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In 1808, in the regiments of the linear infantry, there appeared soldiers-sappers from the calculation of four men per battalion. In addition to a large ax, they were supposed to have an apron made of whitened leather, sapper sword, a bear fur hat and emblems in the form of crossed hatchets on both sleeves. A peculiar tradition was wearing a thick beard.

 

At the parades, a team of strong, bearded soldiers, sappers, built in two ranks, always led the regiment, ahead of the orchestra and the drummers. During the military operations and on the march, they moved ahead of the battalion, performing the functions of linear, entering into business only when necessary, crushing the obstacles that had arisen.

 

Initially, the parade uniforms of sappers could be sewn from light blue or red cloth with scarlet, crimson, yellow, blue or green lining. Later the sappers began to wear the usual dark blue uniforms of the linear infantry. The lapels and lapel pins of these uniforms were white with a red edging, the collar and cuffs were red with a white piping. Epaulettes and emblems on the sleeves are red. The bear's head was adorned with a red sultan, a red or white tabby, and a red "bottom" with a white cross-shaped patch. The cover for the ax was made of black leather, and the knapsack was made of brown calfskin. The skull of a greatcoat of gray cloth was fastened on a knapsack by white belts. Leggings sewed from black cloth and fastened on brass buttons and black poplite straps with buckles.