His Imperial Majesty's convoy. His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy: Petin Stepan Ivanovich - Alphabetical catalog - Runiverse Electronic Library His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy form

The first information about the convoy in Russian military chronicles appears in 1775. On the occasion of the end of the war with Turkey and the celebration of peace at Kuchuk-Kainardzhi, at the suggestion of Prince Potemkin, who commanded all the irregular troops at that time, the Don and Chuguev court teams of Cossacks were formed by the ataman of the Don Army, Alexei Ivanovich Ilovaisky. Together with a life squadron selected from the hussar regiments, they formed Catherine II’s own convoy, intended to guard the Empress.
In November 1796, Paul I ordered the Don and Chuguev teams to be included in the Life Hussar-Cossack Regiment, which continued to serve as a guard for the Tsar and members of his family, although it no longer constituted its own convoy.

Life Guards Black Sea Cossack Division. Artist A.I. Gebens, 1858. Canvas, oil.

Functions of the convoy of Alexander I during foreign campaigns of 1813 - 1814. performed by the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, consisting of three Don squadrons and the Life Guards of the Black Sea Hundred, formed May 18, 1811. This date became the official date of the convoy. Black Sea residents took an active part in the Patriotic War of 1812.

The convoy holiday was established on October 4 (in honor of the distinction of the Black Sea Hundred in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813) - the day of St. Hierotheus.

As a regular unit intended for convoy service at the highest court, in 1828 the Life Guards Caucasian-Mountain Half-Squadron was formed from Caucasian highlanders. It included the princes and uzdens of Kabarda, representatives of the noble families of the Chechens, Kumyks, Lezgins, Nogais and other Caucasian peoples. They were commanded by Captain Sultan-Azamat-Girey, a descendant of the Crimean khans. The half-squadron was subordinate to the commander of the imperial headquarters, Adjutant General Benckendorff.

According to the states of 1830, a half-squadron was supposed to have five officers, nine cadets and 40 squires. The highlanders, with rare exceptions, did not know the Russian language at all. Many of them were practically illiterate. In August 1829, 17 people expressed a desire to enroll in the Noble Regiment to study. Benckendorff drew up rules that were to guide the command when dealing with new students. The rules took into account national traditions and customs and contributed to the rapprochement of people of different faiths:
“...Do not give pork and ham... Strictly prohibit the ridicule of the nobles and try to make friends with the highlanders with them... Do not teach guns and marching, trying to get the highlanders to spend their free time hunting... Do not subject them to corporal punishment: in general punish only through Ensign Tuganov, who knows better how to treat which people... Effendiy is allowed to visit the highlanders whenever he wishes, even in classes... So that during the prayers of the highlanders the nobles do not interfere with them... Observe so that they do not Only the teachers and nobles did not say anything bad about the faith of the mountaineers and did not advise changing it...” ( Petin S. His Imperial Majesty's own convoy. 1811-1911 Historical sketch. - St. Petersburg.. 1911.).

The presence of the highlanders in the Noble Regiment played a positive role. Despite the fact that some of them left, the majority wished to send their children or relatives to educational institutions. In June 1830, 40 young men arrived from the Caucasus in St. Petersburg. Subsequently, an average of 30 people were admitted to military educational institutions in the capital annually.

In 1832, a new unit appeared as part of the convoy, intended exclusively for guarding the Tsar - the Team of Caucasian Linear Cossacks. According to the staff, it consisted of two officers, four constables and 24 Cossacks; the uniforms and weapons for the Cossacks were the same as those for the Life Guards of the Caucasus-Mountain half-squadron. In March 1833, the team was doubled and divided into two shifts: one was in service in St. Petersburg for 3 years, and the second was on benefits.

Convoy uniform of Emperor Alexander II

Later, in 1836 and 1839, the Lezgin Team and the Muslim Team were formed. They were subordinate to the commander of the Life Guards of the Caucasian-Mountain half-squadron. The service life in the teams was set at four years.

With the accession of Alexander II to the throne, major changes occurred in the organization of the convoy. It began to consist of two squadrons: the Caucasian four-platoon Life Guards (1st platoon - Georgian Team, 2nd platoon - Highlanders Team, 3rd platoon - Lezgin Team, 4th platoon - Muslim Team) and the Life Guards Caucasian Cossack squadron, divided into two parts (one in service and the second on benefits). The Cossacks served in St. Petersburg for 3 years, after which they were assigned to their units in the Caucasus, and the highlanders - for 4 years. At the end of their stay in the convoy, all cadets and squires of the Life Guards of the Caucasian squadron were promoted to officers. The first commander of the convoy was appointed - aide-de-camp, Colonel Pyotr Romanovich Bagration, a descendant of the most ancient family of Georgian princes. All convoy personnel were subordinate to him.

In I860, in connection with the reorganization of the Cossack troops in the North Caucasus and the formation of two new ones - Kuban and Terek - changes occurred in the composition of the convoy. Since October 1867, the Life Guards Caucasian Cossack squadrons began to form two from the Kuban and one from the Terek army.
In May 1863, the Life Guards Crimean Tatar squadron was abolished. Three officers and 21 lower ranks were enlisted in His Majesty’s own convoy, forming from them the Life Guards Crimean Tatars Convoy Team. The team was divided into three shifts, one was on duty, and two were on benefits in Crimea. Shift replacement was planned after three years.

Cossack convoys, unlike the mountaineers, had to carry out more intense guard and internal service: guarding the Tsar and members of his family during trips, on walks, while relaxing in country palaces and in the Crimea.

Mountaineer Platoon Officer of the Convoy

The convoys, both Cossacks and highlanders, were characterized by the high art of horseback riding and shooting from horseback. Even the youngest could shoot accurately at the target while galloping at full speed or bending down from the saddle to the ground and drawing along it with their hand. The more experienced ones rode sitting backwards, lying with their backs across the horse, standing on the saddle with their feet or on their heads. Racing while standing on two horses or when another comrade stood on the back of one escort was considered especially chic.

The Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 occupies a special page in the history of the convoy. In October 1876, Alexander II decided that in the event of war, the 2nd Kuban and Terek Cossack squadrons, which were on benefits, would become part of the active army as the convoy of its commander-in-chief. Cossacks gathered in the villages of Kavkazskaya and Prokhladnaya. They arrived in Chisinau on December 11, 1876. The Kuban troops were commanded by Colonel Zhukov, and the Terets troops were commanded by Captain Kulebyakin. In addition to the protection of the commander-in-chief, the field commandant of the active army, Major General Stein, who was in charge of the convoy, ordered the appointment of teams from the Cossacks to carry out police service on the Trade Square. Such use as police deeply outraged the convoys. The Tertsy commander, Parfeny Terentyevich Kulebyakin, distinguished by his directness and decisiveness, who, by the way, was not only a dashing grunt, but also a talented self-taught poet, turned for help to Lieutenant General Dmitry Ivanovich Skobelev (in 1858-1864, the commander of the convoy), who was at that time under the commander-in-chief. Only after the intervention of the general, the commandant’s order, as not corresponding to the importance and responsibilities of the convoy service, was canceled. Subsequently, right up to the start of the campaign, the Cossacks were intensively engaged in exercises, shooting, carried out escort and reconnaissance service, and participated in field trips of the command.

L.Gv. Caucasian squadron of Own E.I.V. Convoy

At the beginning of August 1877, the Terek squadron received permission from the tsar to fight as part of the detachment of Major General Prince Imeretinsky. In the twentieth of August, the convoys took an active part in the famous case near Lovcha. Together with the Vladikavkaz Cossack Regiment and the Ossetian Division of the Caucasian Cossack Brigade, on August 22, on horseback, they attacked the selected Turkish infantry, which was several times larger in number, and cut down up to 4,000 enemy soldiers and officers.

On August 26, the Terek Life Guards squadron returned to the Main Apartment. The Tsar, having learned from the report of Captain Kulebyakin that the convoys had attacked the Turkish infantry, was very surprised, since history did not know many examples when Cossack cavalry successfully acted against enemy infantry in mounted formation.

At the end of September 1877, both Kuban convoy squadrons were sent to participate in hostilities as part of Major General Ellis' detachment. They distinguished themselves in the battles of Gorny Dubnyak and Telish.
For the courage and bravery shown in battles, the Kuban residents were awarded insignia on their headdresses with the inscription “For Distinction in the Turkish War of 1877 and 1878,” and the Terians were awarded “For Lovcha on August 22, 1877.”

On March 1, 1881, an attempt was made on Alexander II. At that moment, with the tsar’s crew were 6 lower ranks of the Life Guards of the Terek squadron, led by captain Kulebyakin. All of them received injuries of varying severity. One of them, a Cossack from the village of Chervlennaya Alexander Maleichev, died in the hospital. By order of Alexander III, the Maleichev family, his wife and four young children, were given an annual pension of 100 rubles. Pensions were also granted to other Cossacks who suffered on the day of the assassination attempt.

In December 1881, changes occurred in the convoy.

"ORDER ON THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT
St. Petersburg. December 2nd day 1881
The Sovereign Emperor deigned to command:
1) As part of... the convoy, form another Terek Cossack squadron according to the existing staff, assuming that all squadrons... have 6 officers: 1 captain, 1 staff captain, 1 lieutenant and 3 cornets.
2) The Kuban Cossack squadrons will retain their existing numbers, and the Terek squadrons will be assigned numbers 1st and 2nd.
3) Have one Kuban and one Terek squadron constantly in service and one squadron each on benefits...
6) In the order of recruitment and service of Cossack squadrons, be guided by the existing regulations about them, allowing changes in them: a) replace serving squadrons with preferential ones after .. 3 years, b) send regular squadrons in such a way that they arrive in St. St. Petersburg by October 15...
8) Life Guards Caucasian Squadron... disband the convoy... Adjutant General Vannovsky, head of the Military Ministry.”

After the events of 1905, the main residence of Emperor Nicholas II became the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye. In 1895, a convoy was transferred here from St. Petersburg, from the barracks on Shpalernaya Street No. 28. Hundreds were stationed partly in the Leningrad Guards. Hussar Regiment and L-Guards. Cuirassier. The officers lived in the building of the former Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, occupied the ground floor, and later in the building of the Palace Administration on the corner of Leontyevskaya and Srednyaya streets. Then temporary wooden barracks were built for the convoys on the outskirts of Alexander Park, next to the barracks of the 1st railway. battalion In 1908, it was decided to build a church for the Convoy and the consolidated regiment, according to the design of architect. A.N. Pomerantseva. On August 20, 1909, the laying took place, but according to the project of the architect. V.A. Pokrovsky. The construction was carried out in 1910-1912, then the construction of a group of buildings in the character of Russian civil architecture of the 17th century began. The author of the project is arch. S.S. Krichinsky, the complex was named “Fedorovsky Town”. . Each hundred was located independently, having, to complete the amenities, electric lighting everywhere from the palace power plant, as well as water supply and sewerage.

Cossack Convoy E.I.V., early 20th century

On May 17, 1911, as part of the celebrations dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Convoy, a new anniversary St. George standard was nailed to the pole. The standard is made of red damask, in the middle is the face of Christ. The standard was accompanied by a lanyard and St. Andrew's ribbon.

The Emperor approached the standard, took the hammer presented to him by the commander of the Convoy and, in solemn silence, drove in the first nail with three blows. The second was driven in by the Heir Tsarevich, then by His Majesty's Viceroy in the Caucasus, Adjutant General Vorontsov-Dashkov, the Minister of the Court, the commander and officers of the Convoy, the atamans of the Caucasian Cossack troops and the lower ranks of the Convoy. After nailing the standard, sergeant Nikon Popov took it to the Grand Palace for storage. On May 18, the consecration of the standard and the parade took place on the square of the Great Tsarskoye Selo Palace.

The Emperor in the uniform of Colonel E.I.V. Convoy

In the evening, a reception of deputations and a festive dinner were held in the new Convoy meeting. From the Kuban army the Convoy was presented with a silver kettledrum, a copy of the kettledrums granted to the Black Sea people by Catherine II. It was accompanied by kettledrums and a ladle in the form of a hat attached to a saber.

The Tertsy presented a silver brother, the Life Guards Cossack Regiment - a bronze group (the Life Guards Cossack and the Chernomorets defeat the French men-at-arms), the old-timers - two bronze groups of Cossacks, His Majesty's Own Consolidated Infantry Regiment - a silver "Old Russian" jug with a ladle, 1st railway regiment and cuirassiers of His Majesty's regiment - crystal brother in silver.

With the outbreak of the First World War, convoys continued to serve in the capital and Tsarskoe Selo. With the departure of Nicholas II to Headquarters, hundreds, periodically replacing each other, were with him. At the end of 1915, the tsar decided to temporarily assign the Cossacks of the convoy to combat units. The first to leave for the front in December 1915 was the 1st Life Guards Kuban Cossack Hundred of Yesaul Zhukov. On June 15, 1916, its commander reported to Headquarters: “... a hundred took part on May 28 and 29 in crossing the river. Prut near Vama... On June 5th, when a convoy of 1008 wagons with two heavy guns was captured... On the 6th - a hundred took height 451 near Kamenka... On the 7th - the crossing over Suceava was taken... and in the cavalry attack on the city of Radauce... On the 8th - they took part in the occupation of Gura-Gumara and on the 10th they took Campalung... On the 10th a machine gun was taken by hundreds, more than 300 prisoners... Received 147 St. George's crosses and 19 of the same medals... ."

