...march for days and nights of four hours repose and six hours progress ; accustomed to laborious toils and the carriage of heavy burthens ; ferocious but...to their sovereign, their chief, and their country; religious^without a pernicious superstition ; patient, docile, and obedient." The European Annie*....

...march for days and nights, of four hours repose and six hours progress, accustomed to laborious toils, and the carriage of heavy burthens, ferocious, but...obstinately brave and susceptible of enthusiastic excitement, devoted to their sovereign, their chief, and their country. Religious, without being weakened...

...physically fit, inured to hardships, bad weather and little food, capable of long marches and hard work, 'ferocious, but disciplined, obstinately brave, and...their sovereign, their chief, and their country'. Religion was a powerful motivating force and played an important part in military life. Before battle...

...who knew the Russian soldiers well at this period, described them as " accustomed to laborious toils and the carriage of heavy burthens ; ferocious but...their sovereign, their chief, and their country." The Russian cavalry was said by the same authority to be the best mounted on the Continent. The invading...