacks – to advance and attack a position near the village of Telish.

Baron Yegor Meyendorf (1794–1879)

At that time, His Majesty's Life Guards Hussar Regiment was commanded directly by the Adjutant Wing Baron Meyendorf. The division chief ordered our brigade and the 5th Horse Guards Battery to follow under the general command of the adjutant wing of Baron Meyendorff to the assembly point and, joining with the rangers, enter the adjutant wing of Colonel Chelishchev under the general command of their commander.

At midnight the river Vid was ford and at three o'clock in the morning the regiment approached Telish. According to the order of General Gurko, the Life Jägers were ordered to attack Telish head–on, the Life Hussars with 4 mounted guns – to reveal the enemy's forces and act on its right flank, covering and supporting the left flank of the Jägers, the Life Dragoons with 2 guns to occupy the Rakitnaya Hill and guard the rear and flank of the entire detachment in the event of a detour.

Hussars with 4 guns under the command of Baron Meyendorff went at full trot to Telish. There were huge corn fields three miles away, the Turks were firing hard, the Jaegers were moving forward, the 5th Battery opened fire.

The Life Dragoons headed for Rakitnaya Heights. The Jägers advanced intensively, the Life Hussars broke through the first chain and pursued the Turks, but then, under heavy gunfire, they returned. At eight o'clock, the Jägers went out into the corn field, but despite miracles of courage, they suffered heavy losses.

The 5th Battery and the Life Hussars attacked the Turks and put them to flight, but at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, according to the order, a general retreat was made. The Jägers with the banners returned back, but on October 12 Telish could not be taken.

Gorny Dubnyak was taken on October 13 by the Pavlovites, and the Turkish line Plevna–Sofia was cut. Many prisoners were taken, the Turkish convoys began to retreat, and the guns of the 5th Battery and the Life Hussars covered the retreat of the rangers with their swift attacks. The dragoons knocked down and forced the Turks to retreat at the Rakit Height. The Jaegers' banners were greeted by the trumpeters of the Life Dragoons and the Life Hussars, and the brigade commander Baron Meyendorff commanded "Attention, sabers out, gentlemen officers".

From 13 to 15 October, the Turks strengthened Telish. The Leib Jägers were healing their wounds, but on October 16 the second battle for Telish began. Leib Lancers became the front to Telish on the left, and Horse Grenadiers on the right. The lancers attacked with their quarry, but, showered with bullets, they calmly and orderly retreated. Russian artillery fired at the enemy all the time, Sheiket's bashi–bazouks went to Telish's rescue, but after the attack they began to quickly retreat. Soon a white flag was raised over Telish. The life–hussars then set out on the fleeing, and all the units, having successfully completed this operation on the 16th, united on a bivouac in the village of Svinar. During these days of the battle, Osman Pasha lost more than 5,000 people, and the supply of his army was cut and stopped.

After the fall of the specified fortified area, the command decided to besiege Plevna, and send other units through the Balkans.

On October 24, the Tsar traveled around the Guards regiments near the Plenna and thanked them for the glorious deed near Telish. The Life Guards Hussar Regiment of His Majesty, received Badges for hats with the inscription: "For Telish – October 12, 1877".

On October 26, news was received that part of the troops, including the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division, were going to the Balkans. Horse Grenadiers occupied the city of Vrats, on November 3, the Life Hussars and the 5th Battery celebrated a holiday in the village of Yablunytsya, from where congratulations were sent to the Life Jägers.

The regiment began to enter the foothills of heights and strongholds covered with snow and ice. From Yablunytsy, Life Lancers and Life Hussars with the 5th Guards Horse Battery, as part of the main forces under the command of Count Shuvalov, made the 1st transition to the city of Etropolgs. On November 19 we stood in Orhaniye, where steep ascents began, on November 29 we all learned about the fall of Plevna, and the Trans–Balkan Campaign began for everyone.

The ascent from the city of Vrachesh was very difficult, there was a severe frost and blizzards began, mountains and forests all around. Horses glided along the narrow paths, many fell into the gorges, people often had to bask in the fires.