On June 9, 1916, a tragic event occurred - Colonel Zhukov shot himself. He had long suffered from a hernia, which was not amenable to surgical treatment and did not allow him to be on a horse for a long time. Having taken command of the 2nd Kizlyar-Grebensky Regiment and participating with it in continuous battles, Zhukov was forced to make long marches on horseback. The disease worsened and began to cause excruciating suffering. The corps commander ordered him to go to the rear. The Kuban man of impeccable courage and extremely proud, fearing that his departure in the midst of hostilities could be regarded by his subordinates as a sign of cowardice, committed suicide. In order No. 193 of July 11, 1916, the convoy commander wrote: “...with all my heart I lament the untimely death of Colonel Zhukov, a wonderful, valiant officer and an excellent person. The kingdom of heaven to him!”

On March 4, 1917, the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Adjutant General Alekseev, issued order No. 344, the first paragraph of which read: “... the convoy of His Imperial Majesty, under the authority of the Commander of the Imperial Main Apartment, is to be included in the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and renamed the convoy of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief ...".

However, the Convoy units survived and continued their history after 1917, in Serbia, then in the USA, until the 70s of the last century. But I don’t presume to judge this story...

Letter from Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Kulikovskaya-Romanova to the assistant commander of the Division in 1957: “On the day of the holiday of the dear Owner. E.V. The convoy will be mentally with you, the “California” Cossacks. May the Lord grant you the patience to endure your fate outside your home and homeland. I wish you all good health for many years to come! Olga, who loves you."

Tsarskoye Selo. Anniversary of Own E.I.V. Convoy

Used: article by Lieutenant Colonel N.D. Plotnikov, materials from the site regiment.ru, geglov2.narod.ru.

Life Guards Black Sea Cossack Division. Artist A.I. Gebens, 1858. Canvas, oil.

In November 1796, Paul I ordered the Don and Chuguev teams to be included in the Life Hussar-Cossack Regiment, which continued to serve as a guard for the Tsar and members of his family, although it no longer constituted its own convoy.
Functions of the convoy of Alexander I during foreign campaigns of 1813 - 1814. performed by the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, consisting of three Don squadrons and the Life Guards of the Black Sea Hundred, formed May 18, 1811. This date became the official date of the convoy. Black Sea residents took an active part in the Patriotic War of 1812.

The convoy holiday was established on October 4 (in honor of the distinction of the Black Sea Hundred in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813) - the day of St. Hierotheus.

Convoy uniform of Emperor Alexander II

Mountaineer Platoon Officer of the Convoy

L.Gv. Caucasian squadron of Own E.I.V. Convoy

The Tertsy commander, Parfeny Terentyevich Kulebyakin, distinguished by his directness and decisiveness, who, by the way, was not only a dashing grunt, but also a talented self-taught poet, turned for help to Lieutenant General Dmitry Ivanovich Skobelev (in 1858-1864, the commander of the convoy), who was at that time under the commander-in-chief. Only after the intervention of the general, the commandant’s order, as not corresponding to the importance and responsibilities of the convoy service, was canceled. Subsequently, right up to the start of the campaign, the Cossacks were intensively engaged in exercises, shooting, carried out escort and reconnaissance service, and participated in field trips of the command.

In December 1881, changes occurred in the convoy.

After the events of 1905, the main residence of Emperor Nicholas II became the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye. In 1895, a convoy was transferred here from St. Petersburg, from the barracks on Shpalernaya Street No. 28. Hundreds were stationed partly in the Leningrad Guards. Hussar Regiment and L-Guards. Cuirassier. The officers lived in the building of the former Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, occupied the ground floor, and later in the building of the Palace Administration on the corner of Leontyevskaya and Srednyaya streets. Then temporary wooden barracks were built for the convoys on the outskirts of Alexander Park, next to the barracks of the 1st railway. battalion
In 1908, it was decided to build a church for the Convoy and Consolidated Regiment, according to the design of architect. A.N. Pomerantseva. On August 20, 1909, the laying took place, but according to the project of the architect. V.A. Pokrovsky. The construction was carried out in 1910-1912, then the construction of a group of buildings in the character of Russian civil architecture of the 17th century began. The author of the project is arch. S.S. Krichinsky, the complex was named “Fedorovsky Town”. The Convoy officers' meeting also became part of the complex.
By 1916, the construction of the arch. V.N. Maksimov barracks of His Majesty's Own convoy. Each hundred was located independently, having, to complete the amenities, electric lighting everywhere from the palace power plant, as well as water supply and sewerage.

Cossack Convoy E.I.V., early 20th century

The Emperor in the uniform of Colonel E.I.V. Convoy

However, the Convoy units survived and continued their history after 1917, in Serbia, then in the USA, until the 70s of the last century. But I don’t presume to judge this story...
Letter from Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna to the assistant commander of the Division in 1957: “On the day of the holiday of our dear Owner. E.V. The convoy will be with you in thought as “California” Cossacks. May the Lord grant you the patience to endure your fate outside your home and homeland. I wish you all good health for many years to come! Olga, who loves you."

Tsarskoye Selo. Anniversary of Own E.I.V. Convoy

Used: article by Lieutenant Colonel N.D. Plotnikov, materials from the site regiment.ru, geglov2.narod.ru.

His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy- the formation of the Russian guard, which protected the royal person.

The main core of the convoy were the Cossacks of the Terek and Kuban Cossack troops. Circassians, Nogais, Stavropol Turkmens, other Muslim mountaineers of the Caucasus, Azerbaijanis (a team of Muslims, since 1857 the fourth platoon of the Life Guards of the Caucasian squadron), Georgians, Crimean Tatars, and other nationalities of the Russian Empire also served in the Convoy.

The official founding date of the convoy is May 18, 1811. On October 17, 1813, at the Battle of Leipzig, the Cossack Life Guards Regiment saved Alexander I from captivity, defeating Napoleon Bonaparte's cuirassier in a difficult battle. This feat marked the beginning of His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy. The Black Sea hundred of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment served as the core of the future Convoy.

Story

05/18/1811 - the Life Guards Black Sea Cossack Hundred was formed, under the command of Colonel A.F. Bursak, consisting of: 1 staff officer, 3 chief officers, 14 non-commissioned officers, 100 Cossacks, 118 combat horses, the same number of “lifting” "
02/27/1812 - a hundred arrived in St. Petersburg and were enlisted by the Life Guards in the Cossack Regiment by the 4th squadron.
06/14/1812 - a hundred entered into battle near the town of New Troki with the French hussars and drove them back.
04/25/1813 - the hundred was renamed the Life Guards Black Sea Squadron.
05/1/1828 - the first full-time unit was formed, intended for convoy service at the highest court, the Life Guards Caucasus-Mountain Platoon.
04/30/1830 - the Life Guards Caucasian-Mountain platoon was deployed in the Life Guards Caucasian-Mountain half-squadron.
10/12/1832 - a team of the Caucasian Cossack Line Army was formed for the Convoy.
04/30/1838 - a Lezgin team was formed for the Convoy.
03/11/1839 - a team of the Transcaucasian Muslim Cavalry Regiment was formed for the Convoy.
07/1/1842 - the Life Guards Black Sea Squadron was seconded from the Life Guards Cossack Regiment and deployed into an independent Life Guards Black Sea Cossack Division.
11/18/1856 - the Life Guards Caucasian convoy squadron was created.
02/02/1861 - the Life Guards Caucasian convoy squadron was united with the Black Sea division in the Life Guards 1, 2 and 3 Caucasian Cossack squadrons of His Majesty's Own Convoy.
10/7/1867 - Cossack squadrons began to form separately from their troops and were named the 1st and 2nd Caucasian Kuban Life Guards and the Caucasian Terek Life Guards squadrons.
12/2/1881 - another Terek squadron was created.
03/14/1891 - the squadrons were renamed into hundreds, which began to be called the Life Guards of the 1st and 2nd Kuban and 3rd and 4th Terek Cossack hundreds of His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy.
02.1915 - the 5th Consolidated Hundred of the Convoy was formed.
03/04/1917 - The convoy was renamed the Convoy of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
03/13/1917 - according to order No. 12835 of the Commander-in-Chief of the Petrograd Military District at the theater of military operations, Lieutenant General Kornilov: “rename the former Own E.V. Convoy to the Life Guards Caucasian Cossack Regiment and send it to the active army with inclusion in the 3rd yu Guards Cavalry Division."
03/30/1917 - The convoy was disbanded.

Badge of His Majesty's Own Convoy

Approved on April 29, 1878 for officers and lower ranks of the convoy of Emperor Alexander II in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878. Worn on the left side of the chest. The badge is a silver wreath of oak and laurel branches tied at the bottom with a ribbon. The wreath contains the silver monogram of Alexander II under the silver Imperial crown. Exceptionally rare. The retinue was not large and the time period for issuing and wearing this sign was very short.
Height – 37.7 mm; width – 28 mm. Weight 19.76 g. Silver, gilding, officer's.

Commanders

08/26/1856-08/30/1858 - adjutant wing, Colonel Prince Bagration, Pyotr Romanovich
09/27/1858-03/08/1864 - Colonel (from 1860 - Major General) Skobelev, Dmitry Ivanovich 1st
03/08/1864-05/24/1869 - adjutant wing, Colonel Sheremetev, Sergei Alekseevich 1st
05/24/1869-08/13/1878 - adjutant wing, colonel (from 10/17/1877 - Major General of the Suite) Cherevin, Pyotr Alexandrovich
08/13/1878-08/30/1887 - adjutant wing, Colonel Ivashkin-Potapov, Modest Alexandrovich
08/30/1887-02/17/1893 - Colonel (from 08/30/1891 - Major General of the Suite) Sheremetev, Vladimir Alekseevich 2nd
05/06/1893-06/12/1906 - aide-de-camp, colonel (from 1896 - Major General of the Suite) Baron Meyendorff, Alexander Egorovich
06/12/1906-01/01/1914 - Colonel (from 05/31/1907 - Major General of the Suite) Trubetskoy, Georgy Ivanovich
01/02/1914-03/22/1917 - Major General of the Suite, Count Grabbe-Nikitin, Alexander Nikolaevich
03/15/1917-? - temporary commander Colonel Rasp, Georgy Antonovich

1911 Officers of His Majesty's convoy in historical uniforms

Life Guards 1st and 2nd Kuban Cossack Hundreds.

1811 May 18. It was ordered, in respect of the exploits repeatedly performed by the Black Sea Cossack army in cases against the enemy, to form from the officers and most excellent Cossacks of this army Life Guards Black Sea Hundred , with her secondment to the Life Guards Cossack Regiment. (The Black Sea Cossack Army was formed by Decree of EMPRESS KATHERINE II. January 14, 1788, from the remnants of the destroyed Zaporozhye army, settled under the name “faithful cauldrons of the Black Sea” on the river Kuban).

1813 April 25. The Life Guards Black Sea Hundred was renamed into a squadron and became known as the Black Sea Squadron of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment.

1861 February 2. HIGHLY commanded: the Life Guards Black Sea Division to connect with His Majesty’s Own Convoy, forming Life Guards 1st, 2nd and 3rd Caucasian Cossack squadrons , and in each squadron there will be two-thirds Kuban and one-third Tertsy. (At the same time, the Life Guards Caucasian squadron of Georgians, Highlanders, Lezgins and Muslims was in the Convoy).

1863 May 26. The Crimean Tatar squadron, which was part of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment of the Life Guards, was abolished, and in its place it was ordered to have a special Team of the Life Guards of the Crimean Tatars with His Majesty's Own Convoy of 3 shifts (1 officer and 7 lower ranks in each), with one shift in service for 2 years, and the other 2 on benefits in the Crimea.

October 7, 1867. It was ordered to form Cossack squadrons separately, each of their troops and call them: His Majesty's Own Convoy, Life Guards 1st and 2nd Caucasian Kuban Cossack Squadrons and Life Guards Caucasian Terek Cossack Squadron .

1890 May 18. The team of the Life Guards of the Crimean Tatars was disbanded. 1881 December 2. The HIGHEST commanded to form another Terek squadron and to have in service constantly one Kuban and one Terek squadron, and the other two on preferential terms. The Caucasian squadron was disbanded.

1891 March 14. The squadrons were renamed hundreds and all ranks were given common Cossack names.

May 26. Preferential hundreds were abolished, and it was ordered to maintain a convoy in service consisting of 4 hundreds, which were named: HIS Imperial MAJESTY'S Own Convoy, Life Guards 1st and 2nd Kuban and 3rd and 4th Terek Cossack Hundreds .

MARKS OF EXCELLENCE:

1) St. George standard, with the inscriptions: "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812 and for the feat performed in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813."

Granted to the former Black Sea Division on August 30, 1856 in memory of the exploits of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, to which it belonged from 1811 to 1861. The highest diploma on December 15, 1858.

2) Silver pipes with the inscription: “To the Life Guards Black Sea Cossack Division, for the distinction rendered by the Black Sea Guards Hundred against the enemy in 1813 as part of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment.” The highest order of April 17, 1857.

"For distinction in the Turkish War in 1877 and 1878." The highest order April 17, 1878

Life Guards 3rd and 4th Terek Cossack hundreds.

1832 October 12. For His Majesty's Own Convoy, from the people of all regiments of the Caucasian Linear Cossack Army, distinguished by courage and behavior, was formed Team of the Caucasian Cossack Linear Army , after which the Convoy consisted of the above-mentioned team and Life Guards Caucasus-Mountain Squadron (1 platoon of the noblest Caucasian-Mountain natives was formed in May 1828 for convoy service at the HIGH COURT, and in April 1830 30 was deployed into a semi-squadron).

1837 October 6. It was ordered to send 12 people from the noblest mountain families, mainly those who have influence on their fellow tribesmen, to the Life Guards of the Caucasian-Mountain half-squadron every two years.

