Svetlana Kurtsapova
More than 300 years have passed since Peter I ordered the formation of the Roslavl Dragoon Squadron from the Smolensk nobility “for the everlasting border precaution and maintenance of outposts and other border needs.” The highest will was immediately executed, and on July 28, 1708, a new army unit named “Roslavl” began its existence within the ranks of the Russian army, named after its garrison location in the city of Roslavl.
In 1700, Tsar Peter the Great, intending to reclaim the shores of the Baltic Sea, formed an alliance with Denmark and Poland and declared war on Swedish King Charles XII. Russia faced a dangerous enemy, renowned for his victories, skill, and courage. Peter the Great, fully aware of the importance of the impending moment, actively prepared for it. He hastened to increase the number of his troops and to organize the defensive means along the western border.
Foreseeing the possibility of Charles XII’s conquest of Moscow through Smolensk, Peter found that “our borders are very bare, especially for cavalry” and planned to entrust their protection to the local residents. To this end, in 1706 he ordered the construction of a defensive line from Smolensk to Bryansk through Roslavl, to dig up roads, dismantle and prepare firearms, knives, and pikes for the residents of the Smolensk principality, and ordered the population to be ready for guard duties and defense.
The Smolensk nobility, occupying border villages, maintained patrols and guards, and later, upon the entry of the Swedes into the Smolensk principality, continuously harassed the Swedish troops with their partisan actions. These actions served as a kind of preparatory practical school of war for the Smolensk nobility and the regular troops of the Russian army, in which they were to meet the regular forces of one of the best European armies of that time.
At this time, the Sovereign ordered the formation of the “Roslavl Dragoon Squadron” from the Smolensk nobility in the city of Roslavl “for the everlasting precaution and maintenance of outposts and other border needs,” consisting of five fusilier companies. A total of 598 noble dragoon children and youths, who had estates in the Smolensk province, were recruited for the formation of the squadron.
Noble costume of the 17th century
The commander of the squadron was appointed Colonel Mikhail Fadeevich Chelishev from the Smolensk nobility, who was promoted to colonel in 1711 and had, like other officers of the squadron, estates near Smolensk: 68 households and 280 souls of peasants in the Smolensk and Roslavl districts.
Among those who joined the squadron were: Captain Kurosh, Koptsev, lieutenants Malikov, Martynov, Buyniy, Kurosh, Surmenev, and ensigns: Svechin, Gavrilov, Tatarinov, and Telesnikov.
Although the squadron was established based on the model of dragoon field regiments, it was not included in the regular army structure, and the serving nobles were content with their local salaries.
Only in 1713 did a high decree order the Smolensk garrison commissioner to issue salaries to the ranks of the squadron per year:
1st Colonel – 150 rubles,
1st Lieutenant Colonel – 75,
1st Major – 70,
4 Captains at 50 rubles each,
5 Lieutenants at 40 each,
5 Ensigns at 25 each,
Feldsher, blacksmith, carpenter, profos, locksmith, horse doctor at 5 rubles each,
Denщик – 4,
Saddle maker – 3 rubles.
The remaining lower ranks did not receive salaries; they were entitled only to provisions: ¾ of flour, 1 ½ quarters of groats, and 24 pounds of salt per year per person. More or less timely payment of salaries to the ranks of the squadron continued until 1724. After that, it was made very rarely.
The armament, uniform, and equipment were assigned to dragoon standards. Externally, the officers differed from the lower ranks only by gilded buttons, narrow golden lace adorning the triangular hat and the edges of the shoulder belt, and brass spurs instead of iron ones.
The trumpeters were impressive: they were given long brass trumpets decorated with cloth curtains, on which was the sacred image of the face of the Mother of God Odihria, the guide of the “Smolensk people.” In front of the trumpeters rode a row of mounted drummers, led by a timpanist in a kaftan edged with braid of three colors – white, blue, and red; he carried brass timbales adorned with curtains of golden lace and long fringe.
The ranks of the squadron, recruited from among the serving children, grandchildren, and youths of the Smolensk noble class, rich in military traditions of their ancestors, landowners, were from the first day of the squadron’s existence bound not only by service obligations. The squadron maintained a close connection with its homeland and preserved its dignity and class cohesion.
Pikeman of the Smolensk Infantry Regiment. 1715
The Smolensk nobles serving in the Roslavl squadron, as well as their descendants, willingly bore another honorable duty – church service, in addition to their state service. Many churches in the Smolensk diocese were built by the ranks of the Roslavl squadron. In 1713, Colonel M.F. Chelishev built a church in honor of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker in the Belsky district; in 1761, his sister built a church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh there as well. Churches were built in the Belsky district by Colonels A. Lykoshin and A.O. Bronevsky, Lieutenant D.I. Voievodsky, in the Yelninsky district in the village of Kucherovo – by Colonel P.D. Verkhovsky, in the Dukhovshchinsky district by Colonel M.S. Tumilo-Denisovich.
