32 
THE COSSACKS. 
or he possesses a cottage and spot of ground in the country, 
well stocked ; on the produce of which he supports his family, 
cultivating the soil during the summer months, and returning 
into the village, or stanitza , for the winter season. The lower 
classes, who inhabit the New and Old Tcherkask, are mostly 
shopkeepers, traders, and fishermen. However, neither these 
useful occupations, nor their wealth, (did they wish to use it 
for purchasing themselves off,) could exempt them from per¬ 
forming any part of their regular return of military duty. 
During the campaign of 1812, and for nearly four years after¬ 
wards, almost all the population capable of bearing arms, were 
called forth; and I am credibly informed, about fifty thousand 
may be computed to have fallen in that space of time. The 
quota of force which this branch of the Cossack nation furnishes 
to Russia, for European and Asiatic service, amounts to eighty 
regiments, each regiment numbering from five to six hundred 
men. That of the Attaman, which is the elite of the country, 
is calculated at twelve hundred men. They have also an 
excellent corps of horse-artillery ; the uniform of this corps is 
green ; and they have been added to the nation within these ten 
years. The Cossack uniform, in general, is too well known to 
make a description needful here. Blue is the national colour; 
and, wherever variety in the regimentals has been sought, red 
seems the change usually adopted. The regiment, or guard, 
formed by Count Platoff wore some peculiarities ; namely, a 
light blue stripe down their trowsers, with the bag of their cap, 
their sash, sleeves, cape, and epaulets, of the same colour. 
A regiment, called the Cossacks of the Guard, are always sta¬ 
tioned in St. Petersburg. They consist of the tallest and best 