1838 April 30. For His Majesty's Own Convoy formed Team Lezgin .

1839 March 11. In addition to the above-mentioned, the Team of the Transcaucasian Cavalry Muslim Regiment was formed, from the ranks of this regiment, which was under the Commander-in-Chief of the Active Army.

1855 June 14. New states of units of His Majesty's Own Convoy were approved and instead of the command of the Caucasian Linear Cossack Army, the Life Guards Caucasian Cossack Squadron was formed.

1st) Form again into His Majesty’s Own Convoy, Team Georgians, from young people of the most distinguished princely and noble families, of the Orthodox confession, from the Tiflis and Kutaisi provinces, and consider it the first platoon of the Life Guards of the Caucasian squadron.

2nd) Highlander team recruit, on the same basis, directly from the Caucasus and exclusively from noble families.

3) B Lezgin team to receive the Adjarians and Lezgins of the Caspian region, from the noble families there.

4th) Muslim Team recruit from the most honorable families of khans and beks of the Transcaucasian region, directly from it.

5th) In general, when assigning Asians to the Convoy, pay special attention to their physique and by no means allow those who are weak or older than 25 years to be accepted.

6th) Combine all four teams, i.e.: Georgians, Highlanders, Lezgins and Muslims into one squadron, under the name Life Guards Caucasian Squadron of His Majesty's Own Convoy, and the teams are called platoons, in order of their numbers.

7th) The Life Guards Caucasian Cossack Squadron of the Convoy will remain on the same basis, but in peacetime it will be divided into two parts and replaced after three years. The unit in service is divided into 4 platoons. On this basis, the Convoy will always be composed of two squadrons, each with 4 platoons.

February 2, 1861. The Life Guards Caucasian Cossack squadron was united with the existing members of the abolished Life Guards Black Sea Cossack Division (see Life Guards Cossack Regiment) and reorganized into three squadrons, which were given the Name: Life Guards 1st, 2nd and 3rd Caucasian Cossack squadrons of His Majesty's Own Convoy . In each squadron there were ⅔ Kubans and ⅓ Tertsevs. At the same time, only one of these squadrons was ordered to be in active service in St. Petersburg, and the other two, on benefits, and to change squadrons every two years in the month of August. On June 13th of the same year, the LORD Emperor deigned to accept the title of Chief of these squadrons.

1863 June 10. Instead of the abolished Life Guards of the Crimean Tatar squadron, it was ordered to maintain a special team from the Tatars remaining in the Crimea as part of His Majesty’s Own Convoy, under the Name: Team of the Life Guards of the Crimean Tatars , with its addition, the supernumerary, to the Life Guards Caucasian Cossack Squadron, without changing the regular number of lower ranks sent from the Caucasus.

October 7, 1867. It was ordered that the Cossack squadrons of the Convoy henceforth be formed, each separately, from their own troops and named them: Life Guards 1st and 2nd Caucasian Kuban Cossack squadrons And Life Guards Caucasian Terek Cossack Squadron of His Majesty's Own Convoy .

Note:

The Caucasian squadron was formed from natives of the Caucasus; moreover, the 1st platoon consisted of Georgians, the 2nd platoon - highlanders, the 3rd platoon - Lezgins and the 4th platoon - Muslims; each platoon of 5 cadets and 20 squires. The convoy includes a team of Crimean Tatars including 3 chief officers, 3 non-commissioned officers and 18 Cossacks.

Of the Caucasian Cossack squadrons and of the Crimean Tatars, 1/3 are constantly in service, the rest are on benefits; the change was made every 2 years by August 10. (Prospect V.M. 1868 No. 377.)

December 2, 1881. It was ordered to form another Terek squadron and constantly have one Kuban and one Terek squadron in service, and the other two to be on benefits. The Caucasian squadron was disbanded.

1891 March 14. The squadrons were reorganized into hundreds and all ranks were assigned common Cossack names. On May 26, the preferential hundreds were abolished, and it was ordered to maintain the Convoy in service consisting of 4 hundreds, which were named HIS Imperial MAJESTY'S Own Convoy Life Guards 1st and 2nd Kuban and 3rd and 4th Terek Cossack Hundreds .

MARKS OF EXCELLENCE:

1) St. George standard, with the inscription: "For excellent military service of the Terek Cossack Army." The highest order November 26, 1807

2) Three silver trumpets with an inscription "1830“; There are no documents for awarding these pipes. Code of Military Regulations of 1859, part I. book. II. Appendix XLI.

3) Signs on hats with the inscription: "For Lovcha August 25, 1877“. The highest order April 17, 1878

CONVOY CHEF:

His Imperial Majesty Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich; Chief of the 1st and 2nd Kuban and 3rd and 4th Terek hundreds since November 2, 1894, (deigns to be listed in the Convoy since May 6, 1868).

FORMER CONVOY CHEFS:

Emperor Alexander II was the Chief of the 1st. 2nd and 3rd Caucasian Cossack squadrons from 1861 June 13 to 1881 March 1.

Emperor Alexander III was Chief of the 1st and 2nd Kuban and 3rd and 4th Terek hundreds from 1881 March 2 to 1894 October 21, 2nd Chief from 1866 October 28 to 1881 March 2 (listed in the Convoy since 1859 May 29).

ARE LISTED IN THE CONVOY LISTS:

His Imperial Highness Heir Tsarevich Grand Duke ALEXIY NIKOLAEVICH since 1904 July 30.

THE HIGHEST PERSONS IN THE CONVOY:

Nicholas II in the uniform of His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy.

Emperor Nicholas II with Convoy

Units forming part of the Life Guards of His Majesty's Own Convoy

The convoy in 1875 consisted of:

a) Life Guards Caucasian Squadron and

b) two squadrons of the Kuban Cossack troops and a squadron of the Terek Cossack troops.

According to the staff, in 1875 the following were required:

	Staff and chief officers	Junkers and non-commissioned officers	Trubachey	Squires and Cossacks	Class officials	Non-combatants	Denshchikov	Drill horses	Horse lifting
Life Guards Caucasian Squadron
Life Guards Caucasian Cossack Squadron
Crimean Tatar team

The convoy included a team of disabled people consisting of 5 non-commissioned officers and 60 privates.

(Prospect V.M. 1868 No. 377.)

Participation in campaigns and affairs against the enemy:

From 1811 to 1861, the former Black Sea Division was part of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, together with it it did all the campaigns of 1812, 1813, 1814, 1828 and 1831. and on the basis of this he received the same insignia as them: the St. George standard and silver trumpets, but in addition, both in the former Black Sea and Caucasian Linear troops squadrons, and in the real Kuban and Terek squadrons, predominantly lower ranks were constantly selected, distinguished by military exploits as part of their troops in all wars, with the Highlanders in the Caucasus and with the Turks in Asian Turkey.

1812 In March, the Life Guards Cossack Regiment set out on a campaign consisting of 4 squadrons in the city of Vilno, where it was assigned to be in the vanguard of the 3rd Corps, General Tuchkov; on the night of June 12 to 13, the Life-Cossack picket, standing on the bank of the river. Neman, near Kovno, was the first to notice and inform about the French crossing of the Neman; On June 14, the 2nd squadron had a skirmish with the French Hussars near N. Trok; June 14-23 Life-Cossacks fought without interruption with the advancing French vanguard; On July 10, the French cavalry attacked and routed along the Vitebsk road near the Dvina; On July 15, near Vitebsk they took the French battery; 16 and 17 participated in skirmishes during the retreat to Porech; On August 5 and 6 they fought near Smolensk; August 7 at Zabolotye (near Valutina Mountain); On August 26, near Borodino, rapid attacks upset the left flank of the French Army, as a result of which the battle was stopped; 29 in the rearguard stopped the onslaught of Murat's Cavalry, near the village. Krutitsy; On September 2, 3 squadrons, cut off from the rearguard, joined the detachment of General Wintzengerode, which covered the path to St. Petersburg, and then until October 11, together with other Cossack regiments, they maintained outposts on the roads: Yaroslavl, Vladimir and Dmitrov; On October 6, the 1st squadron, which was under Count Orlov-Denisov, distinguished itself in the battle of Tarutino; On October 1 and 12, the same squadron took part in the affairs of Maly Yaroslavets; October 22 near Vyazma; October 27 at Lyakhov with the complete defeat and capture of the Augereau Corps; 30 under Clementine; On November 3 at Krasny, and then in the vanguard of the Army, under the command of Platov, he pursued the enemy right on the heels all the way to Kovno, which he occupied on December 3.

1813 in January, with the arrival of the GOVERNOR Emperor to the Army, the Life Guards Cossack Regiment was assigned to serve in His Majesty’s convoy and therefore in all the battles of 1813 and 1814. was placed near the place where the GOVERNOR was located. They took part in squadrons: on May 8 near Bautzen, and on October 4 they especially distinguished themselves near Leipzig.

1814 March 13, near Fère-Champenoise; On March 10, at the head of the Russian Guard, he solemnly entered Paris, where he bivouaced in the Champs-Elysees; On March 21, he set out on a return trip and arrived in St. Petersburg on October 25.

1828 April 7, the squadrons located in St. Petersburg set out (except for the 3rd, which was left in place) on a campaign against the Turks; On August 22 we arrived at Varna; The 1st and 2nd Life Cossack squadrons became part of the siege corps located in the camp near Varna, and the 7th Black Sea squadron was sent to the detachment of Adjutant General Golovin on September 3. The 4th, 5th and 6th preferential (from the Don) squadrons were recently stationed at the Imperial Main Apartment. On July 14th, one of the convoy squadrons had a heated battle with the Turks in the detachment of Major General Simansky near the village of Madidu. On August 20, 3 squadrons were sent to observe the enemy and had a firefight with the Turks for several days in a row; On September 15, they distinguished themselves in the detachment of General Sukhozanet at Haji-Gassan-Lara; On September 13, in the detachment of Prince Eugene of Wirtemberg near Gassan-Lara, they repulsed the Army of Omer-Vrione; On September 29, pursuing the retreating enemy, they dealt with him on the river. Kamchik: On October 12 we set out for winter quarters in the Volyn province. From July 1829 to July 11, 1830, they occupied the cordon line along the Dniester, due to the plague that appeared in the Bessarabian region, and then the 1st, 4th, 6th and 7th squadrons returned to St. Petersburg, and the 2nd and 5th to the Don.

1831 The entire regiment gathered in Vilna in January; and March in the town of Tykochin, the Life Squadron was assigned to the Headquarters of the Guards Corps, 2 was sent to Lomza; 3 and 4 entered the vanguard of the Guards Corps; 7 Chernomorsky was assigned to escort the Imperial Main Apartment, and 5 and 8 were left in Kovno. From March until the end of the campaign, “Life Cossacks, squadron by squadron and in separate teams, took an active part in affairs, constantly being in front of the troops and not giving rest to the rebels; 25 and 20 August in different places covering artillery.

Cossacks Convoy

The shape and differences of His Majesty's Own Convoy over its 150-year history

Life Guards Black Sea Hundred in 1811

The uniform of the Chernomorets had the same cut and color as the Don squadrons of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, but with a half-caftan and caftan, in addition to ordinary sleeves, they also had others thrown behind the back: with a half-caftan - red, and with a caftan - blue. The Don squadrons of the regiment had collars and cuffs made of red and blue cloth (the color of the caftan and caftan), the porches of the trumpeters were blue, the saddle blankets and cushions on the saddles of all ranks were red, with white trim.
In the Black Sea Hundred: collars and trim are black (Cossacks have corduroy, officers have velvet), with white piping. The porches of the trumpeters are red; the saddlecloths are blue, and the pillows are red, trimmed with yellow basson.

