b o o k Scarcely ever guilty o f defertion. Since my departure from
— ¿ - t Peteriburgh, thefe regulars are faid to have been confidera-
bly increafed; but to what amount I cannot pretend to determine.
With refped to the irregular troops, fome o f whom are
ftill armed with bows and arrows, their number is very con-
fiderable, and can fcarcely be afcertained: they ccnfift entirely
o f horfe, who are o f ufe indeed in a war againft
the Turks, Perlians, and Ghinefe ; but would add very little
to the Ruffian ftrength in an European campaign. Of this
defultory body, the corps o f eoffacs, who are efteemed the
moft excellent, and who bear the greateft refemblance to regular
troops, are thus defcribed in the journal o f Colonel
Floyd.
“ The Coflacs are in general perfons o f low ftature; they
Xi wear fmall whifkers, and ihave their heads, excepting the
“ crown, upon which they leave a fmall circle o f hair.
“ Their drefs is a for-cap, a loofe long Afiatick robe, and
“ large pantaloons, boots or half-boots, without fpurs, and a
“ whip hanging from the right wrift. Their arms are a
“ lance about twelve feet in length, a brace o f piftols flung
“ on the, left fide, a cartridge-box on the right, and a fmall
“ fcymitar without any guard, or even crofs-bar. Their
“ horfes are ponies, which are ftrong and adive, but not fleet.
The accoutrements are a kind o f huflar-faddle, a fmall
“ fnaffle with large eyes and no horns, to the near eye of
“ which is faftened a thong, that is alfo tied to the faddle and
“ which occafionally ferves for a halter. They ride fhort
4< and full-footed, raife themfelves on their ftirrups, bend
“ their bodies with great activity, and throw themfelves into
“ different attitudes. They never puih their horfes on full
fpeed in a ftraight line ; but in galloping turn them in va-
“ rious
A R M Y .
-£ riou's directions, defcribing in their progrefs a ferpentine CHAF-
« line, and wheeling continually to the right and left. When
“ !10t m adion, they cafry their lance flung on the foot?;
“ when engaged, they prefent it àgainft the enemy by hold-
K ing it almoft in the middle, and counterpoizing it under
I the arm ; and, from conftant pradice, diraft it againft
« an objedt with great dexterity. In retreating, they reft the
*• lance upon their ffioulder as a defence againft blows, and
« occafionally oppofe the point to a purfuing enemy.
“ Theie Coflacs, on account o f their averfion to regular
« difcipline, are not trained to attack in fquadron ; but a<ft
*{ only as ikirmiihers, and are faid to be extremely adroit in
« their defultory evolutions' : they are ufually let loofe upon
“ a flying enemy, when they do great execution. They
“ excel as patrols, and are remarkable for their vigilance on
“ out-pofts, and their knowledge of the country. The faga-
I cify’.which they derive from habit and pradice, is in fome
“ particulars aftonifhing ; by examining a trad which has
“ be™ latelY traverfed by the enemy in the moft tumultuary
“ manner, they can difcover, with tolerable exadnefs, the
number o f horfes that have paifed over it, and how many
“ of them were led. Some o f them can defcry, i f any
“ movement is taking place among a corps o f troops, far
Y beyond the reach o f ufual obfervation ; others, by apply-
* ing their ears to the ground, can diftinguifh the buz o f
I , men, or the clattering o f horfes’ feet, at a very confiderable
‘ ‘ diftance. They can take the field every day without in-
“ termiifion; and are indefatigable in harraffing the
j eneray = they are contented with a very fcanty fubfiftenee,
and do not require any forage to be carried for their
; norle^
H h “ There