MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES Ekg] SPANISH ARMY OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS (3) 4812-1815. ) fey = RENE CHARTRAND — BILL YOUNGHUSBAND‘The ‘desired one' was freed by Napoleon in lato March 1814 and made a triumphant return to Spain in April. In this print after Goya, he woars the uniform of a captain-general: blue coat, scarlet collar, cutts, lapels and ‘tumbacks, gold buttons, lace and embroidery, scarlet sash “with gold embroidery, white waistcoat, butt breeches, black boots edged with gold lace and tascol, hat laced with gold and ‘edged with white plumes, git ‘sword and scabbard, ‘vold-lacod SPANISH ARMY OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS (3) 1812-1815 THE STATE OF THE SPANISH ARMIES 1 THE BEGINNING OF 1812 the French still occupied most of Spain. From that time, however, the British and Portuguese armies under the Duke of Wellington ~ joined by increasingly large contingents of Spanish troops ~ slowly but steadily drove the French out of Spain. By the spring of 1814 the Allies were invading southern France. For a detailed account of the unfolding story of these campaigns, the A History of the Peninsular War. In 1812-1814 the situation and service of the Spanish armies was generally as follows The Ist Army (or Army of Catalonia) had heen largely dispersed by the French in 1811. However, it rose again, and by June 1813 had 16,000 men under General Copons. ‘The 2nd Army (Army of Valencia) under General Blake was 17,000 strong on 9 January 1812 when it surrendered at Valencia to Marshal Suchet. However, another 7,100 men of the 2nd Army rallied at Alicante. By June 181 30,600 mi General Elio. Its Division was the former guerrilla force led by El Empecinado. The 3rd Army (Army of Murcia) was weak, with barely 5 men in January 1812, rising to 8,000 in October. In June 1813 it was led by the Duke del Parque and had 12,600 men, By April 1814 it was 21,000 strong when it crossed into France under the Prince of Anglona and occupied Pau The 4th Army initially covered the troops at Cadiz and Algeciras which, by June L813, had grown to a force of over 25,000. Led by General Giron, who had replaced General Castanos, it ached to Wellington's army. It was reinforced by Don Carlos de Espana’s division of 8,300 n and Count Arispal’s Army of Reserve of Andalucia of 17,500 men in July. Thus, by August 1813, over 46,000 Spanish troops had been attached to the Anglo-Portuguese army. This did not include Espo y Mina’s force of about 8,000 operating in Aragon and eastern Navarre, lative reader is referred to Sir Charles Oman’s sup. Now led by General Freire, the 4th Army was 35,000 strong in the autumn of 1813, decreasing to 30,000 by April 1814, This was the force that saw the most service with Wellington, its eight divisions being led by Morillo, Carlos de Espana, Losada and later Del Barco, Barcena and lat and the guerrilla leaders Porlicr, Longa and Espoz y Mina. Part of these troops were left in Spain, but several divisions served at Toulouse and Bayonne before being sent back. Espeleta,Arthur Wellesley, Field Generalissimo or supreme commander of the Spanish armies by the Cortes on 22 September 1812, (Detail from print after ‘JeJackson. National Archives of Canada, €11791) ‘The Army of Reserve of Andalucia led by General Giron was attached to Wellington’s army from summer 1813, reducing to about 10,000 men in August, 8,000 in November and 9,200 in April 1814. It served with the Anglo-Portuguese army up to Toulouse ‘The 5th Army (Army of Estramadura and Castilla) was only about 8,000 strong, and served with Wellington’s army in 1812. Most were absorbed into the 4th Army in 1813. The 6th Army (Army of Galicia), about 15,000 strong, served with Wellington’s army in 1812. Most went into the 4th Army in 1813. The 7th, 8th and 9th Armies of 1812 were somewhat theoretical forces, They included mostly the guerrillas in north-eastern Spain led by Mina, and oth bands, and could hardly be expected 10 function as regular field formations. Most were absorbed into the 4th Army in the summer of 1813. Whittingham’s Spanish Division from Mallorca served in Valenci during 1812-1813, about 4,000 strong, later rising to 5,000. By the middle of 1813, the Spanish forces on reg amounted to about 160,000 men. Of these, about a third were serving with Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese army. Another 10,000-20,000 were deployed in conjunction with the Anglo-Si Valencia. As of 1 December 1814 the Spanish peninsular army was reorganized by a provisional regulation. This was a first step towards rationalizing the numerous and extraordinary collection of units raised since 1808. For the first time since the French invasion the Estado Militar de Espana — the register of the Spanish Army which normally appeared y again published in a complete edition early in 1815". No doubt compiled. largely from information obtained from corps commanders and review reports, it gave a general listing of the field officers of the many units, and what uniforms were being worn. Longa, Campillo, Portier r smalle service UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT From 1812 Britain considerably augmented its already significant aid to the Spanish armies. As regards weapons, some 100,000 firearms (of which 95,000 were infantry muskets and 3,000 cavalry carbines) were sent to Spain between April 1812 and March 1813 — up from about 10,000 stands of arms in 1811. In 1813 another 50,000 muskets were sent To these were added thousands of cavalry sabres ~ 13,000 in 1812 alone il thousands of pairs of cavalry pistols. These figures represented a considerable commitment; the 1812 shipment accounted for well over a third of the year’s production of India Pattern muskets. (No significant numbers of rifles were supplied for the Spanish forces, which had no rifle units as such.) Ordnance was also sent to Spain, though not in such massive numbers. It would seem that large calibre pieces were already available, 1 income Etados wera published n the Gua Patotca de Espana and the GulePoitea des Esparas of Y81)_ and 1812. Only the uniforms ofthe Gonerl Sta Corps, Guards nary. aie, engeee's an taaper batons recescibed.but light calibre ‘mountain’ cannons were in much demand by guerrilla bands, and the British tried to deliver these in numbers. When one adds uniforms and camp equipage for 100,000 infantry in 1812, for 50,000 n in 1814, added to cavalry saddlery and suppl 1 to Spain in the final years of the Napoleonic Wars was very impressive. The Spanish made good use of it all, and their armies were logistically transformed from 1812. However, the Spanish themselves also continued to make arms and clothing. By 1814 the British supplied the requirements of 50,000 to an army of 154,000 men, Outfitting the remainder must have called for a tremendous effort in a country almost totally ruined by war, and whose population was traumatized by years of privations, bloodshed, instability and more or less arbitrary terror. The scarlet national cockade of Spa However, from about 1812 a black centre was sometimes denote the alliance with the British; and a yellow edge seems also to have been used by some, thus reproducing the scarlet and gold of Spain's national standard (possibly to differentiate the patriots from the renegade troops of Joseph-Napoleon’s forces, who also displayed scarlet cockades) was worn by all troops. added to Generals and Staff The official full dress of general officers did not change, but the trend was towards fairly simple field uniforms. Surviving examples and portraits show simple single-breasted blue coats or coatees with scarlet collar and cuffs edged with gold lace. However, a French style all-blue coat with gold embroidered edging was also worn by some gener Aidesde-camp seem to have had a free rein to indulge i dress, a phenomenon not exclusive to Spain. The Royal Guard During the Peninsular War the Spanish Royal Guard had a very sketchy existence. From 1808 to 1809 palace guard units such as the Halberdiers vanished, while the Guardia de Corps disintegrated as its personnel often became cadres for newly raised units. However, the infantry units survived and elements of the Spanish and Walloon Guards continued to be found in Spanish armies during the war, each adding a 4th Battalion in 1810 and a 5th in 1814. With the reurrn of King Fernando VIL in 1814 the Guard was reformed, resuming much the sume onganization as before the French invasion, complete with Halberdiers. Guardia de Corps The unit was revived in Cadiz to provide guards for the Cortes by its decree of 25 May 1813. This called for a corps of two squadrons each having three brigades, each brigade having 60 officers and men, all to have previously served in the line cavalry or dragoons One squadron would attend the Cortes while the other was serving in the field, the squadrons rotating at intervals. Following the return of the king in 1814 the unit went to Madrid and was expanded to four squadrons ~ two of mounted grenadiers and two of light cavalry —and a brigade of flankers. Uniform: From 1813, the bandoleers were no longer of varied colours to distinguish squadrons; all were ordered to be scarlet, laced with silver. In 1814-1815 blue