By 1877-1878, at the start of the Russo-Turkish war, had 186 cavalry squadrons. However, this number included some 50 volunteer cavalry squadrons; such as:
Right - After the Crimean war, the officers and soldiers of Sultan's Cossack Brigade, went into the 1st Guard Cossacks under Michal Czajkowski [1] [2] [3].
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[1] Czajkowski. M. 'Turkish Anecdotes' (Moscow, 1883: 275), stated that around 1866, four divisions (8 squadrons) of Cossack Brigade (divided into one Cossack, and one Dragoon regiment) were already dressed in the uniforms illustrated above.
[2] David Cliff. 1997 Polish Volunteers with the Turkish Army. The War Correspondent. Volume 14 No.4 (January): The Cossacks were given guard status in 1857. Remaining in Turkish service untill its destruction at Plevna, in 1876.
[3] After the Crimean War the disbanded Cossack division (that had been under English command) became a base for forming the Dragoon division (which consist two regiment) and with Ottoman Cossacks regiment (6-7 squadrons) were under the Czajkowski's command. In the beginning of 1857, Czajkowski and his regiments were appointed to guard the Greek border. In 1862, they were part of Imperial Guard divisions.
Czajkowski wanted these two regiments to be expanded to four new regiments - however, these units were never raised [1] [2]:
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[1] This follows the 1860s 'cuff - colour' system for line Dragoon cavalry regiments (discussed below).
[2] Right - This illustration from the 1890s (extracted from the Vinkhuizjen Collection), which has also been painted incorrectly), does show the 1st Cossack Division/Regiment as it appeared in 1876.
[3] See Rifles Cavalry discussed below. Given used of green cuffs, it appears likely that this unit was raised as there is the 4th Cavalry Regiment (1876-1908), with green facings.
Below - The 1860-70 changes in the uniforms of the 1st Guard Cossacks. In particular, the headgear was modified several times (giving rise to the believe among modern historians that there were several Cossack regiments, which is not correct):
A: Officers from Ottoman Cossacks Regiment in full dress (parade uniform).
B: The second figure is actually wearing a fur covered peak less shako, and the silver/white tape around the top is clearly visible.
C:
D: This figure is accompanied with a ridged fez hat which has been modified to include a fur roll around the base, as well as badges and chin scales added.
The 'line' 2nd to 6th Armies had four cavalry eegiments (24 Squadrons) each. These were distinguished with a 'cuff - colour' system (for the jacket's outer sleeve only):
This system was only short-lived, as the post-1878 dress Dragoon Cavalry uniform had a plain blue out sleeve (as shoulder boards had been added with regimental numerals). The pre-1880 (from 1860), version of the Dragoon uniform, had:
Right - The 1880-1908 version of the Dragoon uniform. The double-sleeve jacket has a full collar and is buttoned. As well, this junior officer has two black cord cuff chevrons, as well as the Gold Cuff Star: In the personnel service of the Sultan.
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[1] http://www.turkeyswar.com/army/ranksuniforms.htm
Right - Another variation uniform for a Regiment of Ottoman Cossack Tribal Cavalry, prior to the establishment of the The Hamidiye Corps.
Right - A colourised lithograph, and a colour illustration from Mahmud Sevket Pasa ‘L'Organisation et les Uniformes de l'Armee Ottomanne' (1907), showing the same officer - a 1861 till 1876 Lieutenant in the 1st and 2nd Imperial Guard Cavalry who adopted French zouave -styled uniforms. This officer's uniform is unusual as the officers in this period still wore a universal pattern frockcoat, identical for infantry, cavalry or artillery.
In the 1860 till 1876 period only four of the Ottoman Army cavalry regiments were uniformed in French zouave costumes, these were:
Right - Use of red fronted lapels was a tradition of the 1st Lancers Regiment (recorded in the he book by Mahmud Sevket Pasha ‘L'Organisation et les Uniformes de l'Armee Ottomanne’, 1907). This figure is assumed to be a predecessor, from the early 1860s, as he is wearing 1861 pattern officer's cuff chevrons.