The term of service for lower ranks and officers was not defined until 1736. They were discharged only due to old age, injury, incapacity, or special patronage; thus, officers and privates, being in the same conditions, were close to each other. This was especially observed in the squadron, where among the privates there were many nobles serving lifelong in lower ranks.
In 1709, the squadron was granted an icon, and among the urgent ammunition items, five banners (one for each company) were sent from the armory for a period of five years: one white and four colored. The banners were silk, 2 arshins 15 vershoks wide and 2 arshins 12 vershoks long (1 arshin = 16 vershoks, 1 vershok = 4.5 cm), and were mounted on five-arshin blue staffs.
On the canvas of the banners were depicted two palm branches, between them a golden elongated ring, inside which was a hand emerging from the clouds with a naked sword. Below, under the intertwining of the branches, was the cross of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, surrounded by golden fringe.
When forming regiments, until 1711, no rules were established regarding their uniforms and armament. Regimental commanders were guided by their own considerations, applicable to the uniforms of the guard regiments, and often there was diversity not only in the color of the fabric but also in the shape of clothing, especially in armament.
Particular attention was paid to training. The lower ranks were trained daily, except on holidays, according to articles borrowed from foreign regulations.
Peter the Great personally inspected the units every year, encouraged abilities, and strictly pursued negligence. The personal oversight of the Tsar was most responsible for the successes of the Russian army in training. Peter’s concerns were not limited to establishing a regular army and its training. He also paid attention to the economic aspect of the new troops.
Corporal of the Smolensk Infantry Regiment. 1713
The name “Roslavl” was given to the squadron based on its garrison location. Since its founding, Roslavl changed hands several times between the Poles and the Russians and finally became Russian only by the end of the 17th century. Coming under the rule of the Orthodox sovereign, Roslavl and the district certainly submitted to all the orders established in the Russian state.
In Roslavl, on Dubininskaya Street (now Glinka Street), there remained for a long time a large wooden house known as “the state house,” built in accordance with a Senate order. In 1724, the Senate ordered “to arrange a courtyard in the middle of the regiment for the quartering of the staff and for other squadron needs.”
It was ordered to “build settlements, in which to make: one house for each sergeant, with two for non-commissioned officers, one for three privates; and to place in those settlements no less than a corporal’s rank and no more than a company; in each company to make a courtyard for senior officers, which would have two houses – one for officers with a hallway and one for people; also to make a courtyard for the staff in the middle of the regiment with eight houses and a hospital near that courtyard; to build by regiments, and where there are no regiments – by peasants and townspeople and various classes, who are subject to poll tax.”
When establishing staff courtyards for the permanent quarters of army units, there were intentions: “to marry off all soldiers, at least those who wish; so that during campaigns, wives would remain at those courtyards, receiving from the treasury for their and their children’s sustenance; so that in each there were sewing rooms for making uniforms, tents, and all other ammunition, and that those same wives would be trained in that work; so that in each a school for their children would be established, where, in addition to literacy, military rules would be taught; so that the deceased in that regiment, until their children come of age, would be supplemented by recruits from the province in which that courtyard was located.”
As mentioned above, the squadron was quartered in special settlements, each housing no less than a corporal’s rank and no more than a company; the distance between companies was 10 versts. However, since the squadron guarded the borders of the state, it was spread over more than 300 versts. Officers were assigned police duties in the districts and were granted judicial authority. The squadron command had to ensure that residents did not flee from their places of registration, that no one sheltered runaways. They had to pursue theft and robbery, catch runaway soldiers, and assist foresters.
In 1715, there was a change in the number of personnel in the squadron. The establishment of the “Roslavl Dragoon Squadron” was approved at 760 people, while in reality, there were 621 lower ranks in the squadron.
In Roslavl, at the squadron’s headquarters for “guarding the banners,” there were 4 non-commissioned officers and 23 privates. For the poll tax census of peasants, collecting fines, and recruiting – 1 captain, 43 privates, 2 non-commissioned officers, and 1 orderly.
Fusilier of the infantry regiments of the Smolensk garrison. 1721-1725
Since 1708, i.e., from the first days of its formation, the squadron began its combat career. They operated with small warfare, reconnaissance, and raids aimed at harassing the Swedes. The enemy responded in kind, and mutual raids continued on both sides.
In June, Charles XII moved towards Mogilev, where he remained for a whole month on the border of the Smolensk region. The banks of the Dnieper became the theater of small warfare; the cavalry monitored every move of the Swedes and often engaged in skirmishes.