coat, scarlet collar, culls, lapels and turnbacks, silver buttons and lace; white waistcoat and breeches; bicorn Goneral Francisco Ballasteros, a voteran of many battles, Captain- Gonoral of Andalucia and ‘commanding general of the 4th Army in 1812. Outraged by Wellington's elevation to generallssimo of the Spanish armies, he called for a military uprising in October 1812, but hhad considerably overestimated his own influence and popularity. [At the order of the Cortes he was arrested by the Prince of Anglona with a battalion of Spanish Guards on 30 October; his own troops did not stir, and Ballestros was exiled to the African presidio of Ceuta. (Print after portrait)Undress intantry uniform of General Espoz y Mina, ¢.1814. Blue with seartet collar and ‘cuffs, white piping, gold buttons; three narrow gold lace bands at the onds of the cuffs, below two broad embroidered laces of a lieutenant-general. The silver lace and scariet bandolier shown here is in error; it does not belong to Mina's uniform, but is for the Guardia de Corps. (Museo det Ejercito, Madrid) laced silver; blue housings laced _ silver. Grenadiers, silver aiguillettes and tall black bearskin caps with silver cords and white plume crested helmets for light cavalry, and shakos for the flankers, were taken into wear from 1815. Guardias Alabarderos From 1814 the Guard Halberdiers were back in the palace, wearing a blue coat with scarlet collar, cuffs, lapels, turnbacks and waistcoat, silver buttons, silver but- tonhole and edging lace at collar and cuffs; blue waistcoat and cape also laced silver, scarlet stockings, bicorn laced silver Guardias de Infanteria Espanola The Spanish n 1818 both the Spanish and Walloon Guards were united into the Ist and 2nd Guards Infantry Regiments, losing their distinctive titles. The Guards Infantry Regiment was disbanded four ye Compiled in 1811-1812, the 1812 Guia described its uniforms as blue coatee, pantaloons Guards w re reorganized in 1815, but ss lat and acks and waisted ters; scarlet cuffs, turn| onhole lace «(probably pointed and set in threes), white metal buttons with the white bu cipher (or initials) of the regiment's name; shako with a plate bearing the same cipher as the ns, and a red cockade. In 1814-1815, blu coat and breeches, scarlet cuffs, lapels and tcoat, pewter butions, white lace set in Officers’ dress was as the Guardia de Corps but bute with a blue collar Guardias de Infanteria Walonna Part of the Wall was first occupied by the Frei on Guards Regiment was in Madrid when it hin June 1868, and many of its men were len the incorporated, often forcibly, into the French forces. After Ba id Aragon, bolstered by volunteers, s of Spain. These and were reduced to two regiment's battalions in Barcelo reorganized into four battalions in various pa participated in many ba battalions in January 1812, finis es over the yea ing the war in Andalucia, Reorga into a five-battalion regiment in 1814, Uniform: In 1811-1812, according to the 18 described above except for the cipher on the buttons and shako plate nd the scarlet shako cockade red 2 Guia, the uniform was the same as for the Spanish Guards which was to be to the regiment’s name, which was edged with black. The white buttonhole lace was probably pointed and sct in pairs. For c.1813 uniform, sec Plate D, In 1814-181 the same as the Spanish Guards except for the black cockade border and a small button at each pocket Carabineros Reales Reorganized in 1814 into @ squadron of grer and a squadron of cuirassiers; disbanded in 1822. Uniform: Blue coat, pantaloons and c buttons, silver lace edging the collar and cuffs; blue housings laced white, Grenadiers with bearskin cap, cuirassiers with cuirass and steel cuirassier helmet \diers jet collar, lapels, waistcoat and turnbacks; silverAlejandro Ramirez, Intendant of Cubs, ©.1815. This portrait shows the evolution in the uniforms of the administrative ‘officers of the quill pen’ towards the ond of the Peninsular War and lator. The all-blue coat eut in ‘stylish manner has regulation silver embroidered edging, two bands on the cutfs denoting the rank of intendant. (Museo de la Culdad, Havana) CAVALRY Organization As in previous years, there were scores of cavalry units of all sizes and descriptions, until 1813-1814, Some of these were fleeting corps about which there is little on record. Others would change names or designations, e.g, becoming hussars aficr starting out as heavy cavalry, or versa. The organization remained officially the same in 1812-1814 previously, following the 1808 regulations (sec MAA 321). Each regiment was supposed to have four squadrons, each squadron having two companies. In reality, many units had only a couple of squadrons or even only a single company. On 1 Dece streamlined the many corps down to 16 heavy cavalry regiments, thr vic nber L814.a new ‘provisional’ organization of the cavalry f adores, and three of hussars. All were to have five squadrons each of two companies, cach company having four officers and 58 troopers. The heavy cavalry regiments were as follows: Rey, Reina, Principe, Infante, Borbon, Farnesio, Alcantara, Espana, Algar Cal Santiago, Montesa, Costa de Granada Legion Estremena and Coraceros Espanoles. Rey and Re henceforth also equipped as cuirassier regiments. The mounted caradores were: Madrid, Guadalajara and Burgos. The hussars_ were: Espanoles, Estramadura (Bailen from 15 June 1815) and Ibe Other units Continued to exist but were to be altered or disbanded later. For instance, the Cazadores de Sevilla were sent to Amer Cazadores del Rey. mounted raz ‘oluntarios de Espana, a as the Already existing were the cight dragoon reg- iments: Rey, Reina, Alamanza, Pavia, Villaviciosa, Sagunto, Numancia and Cavalry Uniforms By the latter part of the Peninsular War the dress of the cavalry had changed considcrably. The long: tailed coats were generally replaced by coatees, often blue for cavalry and yellow for dragoons, with regimental facings at the collar, cuffs and turnbacks. Leather helmets with fur crests somewhat resembling the British Tarleton type were now used by many heavy cavalry and dragoon regiments. Mounted cazadores had emerald green dolmans with shakos, and hussars wore various colours with fur busbies or shakos. Besides breeches, all generally had grey overalls strapped with leather and striped with the facing colour. The Peninsula veteran G.R. left a fine impression in The Subatiern of some elements of this cavalry, seen on campaign near San Sebastian in August 1813: *.. some were arrayed in green jackets, with slouched hats and long feathers, others in blue, helmeted with Tarleton helmets \7like our yeomanry or artillery drivers, whilst not a few wore cuirasses and brazen head pieces such as they had plundered from their slaughtered enemies... Gleig thought them imposing, and admired th and independent march’, adding that they were well mounted Many of the new units raised from 1808 left few records of the The information given below comes from a variety of sources but mainly from the 1815 register, except for heavy cavalry uniforms, which rest pri- marily on a more detailed descriptive list appended to the orders of 1 December 1814. dress. Heavy Cavalry: All regiments had buff wai: coat colour. Rey Blue coat; scarlet collar, cuffs and lapels; brass buttons. Steel cuirasses and steel cuirassier helmet trimmed with brass, with black mane and red plu Reina Scarlet coat; blue collar, cuffs and lapels; pewter buttons. Steel cuirasses and steel cuirassier helmet trimmed with brass, with black mane and red plume, from December 1814. Principe Blue coat; scarlet collar, cuffs and lapels; white buttonhole lace, pewter buttons. Infante Blue coat; white collar, cuffs and lapels; yellow buttonhole lace, brass button: Borbon Blue coat; collar, sc lapels; pewter buttons. Farnesio Scarlet coat; white collar, lapels; brass buttons. Alcantara White coat; green collar, cuffs and lapels; brass buttons. Espana Scarlet coat; black collar, cuffs and lapels, brass buttons. Algarbe Scarlet coat; yellow collar, cuffs and lapels; pewter buttons. Calatrava White coat; scarlet collar, cuffs and lapels; pewter buttons. Santiago Blue coat; scarlet collar, cuffs and lapels, pewter buttons. Montesa White coat; blue collar, cuffs and lapels; pewter buttons, Costa de Granada Blue coat; yellow collar, culls and lapels; pewter buttons. Voluntarios de Espana Green coat; scarlet collar cuffs and lapels, buff piping; pewter buttons (sce Plate C Legion Estremena See also MAA 332 for previous history and dress. The 1814 listing for the legion’s cavalry, which was made a distinct regiment on 1 December, was a blue coatee, straw-coloured cutis nd piping edging the lapels, green lapels, green piping edging the collar and cuffs, and a blue greatcoat, Coraceros Espanoles See MAA 3: ‘coat and breeches, and cloaks were of the yellow buttonhole lace, white buttonhole lace, Jet collar, cuffs and cuffs and . Plate D. BELOW General Carlos Favre d'Aunoy, €.1815. A native of Louisiana, Favre d’Aunoy greatly distinguished himself during the Peninsular War. He Joined the Louisiana Regiment as an officer cadet in 1796, later travelling to Spain and joining the Walloon Guards. In 1808 he fought the French at Menjibar, Bailen, and In the