Life Guards Black Sea Cossack squadron in 1840

1. For officers - a hat made of red cloth, the top of the hat is round, quilted with cotton wool, covered around with wide silver braid and covered with four strips of narrow silver braid; band made of black shaggy kurpei; black silk chinstrap; the same with the uniform.
The uniform is a dark blue cloth caftan, without a collar, with folding sleeves; around and on the pockets it is lined with a wide silver braid; fastens with hooks, 1.5 inches from the waist; the cuffs on the sleeves are made of black velvet, with silver buttonholes; The lining under the uniform is made of dark blue stamed, and in the sleeves it is silk, red-scarlet in color.
The chest chamber on the uniform is black velvet, with the same bottoms and a pocket at the bottom; lined around in one row, and on top of the pockets in two rows with wide silver braid; chambers at the bottom and the bottom of the pocket - with a narrow braid; cartridge chambers, for 10 rounds, made of Karelian birch, in a silver frame, with the same chains attached to the caftan. The same pattern is used on the uniform, only without pockets. -389-

The epaulettes are silver, scaly, with the same brim, lined with red cloth, and the guards coat of arms on the buttons; under the epaulettes there are shoulder straps in the hussar style.
The belt is made of silver braid, 3/4 inch wide, lined with red morocco with a silver buckle, tip and nut; the same with the uniform.
Akhaluk (beshmet) - scarlet cloth, half-thigh length, with ordinary guards buttonholes on the collar and cuffs; fastens with hooks to the waist; the floor is lined to the end with narrow silver braid, lined with red stamed, and with a black silk uniform.
Vitsmundir - a caftan of dark blue cloth, with the same collar, which, like the side to the waist, is fastened with hooks; cut this caftan at the back and tails in the Circassian style, and straight sleeves in the same manner.
The bloomers are of dark blue cloth, with leather stirrups and with wide silver braid on the sides, in two rows, with a gap, and for the uniform - of dark blue cloth, without braid.
Boots - without spurs, which are replaced by a Cossack whip.
Gloves - unchanged, as before.
The dagger is Circassian, in a silver frame; worn on a belt, on a red morocco belt, three-quarters of an inch wide, edged with narrow silver braid; the same with the uniform.
A pistol, a pig for inserting a pistol, a pistol case, a pistol cord, a saber and a lanyard - unchanged.
Overcoat - made of gray cloth; ordinary officer cut, with silver buttons with a coat of arms; a small collar, red cloth, lined with gray cloth, and a large one, starting from the lower edge of the small one, down, one arshin long.
On all things the braid is wide, three-quarters of an inch wide, and the narrow one is 5/16 of an inch.
Belt - an ordinary silver belt, 3/16 inches wide, lined with red morocco, with a silver device; worn over the shoulder; the same with the uniform.
The uniform and the accessories assigned to it constitute the clothing of the everyday, ordinary officer uniform in all those cases in which the uniform is used in the regiments that have it. And the addition of a pistol with a cord to the uniform constitutes an officer’s full field uniform and such when Messrs. officers wear a scarf in their uniform.
The dress uniform, without the pistol and the cord attached to it, constitutes a festive officer's uniform.
2. For Cossacks (private): hat - made of red cloth; the top is round, quilted with cotton wool, lined around with guards orange basson, with two crosswise stripes across the top of guards orange basson; band made of black shaggy kurpei; chinstrap of black silk braid.
The uniform is a dark blue cloth caftan, without a collar, with folding sleeves, but where the Messrs. officers are trimmed with galloon, Cossacks are given a guards orange basson with gaps: black in the middle, and red at the edges; The cuffs on the sleeves are made of black corduroy, with guards buttonholes.
The chest chamber on the uniform is black, corduroy, with the same bottoms and a pocket at the bottom; the chamber, pockets and bottoms -390- are tinned, on garus orange cords threaded into the same lace attached to the caftan.
Shoulder straps are in the hussar style, made of orange cord, which are used to fasten the folded sleeves to a tin button with a coat of arms.
The belt is made of red yuft, 7/8 of an inch wide, trimmed at the edges with a guards orange basson, with iron double and small buckles, tip and nuts.
Akhaluk - red cloth to the waist, 4 inches shorter than the caftan, with ordinary guards buttonholes on the collar and cuffs; lined to the end with Life Guards basson, which has red gaps.
The trousers are of dark blue cloth, with leather stirrups, lined on the sides, in two rows, with guards basson, having gaps: black in the middle, and red at the edges.
Boots - unchanged, but without spurs.
The bandolier is made of black yuft leather and has the same cover for 24 rounds, on a white elk belt.
Dagger - with a white bone handle; scabbard in black crumpled frame; worn on the belt, on a red yuft belt, edged with basson, like the belt.
A pistol, a pig for inserting a pistol, a pistol case, a pistol cord, a gun, a shoulder strap for a gun, a case for a gun, a saber and a lanyard - without modification.
Belt - two belts, made of red yuft, 7/8 inch wide, sewn to the belt.
The pouch for bullets is made of red yuft, the lid is lined with basson; worn on the belt.
The whip is a Caucasian Cossack whip, woven from rawhide.
The overcoat is made of gray army cloth, with the same collar fastened with hooks, with canvas lining at the shoulder and in the sleeves; shoulder straps and flaps are fastened with tin buttons with coats of arms.
Z. For non-commissioned officers, the uniform and weapons are the same as for privates, with the only difference being that the cap is not lined with a basson, but with a wide braid around and crosswise with a narrow silver braid. The uniform has cuffs, and the ahaluk has a collar and cuffs lined with silver braid.
4. For trumpeters: hat, uniform and ahaluk - according to the model for the Cossacks. There are linings on the uniform and ahaluk: on the chest of the uniform, on the sleeves (full length) and around the cuffs. In ahaluk - around the collar, along the side, to the end of the floor and on the sleeves. The shoulder flaps at the sleeves are blue, lined with scarlet cloth, trimmed around and sideways in four rows of a trumpet shape with a wide guards basson.

Life Guards Caucasian Mountain half-squadron in 1830

(since 1857: 1st platoon - Georgians, 2nd platoon - highlanders, 3rd platoon - Lezgins, 4th platoon - Muslims).
For officers: a black lambskin hat with a blue top, trimmed with silver braid and grabbed at the top with a silver cone.
A cap of yellow cloth, trimmed with silver and black striped braid, with a silver cone.
Circassian coat embroidered with silver - blue with a black beshmet and scarlet with a white beshmet. -391-

Blue harem pants with wide silver stripes.
National shoes are red boots with black leggings, both trimmed with silver braid, and ordinary boots.
The outer uniform consists of a black cloak and a general-cut overcoat.
Equipment - steel helmet, armor, grease pot, screwdriver and powder horn.
The officers had their own weapons: a pistol, a bow with arrows and a quiver, a saber, a saber, a dagger and a whip.
The uniforms and weapons of cadets and squires were the same as those of officers and differed only in the quality of the material and the comparative modesty of decoration.
The trumpeters of the half-squadron also had a Circassian uniform, but trimmed with yellow trumpet basson.
Mountaineer students who entered educational institutions were given a Circassian uniform: a black hat with a white top and a silver button on it.
Light blue Circassian coat with chucks and pockets made of black velvet. Karelian birch 16 chambers, framed in white bone.
Beshmet - white. There are body buttonholes on the beshmet collar.
Bloomers of blue cloth and bloomers of black demikadon - summer.
Red morocco belt with steel cutlery.
The Circassian has shoulder straps that match the color of the body.

Lezgin team in 1836

The hat is national, fur, with a red top.
The bashlyk is of yellow Circassian cloth, with a silver cone at the end, trimmed along the side and seams with silver galloon with a black stripe.
Beshmets (akhaluks) - blue for a scarlet uniform, and scarlet for a blue uniform; akhaluks are trimmed with silver galloon with teeth and a gold stripe.
Uniforms (chukhas) - scarlet cloth with a yellow lining and light blue cloth with a red lining. The uniforms are trimmed around and along the sides with silver braid, narrow and wide.
Epaulets - cavalry type; bloomers - wide, green; boots - national, of a special type, with pointed toes: for the scarlet uniform - yellow morocco, for the blue - white leather.
Own weapons: a pistol, a gun with a white belt in a black burochka case, a saber and a dagger.
Each rider had, in addition to weapons, a saddle with an instrument and three blankets, a belt and a checker belt with silver sets, a powder horn, a grease pot and a screwdriver. All these things, excluding saddles and blankets, were allowed in various forms, since they belonged to the weapons that were the property of the Lezgins.

Muslim team in 1839

Uniforms, weapons and equipment were assigned according to the Lezghin model, with some change in the color of the uniforms.
Namely: a white uniform with a blue lining and a light blue uniform with a yellow lining.
Both beshmets are yellow.
Bloomers - blue for the first uniform and light blue for the second. The rest is the same as among the Lezgins. -392-
Georgian team in 1857

A special uniform was assigned: a national hat, black fur with a crimson top.
Cap - raspberry; The band and edging along the upper circle are green.
Chukhi (uniform) - crimson velvet, trimmed with silver galloon. Vice uniform - green cloth, with folding sleeves.
Ahaluk (beshmet) - made of silk fabric, green for the ceremonial uniform, and crimson for the uniform.
Bloomers are dark green cloth with braid sewn in two rows along the side seams.
The belt is made of silver galloon.
An officer's cloak and overcoat, the flaps on the collar are crimson with green piping.

Life Guards command of the Crimean Tatars in 1863

Uniforms, equipment and weapons are set according to the models of the Life Guards of the Caucasian Cossack squadron.
The hat is a national one, of the Crimean Tatar people, made from small black merlushka. The top is scarlet, flat, trimmed twice crosswise with narrow silver braid, which is used to trim the caftan.
The uniform is ceremonial red, with 10 breastplates and silver scaly epaulettes. Everyday uniform blue.
The red uniform is trimmed entirely with a wide one, and the blue one is trimmed with a wide one on the chucks, and around it with a narrow silver galloon.
Bloomers are blue for the red and blue uniforms, with the only difference being that the red uniform has stripes in two rows of wide braid, and the blue ones have narrow braid.
The saber, pistol and dagger are modeled after the Caucasian Cossack squadron. The privates' uniform is trimmed with a wide yellow basson.
The collar and cuffs of the non-commissioned officer's uniform were trimmed with non-commissioned officer braid.

Life Guards Caucasian Linear Cossack half-squadron in 1832

Circassian scarlet and blue. For a scarlet Circassian coat there is a white beshmet, for a blue one - a black one (until 1859), trimmed along the side and at the bottom along the seam of the collar with narrow silver braid with a black stripe for officers and a yellow braid for Cossacks.
The hat (papakha) is of black lamb, with a scarlet top, trimmed with Caucasian silver braid with a gold stripe.
Circassian - a ceremonial uniform (scarlet) and a uniform (blue), trimmed all around the side, around pockets and cuffs on the sleeves with silver braid for officers and yellow braid with a blue gap for Cossacks.
Green velvet lining with red morocco lining, trimmed with wide braid all around and at the bottom, in 2 rows; In addition, a silver cord with black silk is sewn at the bottom of the cartridges.
There are 16 cartridges, 8 on each side of the chest, ebony, framed - on one side of white bone, on the other - silver with niello and chains. -393-
Bloomers are blue with a wide silver stripe, pocket lining and a narrow silver basson at the bottom for officers, Caucasian braid for sergeants and constables and a yellow basson for Cossacks.
The belt is red morocco, trimmed with silver braid in 2 rows. Silver and niello set (9 pieces) for the belt.
Belt for checkers of black silk braid.
The pistol has a cover of scarlet cloth and at the bottom, on the barrel, black morocco; trimmed at the seams with Caucasian galloon for officers and narrow yellow basson with a blue gap for Cossacks.

Life Guards 1st, 2nd and 3rd Caucasian Cossack squadrons in 1861

The uniform and weapons of the Kuban and Tertsy Convoy are modeled after the Guards Linear Cossacks. Namely: the ceremonial uniform is a scarlet Circassian coat with a white beshmet, the uniform is a blue Circassian coat with a scarlet beshmet.

Signs and monograms of the Own E.I.V. Convoy

On the day of the Convoy holiday, October 4, 1883, a special breastplate was approved by the Highest for service in the Own Convoy, consisting of a monogram image of the Name of Emperor Alexander III, with a crown at the top.
The monogram was surrounded by a laurel wreath, intertwined with St. Andrew's ribbon, with an inscription on it in gold letters: at the top - “For service in His Majesty's Convoy”, and at the bottom - “October 4, 1883”.
Officer's badge - gold, with a blue enamel ribbon; for non-commissioned officers and Cossacks - made of white metal and silver plated.
On May 24, 1884, the regulations for this sign were approved. All ranks of the Convoy retained the right to wear it upon transfer to other units and upon dismissal from service. The sign complained nothing less than for his blameless service in the Convoy for three years. The officer's badge for those who served during the reign of Emperor Alexander III and Emperor Nicholas II - gold, chased work, consisted of two intersecting letters A III and H II surrounded by a wreath of laurel and oak branches; when connecting them, above the double monogram is the Imperial crown. The branches are wrapped in a blue enamel ribbon with a bow at the bottom.
On the ribbon there is an inscription on the wreath intercepts: “October 4, 1894”, on the bow - “For service in Our Convoy”.
For those who began serving in the Convoy during the reign of Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II Alexandrovich, the badge inside has one letter N II, with a crown above it, and on the ribbon there is the inscription: “October 4, 1895” and “For service in My Convoy.”
Since 1889, Badge for service in the Own E.I.V. The convoy complained about the award, without the mandatory 3-year service period.
In 1897, by order No. 321, it was ordered by the Highest: the officers and Cossacks of the Convoy should have a metal applied monogram image of the Name of His Majesty on their epaulettes, shoulder straps and shoulder cords. In those cases where there are already monograms in the Bose of deceased Emperors, then they should be connected and of the opposite color with the monogram of His Majesty. The last monogram is based on the color of the device. -394-
Breastplate in memory of the 300th anniversary of the reign of the House of Romanov.
The badge was awarded to all Convoy officers who served in it during the Romanov celebrations.
On the breastplate in the center there was a Romanov griffin in a frame, and above it the Imperial crown. There are two griffin heads on all four sides of the frame. The frame itself rests on a laurel wreath, which is intertwined with a ribbon at its base. Date on the tape: 1613-1913. The Imperial crown, the Romanov griffin and the wreath are gold. Frame black
- silver with niello.
The following rules have been approved regarding the breastplate in memory of the 300th anniversary of the Reign of the House of Romanov:
1. The badge is worn above all breast badges, on the right side of the chest.