In September, the Swedish army headed for Ukraine, while the troops stationed in the Smolensk region partly turned against the hastening Levengaupt, and partly outpaced and overtook the Swedes, occupying Starodub. After the defeat of Levengaupt at the village of Lesnaya, the military actions of the Roslavl squadron came to an end.
In 1724, the government ordered the disbandment of the Roslavl Dragoon Squadron, to place its personnel into regiments, and to assign the squadron commander Colonel Chelishev to the Voronezh garrison. However, Chelishev did not want to lose his profitable position and leave his extensive estates in the Roslavl district without supervision, so he began to lobby for the cancellation of the aforementioned order. Chelishev lobbied for a long time and persistently. Thanks to the assistance of “benefactors,” the colonel’s self-serving efforts were successful, and despite the burdensome service of the squadron for the small estate nobility, the existence of the Roslavl squadron continued as before from the middle of 1725.
On January 28, 1725, the wise reformer of Russia passed away: Emperor Peter I died.
In memory of the sovereign’s death, gold medals were distributed to the officers, one side of which bore the portrait of the sovereign with the inscription: Peter the Great, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, born May 30, 1672, and on the other side, eternity was depicted, raising the Emperor to heaven. Silver medals of various sizes were struck for distribution to all non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
During the reign of Catherine I, the Senate proposed to reduce military expenses and decrease the number of troops, which is why from 1725, the Roslavl Dragoon Squadron, while continuing to exist in the same composition, transitioned to full support from the Smolensk nobility and remained in this state for forty years until 1765.
The Roslavl Dragoon Squadron was ordered to maintain outposts along the state border in the Smolensk province, with five dragoons under one corporal, and the guard officers, in addition to their direct service, were tasked with preventing Roman priests from Poland and Lithuania from entering Russia, and forbidding the Smolensk nobility from crossing the border without orders or passports.
In addition to border service, the squadron also had to perform customs duties at checkpoints and police duties aimed at capturing robbers and runaway peasants. During tax collection and poll tax, dragoons were sent to villages for execution until the required amount was paid.
Roslavl at the end of the 19th century
The constant presence at outposts and the associated hardships adversely affected the material condition of the squadron. Additionally, the ranks of the squadron from 1713 to 1733 received neither salaries nor forage for horses. All this forced Colonel Chelishev, Captains Buyniy, Kurosh, Koptsev, Lieutenants Svechin, Telesnin, Kurosh, and the regimental clerk Bosyatin to petition Empress Anna Ioannovna for the issuance of salaries and funds for horse maintenance during this time. However, this request was not granted.
In 1731, according to the new establishment, the Roslavl Squadron was ordered to be equated to the composition established for the Moscow garrison squadron, namely: to leave 481 people in peacetime and 541 in wartime.
For salaries, 2673 rubles 62 kopecks were allocated.
for medicines – 45 rubles 26 kopecks,
for the hospital – 9 rubles 79 kopecks,
for the construction of uniform clothing – 1500 rubles 48 kopecks,
for ammunition – 996 rubles 97 kopecks,
for provisions and salt – 2193 rubles,
for staff, senior, and non-commissioned officers’ rations – 179 rubles 55 kopecks,
for the purchase of horses – 517 rubles,
for forage – 1473 rubles 45 kopecks.
Total – 9589 rubles 12 kopecks.
In July 1733, the commander of the squadron, Colonel Chelishev, died, and for several years Captain Ivan Kurosh, later a second major, performed the duties of commander until 1742.
During the reign of Empress Anna Ioannovna, the Roslavl Squadron had to participate in the wars with Poland and Turkey at that time.
During the first of these wars, Russian troops crossed the border on July 31, 1733, and moved towards Warsaw. On November 23, the Roslavl Squadron was sent from its permanent garrison location to Lithuania, under the command of Major General Prince Repin. The squadron included: 1 colonel, 1 regimental clerk, 3 captains, 5 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 5 quartermasters, 6 sergeants, 5 corporals, 5 non-commissioned officers, 20 corporals, 9 drummers, 5 oboists, 2 trumpeters, 1 timpanist, 376 privates, and 29 non-commissioned officers. There were very few serviceable horses, and those were in very unsatisfactory condition. Then, at the beginning of 1734, 259 horses were sent to the squadron from various dragoon regiments, and the ranks of the squadron acquired 104 horses. The armament, equipment, and clothing of the lower ranks were also in poor condition.