detence of Madrid in December. Still a captain in 1811, his outstanding conduct at Albuera made him a national hero and he was promoted. Later ‘that yoar he was at Lujar and Moroldro. Sent to south-eastern Spain, he served with the army besieged by Suchet until its surrender in January 1812, becoming a prisoner of war. He was later promoted, and is ‘shown wearing the full dress regulation uniform of Mariscal de Campo (major-general. The blue coat has scarlet collar, cuffs and. lapels embroidered with gold, a single broad embroidered goldband edging the cutts indicating his rank, and scarlet turnbacks. ‘The crimson sash has gold trim; the belt is laced and buckled ‘gold; white breeches, high black boots, and a black bicorn lacod ‘gold complete the uniform. His young son is pictured in a ‘miniature uniform of the Walloon Guards: blue coatee with scarlet ccutfs and turnbacks, white buttons and lace; he holds an all-blue forage cap with white lace and tassel. (Louisiana State ‘Musou, New Orleans) ABOVE Hussar officer, unidentified regiment, £.1812-1816. Scarlet dolman with sky blue collar and cuffs; sky blue pelisse edged with black fur; scarlet breeches; gold cords and buttons; crimson and ‘gold barrel sash; black busby ‘with scarlet bag: belts covered with gold lace; black sabretache laced gold and edged with ‘scarlet; git-hilted sabre, stee! ‘seabbard. The housings appear to have been sky blue trimmed with gold. (Print after Giscard) Dragoons: All had the crossed sword and laurel branch badge on the collar, in the button colour. The cloaks were of the coat colour Rey Blue coatee and breeches; s¢ buttonhole lace, brass buttons. Reina Si uttonhole lace, brass buttons on both sides. Almansa Yellow coatee, buttons. Pavia Yellow coatee, waistcoat and breeche buttons. Villaviciosa Yellow coatce, waistcoat and breeches; scarlet culls, brass butions. let cuffs and waistcoat; yellow arlet coatee; blue cuffs, waistcoat and breeches; yellow waistcoat and breeches; blue cuffs, pewter scarlet cuffs, pewter Sagunto Yellow coatee, waistcoat and breeches; green cuffs, pewter bi Numancia Yellow coatee, waistcoat blue cuffs, t Lusitania Yellow coatee, w black cuffs, pewter buttons. tons. nd breeches; iss buttons, (coat and breeches Hussars and Cazadores: These regiments were dressed in hussar fashion. All had white cords, and the erossed sword and laurel branch badge on the collar in white. Extramadura Hussars All-scarlet dolman; sky blue pelisse, pantaloons and greatcoat; pewter buttons. Espanoles Hussars All-emerald green dolman; sky blue pelisse, pantaloons and greatcoat; pewter buttons. Fernando VII Hussars (1808) Raised as Horse Grenadiers of Fernando VII from 8 September 1808 by Count Fernai 40 men in three squadrons. Converted into Fernando VIL Hussars from 1 May 1811. Present at battle of Saguntum in 1811. Disbanded Sce Plate D. Burgos Hussars (1809) Squadron of 150 men raised in the province of Burgos, later expanded to a regiment from 6 April 1811. Commanded by Don Julian Sanchez, one of the leading guerrilla leaders. Converted to mounted cazadores in December 1814. Unifarn 1814: Alkbuft dolman; sky blue pelisse and pantaloons; pewter buttons, white cords, 1875 Alkemerald green dolr white cords; emerald green housings edged white. Iberia Hussars (1809) Raised as hussars ~ see MAA 882 for organization and dress. Converted to mounted cazadores in December 1814. Uniform 1814-1815: Crimson dolman, collar and cuffs; sky blue pelisse, pantaloons and greatcoat; pewter buttons. Almanza Hussars (1810) Raised in Cadiz by Colonel Whittingham to a strength of about 400 troopers. Transferred to Mallorca in 1811 with Whittingham, who was promoted general to command ther eastern Spain in 1813 as part of Whittingham’s Spanish division with the Nunez, to have 5: an; bull pelisse and pantaloons; pewter buttons, erved in10 Line infantry privates, 1912. Left, gronadier, distinguished by the red plume and ribbons and the brass grenade badge on the ‘shako, and blue wings with red tringes. Centre, fuser: white plume and ribbons, brass llon plate, blue shoulder straps piped red. Right, cazador or light company man: green plume and ribbons, brass buglehorn badge, blue wings with green fringes. All wear the uniform ordered on 12 December 1811, and have British white accoutrements with brass oval belt plates. (Print after Giminez published in Clonard’s Historia Organica ...) Britishttalian corps under Lord William Bentinck, Disbanded in 181 Uniform: Sent from Britain in 1810 hussar clothing including 400 pelisses and sashes with sabres, sabretaches, saddles and appointments. Dressed ‘as the 10th Regiment of British Hussars’, according to Woolcombe’s “. Blue dolman with scarlet collar and cufls; blue pelisse trimmed with white fur; white cords, pewter buttons, crimson and yellow sas! white breeches, black boots; fur busby with scarlet bag and yellow, white over red plume. In June 1811 °351 hussar caps’ were ordered for Mallorca, most likely intended for this regiment (PRO, WO 1/848). A shipment of 500 hussar uniforms sent to Malta in early 1812 may have been for this regiment; this consisted of blue jacket with ball and half-ball buttons, white thread cord, pairs of blue pantaloons, boots with fixed spurs, cavalry sword with knots and belts, hussar caps with feathers (PRO, T 28/9 and WO 1/850) Olivenza Cazadores Sce Plate B. Guadalajara Cazadores (1811) Raised by Don Juan Marti ‘El Empecinado’, and approved by the provisional government on 24 December 1811; confirmed as regular regiment on 18 October 1814 Converted to hussars in June 1815. Uniform: Emerald green dolman, pantaloons and greatcoat; white collar, cuffs and waistcoat; pewter buttons. Madrid Cazadores (1811): Raised by ‘El Empecinado’ and approved on 24 December 1811; confirmed as regular regiment on 18 October 1814. Uniform: Emerald green dolman, pantaloons and greatcoat, crimson collar, cuffs and waistcoat, pewter buttons. INFANTRY Organization Officially, line infantry reg- iments were supposed to have had three battalions since July 1810; but very few, if'any, could boast such numbers. In rea regiment often fielded barely the equivalent of a single battalion, with too many officers. A new order reorganizing the compo- sition of infantry units was issued on 8 March 1812; this acknowledged the true situation. The regiments were now to have only one battalion; only in excep- tional circumstances of extra manpower could they form a second. The bat- talion was to have six companies of fusiliers, onecompany of light infantry (cazadores) and one of grenadiers. Each company had a captain, two lieutenants, two sub-lieutenants, a sergeant first class, four sergeants, eight corporals first class, eight corporals second class, and 96 privates. Fusilier companies each had three drummers, light infantry three buglers, and grenadiers two drummers and a fifer. The battalion staff consisted of a commander (who might hold either colonel’s or lieutenant-colonel’s rank), a first major (primer sargento mayor) and a second major (secondo sargento mayor), two adjutants (ayudantes) who held the rank of lieutenant, two sergeant-majors (sargentos de brigadas), a chaplain (capellan), a surgeon (cirujano), & drum-major (lambor mayor) and a master armorer (maestroarmero). Attached to the grenadier company was a detachment of six sappers under a sapper-corporal. This organization applied to both the line and light infantry battalions During this final period of the Peninsular War the Spanish Army had about 168 regiments of various sorts. Some were pre-1808 “old” regiments, some were embodied provincial militia, and many were ‘new’ regiments raised since 1808. In March 1814 a muster was made which revealed some regiments — e.g. Princesa and Ceuta —as having over 1,200 men, while others might have less than 300 - eg. the Rivagorza provincials and the Gerona Light Infant. In all, the infantry regiments amounted to 153,238 men. Infantry Uniforms The Spanish infantry had, out of necessity and in a few short years, gone from its traditional white uniform to an extraor and colours — as illustrated in MAA 332. As the national army emerged yet again from its ashes to be reorganized and re-equipped with massive British help from late 1811 and especially in 1812, the need for a more common uniform was addressed. The Regency of the Kingdom issued on 12 December 1811 a royal order to re-establish the principle of uniformity in dress. It stated that Lieutenant-General Charles William Doyle had recognized ‘the necessity of adopting 4 uniform for all the infantry’, and the Regency council accordingly approved a proposal, made previously on 9 September by Mariscal de Campo Martin Gonzales de Menchaca, for a national infantry uniform: ‘For the troops of the line: short coat or coatee without lapels, but- toning up the front, wide pantaloons with half-gaiters worn underneath the pantaloons, of sky blue cloth, scarlet cufls, collar and turnbacks with gilt butions, white waistcoat with sleeves. For light troops, the same uniform with collar and cuffs of the same sky blue colour, white turnbacks and white metal buttons. Both the line and the light infantry with a cap in the shape of a truncated cone with a wide circle around the bottom: a golden metal lion (shako) plate in front for fusiliers, a grenade for grenadiers, and a white metal bugichorn for light troops, with also at each side of the collar the initials of the regiment, Finally, the forage cap of the same cloth as that of the coatee, with scarlet piping for the line, and white for the light troops. Knapsack of painted canvas, and grey greatcoat.” ‘These new uniforms were to replace the old when they wore out. The above order is unfortunately unclear, in Spanish or in translation, as to the colour of the coatee. Did sky blue mean the linary motley of styles Line infantry grenadier sergeant, 11812: red plume and ribbons and brass grenade badge on shako, red epaulettes. (Print after Giminez published in Clonard's Historia Organica ...) W12) LEFT Captain of eazador ‘company, 1812: green plume and ribbons and gilt buglehorn on sshako, two gold epaulettes, gilt gorget, bleck swordbelt. Note long scarlet turnbacks - his coat is longer than the coatee of the conlisted men. (Print after Giminez published in Clonard’s Historia Organica.) RIGHT Rear view of a cazador, with the standard British black canvas ‘Trotter! knapsack with rolled grey blanket or greatcoat fon top. All the rankers wear white British accoutrements with plain brass oval plates. (Print after Giminez published in Clonard's Historia Organica pantaloons only, or the coatee as w Further confusing the issue are the plates illustrating this text, printed in General Conde de Clonard’s monu- mental mid-19th century history of the Spanish Army. The plates show the coatees as dark blue, the pantaloons as sky blue. As Clonard was himself a soldier who was interested in military dress, and had surely seen such uniforms asa youth, a mistake seems unlikely. This 181 onal uniform was often called the ‘English’ uniform by the Spanish, since it was said to have been supplied from Britain. Shipments of blue (meaning dark blue) and sky blu uniforms had been sent in so quantities from 1811 and early 1812. The above order would have applied to these shipments as well as what could be procured in Spain itself. Thus, it may be that the colour of the coatee was purposely lef unspecified, as it could not be guessed what colour of uniforms the next shipment might bring. British Supplies 1812 In October 1811 Wellington had requested blue clothing and other supplies for ‘a division of (4,000) infantry, now raising in Castille, under Don Carlos de Espana, to which I have supplied army and accoutrements’. In January and February 1812 the shipments arrived at Porto, comprising 4,000 items of each: suits of blue clothing, linen shirts, pairs gaiters, stocks with clasps, forage caps, helmets with feathers, knapsacks, greatcoats, pairs of shoes, wood canteens and straps, haversacks (PRO, WO 1/270 and 849). The no doubt issued quickly, since Wellington wrote in April 1812 as more clothing for other Spanish troops, to be the same as that re sent for Don Carlos de Espana ‘with the exception of the caps (shakos), which are to be of black felt, and 400 suits of the same description for artillerymen.’ This k would suggest that the 4,000 suits had red facings - see Plate A. Also in October 1811, another supply of “4,000 complete suits of clothing, 4,000 great coats, 1,000 buff sword belts for cavalry, 400 saddles with their appurtenances, 1,000 camp ketles, 3,000 knapsacks and 200 bugles for light infantry’ were ordered delivered to Coruna for Spanish troops in Galicia (PRO, T 28/9). These began arriving there in January 1812, including *750 Blue cloth jackets, with red facings, 750 Kersey waistcoats with sleeves, 750 Blue cloth trousers, 300 Blue cloth jackets, with yellow facings, 800 Kersey waistcoats with sleeves, 300 Blue cloth trousers, 3,000 knapsacks’ (PRO, WO 1/270); see Plate A. In February Wellington asked for arms, accoutrements and ‘20,000 suits of clothing rem:complete, of the same quality as those lately provided for thi forces, 40,000 pairs of shoes, soldiers’ necessaries for 20,000 men, greatcoats, 20,000 caps (PRO, WO 6/174). In early May some of this was shipped to Portugal, na edt facings, 3,000 suits of clothing with light blue facings, 10,000 caps (shakos) and {600 linen shirts, 200 privates’ great coats’ (PRO, WO 1/270) Back in London, it was becoming obvious to British cabinet ministers that a very large quantity of supplies would be needed for the Spanish ing as Wellington marched into Spain. On 1g for 100,000 ice of Spain: blue cloth jackets with facinj 'y waistcoats, felt caps (shakos), foraging cks, 100,000 of each; shirts and pairs of pairs of half-boots, linen jackets, and 200,000 pairs of shoes; 100,000 great coutrements, besides canteens, camp black balls, &c. &c.” (Gentlemen's Spanish 0,000 ely: “4,600 suits of clothing with 19 March 1812 the decision was taken to supply ‘clothi men, ordered for the se blue pantaloons, white ke ditto (forage caps), and knaps haltstockings, 200,000 of ditto pantaloons, 100,000 of eac coats and slings; 100,000 sets of kettles, shoe and clothes brushes, Magazine, LXXXI) From late June and July 1812 se the Sp: s were supplied, ha the rest to Portugal for points nor 20,000 suits was included in this). The rem: “ac ne 80,000 ‘suits of Blue Clothing’ for f going to Cadiz in southern Spain, n (Wellington's February order of 20,000 "Suits of Light nish a Loose but spirited impression of the battle of Vittoria, 21 June 1813. Wellington's victory ‘ensured the French evacuation of Spain and spelt the end of King Joseph-Napoleon's pseudo- reign. His entire court baggage ‘and that of his generals and ‘Spanish followers provided the richest loot ever to distract an Allied army from its duty of Pursuit. (Mina claimed ~ and the French acknowledged ~ that if he hhad not delayed Clausel's 14,000-strong corps further north then they could have arrived In the rear of the northern elements of Wollington's army, with serious consequences.) At Vittoria itself the Spanish divisions of Morillo and Longa were heavily engaged ‘and took 838 casualties out of ‘882 Spaniards lost. Before the battle Wellington had ordered the ‘Spanish troops to wear a white ‘armband on the left sleeve to avoid confusion with the French. ‘The Allied casuatios totalled 5,158 casualties, the French about 8,000, with a massive loss of materiel. (Print after M. Botties) 1314 A sonior officer of infantry, ‘6:1812-1815, Note the two laces ‘on the cuff indicating the rank of Neutenant-colonel; and also a round commemorative badge ‘above the cuff. This likeness is said to represent Captain B. U. ‘de Schwyz of Reding’s Swiss Regiment; since he was killed at Bailen on 19 June 1808 it is obviously a posthumous portrait. (Print after portrait) Siege of San Sebastian, August- September 1813; note field forge In foreground. Wollington's army successfully stormed the town on 31 August. Sadly, as at Badajos, the streets were overrun by wild gangs of redcoats murdering, raping and robbing the hapless Spanich ‘chilians, and these atrocities ‘considerably heightened the tensions betwoon the Allies. The French retreated to the castle of La Mota on the cone-shaped ML.Urgul, the garrison resisting heavy bombardment before Surrendering with the honours of war. (Print after Martinet) Blue Clothing’ went to Cadiz; thus, this light blue clothing was all issued in southern Spain. Other items were shipped in proportion including greatcoats, greatcoat straps, 100,000 felt ‘Caps’ (shakos) with red plumes, 80,000 “Forage Caps of dark blue Cloth’ and 20,000 of light blue cloth going to Cadiz, 200,000 pairs of shoes, 100,000 canvas frocks and trousers of British duck, 100,000 "Yellow Knapsacks with buff straps’, 200,000 shirts, 100,000 pairs of braces, 80,000 “Black Cloth’ gaiters and 20,000 “Light Blue Cloth’ gaiters going to Cadiz (UoS, WP 1/358). From the above, it can be seen that some 80,000 uniforms of blue — that is to say, dark blue coatees, pantaloons and forage caps with black gaiters ~ and 20,000 light (or sky) blue coatees, pantaloons, gaiters and forage caps were served out in all. All had shake waistcoats probably used as undress jackets; off-white duck car and trousers for fatigues; and yellow canvas kna buff'straps. (See Plate C.) The facings at the collar, cuffs and turnbacks were appari red, but in spite of all shako plumes being that colour, some facings varied. The Castropol Regiment reported black collar and cufls to its sky blue uniforms issued in June 1812. Some 1812 shipments of blue on yellow and sky blue facings This clothing, issued from the middle of 1812, may well have lasted for wo or three year with red plumes; white frocks sacks with whitened ntly mostly as was the practice in the Spanish army. By 3 March 1813, however, Wellington wrote to the Earl of Bathurst that ‘.. Although I believe the Spanish army are generally clothed, and they ought not to want clothing for at least a year, I think it would be advisable to let us have clothing for 100,000 men, instead of 50,000, in the year 1813, You may depend on it that none shall be issued, the issue of which can be avoided; and I have it in my power to control any way I please. By sending the 100,000 suits this year, I shall have time to distribute and send them to the different armies when wanted.” this concernBritish Supplies 1813-1814 The British cabinet