2. The sign is hereditary and is passed on to the eldest in the family.

Own E.I.V. Convoy in the 1900s

For officers: ceremonial uniform - scarlet Circassian coat, embroidered with silver Caucasian braid, and a white beshmet for all ceremonial occasions and presence at court balls; worn on visits on Easter and New Year's days.
An officer was required to have a blue convoy uniform with a scarlet beshmet at all times in the ranks and in service.
Officer's hat - on a scarlet cloth top along the bottom edge, along the seams and between them there is galloon of the existing pattern; A silver, gilded, Caucasian-made cone in the form of a papakha, 2 cm high and 1.5 in diameter, is attached on top of the double cross braid.
Officers were instructed to adhere to the following rules for wearing uniforms:
1. Silver belts and sword belts should be worn in ceremonial and ordinary uniforms and in all cases of attire: a) to meet and see off Their Majesties; b) to serve in the Imperial Palace and when visiting it.
2. Wear belts and sword belts on a blue uniform: a) in all other cases of dress for service; b) in equestrian formation while on campaigns, camp training and during maneuvers; c) after His Majesty’s tour of the camp and before the end of the gathering and d) when mourning is imposed.
Z. Wear belts and sword belts on the scarlet ceremonial uniform only when full mourning is imposed.
4. Revolvers with cords assigned only to the Convoy should always be worn in full dress uniform, with the exception of: a) attendance at court balls and concerts; b) in the Imperial theaters, on days when you must wear scarlet uniforms when visiting them.
5. When wearing blue uniforms, revolvers with cords must be carried in all cases when cavalry units wear a lyadunka, and during all duties of combat service.
6. Officers on horseback with a unit are not allowed to wear an ordinary Circassian coat, but must be dressed in blue convoy uniforms, with bladed weapons and revolvers with cords.
Outside of service and formation, officers were allowed to wear: a jacket, chasseurs - blue with wide stripes made of forged Caucasian silver braid -395- and a cap of the established pattern for Convoy officers - scarlet with three white edgings.
It was allowed to wear an ordinary Circassian coat. Officers enjoyed this right, but according to tradition they wore Circassian coats only of the same color - cherry.
According to the 1889 Regulations on the Convoy, overcoats were replaced with cloaks and hoods.
In full dress uniform: officers have silver epaulettes, officers and Cossacks have yellow hussar-type plaits. Officers and non-commissioned officers have silver braid.
The uniform of His Majesty's Own Convoy is a high and honorable distinction for a Caucasian Cossack, and therefore only those lower ranks who are excellent in all respects, primarily those who have shown distinction in combat, can be selected for service in the Convoy as an award (clause 10 of the regulations on E.'s Own. I.V. Convoy, Supremely approved on May 23, 1904).
All Cossacks received uniforms (for a period of one year):
1. Scarlet Circassian coat, embroidered with yellow basson, ceremonial uniform - 1.
(“Podgaznik” dark blue).
2.White beshmet for the ceremonial uniform - 1.
(The beshmet collar is trimmed around the top in a circle and, in front along the side, from top to bottom - for the policemen with silver, for the Cossacks with yellow basson).
3. Blue Circassian coat, uniform - 2.
(One large size uniform - wear over a warm beshmet fur coat).
4. Scarlet beshmet, for the uniform - 2.
5.Blue guards trousers - 2.
b. A good kurpei black hat - 1.
(The hat consists of a cap with a rounded top and a fur, kurpei, crown sewn to the cap; the height of the cap is 5.5 vershoks; the top of the cap is trimmed on the outside with scarlet cloth; the seams for the Cossacks are basson, for the officers - galloon of existing samples).
7.Holster for revolver - 2.
(For the blue uniform - black leather, for the scarlet - scarlet cloth).
8.White braid (worn over the left shoulder and worn in full dress) - 3 arshins.
9. Black braid for a revolver - 6 arshins.
10. Scarlet morocco belt, stitched with two guards stripes, for a ceremonial uniform - 1.
11. Shoulder belt for rifles, white for dress uniform and black for uniform - 2.
12.Shuba (warm beshmet), issued for a period of four years. They had soft wool, were light and comfortable for riding.
A dark brown hood of one's own was used only in inclement weather in winter, when assigned to horse patrols (as were burok boots).
When transferring for benefits to the reserve rank and retirement, the lower ranks of the Convoy had the right to wear uniforms according to the following rules: -396-
a) retired - without shoulder harnesses, which are put on only upon entry into service;
b) those who have not completed their total service life - with tourniquets until they are transferred to retirement;
c) those called up for active service in non-guards combat units in wartime, retain, with the uniforms assigned to these units, beshmets of the standard standard in the Convoy. // Regulations on Own E.I.V. Convoy, Supremely approved on May 23, 1904, paragraph 42.

Weapon

The blades of checkers and daggers were manufactured by order of the Military Headquarters at the Zlatoust Arms Factory. These blades had stamped letters in the upper part near the handle: K.K.V. or T.K.V. (Kuban Cossack Army - Terek Cossack Army) and on the reverse side of Z.O.F. (Zlatoust arms factory).
It was allowed to have checkers and daggers of a different make, but almost all Cossacks went to service with edged weapons with Zlatoust blades. Despite the fact that these blades were personal property, the Cossacks called them “state blades.”
The Convoy officers each had several sabers and daggers with ancient (Gurda and others) and modern blades. The scabbards of the checkers, in addition to the gold and silver set “with niello,” were trimmed with scarlet (the color of the uniform) cloth, embroidered with officer’s guards braid.
The Cossacks' firearms were official weapons and were not their property. In the Convoy, all the Cossacks were armed, except for rifles, with revolvers. A three-line cavalry (short) rifle of the 1891 model and a revolver of the Nagan system were received by a Cossack selected for service in the Guard upon arrival at His Majesty’s Convoy.
(Officers and lower ranks of the Convoy previously carried Asian-style pistols, in cloth cases, in their belts. When the pistols were replaced by revolvers, the convoys continued to carry them in their belts, like long pistols. In 1887, due to the inconvenience of carrying revolvers, these weapons began to be worn on the side, in holsters).

Horse composition and ammunition

The convoys were required to have tall, fully serviceable, and only bay-colored combat horses. The commander, staff officers and trumpeters sat on light gray horses. His Majesty's trumpeters, who followed directly behind the Sovereign Emperor at all the Highest reviews, maneuvers and parades, had beautiful horses of Arabian blood.
Guards saddle: the tree bows were to be trimmed with thin white horn. For the tree: the pillow prescribed by the charter, a yellow sweatshirt and a mituk made of good leather; a tripod, a halter and, decorated with a Caucasian set, a bridle, a breastplate and pakhva. For the saddle there is a black leather saddle trimmed with a yellow wide guards basson.
The Convoy officers had their saddle cloth trimmed with Caucasian galloon. Saddle cloths were supposed to be worn with full dress uniform.
(The officers were supplied with saddles by the Cossack of the village of Batalpashinskaya, Kalaushin, who was famous throughout the Caucasus for the work of his workshop. They also bought saddles at Military Craft Schools). -397-

Uniform of young Cossacks

For the first Highest Review, the young Cossacks who arrived to serve in the Convoy were re-uniformed into a uniform specially built for them: Circassian coats of Caucasian “dacha” cloth, tobacco-colored, with a white beshmet. After presentations to the Sovereign, these Circassian coats and beshmets were surrendered to the Convoy's workshop, and the young Cossacks, throughout their secondment and training in the rules of convoy service, wore their own gray Circassian coats.

Non-combatant Convoy team

The non-combatant team consisted of soldiers who were not assigned the Convoy uniform - the scarlet and blue Circassian coat. The soldiers of the non-combatant team had a uniform of the Guards cavalry type, but they wore a cap of the Convoy uniform, that is, scarlet with three white edgings.
Non-combatant Cossacks also differed in their uniform from combatant Cossacks, namely: a non-combatant Cossack’s “gas pad” is dark green. The collar of the beshmet is trimmed at the bottom and in front along the side from bottom to top, for police officers with silver, for Cossacks with yellow basson.

Marching uniform (for the duration of the war) from 1915

During the war, a marching uniform was approved by the Highest: a Circassian coat made of cloth of a “protective” color, with a scarlet beshmet. For Convoy ranks sent directly to the front, they were assigned not a scarlet beshmet, but, like a Circassian coat, a khaki color, but made of a lighter material than the cloth on a traveling Circassian coat.
All 4 hundreds of the Convoy are given large hundredth badges. In size, they were equal to regimental ones.
Each hundredth badge: 1st hundred - scarlet, 2nd - blue, 3rd - white and 4th - green, bordered by a narrow black stripe.

Division of Own E.I.V. Convoy in 1941-1945

Black hats, protective tunics with scarlet shoulder straps, blue trousers with a guards breeches, crimson hoods, with checkers.

1. Senior officer of His Majesty's Own Convoy with the Imperial Standard. Variant of the Imperial Land Standard (without charters in the eagle's paws and beaks). The officially installed shaft was supposed to be in the shape of a tournament knight's spear, but in reality it was as shown in the picture, or the standard was nailed to a Cossack pike. 2. Flag of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich. Flag of the Grand Duke Viceroy or Commander-in-Chief, established back in 1870. 3. Flag of the Grand Dukes. 4. Flag of the army headquarters. 5. Flag of the headquarters of the 21st Corps. 6. Flag of the headquarters of the 12th Infantry Division. 7. Flag of the headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division. 8. Flag of the headquarters of the 2nd Cavalry Division. 9. Flag of the headquarters of the 1st Don Cossack Division. 10. Flag of the headquarters of the 24th Nizovsky Infantry Regiment. 11. Flag of the headquarters of the 8th Astrakhan Dragoon Regiment. 12. Flag of the headquarters of the 3rd Don Cossack Regiment. 13. Flag of the headquarters of the 3rd artillery brigade. 14. Flag of the headquarters of the Grenadier Engineer Battalion.

His Imperial Majesty's own Convoy occupied an exceptional position among the guards units of the Russian Army.
From its first appearance under Empress Catherine the Great, the Convoy carried out the honorable service of directly protecting the Russian Sovereigns, flawlessly justifying the high trust placed in it.
Formed in 1811, the Black Sea Guard covered itself with glory in the war with Napoleon; more than once the French, in superior strength, retreated before the desperate determination and courage of the Cossacks; in the Battle of Leipzig, the Convoy saved the lives of Emperor Alexander I and two allied monarchs; during the liberation of the Balkans, near Lovcha, the Turks could not resist the dashing and terrible in its swiftness attack of the Tertsy; The Sovereign's Convoy participated in all campaigns of the 19th century and in the Great War of 1914.
Three St. George standards, 12 silver St. George trumpets, insignia “for distinction” on the caps are evidence of the unit’s military service.
For more than 100 years of its existence until 1917, Muslim mountaineers of the Caucasus, Georgians, Crimean Tatars, and other nationalities of the Russian Empire served at different times in the squadrons and teams of the Convoy.
The formation of His Majesty's Convoy took place in several stages and from various formations. The first, having a historical past (Black Sea Cossacks) remained independent guards units; the second, after serving under the person of the Emperor - from several years to half a century (individual teams of the Caucasian Mountain Squadron) under the influence of changed conditions disappeared completely; the third - united together (Kubans and Terets) and continued to serve, guarding the Sovereign and his August Family.

Serving in His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy has always been considered the highest honor for the Cossacks of the Kuban and Terek.
The choice of Cossacks to serve in the Own Convoy was so unusual, even in comparison with the recruitment of soldiers into the first regiments of the Russian Guard, that it should be mentioned separately.
Recruits to the guards regiments were appointed already at the last stage of conscription in St. Petersburg, where they were selected “based on their appearance”: “blonds - in Preobrazhensky, brown-haired - in Semyonovsky, brunettes - in Izmailovsky, redheads - in Moscow... " and other signs.
There were special rules for recruiting the Convoy: officers and Cossacks were not appointed to it, but selected. The officers are from combat units, and the Cossacks are from all the villages of the Kuban and Terek Troops.
Before this, the officers usually asked the Cossacks of the Convoy if they knew their villagers worthy of being accepted into His Majesty's Convoy. The convoys asked in letters for the elderly and old guards of their village and, on their advice, pointed to candidates from the most respected Cossack families.

Having arrived at the Army, the Convoy officer, through the Military Headquarters, informed the atamans of the villages about when he would arrive at their village. The atamans introduced to the officer all the young Cossacks of their village who had completed the required period of military training in the “prepared rank” and were already destined for “active” service. In addition, at the choice of the ataman and the elders, some especially worthy constables were introduced. If they were accepted into the Convoy, then they retained their rank and wore the uniform of a constable, but served in the guard in the position of an ordinary Cossack. During the selection, the officers did not require the required “guards height” - 2 arshins and 8 vershoks (177.8 cm) from the excellent horsemen, dancers and songwriters they selected.
Lists of those selected were sent to the Military Headquarters. The headquarters ordered the atamans of the villages to send them to departments to undergo drill and medical commissions. Simultaneously with the medical examination at the military hospital, the purchase of saddles, the replacement of horses and other preparations, daily drills were carried out, horses were brought out, and all equipment and uniforms were examined and checked. The Cossacks had to have their own uniforms and bladed weapons.
A veterinarian was also present at the drill commission to examine the young Cossacks’ own horses for suitability for service. The Cossacks bought horses from the famous horse breeder Kotsev in Kabarda, from whom the military veterinarian personally selected horses for the guard.
The final selection of future convoys was made in May, for which all the Cossacks concentrated on assembly points: Kuban in Yekaterinodar, Terets in Vladikavkaz.
On the eve of the departure of the young Cossacks to St. Petersburg on the 20th of May, a farewell prayer service was served and, finally, those leaving for service in the Convoy were reviewed by the Punished Ataman. It was a review of “a father to his children” - whom he, with fatherly love and pride, sent to the most honorable service of the throne and homeland.
The villages, sending the best Cossacks to the Convoy, were not only proud of them, but also in the person of the ataman, his assistants and “trusted ones”, signed separately for each a special sentence, in which the village vouched for its representative.
One of the convoys describes in his memoirs:
“In 1907, I was still a young man of 17 years old. My father and several of his friends usually worked together. I helped my father in his work. For some reason, one old convoy began to come to work with us and talk about the service. I listened with great attention ". I saw how he looked at me during his stories. One day, in the presence of my father and his friends, the convoy suddenly interrupted his story and, pointing his finger at me, said: “You will serve in the Convoy!” I could not understand then, how can this be. I began to approach the years of service, and in the village there was talk that Lashchuk was a guardsman in 1909. And when I got married, at the wedding my grandfather gave me 100 rubles and said: “if you go to the Guard, this I’ll give you a horse." In 1909, I really came to serve in the Convoy, as the old people pointed out to me and as my grandfather, who died that same year, wished..."
The echelons of Kuban and Terets selected for the Convoy met at Tikhoretskaya station and then proceeded together. There were one or two stops along the way to bring out the horses. At the end of May, trains with young Cossacks, with whom officers sent to the Troops were returning, arrived in Tsarskoe Selo.
The young Cossacks introduced themselves to the Tsar, forming on foot near the Catherine Palace next to the old convoys who had served a 4-year term. The Emperor first walked around the line of old convoys, thanked them for their service and presented each with a badge “For Service in My Convoy.” The Emperor congratulated them on their renaming to constables. Then His Majesty approached the line of young people, greeted them and, walking around them, carefully examined them. In the first word addressed to the new arrivals, the Emperor directed them to serve following the example of their brothers who had just completed service in His Convoy.