Having passed the Arab–Konak position of the Turks, the city of Umurgach, after which a steep descent began, sometimes even more difficult, whose past ascents. Arriving in Zhelyava, the division found itself in the rich Sofia Valley and attacked the fortified village of Tashkisen. On December 20, the cavalry was sent from Komartsovo to Petrichevo, and the Turks retreated to the village of Smolskoye. Christmas was celebrated in the village of Rakovitsa.

The passage through the small Balkans began: in three columns from Sofia to the Philippopolis Highway, to Butovo and Mechka, to the valley of the Maritsa River. In front of each column was the 1st Brigade of the Guards Cavalry, the 2nd was in the middle column along with the artillery. His Majesty's Life Guards Hussar Regiment passed through Priobren.

January 1, 1878 – the valley of the Maritsa River. The village of Kurukney was cleared of the Turks by the Hussars, and soon we saw the city of Philippopolis three miles away. The 2nd Squadron completely captured the enemy's convoy in the village of Stroyevo, and then, reaching the Karlovskoe Highway, on January 3 they moved to Philippopolis and at night they occupied part of the city.

On January 9, the cavalry began to overtake the infantry of General Skobelev and on the 11th approached Adrianople. General Dokhturov, chief of the cavalry vanguard, met our division at the entrance to this city. On January 14, the Life Hussars stopped in the city of Rodosto, on the Sea of Marmara.

On January 22, the news of the armistice was received, but most of the troops had to remain for almost seven months on the shores of the Sea of Marmara, and only the sick were allowed to be sent back to Russia. There were trainings, reviews, and only on August 2, the units began to be loaded onto steamers to leave for their homeland.

His Majesty's Life Guards Hussar Regiment, 2nd Squadron (1895), Tsarskoe Selo

Polish Campaign

The regiment took part in the Polish Campaign.

• May 5, 1831 – a battle near the village of Sokolovo;
• August 25–26, 1831 – the assault on Warsaw.

Japanese War of 1905

The regiment took part in the Japanese War of 1905. During the war in the Far East, separate corps and divisions were sent there to replenish the Manzhurian Armies. The Guard, like most of the army corps in European Russia, remained in a peaceful position.

Full dress uniform of His Majesty's Life Guards Hussar Regiment in 1914

Many officers of the Life Guards of His Majesty's Hussar Regiment were transferred to the Active Army at their own request:

1. Colonel Plautin – commander of the Terek Kuban Horse Regiment;
2. Captain Narkozov – in the 2nd Verkhneudinsky Regiment;
3. Lieutenant Count Zelepolsky – in the Siberian Cossack Host;
4. Lieutenant Friederice – in the 1st Nerchinsk Cossack Regiment;
5. Cornet Naryshkin – to the Nerchinsk Cossack Regiment;
6. Cornet Count Stenbock–Fermor – to the Primorsky Dragoon Regiment;
7. Cornet Grevs – to the Tersko–Kuban Horse Regiment;
8. Cornet Roop – in the 1st Nerchinsk Cossack Regiment;
9. Cornet Count Tolstoy – in the Terek–Kuban Cavalry Regiment;
10. Cornet Prince Masalsky – in the Terek–Kuban Cavalry Regiment;
11. Cornet Raevsky – to the Chernigov Dragoon Regiment;
12. Cornet Greve – in the Terek–Kuban Cavalry Regiment;
13. Cornet Count Bennigsen – in the fleet;
14. Cornet Smetskoy – went with a machine–gun team;
15. Kornet Skaloy – from the reserve to the East Siberian Rifle Regiment.

He received the Order of Saint George, 4th Degree, for the fact that, when all the officers were killed, he continued to lead the successful firing of the battery.

World War I

The regiment took part in the First World War. The regiment as part of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division was sent to the North–Western Front. Participated in the East Prussian, Lodz and Sein operations. It acted in the Lublin–Kholmsk Battle in July 1915.^[6] He operated on the Bug River, in particular, covering the withdrawal of the 13th Army.^[7]

Vane

Colors: top – scarlet, stripe – yellow, bottom – yellow.