agreed with Wellington's opinion, and a new supply was ordered in 1813. Infantry uniform suits (‘These suits consist of jacket, waistcoat, trowsers & g — UoS, WP 1/358) shipped from England to Spain from August to October 1813 mentioned two facing colours, red and green, for regimental distinctions. In the invoices the Spa ry regiments were identified by numbers; however, it is ncertain to which units these actually corresponded, if indeed such a concordance was even intended. As listed below, some units were sent uniforms with green facings, some with red, and some one shipment with red and another with green: Green only: Ist, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 13th, 14th and 20th regiments. Red only: 15th, 17th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 80th, 32nd, 38rd, 37th, 40th, 4st, 46th, 47th, 56th and 57th regiments Green and red: 2nd, 40h, 7th, 8th, 11th and 12th regiments The uniforms were blue, with kersey waistcoats, as in the previous year. However, the shakos of uniforms with green facings had green plumes and their forage caps were trimmed with green, while those with red facings had red shako plu Other items were sent in order to ornament the coatees. For wings, there was broad and narrow lace ‘For ¢ Lit. Infantry clothi in proportion of 500 yards, with a small quantity of fringe & red cloth for wings, to every Regiment of 1,000 Men (1,000 Suits)”, It thus seems that all grenadiery and light infantrymen had red wings with white lace and fringes. There were also ‘Green Wings with bugles’ and ‘White Wings with bugles’ in much smaller quantities. The green wings were pre- sumably for the light infantry company buglers of green-faced regiments, and the white wings for those of red-faced regiments, Non-commissioned officers were obviously distinguished in British There is mention of sergeants’ swords with sword knots, shoulder sword belts and beltplates, and large quantities of ‘Chevrons Sergeants’ (UoS, WP 1/358). No sashes nor pikes were sent, as Spanish army sergeants did not have these items In early 1814 more uniforms and supplies were sent ou imental numbers were not mentioned. sh inf: es and red rimmed forage caps. this time, reg- In March the issues of suits of clothi shakos and forage caps w reported for the following troops: Army of Reserve: 4,000 red facings, 2,000 green facings; 3rd Army: 4,000 red facings, 2,000 green facings; 4th Army: 2.560 red facings, 2,660 green facings; General Mina’s Division of Navarva: 2,000 red facings, 2,000 green facings. Accoutrements sent included buff pouches with their buff belts. As these were sent in great quantity Line infantry soldiers, ¢.1812-1818. Documents do ‘not mention the distinctions of drummors and buglors; but ‘engraved chapter heading in of Clonare’s Historia Organica .. gives a clue. At right, ‘a drummer smoking a cigarette has # white leather drum belt and apron and, on his sleev ‘four point-up lace chevrons. ‘Second from left, what apy tobe a bugler or fifer wears the ‘same chovrons.(over 17,000 in one shipment), these were clearly meant for infantry and not just artillery as in the British Army. Even larger quantities of black pouches and belts were also shipped ~ nearly 30,000 in a single shipment in early 1814. ‘Together with all this were sent vast quantities of blankets, pairs of braces, billhooks, canteens, iron camp kettles, combs, clothes brushes, drums ‘complete’, frocks of duck and linen, fifes, greatcoats, flannel gowns, pairs of gaiters, haversacks, pairs of worsted hose, knapsacks and straps, musket cramps, pickers and brushes, linen and flannel shirts, shoes, stocks and clasps, and canteens with their straps. (See Plate F.) How did all this appear in use? A clue is given in the 1813 description by a soldier of the British 71st Foot of a French column ‘dressed in greatcoats, with white covers on their hats (surely meaning shakos), exactly resembling the Spanish’, uhus giving an excellent glimpse of the silhouette of the Spanish infantryman of the time. The greatcoats would have been brown Spanish or grey British types, and the shakos of the French type with a wide top. This last detail is interesting and confirms contemporary art, e.g. the plates by Pacheco and later by Dighton, which usually show the wide-topped shako about which, u there is no detailed infor- mation. The combination of wide-topped shakos and blue uniforms made the Spanish resemble French troops; in order to avoid confusion Wellington (continued on page 19) Infantryman wearing # caped, British-type oreatcoat, 6.1812-1815; the tents in the background are also British. {Engraving from Clonard's Historia Organica...) fortunate! Table 1: Line Infantry Regimental Uniforms 1814-1815 16 Rey Brown coatee and panialoons; violet collar, cufts and lapels; white piping and cuff taps; brass buttons: brown ‘reatcoat white summe trousers shako, Principe Blue coatee and pantacons; white col, cutts and piping, volt triangle collar patch: pewter buttons; black ‘short alters; shako. Galicia ormery Reina) Biv coatve and pantaloors; scarlet collar and cuf's, white piping: pewter buttons. ‘Saboya Bive coatse and pantaloons; scarlet colar and cuts, white piping; pewter butions. Coruna White coates, waistcoat and breeches; blue colar, cats, lapels and piping; pewter buttons ‘Africa Bue coatee and pantaloons; sky biue colar and cuts ‘edged with siver lace: pewter buttons; gray greatcoat; back short gaites; white summer trousers; shako. ‘Zamora Blve coatee wth bive colar; buf lets and piping, scarlet cuffs; pewter buttons; brown pantaloons and Cgreatcoat; black short gaitrs: white summer trousers; shako, ‘Soria Blo costes and pantaloons; scart colar, cuts and piping. white turbacks; pewter buttons: black hal-gaiters. Cordoba Two companies detached to Mallerea in 1812 had “blue jackets, enmson facings (apels), buf cape (colar) and culls" In 1814-1615, blue coatee, pantaloons and hat- ‘gaters; butt collar and cuffs, crimson lapels, whi buttontole lace: pewter buttons; shako. ‘Guadalajara Grenadier companies were seen at Marca in ‘July 1812 ina “blue jacket with buff cape (collar) and cul, ‘buff accoutrements” In 1814-1815, blue coatee: yolow collar and piping, scarlet cuffs; pewter buttons; black Gaiters eght-point star at colar and on turnbacks. Sevita Blue costee and pantaloons: scavet colar, cuts and piping white turnbacks; pewter buttons; black gators. Granada Bive coateo and pantaioons: scatet colar and cuts, ‘white piping, tumbacks and sword knot; pewter butions: ‘badge of the frut symbollc of the ety worn at the collar; black gaiters; shako, Valencia Biue coatee anc pantaloons: yelow colar, cults and piping, white tumbacks; pewter buttons: silver lace at the collar and cuts, cut flaps with thee siver butionhole laces; ash grey greatcoat: black gaits. ‘Zaragoza Blue coatee, scaret collar and cuts; brass buttons. Espana Ble coatee and pantaloons: yelow colar and cuts; pewter buttons; grey greatcost; black gaits; shako. Toledo Blue costee and pantaloons: yelow colar, cuffs and piping, white tapes; pewter buttons; shako. (Mallorca The grenaciers at Mallorca had, in 1812, ‘shu jacket, ‘sky ble facings lapels), buf cape (collar) and cap (probably ‘ror, for cuff), re feather, blue cloth pantaloons, buf leather accoutrements Weolcombe). See Plate G for 1814-1815. Burgos Sky blue coatee ard pantaloons; yolow colar and cults, white piping and buttonhole lace. Murcia Gronaciers at Mallorca in 1812 had a ‘bus jacket yellow facings (apels), cuts and cape (colar, sky bive pan- taloons, black leather accoutrements." In 1814-1815, write coates, waistcoat, breeches and piping: sky biue cuts pewter buttons; black gates. Leon Blue coatee and pantaloons; white colar, tunbacks anc ‘walstooat, scarlet lapels and cuts; pewter buttons. Ieianda Sky’ blue coatee and pantaloons; scarlet colar anc cuts, white piping: pewter buttons: grey greatooat: write ‘summer pantaloons; shako. ‘Cantabria Siue coatos and pantaloons: green colar and cuts, ‘white piping; pewter buttons; brown greatcoat; white ‘summer pantaloons; black gaits. ‘Asturias Bue coatee and pantaloons; sky bie collar and cuts, ‘scarlet piping; gold cross badge on colar, brass buttons. Navarra Blue coatee and pantalcons: green colar and cuts, ‘sky bive lapels, white piping: pewter buttons; grey greatcost; white summer pantaloons; black galtrs; shako. ‘Hibernia Be coatee and pantaloons; white colar, cuts, lapels ‘and waistcoat; scarlet tumbacks and piping edging the coatee: pewter butions. (continued...)Utonia Sky blue coatee and lapels: buf collar and piping: pewter butions: white waistcoat, pantaloons. ‘Aragon Blue costee and pantsloons; scaret coll, cuts, ‘umbacks ard sword knot; brass buttons: gray graatcoat ‘America Blue coatee and pantalons: bu colar and cuits flaps, scarlet tumbacks and piping: pewter buttons; white waistcoat Princesa Blue coatee and pantaloons scare cola, apes nd cutis; white cut flaps, tumbacks and waistcoat; pewter button; sao. Extremadura. Siue coates ard pantaioons, scarlet colar anc cuts, white piping: pewter buttons; shako. Malaga Bive osteo; buff coll, cuffs ard piping: peut butions; wtite breeches; black gates; shako. Ordones Miltares Eive costes and partalcons; scare cota, cuts and piping, white tumbacks edged