The Trans-Baikal Cossacks - a thunderstorm of samurai - were on the farthest borders of the Motherland a bastion of order and statehood. Exceptionally courageous, decisive, strong by training, they always successfully opposed the best units of the enemy.
History
The Transbaikal Cossacks first appeared in the forties of the eighteenth century, when the Don and Orenburg volunteered to move to undeveloped still new Russian lands. Here, great opportunities were opened up for the state to develop mineral resources, the amount of which gave rise to legends. The borders with eastern and not-so-peaceful neighbors needed to be guarded, and it was unlikely that anyone could do this better than the Trans-Baikal Cossacks.
In addition, constant and vigilant control over the local population was needed - the Buryats, in whom Genghis Khan's blood was still seething, by the Tungus, who also did not trust the newcomers too much. The Transbaikal Cossacks, as if continuing the baton. It was their forces that were attached to the empire of the Urals, Orenburg, Siberia. The fortresses on the Angara and Lena were laid by the Cossack units of the chieftains Perfiliev and Beketov, and among the first explorers we still honor the national hero, the Cossack navigator Semyon Dezhnev.
First hiking
The first to get to Lake Baikal was Kurbat Ivanov with his Cossacks. Then began the widespread settlement of Transbaikalia, established and strengthened friendly ties with the natives, whom they trained and even included quite often in their troops. The Trans-Baikal Cossacks, whose history dates back to the campaign of Erofei Pavlovich Khabarov (1649), annexed the Amur region to Russia, and in 1653 the Chita prison was already built - the future capital of the Trans-Baikal Cossacks. The name of Pavel Beketov, the Cossack who laid the city of Chita, is famous until now. Russia was growing in new territories, extremely rich, beautiful and useful.
So that the Cossacks could further advance east, such a stronghold on Lake Baikal was simply necessary. The newcomers were assimilated, the life and life of the Trans-Baikal Cossacks was being established, more and more new Cossack regiments were organized, which by the middle of the eighteenth century had formed into a border army. By the way, the Buryats, due to their militancy, brought glory to their new homeland, since many regiments were created and trained from them specifically to strengthen border control. Despite the fact that there were no official borders with Mongolia, and Manchuria generally did not welcome the appearance of Russians in these places, rather, on the contrary, such a step was simply necessary. So it was created a full-fledged and at that time unprecedented in quality Cossack army.
Border line
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, a long line of fortified fortresses (fortresses) built by Cossacks had already formed along the eastern border. Traditionally, observation towers — the “watchman” —were towering on the front line, where several sentinel Cossacks were all year round and around the clock. Each border town also constantly sent reconnaissance to the mountains and steppes - a detachment from twenty-five to a hundred Cossacks.
That is, the Cossacks of the Trans-Baikal Territory created a mobile border line. She warned of the enemy and was able to give the enemy a rebuff on her own. However, there were still few Cossacks on such a long border line. And then the emperor moves many "walking people" to the eastern borders to carry out border service. The number of Cossacks in Transbaikalia has increased dramatically. Then came the official recognition of the Transbaikal Cossack army - in March 1871.
Governor General
NN Muravyov invented this method of protecting the eastern borders, who drew up a project for creating a Cossack army, and the sovereign and the Minister of War eagerly approved this work. On the outskirts of a vast country, a strong army was created that could argue with any enemy. It included not only the Don and Siberian Cossacks, but also the Buryat and Tungus formations. The peasant population of Transbaikalia also increased.
The number of troops reached eighteen thousand people, each of whom began his service at the age of seventeen, and went on well-deserved rest only at fifty-eight years. His whole life was connected with border protection. Here, depending on the service, the traditions of the Transbaikal Cossacks were formed, since their whole life, and raising children, and death itself were connected with the protection of the state. After 1866, the established service life was reduced to twenty-two years, while the military charter was an exact copy of the charter of the Donskoy army.
Feats and defeat
Not a single military conflict over many decades has been without the participation of the Transbaikal Cossacks. Chinese campaign - they were the first to enter Beijing. The battles of Mukden and Port Arthur - about the valiant Cossacks are still singing songs. Both the Russo-Japanese War and the First World War were accompanied by legends about the strength, tenacity and desperate courage of Transbaikal warriors. The costume of the Transbaikal Cossack - a dark green uniform and yellow stripes - terrified the Japanese samurai, and if their number did not exceed the Cossack more than five times, they did not dare to attack. And with a larger number, they often lost.
By 1917, the Cossack army beyond Lake Baikal totaled 260 thousand people. There were 12 large villages, 69 farms and 15 settlements. They defended the tsar for several centuries, served him faithfully to the last drop of blood, which is precisely why they did not accept the revolution and in the Civil War they resolutely fought the Red Army. This was the first time that they did not win, because their cause was not right. So in the Chinese Harbin the largest colony was formed, which was created by the Transbaikal Cossacks squeezed from the territory of Russia.
Alien
Of course, not all Trans-Baikal Cossacks fought against the new Soviet power, there were those who supported the Reds. But still, most of it went under the leadership of Baron Ungern and Ataman Semenov and ended up in China. And here in 1920, every single Cossack army was liquidated by the Soviet government, that is, disbanded. Together with their families, only about fifteen percent of the Trans-Baikal Cossacks were able to go to Manchuria, where they created the Three Rivers, a series of villages.