The Cossacks who arrived in the Convoy were divided into four hundred. To do this, they were lined up according to a general ranking in one line, the Kuban people separately from the Terets. On command: “pay off the first and second!” - the first numbers made up one line, the second numbers - the second. The commanders of the hundreds drew lots to determine which rank belonged to which hundred. Then time was given for individual requests from young Cossacks to move to another hundred, to serve together with relatives or village residents.
From the first days of the arrival of the young Cossacks, drill training was conducted with them, for which one officer and the required number of Convoy officers were appointed in each hundred. General supervision over the training of those newly admitted to the Convoy was carried out by the assistant commander for the combat unit and the officers who selected them in their Troops.
The day began at 5 o'clock in the morning with the morning cleaning of horses, and then throughout the whole day the Cossacks were under strict training from the old convoys. Their immediate superiors and all the old Cossacks of their hundreds took part in the training of the young ones, especially the villagers who had recently arrived in the Convoy, in order to quickly give them not only real guards bearing, but also teach them all the intricacies of service at the Highest Court.
In the barracks, after dawn until late hours, there was “voluntary” training in what is commonly called “literature.” In addition to explaining the usual rules of service, the old convoys gave the young ones their own instructions.
"Answer me as the Sovereign Emperor!" - follows the answer.
“Answer louder, but don’t shout out individual words!”
“Answer me as the Empress!”
“Wrong! The Empress cannot answer so loudly. Answer only in a low voice and look, the Empress will not greet you, but will only deign to bow her head.”

“Take your post! Answer again as the Empress, when I pass by you and greet you with a bow of my head.”
There were many such instructions. They were created and developed by the convoys themselves, as a result of their own observations while on duty.
Upon completion of training and review by the assistant commander for the combat unit, the young Cossacks took the oath. After this, they became real guardsmen and, having received the Convoy uniform, were assigned to service.
Two standards of S.E.I.V. were carried out from the Great Catherine Palace in a solemn atmosphere. Convoy - Kuban and Tersky.

Since there was a sufficient percentage of Old Believers among the Cossacks (especially among the Terets), during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, two priests were present at the oath - an Orthodox and an Old Believer.
After the prayer, the Convoy adjutant announced to the young Cossacks about those exploits for which the St. George Cross was complained. But, in addition to reading the rules about rewards, there was immediately a message about punishments for misconduct. Then the priests loudly but slowly, stopping at almost every word, read the text of the military oath, established by Emperor Peter the Great.
Young escorts were assigned to service in such a way that in each outfit they would serve with old Cossacks who knew all the rules and instructions of service at the Highest Court. At posts where there were supposed to be paired sentries, one old and one young were appointed. All the outfits, including internal ones, such as those on duty and orderly in the hundreds and stables, were carried by the young together with the old Cossacks, under their supervision and supervision, but only the young were obliged to clean the hundred's yard and the hitching post after cleaning the horses.
Upon transfer to the Convoy and subsequent years of service in it, all Cossacks received government uniforms for one year. By the end of the service, each member of the Army had several worn-out uniforms stored in his chest. These uniforms were then proudly worn in the villages. In the villages one could often see old guardsmen in scarlet officer caps. This was, of course, a well-known liberty - the Cossacks of the Convoy were not given a cap, and even an officer’s type one. The Cossacks of the Convoy ordered a cap and an officer's coat for themselves before leaving service.

Long-term convoy convoys received a double set of uniforms. His Majesty's trumpeters, standard sub-hores, the sergeant of hundreds and almost all the platoon officers of the Convoy were such. Sergeant of the Hundred Vasily Popov served in the Convoy for 22 years. Sergeant Nikon Popov - 25 years old. He was given a ceremonial farewell, after which the Cossacks carried their respected sergeant from the second floor of the barracks. The last senior trumpeter of His Majesty, Sergeant Zakharchenko, served in the Convoy for more than 30 years!
All Cossacks, in addition to their basic salary, were given a ruble after each parade in the Highest Presence, and for every official business trip - 20 kopecks per day. To improve your allowance from the Ministry of the Household - 9 rubles per month. “Repair” money - for the proper maintenance of one’s own equipment - together with “tea” and “soap” money amounted to 130 rubles per year.
In addition, the convoys received monthly “fodder” money for a “second horse,” which they actually did not have. The receipt of this money is explained as follows. When there were no railways yet, Cossacks from the Caucasus went to St. Petersburg for service on two horses, one of which was a pack horse. When trains of young people began to be sent by rail, pack horses were abolished, but the issuance of money for a second horse remained!...

All the money due, with the exception of the monthly salary, was not given to the Cossacks of the Convoy. The commanders of the hundreds kept strict records, depositing money in the savings bank for the personal book of each Cossack. On the 20th of the month, the commanders of hundreds asked the Cossacks how many rubles someone wanted to receive in their hands, and they gave out that much. When the convoy went into reserve, then, depending on his wishes, he either received all the money he had earned for 4 years in his hands, or they were transferred to another bank on his instructions.
Those leaving for the Army were allowed to sell their combat horses. Three months before their departure, it was announced in the capital's newspapers that at the appointed time a certain number of horses would be sold in the Convoy. Usually they were bought by horse riding enthusiasts, and they paid well.
Cossacks who were in the Convoy reserve were required to buy a new combat horse upon mobilization or a second call to duty. When horses were sold, the best of them were left in the Convoy, and the officer who recruited young Cossacks into the Army was informed about the number of detained horses.

In the history of the Convoy, there were very rare cases of Cossacks being discharged without being renamed constables and deprived of their guards uniform, which entailed a shameful appearance in the village - from which they were then not accepted into the Convoy for several years. In 1913, one of the convoys was stripped of his guards uniform for being late from vacation while drunk. Realizing that he had disgraced his native village, which vouched for him, the Cossack shot himself...
When the train of those who had completed their service in the Convoy departed, the commander and all officers free from duty arrived at the station. The echelon served under the command of two officers sent to the Kuban and Terek Troops for the next recruitment of young Cossacks. At the border, the Troops of the old convoys were met by the Nakaznaya Ataman and, on behalf of the entire Troops, thanked them for their service in His Majesty’s Convoy. The echelons were arranged so that at each station it was possible to leave a carriage with Cossacks from the villages closest to it.
At the end of one year of service in the Convoy, Cossacks who showed special zeal for service and were worthy of taking the position of a constable were sent to the Convoy training team. She worked out in her comfortable and spacious room with a gym. For equestrian exercises we went to the Field of Mars or to the arena behind the Trinity Bridge.
Those who successfully completed the full course of the training team were promoted to military officers by order of the Convoy; they were given a silver watch with a chain. On the cover of the clock there was a picture of a charter, a feather and a horseshoe. In addition to the training team, those wishing to undergo a special exemplary forging course were selected from each platoon of all four hundred of the Convoy. The training course lasted 9 months. Cossacks who successfully completed this course also received a silver watch after the exam. On the watch chain there is a keychain: a horseshoe with a hammer. On the top cover of the watch there was an image of a horseshoe with the inscription “For excellent forging” around it.

In the last reign, during the Great 2nd Patriotic War of 1914, hundreds of the Convoy received the consent of the Sovereign, alternately, to go to the Active Army.
In the most difficult test that befell the nation and the state, Emperor Nicholas II firmly believed that only a strong government could lead Russia to victory in the war.
“According to His conviction, only autocracy, the creation of centuries, gave Russia the strength to hold out for so long in spite of all disasters.
...To change the system, to open the gates to the attackers, to give up at least a share of one’s autocratic power - in the eyes of the Tsar this meant causing immediate collapse...” (W. Churchill “War on the Eastern Front”).

“At all times He embodied the spirit of the people and, both externally and internally, He defended it with an unwavering loyalty that inspires admiration and respect!” (E. Herriot, Prime Minister of France).
Thanks to the tireless care of the Sovereign, the power of the Russian Army increased many times over. The German General Ludendorff testified in his memoirs: “By the end of 1916, Russia had created a large increase in military forces. The battles also showed a very significant increase in military equipment. The High Command will have to reckon with the fact that the enemy at the beginning of 1917 will be overwhelmingly stronger than us. Our position It’s extremely difficult, and there’s almost no way out of it!”...

But a way out was found. The enemies of Imperial Russia, both inside and outside it, realized that as long as Sovereign Nicholas II was at the head of the country, as long as the Russian people remained faithful to their Tsar, they would not achieve the changes they desired.
They had a common goal - to deprive Russia of someone who was a symbol of the unity and power of the Russian Empire.
During the days of the February Troubles, it arose and then spread, incl. in the emigrant press, slander against His Majesty's Convoy. The appearance of “revolutionary” messages from Petrograd about “the appearance of the Convoy in its entirety at the State Duma with an expression of submission...” caused bewilderment among the division officers serving in the Tsarkoye Selo Palace. They knew that there was not a single hundred of the Convoy in Petrograd (there was also a division under the Emperor at Headquarters and fifty in Kyiv). But in addition to the provocative value, the fabrications became dangerous in that, if they somehow ended up at Headquarters, which was cut off from Tsarskoe Selo, they could put the two hundred Convoy serving there in a very difficult situation.

The officers and Cossacks of the foot fifty of the 5th Consolidated Hundred, who were under the Empress Maria Feodorovna in Kiev, were also indignant at the lies and slander against their native unit, fully imagining that in the capital there were only a non-combatant team and a team of the 5th Hundred, serving those abandoned by them horses in Petrograd.
The complete confidence of the Sovereign Emperor in his Convoy follows from the diaries of centurion V. Zborovsky. On March 4, in the Tsarskoe Selo Palace, Her Majesty summoned him and deigned to say: “I was finally connected with the Sovereign, and I managed to convey to Him that the newspaper article about the Convoy was false. The Sovereign replied that He had no doubt about it, and We were right in considering the Cossacks Our true friends. Pass this on to the Cossacks and reassure the officers."

The convoys remained with their Sovereign after the abdication, enjoyed exceptional trust, and only fulfilling his personal wishes did not follow him...
The “Temporary” and then the Bolsheviks interrupted all relations between the Unit’s officers and the Royal Family. There were letters left. These are evidences of the gracious attention of the Empress (“..We are delighted that You saw Our Hundred!” - from her letter to the Emperor at Headquarters), the sincere friendship of the Tsar’s children, who wrote to Convoy officers at the front during the Great War and continued to write to them from his conclusion; the Tsar’s sisters, who warmly remembered the “dear and beloved Cossacks”! after decades in exile. They completely shatter all speculation about Convoy’s “betrayal” and slander against him.

One of the last in the outbreak of the civil war was a letter to officers from Grand Duchess Tatyana Nikolaevna dated January 11, 1918 from Tobolsk.
Reformed by that time into the Guards Kuban and Terek Divisions, they were part of the Volunteer Army. The Convoy officers were looking for an opportunity to establish contact with the Royal Family and save it. It was not possible to get from the Caucasus, through all the fronts of the Red armies to Siberia.

Only conflicting news came from Yekaterinburg. The Soviet government hid the truth that the lives of the Royal Martyrs and their innocent children were ended on the night of July 4/17, 1918. All the terrible details of the murder became known only later.
But in 1918, during the outbreak of the civil war, on the White Front of the South of Russia, hundreds of miles away from the scene of the crime, there was no accurate information except vague and unverified rumors about the death of the Sovereign.

An almost round-the-world trip from Kuban to Siberia - by sea, through Europe, from London to Vladivostok, was made by Convoy officer A. Gramotin. The “allies” created obstacles. So, the French, for 6 months, first did not allow people to enter their country, and then to leave it.
In Siberia, Captain Gramotin was at the disposal of the investigator for particularly important cases, Sokolov, who was working to uncover the Ekaterinburg crime.
After the exodus of the Russian Army from Crimea in November 1920 and the transfer of its units to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (SHS), Major General V.E. Zborovsky and Colonel N.V. Galushkin set as their goal the preservation of a single Division of the Leningrad Guards. Kuban and Terek hundreds. The talented organizers, they, together with the Convoy officers, succeeded in this task. Division of Own E.I.V. The convoy existed in exile for more than fifty years.