scariet; pewter butions black gates. Borbon Sky blue coalee: scarlet collar, cuts and tumbacks, yellow lapels, white piping: pewter buttons; white waistcoat and pantaloons. ‘Baza jzised 1808) Ble coatee and pantaioons sky bue colar, scarlet lapels and cuts, white piping: pewter buttons: white waistcoat. Fernando Vi (1808) Blue coatee; eximson cola, green cuts, whit apes, piping of oppenite colours brass buttons; whit pantsloons. {et Badajos (1808) Shy bive costes; scarlet colar and cu, white lapels. Lena (1808) Brown coates and pantaloons: scarlet colar, shy blue lapels and cufts, white piping; brass buttons; black gales; shoko. ‘Almeria (1808) Bive coatew and pentaloors: sraw-coloured calla, cus, lapels and piping: pewter buttons, buttonhole lace on collar; black gaters; shake. Pavia (1808) Blue coatee ard pantaloons; scarlet coll, cuts and piping, white tumbacks; pewter buttons. Palma (1808) Blue coatee, cif, lapels and pantaloons; white olla, pin, lace and waistcoat; pewter buttons. Castropol (1808) See Piates 8 and G. (Ganga de Tineo (1808) Brown coatee ard pantaloons: straw coloured colar, cul flags and piping, green cuts and lapels; brass buttons: white summer pantalcons: grey greatcoat: black galters;shako. ‘Benavente (1806) Bie coatee and pantaioors: sky bive cater and cuts, white piping, white horizontal ace on colar: pewter buttons. Voluntarios de Machi (1808) Blue costee, colar and pan talcons: scarlet lapel, cuffs and turrbecks, white piping Pewter buttons, two gold buttonhol laces on colar white waistcoat. Granaderos (1808) Blve coatee and pantaloens: yellow colar nd cutis, sky bue lapels with white lace atthe buttonholes, utile piping and tumbacks, pewier buttons; black gtr shake. ‘Aimansa (1808) Bie coatee: crimson cola, cuffs and lapes, vite tumbacks, yelow buttonhole lace; brass buttons white waistcoat and pantatoons; black gaters Beylen (1808) Blue coates and pantaioons: scarlet colar and cuts, white turnbacks; pewier buttons; shako wih plume. ‘Guadix (1808) Sue coates and pantaoons; but cola, scarlet cuts, apels,tumbacks and waistcoat brass buttons. Barcelona (1809) Blue coatee: scaret colar and cuffs, green lapels and sword knot: white piping, tumbacks, waistcoat and partaloons;shako. Aipujarras (1809) Bue coatee and pantaloons;, scarlet cota, lapels, tumbacks and piping, sky blve cuts; pewter buttons: white waistcoat Union (1809) Blue costes with green cola, scarlet cufts and tumbacks, white piping: pewter buttons; white walstcoat and breaches; small ound hat. (1814-1816) Bus coatee and lapels: groan cot, scarlt cus and turbacks, white piping and wastcoat: peter buttons; Bue or grey pantalcons. Carinena (1800) Blue coates: scaret colar. cuts and pring. ‘white tumbacks, piping and pantsloons; pewter button; shake. 2nd Princesa (1809) Blue coatee and pantatoons; scarlet colar ‘and cufls, white ping: double pocket laps; pewter butions; shako. Leales Manresenos (1808) Bue costee and pantaloons: scarlet colar, cuts, turnbacks and piping, sky bie lapels brass buttons; wite waistcoat. ‘2nd Asturias (1811) Blue coatwe and pantaloons: sky blue colar, scavet cuts and ping: pewter butions. Sen Fernando (1811) Bive costee and pantaloons: blue Walloon style cut faps, crimson collar and cuts, white tumbacks and piping: brass buttons; shako Cadiz (1811) Sky blue coates and pantaloons: scare colar ‘and eats, white piping: pewter buttons; white summer pan- taloons; black greatcoat and gaits; shako. ‘lanza (1811) Brown coatee, waistcoat, pantaloons and ‘altos; scarlet colar, cuts and piping Granaderos de Castilla (1811) Brown coatee and pantaloons; ‘scarlet cotar, whit piping 2nd Guadalejara (181%) Ble costes and pantaloons; Walloon ‘ile cuff flaps, straw-colowed colar, cuffs and piping crimson lapels: bras butions. 2nd de Mallorca (181) ‘Eh jacket, red cut and cape feo), ‘blue (= probably biack) leather accoutrements, bive pan- taloons'- Lt Wooicombe, 1812. Mataro (1812) Sky thie coatee: yellow collar and piping, white tapes and pantaloons; brass buttons; black gaitrs;shako. Reunion (1812) Blue coatee and pantaloons: scarlet cola, ats anc piping, sky be lapels: pewter buttons. Veteranos de ia Patria (1813) Blue costes, lapels and pan- taloons; yellow collar, cus and piping, pewter buttons: white waistcoat General de fa Reserva de Andalucia (1813) The “Genera of ‘the Reserve of Andalucia’ in 1813 was the Count of Abispal ‘Blue coatee and pantaioons;ceson colar and culls, white piping, white Buttonhole lace on collar; pewter buttons; vwtite summer pantaloons: black gars: snako. General del Primer Exercito (1813): Tho ‘General of the tet “Army was Francisco Copons. Biue coates; scarlet colar and piping: green cuts, piping at colar anc sword knot: tite lapels, turnbecks and pantaloons: brass buttons. General del Quarto Exercito (1814): The ‘General el the ath “Army’ in 1814 was Manuel Frere; the regiment had one bat- talon of 600 men. Blue coatee and pantloons; scare cols, cults and turnbacks, white ping: pewter buttors. Imperial Alejandro (1814) Planned asa large corp of fv bat- talons which was to number up to 5:000 men, originally raised by Alexander O'Donel in St.Petersburg, Russia, fom 2 May 1813, named in honour of Czar Alexander | of Russia. Actualy recruted about 2.000 men in thee batalons Jncorporated into the Spanish tne infantry in 1814. ‘Amalgamated into the San Sebastian Regiment in 1823 Uniform (1814-1815) Blue cote. lapels and pantaloons scarlet colar, cuts and turbacks; brass buttons; shako. ‘Swiss Infantry: ‘st Wimptfen Bive conte: ght brown col, scarlet lapels, ‘cuts and tumbacks; pewter buttons white weistoat and pantaloons. Grd Kalser Blue costes: scavet colar, cuffs and lapes, white pining, wastccat and oreacnes: pewter butions. 1718 Pee era ee reer ‘16 Voluntarios de Aragon Sky blue costes, lapels and walsicoat; sraw-coloured collar and piping, scarlet cufts: pewter buttons; white pantaloons: black gaiters; shako. ‘1st Voluntarios de Cataluna Bive coatee; cimson colar, lapels and cufs, white piping; pewter buttons; white or brown pantaloons: black gaiters: grey gretcoat; shako. 2nd Voluntarios de Cataluna Bie coatoe and pantaloons; Walloon style cuff taps, green collar and cuts, white piping: ewier buttons; shako. \Voluntarios de Tarragona Bive coatee, cuts and pantaloons; yellow collar and piping; brass buttons. Voluntarios de Gerona Sky blue costae: black colar and ‘ufis, white piping: pewter buttons; write waistcoat and partaloons; black geters. 2nd Voluntarios de Aragon Ble coatee, collar and ‘partaloons; scare lapels, cus and turbacks, white piping; ewer buttons. 4st Volontarios de Valencia Colour of costee not given; crimson collar, cuffs and lapels, white piping: pewter buttons; white or brown pantaloons: black gaiters; shako. Cazadores de la Corona Blue coatee and pantaloors; scarlet collar and cuffs, white piping and two vertical bars on colar; pewter buttons. Campomayor Bive coatee and collar; crimson lapale, culls and tumbacks, white piping: pewter buttons; while pantaloons; shako. Volontarios de Navarra Blue coate; sky blue colar, green ‘cuits and tumbacks, white piping: pewter buttons: white pantaloons; black gates: shako. ‘1st Volontario (or Cazadores) de Barbastro Sky blue coatee and pantaloons; scarlet colar and cuffs, white lapels, piping and waistcoat; pewter butions. Cazadores de Valencia. Sky Dive costes; scartet cola, cus ‘and piping: pewter buttons; write pantaloons: black gaiters shako, Tiradores de Cadiz (1808) Blue costee ard pantaloons; sky blue cuts and piping, siver lace edging the cuts and three laces on the collar; pewter buttons; black Gaiters; shako. \Voluntarios de la Victoria (1808) Blue coatee and pantaioons: ‘scarlet collar with anchor badge, sky biue cuffs and apes, white piping and tumbacks; pewter buttons; black gaters; shako. \Voluntarios de Merida (1808) Bue coateo and pantaloors: sky ‘ue cola and cufs, white umbacks and lace; pew buttons. Carmona (1808) Bive coatee and pantaloons: scarlet colar, ‘cuffs and piping: brass buttons; white surnmer pantaioons: cuffs, white lapels, piping, tumbacks, wa ppantaloens: brass buttons: black gaiters. \Voluntarios de Leon (1808) Blue coaise and pantaloons; sky ‘blue colar and cuts, one horizontal lace on the colar. {st Tiredores de Castilla (1806) Bive coatee; green colar cutfs and piphng, white tumbacks; grey buttons and pantaloons. Voluntarios de Ribero (1803) Blue coatee and pantaloons; green coll, scaret lapels and cuffs, white piping: brass buttons. Cazadores del Rey (1809) Biue coatee ard pantaloons; scarlet collar and cuts. 4st Tiradores de Cantabria (1809) Blue coalee and pantaloons; sky blue collar and cus, bive buglehorn badge on cola 2nd Tiradores de Cantabria (1899) Blue coatee and ;Pantsloons; sky blue colar and cuffs, white piping Voluntarios de Guadalajara (1808) Blue coatee and ‘pantaloons; scarlet collar, cuts and piping; pewter buttons. Bureba (1809) Blue coatee and pantaioons; scarlet colar and cuts, white piping: pewter buttons. Volontarios de Soria (1810) Blue costes and pantaloons; ‘traw-coloured collar and cut flaps, green lapels and cuts; ewer buttons; black gaters. \oluntarios de Molina (1610) Bive coatee: crimson colar, cutts ‘ad tumbacks, yelow lace on collar; brass butions; brown, ppantaloons and greatcoat. Voluntarios