Cossacks have for many centuries both fascinated and horrified the peoples of Europe. In Eastern Europe and Asia, they had the reputation for extreme cruelty and being fiends on horseback. In 1813, many Germans prayed 'De Cossaquibus, Domine, libera nos' (Free us Lord from the Cossacks.) Whereas, in Western Europe the perception was of the dextrous horsemen decked in furs, armed with sabres and lances galloping through the Steppes. Both are confirmed by history. It is certainly through their efforts that Napoleon's Grande Armee was shepherded to their destruction.

Most of the information currently available in English comes from English travellers (particularly General Wilson and Mr Robert Ker Porter), French and German sources. Russian sources have been used as a basis of this book to explain the role, uniforms and organisation of irregular cavalry available to Tsar. The first part deals with the Cossacks and the second part deals with the Bashkirs, Kalmiks, Khirgiz and Tartars.