Upon departure to Lithuania, the squadron was issued provisions for half a month from “military” funds, with flour priced at 83 rubles 86 kopecks and groats at 5 rubles 87 kopecks. For the other half of the month – for flour and groats in cash 89 rubles 73 kopecks and oats 131 quarters at a price of 45 kopecks per quarter. In total, the maintenance of the squadron during its stay in Lithuania for 2.5 years cost the treasury 11,883 rubles. During this time, the squadron performed guard duty on the border from Vitebsk to Bykhov. In this process, the ranks of the squadron often had to engage in skirmishes with Polish troops, especially with soldiers (Polish warriors), after which the “Roslavl people” often returned with spoils in the form of reclaimed horses, which they desperately needed.
Mglin tract
On March 29, 1736, the Roslavl Squadron was sent to Smolensk, where it arrived in the first days of April. We can judge the condition of the squadron from the report of the Smolensk governor Buturlin: “the people had not received salaries due to their long absence in Poland and separation from their homes, having no necessary means for their sustenance in extreme poverty; those who had horses were very worn out from the long march, while others were without horses, which is why the squadron is in its current form utterly incapable of guarding the outposts and generally of any service.” The governor requested permission to release all ranks of the squadron to their homes for a period of one to one and a half months, so that at home they could restore their horses, and those without horses could acquire them and fulfill their other needs. Before the ranks of the squadron could set off home, war with Turkey began, and the Roslavl Squadron was assigned to maintain outposts along the Dnieper River, from the city of Vasilykov to Kremenchug. On May 12, 1736, the squadron was ordered to proceed to Kyiv, which was not easy to execute due to the insufficient number of horses.
The usual correspondence began. Governor Buturlin wrote reports to the military collegium, and orders were sent from Petersburg to dispatch those dragoons to Kyiv who had horses, while those without horses were to be provided with state ones. The governor devised various excuses for delays, claiming that there was no opportunity to buy horses. Moreover, the equipment was worn out. The correspondence dragged on, and only in November 1738 were 190 fusils (Russian military muzzle-loading rifles with flintlock) sent to the squadron from the Tula armory and other dragoon regiments, along with 90 pairs of pistols and other ammunition. And for maintenance, funds were allocated in very limited amounts.
Due to the end of the war, the squadron returned to Smolensk in November 1737 and, having restored itself, took up the guard line of outposts on the Polish border over a stretch of 95 versts.
Maintaining guards on the Polish border for a whole 10 years, without assistance from the treasury, was very burdensome for the nobility, and such service reflected poorly on their well-being, as all their property was tied to the land, which, without peasants, they cultivated themselves. From constant crop failures, their homes fell into disrepair, and they themselves fell into extreme poverty. Everything became worn out and unusable. Wealthy nobles, having sufficient means, did not appear for service, and seeing them, those serving also tried to evade border service under various pretexts.
Thus, months and years passed. As a result, the burdensome service of the squadron brought little benefit, and the military training and discipline fell lower and lower. In police and border service, the dragoons hardly looked after their horses; they paid little attention to their weapons, and even less to their clothing. At some posts, noble dragoons served even without weapons.
Much will and effort were needed to endure this endless service guarding Russian land.
From 1743 to 1765, the squadron was commanded successively by: until 1749, Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Apukhtin, and after him, Colonel Demyan Lykoshin.
Catherine II, reviewing the petitions of the representatives of the Roslavl nobility, personally wrote on one of them: “To the Senate, upon consideration, to present to me with an opinion on what basis the Roslavl dragoon squadron exists, what service it performs, who commands it, and how much such noble estate there is and who owns it.” Catherine. April 15, 1763.
As a result of this resolution of the sovereign, a report was written to the military collegium, and after reading it, the empress ordered that the service rendered by the Smolensk nobility, as useless for the state as for the nobility itself, be abolished and destroyed forever; that orders be issued to the staff and senior officers for retirement with a reduction in rank, as their service could not be compared to general army service.
And since the border of the Smolensk province was left unguarded, in place of the Roslavl Squadron, on January 8, 1765, it was ordered by the highest decree for the Smolensk governor-general Count Fermor to form a regular regiment under the name of the Smolensk Landmilitia Cavalry. All dragoon estates and inhabited properties in the Roslavl district, from which the dragoons performed service, were to be transferred to the treasury and collected from them, in addition to poll taxes, 1 ruble per soul for the maintenance of the landmilitia regiment.
Thus, in 1765, the Roslavl Dragoon Squadron completed its service, later transformed into the well-known 3rd Smolensk Ulan Regiment in the Russian army. But that will be a completely different story.
Literature
-
Godunov V.I., Korolev A.N. History of the 3rd Ulan Smolensk Regiment of Emperor Alexander III 1708-1908. Libava, 1908. pp. 16-31.
-
Rakochevsky S.S. An Attempt to Collect Historical Notes about the City of Roslavl. – Roslavl, 1885. pp. 135-136.
-
Fedorov B.G. Smolensk Nobility. Vol. I. – Moscow: Russian Economic Society, 2006. pp. 470-487.