de La Rioja (1810) Blue coatee and pantaloons; scarlet collar, cuffs and piping, white tunbacks and and waistcoat pewter tors Tradores de Sigienza (1611) Ble costee and pantaloons rod colar, apes and cuf, searet tumbacks, whit piping: brass butlons; shake Voluntarios de Alicante (1811) Sky bue coateo, cus, collar ‘and pling: suaw-ccloured lael, Waloon style cu aps; Pewter buttons: ue pataloons Yoluntarios de Asturias (1811) Ble coatee and pantsloons; shy blue collar and cf, white ping: pewier buttons. Cazadores de Castila (1811) Sue coatee and pantaloons; crimson cuffs, green lapels, white ping, tumbacks and waistcoat; pewter buttons Yotuntarios do Jaen (1811) Brown coatee and pantaloons; yelow colar and cus; pewter buttons. ‘st de beri (1811) Btue costes; green cola, cuts and ping: ‘gr pantalcors and gates; chavo 2nd de teria (1811) Bue coetee: soaret cota, cuts and Piping, white apes. e ‘Tradores de Cataluna (1811) Blue coatee and pantaloons: ‘ren cola ane cu, cimson apes and trnbacks, caret piping: pewter buttons: black gates. ‘Cazadores de Cataluna (1811) From 1812, bie round jacket; ‘scart colar and cfs, three rows of pewter buttons; back shako with white plato and chinscales, white bands and cords, red plume and along red bag ending ina tassel. This ‘pecular fashion is said to have originated trom the ‘Catalonia bert and was used to distinguish the cazadores ‘rom tho Frch at a distance. The untorm is also given as @ ‘blue round jacket with scart pointed cuts and wide scart ‘egg the front and th colar; brass an yellow tri on the shako, (1814-1815) Bown costes sky blue colar and cuts white ppiog and tunbacks; pewter buttons; mixed doth pantacons; black gaters;shako, Yoluntarios de Cardona (1611) Blue costs; crimson cola, ‘cuts and lapels, white piping, waistcoat ard pantaloons; pewter buttons. Cazadores de Mallorca (1811) ‘Uniform the same asthe 95th ‘Regiment’ according to Ltooicombe, and the 1815 amy rogisec Green jacket; black colar, cus end shoulder straps piped white; pewier buttons; green pantaloons; geen shako plume and cords, white metal bugle badge black crssbalt ‘and musket accoutrements ~not known to have had rites. \oluntaios de Mac (1811) Bue coatee and pataloons: red colar, white cuts, soariet tumbecks; pewter buttons: ‘Walon sty cut aps. ‘3rd de Iberia (1812) Blue coatee; crimson colar, cus and turnbacks: brass buttons black gates. (continued ..)Cazadores de Cuenca (1812) Blue coatee and pantaloons; ‘green collar, cutfs and lapels; pewter buttons; black gaiters: ‘Walloon style cut flaps. ‘Ist de Voluntarios de Vizcaya (1812) Brown coatse and ‘antaloons; white collar and piping, scarlet cuffs and lapels. 2nd de Voluntarios de Vizcaya (1812) Brown coatee and ppantaloons; scarlet coll, cuffs and lapels, whte piping: pewter buttons. rd de Voluntarios de Vizcaya (1812) Brown coatee and ‘pantaloons; scarlet colar, cutfs and lapels; pewtor buttons. Srd Tiradores de Cantabria (1812) Blue coatee and ‘pantaloons; shy blue collar and cuffs, white piping: pewter buttons; black gaiters; shako. ‘1st de Guipuzcoa (1812) Brown coatee and pantalcons: scarlet collar and cuffs; pewter buttons; brown gaiters shako. 2nd de Guipuzcea (1812) Brown coatee and pantaloons: sky blue collar and piping, scarlet lapels and cuffs, white turnbecks, Cazadores Extrangoros (1812) Blue costes and pantalcons; yellow collar and cuts; pewter buttons: black gaiters; shako. ‘rd de Guipuzcea (1812) Brown coatee and pantaicons; cuffs and piping: pewter buttons; brown ordered the Spanish troops with his army to wear white armbands in June 1813, before the battle of Vitto Another clue is given by the Spanish historian General the Conde de Clonard, who published the classic histories of the Spanish Army in the 1840s and 1850s when many of his readers and critics were veterans of the Peninsular War. His works recorded many uniforms and were illustrated. with colour plates and engravings (a number are reproduced in this Brigadier General José Manso, ‘who raised the Cazadores de Cataluna in 1841. This print ‘shows him in the uniform for field officers: a blue coat with ‘scarlet collar, cuffs and turnbacks and sliver buttons. ‘The brigadier’s single broad book). His Spanish infantry of 1812 wore the single-breasted coatee and a conical shako with colou the chin or over th per the order of 12 December 1811 In July 1813 Captain Bragge wrote of Well- ington’s ‘very powerful Spanish Army, all well clothed and equipt’. On the other hand, George Bell's impression at that time was that ‘The Spaniards were not particular about thei coat, like Joseph's, of many colours, seemed most in fashion — and with a ration of beef (raw), or any bit of plunder, stuck on th they passed on their own rollicking, independent way, more like banditti than soldiers.’ Bell presumably describes unsupplied troops who had been long in the field. As the 1815 army register reveals, the Spanish military were in fact quite concerned about their regimental uniforms. dress ~a bayone Line and Light Infantry 1814-1815 The infantry uniforms described in the register published in 1815, and compiled mostly in 1814, reveal an astounding variety of regimental dress. For many units it seems certain that the basic uniforms supplied from Britain were altered and improved with various regimental distinctions. When compared with the 1808 register (see MAA, 321) the changes were startling; the regular infanuy and provincial militias had changed from white uniforms to blue, sky blue and brown. The uniforms described in the accompanying Tables 1 and 2 are taken mainly from the registers; additional unit details are inserted, where known. d ribbon ties which could be fastened under © top (the latter is usually shown), and shako plates as band of silver embroidery edges the cuffs and collar, the cuffs alse bearing the three laces of ‘a colonel. 19Deere Cote ke) \Jaen Blue coatee and pantaloons; but colar and cuts, white tumbacks and buttontole lace; pewter buttons. Badajos. Blue coatee and tumbacks; scaret collar, cus and piping, two yellow laces on coll, yellow lace edging cuts; brass butions; white pantaloons and galters; shako. Sevilla Blue coatee: sky blue collar, cuffs and tubacks, white Piping and lace “instead of lapels pewter buttons; white Pantaloons; back gaiters. Burgos Bive costes and pantaloons; searet colar and cuts, ‘sky blue lapels, white buttonhole lace; pewter buttons; black gatters; shako. Lugo Bive costes and pantalcons; scarlet collar, culls and piping, buff cuff flaps and piping: brass buttons; white ‘waistcoat ‘Oviedo Bive coatse and pantaloons; sky bue colar and cuts, ‘straw-coloured triangle collar patch; brass buttons. Murcia Sky blue coatee and partaloons: scaret colar and cuts, white piping Truxilo Biue coarse; sky bive collar ard cuts, white tumbacks and piping; pewter buttons. [Logrone Biue coatee and pantaloons; sky blue collar and cuts, white piping; pewer buttons; shako. Sighenza Biue costee and pantaloons; crimson colar and ‘cuts, white piping; pewter buttons: white summer pan- taloons; black gaiters; brown greatcoat; shako. Toro Blue coatee and pantaloons; scarlet collar and cuts; ‘pewter buttons: shako made of cloth Soria Brown coatoe; white collar and turnbacks, bive cxfts, scarlet piping: white pantaloons. Laredo Bive coatee and pantaicons: sky bive coller and cuts; brass buttons: (yellow?) lace on chest and cuff fap. COrense Eiue coatee and pantaloons: scarlet colar and cuts ‘Santiago Biuo coates and pantsloone; scavet cola, cutis and piping; brass buttons; black gaiters; shako. Ponteverdra Blue coatee and pantaloons; white coll, piping, buttonhole lace and waistcoat, sky bive cuffs and lapas shake. “Tuy Blue coatee and panialoons; scarlet collar and cuts, white ‘tumbacks and waistcoat; brass buttons. ‘Betanzos Blue costes and pantaicons: scarlet colar and cuts, ‘white piping, cu flaps, sword knot and pantaloons; brass buttons; shako. ‘Guadix Bive coatee and partaloons: scaret cuffs and piping, a lace at the coll, write cuff fap; brass buttons; white or brown pantaloone; black gators; rey grwatcoat; shako. Ronda Sue coatee and pantaloons; white piping: brass buttons; white summer pantaloons; black gaiters; brown grealccat; shako. ‘Cuenca Blue coutee and pantaloons; yellow colar, scarlet cals, white pising and buttonhole lace; pewter buttons, ‘Mallorca Blue coatee and pantalcons; caret colar, cuts and piping; brass buttons; shako ‘Alcazar de San Juan Sky bive coates and pantaloons; scarlet oll, cuffs and piping, straw-coloured badge on the collar; brass buttons Chinchilla Scarlet costes; green colar and cuts, white ‘tumbacks, buttonhole lace and pantaloons: pewier buttons. Obviously @ British Army uniform. ‘Mondonedo Biue costes, pantalcons and cut laps; crimson collar, cuts and piping: white waistcoat and pantaloons: shako. ‘Cludad Real Siy blue coatee and pantsloons: scarit collar ‘and cuffs, white piping: pewter buttons: white summer pan taloons: black gaiters: biue greatccat; shako. Plasencia Blue coatee and lapels; but! collar and cuts, white ‘umbacks, piping and buttonhole lace, a silver lace edging the coatee: pewter buttons; write pantaioons: shako. ‘Monterey Bive coatee and pantaloons; scarlet colar and cuts, ‘wo horzontal white laces on colar, white piping: powter