The Caucasian War

[gloriousbattle]

Another fun, small war, which seems like it could be great to model and play, largely because there is so little material on it, that it would be difficult for all the self appointed experts to tell you why you got everything wrong.   

Seriously though, the information is pretty sparse, though it seems like it might make a great adventuring (possibly even VSF) style campaign, with lots of Cossacks, Tartars, etc.

What uniforms we talkin'?  Is this late enough that something like the WWI uniform might be appropriate for the Russian troops?  For the Chechens, Circassians, etc., I would assume Tartars and generic Islamic cavalry?

[Armchair]

Lesley Blanch's The Sabres Of Paradise is an excellent read on this as is Tolstoy's Hadji Murat and Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time.

I do wish someone would make some figures for it <sigh> 

[Plynkes]

You want to know what uniforms they wore, but on the other hand you don't want "experts" telling you how it was.

Sorry old boy, you can't have both of those options. You must pick one! 

[gloriousbattle]

Sorry old boy, you can't have both of those options.

I sure as Hell can. 

[Adam]

I've looked at the wikipedia article and it seems to have gone on for quite a long time. I don't think ww1-style Russians would be right for it as, as far as I'm aware, that style of uniform was only introduced really late in the 19th century to try to 'Russify' them with the peasant smock. But if that's what you fancy go for it, they'll be your toys.

Personally I'd do the later part of the war so you can use Crimean War Russians. Great War Miniatures do them in firing line and marching poses and I'm certain Radetzky miniatures will bring some out too.

This is a good site for the various uniforms throughout the period:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgtitle_tree.cfm?title_id=614971&level=2&tword=

Edit: looking back at that article, using Napoleonic Russians might just work for the early stages which seem to be a bit more evenly matched.

[gloriousbattle]

This is a good site for the various uniforms throughout the period:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgtitle_tree.cfm?title_id=614971&level=2&tword=

Thanks!

[Armchair]

Here is a link to a digital version of  J F Baddeley's "The Russian conquest of the Caucasus" - The best single volume on this that I know.

http://www.archive.org/details/russianconquest00baddgoog

[gloriousbattle]

Here is a link to a digital version of  J F Baddeley's "The Russian conquest of the Caucasus" - The best single volume on this that I know.

http://www.archive.org/details/russianconquest00baddgoog

And again, thanks!  I will definitely have a look at this!

[huevans]

IIRC, the Caucasian Corps had their own special uniform in the pre Crimean War period. While the mass of the Russian army wore the helmet or the furashka with the loose, sloppy brown overcoat on campaign, the Caucasian Corps wore a tight thigh-length green tunic and a Cacucasian fur cap. I had some minifigs 15mm guys dressed like that. I'm not sure if anyone else produced similar.

[Plynkes]

Yes, I have some troops in Caucasian uniforms in my Crimean War collection. They are quite cool, in those groovy hats of theirs.

[Shipka]

You could consider Outpost Wargames Service Caucasian cossacks in 28mm for this campaign