The guards of Nicholas II were faithful to the oath to the end. In the footage of an old newsreel dedicated to the family of the last Russian Tsar, you can see following immediately after Nicholas II a tall Caucasian Cossack with a black thick beard, wearing a tall, peculiar hat, carefully carrying the sick Tsarevich Alexei in his arms. This is Sergeant Pilipenko, the Tsar’s orderly from His Majesty’s Own Convoy. The first information about the Convoy in Russian military history is found in 1775, but it was formed as a regular unit in 1828. Initially, His Majesty's Convoy included only the Life Guards Caucasian-Mountain half-squadron, in which Kabardian princes and Uzdeni, representatives of the ancient clans of Ossetians, Chechens, Ingush, Kumyks, Nogais, and a number of other Caucasian peoples served. In 1828, a new unit appeared as part of the Convoy - the Team of Caucasian Linear Cossacks. Subsequently, structural changes in the unit, depending on emerging tasks, repeatedly occurred. In March 1917, at the time of its disbandment, the Convoy consisted of two Kuban and two Terek hundreds. The 5th Life Guards Consolidated Hundred was formed from representatives of both Cossack troops.

The Cossacks not only regularly performed military service. Their famous choir was legendary. He was known not only in the capital - the choir successfully competed with the best professional groups, the repertoire included ancient Russian and Ukrainian songs, and the dancers performed Ukrainian hopak and fiery Caucasian lezginka with equal skill. Among the officers there were many talented artists and poets. Duty With calm and dignity On the afternoon of July 20, 1914, Nicholas II arrived from Peterhof to the capital. To meet the king, a guard from the Convoy was built. The Cossacks already knew about the declaration of war. They were in high spirits. After the announcement of the manifesto on the declaration of hostilities between Russia and Germany and the solemn prayer service, Nicholas II addressed those present: “Our great Mother Rus' greeted the news of the declaration of war on us with calm and dignity. I am convinced that with the same sense of calm we will bring the war, whatever it may be, to the end. From the first days of the war, the load on the Convoy personnel increased. The number of guards increased, and the service of horse posts around the fence of the Alexander Palace was strengthened. Now, every day, two hundred entered the outfit in full force at once: one in Tsarskoe Selo and one in the capital. The other two changed them the next day. In addition to constant service at court, the convoys often had to go with the Tsar on various trips: Nicholas II went to Headquarters, to the active army, and to factories. He was accompanied, in addition to his orderly, by a team of one officer and up to a platoon of Cossacks. Strengthened security A year has passed since the start of the war. The failures of the Russian army led to a change in the top military leadership. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, the Tsar's uncle, was removed and sent as governor to the Caucasus. Nicholas II himself became the head of the army. On September 4, 1915, he left for Mogilev, where the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was located. In Mogilev, the Convoy officers were located in the Paris Hotel, and the Cossacks were in the city barracks. The convoys carried out the internal security of the king's residence. On those days when the guard was posted, 8 additional horse posts were sent to the outskirts of the city. They served around the clock. The external security and security of Headquarters as a whole was carried out by His Majesty's Consolidated Infantry Regiment and the palace police. In general, the city and its immediate surroundings were literally flooded with troops and police. Over 1,500 people took up various positions every day. In addition, another security line ran 20 miles from the city. In their free time from service, the Cossacks visited the city. Some of them managed to have affairs with local girls. The young ladies parted with the convoys with great regret when the time approached for the hundreds to leave for the capital. Unlike the rest of the army brethren, the Kuban and Terets were very gallant gentlemen. When selecting for the Convoy, not only external data was taken into account, but also qualities such as intelligence, literacy, and the ability to get along with others. For the slightest offense there was inevitable punishment. The worst of them is expulsion from the Convoy. In addition to the shame (a telegram was immediately sent to the army headquarters, and not only his native village, but also the entire district knew about what had happened), the Cossack was deprived of tangible benefits provided after the end of his service. To the front From the very beginning of the war, the Cossacks of the Convoy began to receive alarming news from home about injuries or, worst of all, the death of relatives and friends at the front. After each such letter, the commanders of hundreds received regular reports with a request to be sent to the active army. On the morning of November 5, 1915, the commander of the 1st Life Guards of the Kuban Hundred, Yesaul Zhukov, arrived, as always, to report to the Convoy commander, Major General Count Grabbe-Nikitin. After listening to the traditional report of his best commander in the army, Alexei Nikolaevich asked: “I feel, Andrei Semenovich, that you are not telling me something.” What's happened? What thoughts are bothering you? Zhukov, with the passion and ardor characteristic of his nature, literally blurted out without stopping everything that he had repeated in his mind more than once, preparing to go to report to the commander: “Your Excellency, I ask you, on behalf of myself and all the officers and Cossacks, to appeal to the sovereign for permission to be sent to the front.” . We will prove in battle that His Majesty's Convoy is worthy of its master. Grabbe smiled kindly. - I’ll be honest, I’ve been waiting for this conversation for a long time. Need to think. It will not be possible to send everyone at once. Even if we send one hundred, we will not be able to fulfill the tasks assigned to us. Which hundred, in your opinion, should be the first to leave for the active army? “Alexander Nikolaevich, of course, mine is the 1st,” said Zhukov, “We have already drawn lots at the request of the officers and Cossacks.” The first number went to us, and the second to Tatonov’s hundred, 4th Tersk... The day of dispatch, December 12, 1915, fell on Saturday. The hundred were assigned to the 1st Khopersky Regiment of Her Imperial Majesty Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of the Kuban Cossack Army. General Grabbe handed over to Andrei Semenovich Zhukov the image of the Holy Great Martyr Erofey, the patron saint of the Convoy. In the evening, the train departed for the Southwestern Front, taking away five officers, one sergeant, 147 officers and Cossacks. “Don’t hit an unarmed enemy...” Three months passed. The term of stay in the active army was ending. However, due to the calm that established at the front, the convoys never managed to attend any serious business. The Convoy commander, knowing about the upcoming offensive of the Russian troops and meeting Zhukov's insistent requests, allowed the 1st hundred to remain as part of the Terek Cossack division, to which they were assigned, until the end of June. On April 11, 1916, in accordance with the directive of the Headquarters, preparations for the offensive began. At dawn on May 22, Russian guns began to speak. The enemy never managed to discover the preparations for the offensive by the troops of the Southwestern Front. The hail of shells took the Austrians by surprise. By the end of the next day, the first line of enemy defense was broken through. General Brusilov's troops began pursuing the retreating enemy. On May 29, the 1st Life Guards Kuban Hundred distinguished itself while covering the crossing of the Prut River near the village of Vam. Thanks to the courage of the convoys, an attempt by the enemy to reach the flank of the main forces of the Terek Cossack division was thwarted. On June 5, while pursuing the enemy, the Kuban and Kizlyar-Grebensky regiment came across a large convoy. An attack on horseback could lead to heavy losses. The dismounted Terek Cossacks, having started a firefight, pinned down the cover of the convoy. The convoys entered the forest from the other side. Having fired a volley from rifles, they suddenly went on the attack for the Austrians. The Cossacks did not touch those who threw down their weapons and raised their hands. In the field service regulations of that time, special orders were placed: “... Do not hit an unarmed enemy asking for mercy... When the battle is over, feel sorry for the wounded man and try to help him as much as you can, without deciding whether he is one of your own or the enemy. not your enemy... Treat the prisoner humanely, do not mock his faith..." The battle ended in complete victory for the Cossacks. The Kizlyar-combers suffered a heavy loss. During the attack, Colonel Markov, acting regiment commander, was killed. As the senior staff officer, Andrei Semenovich Zhukov, who had been promoted to colonel the day before, took command. He handed over a hundred to captain Grigory Rasp. At dawn on June 7, the convoys, being the vanguard of the regiment, fought and occupied the small town of Suceava. After a short rest, a patrol headed by the captain Skvortsov was sent in the direction of the city of Radautz to reconnaissance the enemy. Soon, from the direction where the scouts had gone, heavy rifle and machine-gun fire was heard. An observer serving in the bell tower of a local church reported that Skvortsov’s Cossacks rushed to attack the Austrian outpost on the outskirts of the city. As the captain later explained, this was the only opportunity to save people, because retreating back under heavy enemy fire meant inevitable death. During this desperate attack, a heroic feat was performed by constable Vasily Sukhina, a native of the village of Novodzherelievskaya, Taman department. In the heat of battle, he noticed that an Austrian soldier was aiming at Skvortsov. Everything was decided by the moment; it was too late to warn about the danger. Throwing his horse towards the commander and covering him with his body, the constable took the blow upon himself. For saving the officer at the cost of his life, Vasily Ivanovich Sukhina was posthumously awarded the St. George Cross, 2nd degree... The act of Colonel Zhukov In Radautz, the convoys parted with Andrei Semenovich Zhukov. Having surrendered the Kizlyar-Grebensky regiment, accompanied only by an orderly, he went to the rear. No one could have imagined that in two days the beloved commander would be gone. He had long suffered from a hernia that could not be treated surgically. While there was a lull, even the officers did not notice any changes in Andrei Semenovich. Always even and calm, he tried by any means to hide his illness. But when the front went on the offensive, Zhukov, like everyone else, had to stay in the saddle for a long time, go on attacks, and make big transitions. The disease worsened and began to cause excruciating suffering. Once, when he was tormented by very severe pain, he could not stand it and told Captain Rasp about it. The latter reported on command. The doctor sent by the corps commander, after examining Zhukov, made an unexpected conclusion: “Mr. Colonel, you urgently need to go to the hospital.” Otherwise, I cannot guarantee the consequences. To which Andrei Semenovich replied: “I can’t be at the front anymore, and I can’t leave the front either!” Only after a written order from the corps commander did he leave for the rear. Impeccable courage and extremely proud, a hereditary military man, fearing that leaving the front line in the midst of fighting could be regarded by his subordinates as a manifestation of cowardice and would undermine his reputation as an officer, Zhukov committed suicide. According to the messenger's testimony, his last words were: "Leave me alone, I want to pray." A few minutes later a shot was heard. On the table lay a note, crushed by the deceased’s watch: “I’m sick. I’m afraid that the Cossacks and officers won’t understand!” Returning home During their six months at the front, the convoys became close to the Terek Cossack division. Especially with the officers and Cossacks of the 2nd Kizlyar-Grebensky Regiment, with whom we had to look death in the eye more than once. The lines from the regimental order issued by the commander of the Kizlyar-Grebentsy, Colonel Khetagurov, in the last days of the 1st Life Guards of the Kuban Hundred at the front are imbued with fraternal warmth: “Convoys! In all honesty I must bow to your valor, courage and bravery. I watched and was surprised. that calmness, that endurance, dedication and unshakable confidence with which you went on the attack, it makes no difference whether on horseback or on foot..." On June 22, the Kuban soldiers arrived in Mogilev. On the same day, Nicholas II met with them. The Tsar arrived with his son, Tsarevich Alexei, and a small retinue.