From China for some time they disturbed the Soviet borders with raids, but they realized the futility of this and became isolated. They lived their own traditions, their way of life until 1945, when the Soviet army launched an attack on Manchuria. The very sad time came when the fossilized Cossack Transbaikal troops completely scattered. Some emigrated further - to Australia - and settled in Queensland, some returned to their homeland, but not in Transbaikalia, but in Kazakhstan, where they determined the settlement. The descendants of mixed marriages did not leave China.
Return
Chita was always the capital of the Transbaikal Cossack army. A few years ago, a monument to Peter Beketov, a Cossack, the founder of this city, was unveiled there. History is gradually being restored, the life and traditions of the Transbaikal Cossacks are returning. Bit by bit the lost knowledge is collected - from old photographs, letters, diaries, and other documents.
Above you can see a photo of the First Verkhneudinsky regiment, which was part of the Cossack army. At the time of the shooting, the regiment was on a long - two-year - business trip to Mongolia, where the 1911 revolution took place. Now we know that the Cossacks supported it, blocked the Chinese troops, guarded communications and, of course, fought valiantly, as always. The Mongol campaign is rather little known. At that time, it was not even the ataman who mentioned this more than others, but Yesaul Semyonov, who personally attributed most of the victories to himself.
And there were people of much higher flight - even future white generals. For example, in the photo above - G. A. Verzhbitsky, who was able to quickly storm the impregnable fortress of the Chinese - Sharasume.
Traditions
The rule in the Cossacks has always been military, despite the fact that in all military settlements agriculture, cattle breeding and various crafts were especially developed. Active service determined both the life and the rest of the life of a Cossack, regardless of his position in the army. Autumn took place in the field, in winter there was military training, the charters were repeated. Nevertheless, oppression and lack of rights in the Cossacks practically did not occur, there was the greatest public justice. They conquered the land and therefore considered themselves entitled to own it.
Men even went out to field work, hunting and fishing, armed, as if to war: nomadic tribes did not warn of attacks. From the cradle they accustomed to riding and weapons of children, even girls. Women who remained in the fortress when the entire male population was at war repeatedly successfully repelled raids from abroad. Equality in the Cossacks has always been. Traditionally, people who were smart, talented, and possessed of great personal merits were chosen to leadership positions. Nobility, wealth, origin did not play any role in the elections. And they obeyed atamans and decisions of the Cossack circle unquestioningly everything: from small to large.
Vera
The clergy were also elective - from the most religious and competent people. The priest was a teacher for all, and his advice was always followed. Cossacks were the most tolerant people for those times, despite the fact that they themselves are deeply, even fervently, devoted to Orthodoxy. Tolerance was due to the fact that there were always Old Believers, Buddhists, and Mohammedans in the Cossack troops.
Part of the booty was intended for the church. Temples have always been generously cleaned with silver, gold, expensive banners and utensils. Cossacks understood life as a service to God and the Fatherland, therefore they never served half-heartedly. Any business was performed flawlessly.
Rights and obligations
The customs in the Cossacks are such that a woman there enjoys respect and respect (and rights) on an equal basis with men. If a Cossack is talking to a woman of advanced years, he should stand, not sit. Cossacks never intervened in women's affairs, but they always protected their wives, defended and defended their dignity and honor. In this way, the future of the whole people was ensured. The interests of a Cossack woman could be represented by a father, husband, brother, son, godson.
If the Cossack woman is a widow or a single woman, then the chieftain personally protects her. In addition, she could choose an intercessor for herself from the village. In any case, she should always have been listened to at any instance and be sure to help. Any Cossack must adhere to morality: to honor all old people as his own father and mother, and each Cossack as his sister, each Cossack as his own brother, each child, to love as his own. Marriage for the Cossack is sacred. This is a Christian sacrament, a shrine. No one could interfere in the family life without an invitation or request. The main responsibility for everything that happens inside the family is a man.
Life
The Transbaikal Cossacks furnished the huts almost always the same way: a red corner with icons, a corner table on which the Bible lies next to the papakh and candles. Sometimes family pride was also located nearby - a gramophone or a piano. By the wall there is always a beautifully made bed, old, with patterns, on which great-grandfathers still rested. A special pride of the Cossacks is the patterned gap on the bed, lace embroidered pillowcases on numerous pillows.
In front of the bed is usually a swell. Nearby there is a huge chest where the girl’s dowry is kept, as well as a hiking chest, always ready for war or service. On the walls are many embroideries, portraits and photographs. In the kitchen corner - cleanly torn dishes, irons, samovars, mortars, jugs. Bench with buckets for water. A snow-white stove with all the attributes - grips and cast-iron.
The composition of the Transbaikal Cossacks
Evenki (Tungus) military units were present here at the very beginning. The forces were distributed as follows: three horse regiments and three foot brigades (from the first to the third - Russian regiments, the fourth - Tunguska, fifth and sixth - Buryat) guarded the borders and carried internal service, and when in 1854 rafting was carried out along the Amur River and border posts were established along the rest of the border, the Amur Cossack army appeared. For one Transbaikal, this border line was too large.
At the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries, the Transbaikal people put up fifty guards, four horse regiments, and two artillery batteries for peacetime. The war required more: nine cavalry regiments, three spare hundreds and four artillery batteries in addition to the above. Of the Cossack population of 265 thousand, more than fourteen thousand people served.