The commander of the hundred gave the command: - Hundred, humble, listen to the kra-ul! Without reaching, as required by the regulations, two steps, he stopped, famously saluting with his saber as only he could do: “Your Imperial Majesty, the 1st Life Guards Kuban Hundred of Your Majesty’s Convoy arrived from the active army.” There are two officers, 106 officers and Cossacks in the ranks. Commander of the hundred Yesaul Rasp! After the report, he took a step to the side, letting the king pass. Approaching the line, the sovereign stopped. The Cossacks stood motionless. Weathered, mature and so familiar faces. But there is no Zhukov among them, there is no one of the first tenors of the Cossack choir, Kamkov, whom everyone, including the wife and children of Nicholas II, affectionately called “Savushka” for his wonderful voice. Sighing heavily, Nicholas II greeted the Cossacks. Then he walked around the line, asking everyone why they received the awards. - Are all convoys rewarded for their heroic deeds? - That's right, Your Imperial Majesty. They have not yet been awarded only for the last battles, but submissions have been submitted. The Tsar turned to Fredericks and the Convoy commander who accompanied him and asked: “What do you think, gentlemen, if we do not wait for the official completion of the consideration of submissions and present the awards right now?” The adjutant on duty was summoned, who had a suitcase with the corresponding awards during such trips of the tsar. Serbatov and Voloshin were the first to be awarded. In total, 30 people became holders of the St. George Crosses of various degrees, and 23 Cossacks - St. George medals. On June 25, the 1st Life Guards Kuban Hundred arrived in Tsarskoe Selo. On the same day, in the sovereign Feodorovsky Cathedral, the confessor of Their Majesties, Father Vasiliev, served a memorial service for the Cossacks who had not returned from the front. Gift from the Empress The Cossacks of the 4th Life Guards of the Terek Hundred also fought bravely. Before leaving for the active army, the empress invited the officers to her place. She warmly said goodbye to them, wishing them all good luck and an unfailing return alive and well. Having blessed the officers, Alexandra Fedorovna presented each with a holy icon on their body and gave the commander of the hundred, Yesaul Tatonov, the same icons for all the Cossacks. The Grand Duchesses gave modest gifts to the officers. Podesaul Fedyushkin managed to keep the gift until his death (he died on August 31, 1958 in New York). Remembering his distant homeland and his youth in a foreign land, he more than once took out a silk shirt donated by the tsar’s second daughter, Tatyana, and a note: “May God bless and keep you, dear Yuzik! Tatyana”... The military service of the Tertsians took place mainly in the Carpathian Mountains . This was one of the periods of particularly intense, exhausting and difficult service for the Cossack units, when they had to operate mostly on foot, like ordinary infantry regiments. 42 police officers and Cossacks returned from the front, awarded the Cross of St. George. Several people became full Knights of St. George. The other hundreds of the Convoy were not able to visit the front in full force. A troubled and difficult time was coming for Russia... “Order them to be killed!” The tsar spent January and almost all of February 1917 in Tsarskoe Selo. On February 22 he left for Headquarters, and on February 23 in Petrograd the workers took to the streets. On February 27, the creation of the Temporary Committee of the State Duma was announced. The Tsar decided to go to Tsarskoe Selo. For his immediate protection, the Convoy commander appointed a centurion Shvedov, one constable and two Cossacks from the 1st Life Guards of the Kuban Hundred to the letter train “A” and a team of 14 Cossacks from the 4th Life Guards of the Terek Hundred to the train “B” team of the cornet Lavrov. On March 2, Nicholas II wrote in his diary: “In the morning Ruzsky came and read his long conversation on the apparatus with Rodzianko. According to him, in Petrograd it is such that now the ministry from the Duma seems powerless to do anything, because it is fighting against it social[ial]-demo[cratic] party represented by the workers' committee. My renunciation is needed. Ruzsky conveyed this conversation to Headquarters, and Alekseev - to all the commanders-in-chief. By 2 o'clock answers came from everyone. The essence is that in the name of saving Russia and holding "The army at the front needs to calmly decide to take this step. I agreed... There is treason, cowardice and deception all around!" The last words did not concern only a few, including the officers and Cossacks of the Convoy. They remained faithful to the oath once given to the end. When the joyful Guchkov and Shulgin were leaving, taking away the Manifesto of the Tsar’s abdication, Nicholas II turned to the Cossacks of the Convoy present at that moment: “Now you must tear off my monograms.” To which the Cossacks, standing at attention, replied: “Your Imperial Majesty, order them to be killed!” The king did not expect that anyone in this situation could still remain faithful to him. Shock None of the officers and Cossacks of the Convoy who were at Headquarters on March 3 knew why the Tsar was not in Tsarskoye Selo, but in Pskov. Around noon, the news came like a bolt from the blue: “Nicholas II has abdicated the throne!” Colonel Kireev arrived at the convoys' location. He appealed to his subordinates to firmly remember the oath. At 15 o'clock, having learned about the Tsar's arrival in Mogilev in the evening, assistant commander of the Convoy Fyodor Mikhailovich Kireev called hundreds to the city and ordered a reinforced guard to be placed in the house of Nicholas II. By 19 o'clock, the grand dukes and officers of Headquarters who were at Headquarters began to arrive at the military platform of the station. A guard lined up from the Convoy for the meeting, led by the cornet Galushkin. At 20.20 the Tsar's letter train slowly approached the platform. The hum of voices suddenly died down, and there was a painful silence. Nobody came out for about five minutes. Finally the door of the carriage opened and General Grabbe appeared. Having greeted only the Cossacks, the Convoy commander asked Galushkin: “Is it known about the abdication of the Emperor?” - Your Excellency, no one believes this! “Unfortunately, this is so,” Grabbe said quietly and entered the carriage again. Sergeant Pilipenko, the Tsar’s orderly, appeared and gave a sign for his exit. The Convoy guard, as always, clearly greeted the Tsar. Nicholas II shook hands with Galushkin, then with the Cossacks. They answered unanimously: “We wish you good health, Your Imperial Majesty!” Putting his hand on his hat (the tsar was dressed in the uniform of the Kuban plastuns), he said: “Thank you for your service, Cossacks!” After greeting General Alekseev and accepting a report from him, Nicholas II went to the grand dukes. Hugged and kissed everyone. Then he walked around the line of officers. An oppressive silence still reigned on the platform. It was felt that those greeting us were in a depressed state of mind. Colonel Kireev was waiting for the Tsar at the main entrance to the provincial house. The old servant, always calm and reasonable, was difficult to recognize. He suddenly gave up and looked like an unhappy, very old man. Having reported to Nicholas II about the condition of the Convoy, Fyodor Mikhailovich said in a breaking voice: “Your Imperial Majesty, all officers and Cossacks are ready to fulfill their military duty to the end.” We will not break the oath given to Your Majesty!.. On March 4, terrible news for many came to Tsarskoe Selo - about the abdication of the Tsar. None of the convoys wanted to believe it. During the day, from somewhere in the Alexander Palace, manifestos about the abdication of Nicholas II and Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich arrived. In the afternoon, the empress invited centurion Zborovsky to her place. She reported that there was a connection with the sovereign. He asked to convey to the convoys his gratitude for their loyalty to his family. Before the centurion left, Alexandra Fedorovna told him: “Viktor Erastovich, let all the officers and Cossacks remove His Majesty’s monogram from their shoulder straps.” News has reached me that officers are being killed in Petrograd because of them. Please do this for me and my children. We don't want anyone to get hurt because of us. When this request of the empress was brought to the attention of the Cossacks, the majority, especially the long-term military officers, refused to do this. By evening, soldiers from reserve battalions began to appear in the area of the Convoy barracks. The convoys tried to avoid talking to them, and those who tried to organize a rally were asked to leave, citing a lack of time to listen to them. However, there were no particularly zealous agitators. Perhaps they were influenced by the atmosphere of strict discipline that reigned in the Convoy. Soldiers and intelligent-looking civilians in pince-nez and pointed beards tried to talk to the Cossacks serving as guards at the Alexander Palace. Greeted by sullen silence or a short “Leave!”, they stepped aside. Surrender of posts The Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Adjutant General Alekseev, issued order No. 344, the first paragraph of which read: “His Majesty’s Own Convoy, under the authority of the Commander of the Imperial Main Apartment, is to be included in the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and renamed the Convoy of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.” For the convoys, this news came as a complete surprise. Someone found out that the order was allegedly initiated by the Convoy commander, General Grabbe himself. At the request of the officers, Colonel Kireev turned to him for clarification whether this was true. Arriving personally to the officers, Grabbe tried to convince them that after the abdication of the throne of Nicholas II and his brother Mikhail, the only representative of the Romanov dynasty was Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, who was expected at Headquarters. Therefore, the Convoy, being with him, will maintain continuity.

With all the deep respect for the commander, the officers unanimously condemned his hasty personal decision. Grabbe, realizing that he had made a mistake and had unwittingly offended his subordinates, asked for their forgiveness. On March 7, Captain Svidin and the commander of the Combined Infantry Regiment were summoned to the city hall and announced that, by order of the Provisional Government, on March 8 it was necessary to surrender posts in the Alexander Palace to units of the Tsarskoye Selo garrison. After a sleepless night, all the officers of the 2nd Life Guards of the Kuban and 3rd Life Guards of the Terek Hundreds gathered in the Officers' Assembly. Everyone looked painful and tragic. They still could not fully believe everything that was happening. Until the last day there was hope that the situation would somehow change for the better. But the order to leave the Palace killed this last hope. In the afternoon, the commander of the Petrograd garrison, General Kornilov, arrived. He announced to the Empress the decree of the Provisional Government to arrest the family of Nicholas II. After Kornilov’s departure, Alexandra Fedorovna, having learned that the Convoy was ready to fight to the last for the life of the royal family, invited the centurion Zborovsky. - Viktor Erastovich, I ask you all to refrain from any independent actions that could delay the arrival of His Majesty and affect the fate of the children. Starting with me, everyone must submit to fate!.. The surrender of posts and the withdrawal from the Alexander Palace of the Convoy and the Consolidated Regiment were scheduled for 16 hours. The officers again asked Zborovsky to go to the Empress and report that the Convoy was ready to carry out any of her orders. When he conveyed these words, Alexandra Feodorovna began to cry. Suppressing her excitement, she asked to express gratitude to all officers and Cossacks for their loyalty. Having handed over small icons as souvenirs, she led the centurion into the nursery to say goodbye to Olga and Tatyana, who were recovering from measles. At 16:00 there was a changeover. Farewell On the last day of his stay in Mogilev, the tsar said goodbye to all the ranks of the headquarters in the control room of the general on duty. The Convoy officers lined up on the left flank, and the sergeants and non-commissioned officers, together with representatives of the Consolidated Infantry Regiment, lined up on the stairs leading to the headquarters. At exactly the appointed time, the sovereign entered. He was dressed in a gray Kuban Circassian coat, with a saber over his shoulder. On the chest hung only one St. George's cross, brightly white against the dark background of the Circassian coat. General Alekseev gave the command: - Gentlemen officers! Nicholas II looked sadly at those present. In his left hand, with his cap clutched in it, he held checkers on the hilt. The right one was lowered and trembling violently. The face was even more haggard and yellowed. - Gentlemen! Today I see you for the last time,” the king’s voice trembled and he fell silent. There was an oppressive silence in the room where several hundred people had gathered. No one even coughed, everyone looked at the king. Excited, he began to walk around the line of officers. However, having said goodbye to the first three, the sovereign could not stand it and headed for the exit. At the last moment I saw the convoy standing in scarlet ceremonial Circassian coats. I approached them. I hugged Colonel Kireev and kissed him. At that moment, the cornet Lavrov, a two-meter tall giant, unable to withstand the tension, fell right at the Tsar’s feet... Before leaving, Nicholas II decided to once again see the officers of the Convoy and the Consolidated Regiment. Entering the hall, the king silently bowed to them. Then he retired to the office and brought a porcelain figurine of a guard. Handing over his parting gift to Kireev, he said: “I have two of these.” I'll keep one as a keepsake. Once again thank you all. Serve your Motherland as faithfully as before. Going down the stairs, I saw sergeants, constables and trumpeters. They were on their knees, most of them had stingy male tears shining in their eyes. The king turned very pale. He approached them, hugged each one and, according to Russian custom, kissed each one three times. I asked the sergeant of the 1st Life Guards of the Kuban Hundred, sub-horseman Novoseltsev, to convey his farewell greetings and gratitude to all the Cossacks for their faithful service. Then, turning to the officers, he said: “I ask you to stay here, do not see me off!” Of the personnel of the Convoy with the Tsar, only one of his orderlies, Sergeant Pilipenko, left for the capital. The new authorities did not allow anyone else... On March 9, at about 11 o’clock, Nicholas II arrived in Tsarskoe Selo. The Cossacks of the 2nd Life Guards of the Kuban and 3rd Terek hundreds, having learned about this, lined up at their barracks without any command. On the way to the Alexander Palace, the Tsar had to pass by them. After about an hour of waiting, the royal car appeared. Seeing the formation of convoys, the driver slowed down without a command. Nicholas II stood up and greeted the Cossacks. The response was loud: “We wish you good health, Your Imperial Majesty!” This was the last meeting of the Tsar, already deprived of his freedom by decree of the Provisional Government, with his Convoy. In Tsarskoe Selo, hundreds of the Convoy no longer performed any garrison service after March 8. Only occasionally did they engage in drill training and every other day they were taken out on horseback for rides. Officers and Cossacks rallied as one in these troubled days. In Mogilev, with the departure of Nicholas II, Colonel Kireev ordered to return to the country camp. They also no longer served in garrison outfits. Uncertainty On March 11, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich arrived at Headquarters from the Caucasus. However, on the same day, a representative of the Provisional Government announced to him that he was removed from the post of Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The Convoy's position became even more uncertain. In addition to everything, alarming rumors appeared about the alleged decision of the Provisional Government to disband the Convoy and send personnel to different units. The officers and Cossacks unanimously decided that all measures must be taken to preserve the Convoy, unite all hundreds in one place and send it to the front as a separate military unit. At this time, the Military Council allowed all members of His Majesty's retinue to resign with the right to a pension and the preservation of all benefits. General Grabbe secured this right for all officers of the Convoy. However, they refused in order to preserve the unit and then send it to the front. At the end of March, permission finally came for the Convoy to leave for the North Caucasus. The Provisional Government did not allow hundreds of people at Headquarters to go to Tsarskoe Selo to collect their families and property. The new rulers of Russia were frightened by such determination, steadfastness and loyalty of the convoys once given the oath. The ministers were afraid that this small part, after the story with the banners, could do big things. Therefore, Guchkov ordered Colonel Kireev to send hundreds of esauls Rasp and Tatonov immediately to Yekaterinodar. In Tsarskoe Selo it took longer to get ready. It was necessary to pack the documents of the Convoy office, collect the belongings of comrades who were not allowed into Tsarskoye Selo, and help the families of officers and conscripts leaving for home to Kuban and Terek. On the evening of May 29, officers of the 2nd Life Guards Kuban, 3rd Life Guards Terek and the team of the 5th Life Guards Consolidated Hundreds met for the last time in their Assembly. In front of each stood a small silver cup with the autographs of the Convoy officers engraved on them. These glasses were made by common request especially for this day. No speeches were made. Fyodor Mikhailovich Kireev, who had arrived from Mogilev, stood up and silently raised his glass. This was the first and last toast... Epilogue With the exception of a few Cossacks from the non-combatant team, all personnel did not violate the military oath. The convoys did not accept either the February revolution or the October one. During the civil war, they did not join any of the warring parties for a long time. However, driven into a corner by the policy of decossackization, having lost either a father or a brother during mass executions, many were forced to join the Volunteer Army. In the fire of the fratricidal war, 24 officers, more than 200 officers and Cossacks died. According to archival documents, among those who died or died from wounds and illnesses during the Civil War, it was possible to find the names of Colonel Kireev, all four commanders of hundreds: the 1st Kuban Life Guards - Captain Georgy Raspiel, the 2nd Kuban Life Guards - Captain Mikhail Svidin , 3rd Life Guards Tersk - captain Mikhail Pankratov, 4th Life Guards Tersk - Grigory Tatonov. Centurion Shvedov and captain Lavrov died in the Cheka prisons. In 1920, the survivors along with their families in the army of General Wrangel left their homeland. P.S. In conclusion of this topic, I would like to add that in exile His Imperial Majesty’s Own Convoy existed as a combat unit until 1941. In 1941, the remnants of S.E.I.V. The convoy arrived from Bulgaria to form the Russian Security Corps in Belgrade. Nikolai Dmitrievich Plotnikov - Colonel, Candidate of Military Sciences