buttons. Compostela Blue costae and pantaloons; scart collay, cuts ‘and sword knot, white piping; pewter buttons, Besides the regiments listed in the tables, there were several others which had disappeared by the time the 1815 register was published. One was the Cortes Rey din Cadiz. Its officers’ uniform is shown in a Denis Dighton painting as a scarlet coat with white collar and cufls edged with gold lace, oso rows of gold buttons on the chest in the British yle (this may be buttoned-over white lapels), white breeches, black hussar boots, crimson sash, gold epauleties, bicorn with red and blu cockade (for the iance with Portugal?) with gold cockade loop and drooping red plume Another unit shown by Dighton but not listed is the Medina-Sidonia Regiment. Medina-Sidonia is a town about 20km cast of Cadiz, and this unit was probably a volunteer or local embodied militia corps, raised afier the French evacuated the area in August 1812 and probably disbanded in 1814. Its uniform was a brown coatee with sky blue collar, pointed cuffs, lapels and turnbacks, the collar with white ‘MS" cipher in scroll, sky blue wings edged white, and pewter buttons; a white waistcoat and breeches, and short black gaiters; a black shako with a half-red, half-blue round badge in front with a round white centre bearing “F VII, and a sky blue pompon; accoutrements. and whProvincial Militia The provincial militia regiments (see Table 3) were mustered out of service from 21 July 1814; but on 16 October that year 42 regi provincial militia were re-established, which must have had a negative impact on the National Militia (see below). Each regiment had eight companies ~ six fusilier, one each grenadier and light infantry. They were now all towear the same uniform — blue coatee and pantaloons; scarletpiped white collar, cuffs, lapels and turnbacks; brass or gold / buttons; shako, and brown greatcoat, Weapons, ments, uniforms and pay when on active service were to be furnished by the government. | nts of Offshore Islands and Presidios | Canary Islands The Can ‘giment was fighting in the peninsula in 1812 and was declared a permanent line regiment in October 1814. Itremained in Catalonia and Andalucia until sent to America in 1818. The 18141815 uniform was a blue coatee and pantaloons with scarlet piping, yellow lapels, pewter buttons, white waistcoat, and shako. The Canary Istands militia detachment in the peninsula was sent back to the islands. Mallorea had many regular units, described above. Ceuta had its regular garrison battalion in 1814-1815, still wearing white coatees with white lapels, waistcoat and breeches, green collar, cuffs and piping and pewter buttons, In March 1815 the regiment was ordered expanded to three battalions, numbered 27th in the line and assigned a blue coat with yellow collar, sky blue cuffs and lapels, red tumbacks, white lace and pewter buttons. SPECIALIST TROOPS Artillery The organization of the field units of the Royal Corps of Artillery during 1812-1815 consisted of five field regiments of foot artillery, four (later six) squadrons of horse artillery, and five companies of artificersartisans. As Spain was gradually liberated additional companies of garrison artillery came on to the rolls — 21 by 1814 The company of gentlemen-cadets went back to One of the handicaps of the Spanish artillery was its reliance on. lian contractors to. move increasingly became a regular operational force the proble addressed by the corps commander, General Garcia Loygorti, who o 4 April 1813 ordered the creation of five French-style “Tren de Artilleria (Artillery Train) battalions; a sixth was formed subsequently the ordnance. As the Spanish Army 1 was Horse artillery officer, 1812. 19 exact unit Is unidentified. Biue coatee with ‘scarlet collar, lapels and tumbacks (and presumably pointed cuts, hidden by the ‘gauntlet gloves); gold butt ‘epaulettes and flaming bomb badge on collar; white waistcoat; red Mameluke-style trousers; black fur busby with red bag and gold tassel; blue sabretache laced gold, red belts edged gold, it-hilted sabre in steel ‘scabbard. (Print after Giscard) Sidearm of the Regimiento Real de Zapadores y de Minadores ~ Royal Regiment of Sappers ar Miners. (Musée de "Armée, Paris; photo R.Chartrand) 21‘Spanish mulot waggoners, ¢.1813; generally ‘dressed in blue, grey or brown ‘short jackets and breeches, ‘the ‘more buttons they can show on thelr waistcoats and trousers, the finer they are dressed in their own opinion’, according to Edmund Weathley. The armies relied upon muleteers for ‘carrying much of their supplies; they wore hired by the British ‘army's Commissariat. Weathley recalled them as ‘rascals (who) ‘carry long knives in thelr breeches and they do not ‘scruple using them at times’. [Note the intriguing bands worn ‘on both jacket sleeves by the ‘centre figure. The types of guns they moved and served were obviously varied. British howitzers were issued to General Abadia’s ‘pretty good squadron” of horse artillery in Galicia at the end of 1811, and more British guns went to the Spanish artillery in 1812 (PRO, WO 1/261). However, most guns to have be Gribeauval system which had been adopted by the Spanish before the war. ig already familiar with this system they preferred it, and went back to it after the war. By ordersof 12 December 1811 the artillery adopted a black shako with a brass flaming bomb badge, red cords and pompon, and red cockade with yellow loop. The uniforms otherwise remained officially the same as before, but there were variations in certain instances (see Plate E). When on Mallorca in 1812 LtWooleombe noted the uniform of the artillery as ‘blue jackets and red facings (lapels — artillery normally had blue lapels piped scarlet) cuff and cape (collar), same cap (shako) as the infantry, red feather’. He noted that of the ariificers as ‘blue jackets, red cufTand cape, red feather and a leather apron.’ This would have been the newly formed 5th Regiment of the corps. Another variation is noted in Wellington's Dispatches for April 1812 when he mentioned uniforms from England for the Spanish garrison of Badajoz including shakos ‘which are to be of black felt, and 400 suits of the same description (blue jackets with red collar and culls) for artillerymen’, See Plate E2 for Artillery Train uniform. Engineers and Sappers The organization of the Royal Corps of Engineers and of the six-battalion Regimiento de Ingenieros (renamed Regimiento Real de Zapadores y de Minadores ~ ‘Royal Regiment of Sappers and Miners’) remained basically the same in these final years of the war. By 1812, however, the officers’ uniform again displayed black velvet lapels - indeed, it may be that many officers of the corps adopted these from 1809 instead of the blue lapels which made them look like artillery officers. From 1811-1812 all had blue coats with scarlet collar, cuffs and turnbacks, black velvet lapels each with seven silver laces, silver turret collar badges, silver buttons, scarlet waistcoat, blue pantaloons, and a silverlaced bicorn with a red plume. A white waistcoat and pantaloons were allowed in warm weather, The Royal Regiment of Sappers and Miners wore the same colours as the Engineer officers but with some differences. They had coatees rather than long-ailed coats, the black lapels were of cloth, and the men’s lapelGuerrillas attack a French convoy. These ambushes wore ‘not mere skirmishes, but sometimes involved thousands of ‘men in well co-ordinated actions. Leaders such as Espoz y Mina Could put forces of brigade strength into the field. The heart of Mina's guorrilla ‘kingdom’ was ccontral Navarra, where the Fronch planted a strong garrison Jn Pamplona. Mina blockaded the city from 1812; even sorties to ‘gather food and firewood could ‘cost the Fronch hundreds of casualties. lace was white; the cuffs had w crossed pick and fascine, and a black leather helmet with blac ‘was the official headgear. Shakos would have been adopted from 1812 bearing the corps’ crowned white metal plate bearing the battalion number and the corps name, with red plumes for the sapper companies, white-tipped red for miners and red-tipped white for pontoneers. The officers had silvered buttons, lace and shako plates. There were obviously ions in the field. In April 1812, for instance, Wellington requested rom England black felt shakos and *200 suits of grey for pioneers’ stationed at Badajos. lace, the white collar badge was the hair crest var Transport The transport system of the Spanish armies was practically n-existent from 1809 to 1812. Traditionally, the services of pack mule ins were contracted out, On 31 August 1813 a regulation brought the ‘ers under more military control. The organization was called the Brigade of Mule ‘Trains (Brigada de Acemileros), overseers (capataces) were militarized, and were to wear a uniform of cither blue or brown jacket and pantaloons; blue, brown or white waistcoat; scarlet collar and cuffs with the letters ‘AM’ in blue on the colla: da round hat with a badge bearing ‘AM’, the number of the army and the number of the brigade. form was a Invalids For all companies except those in Madrid the u blue coat and breeches, white cuffs and waistcoat with pewter buttons. The com crimson collar, cuffs, lapels and piping with # laurel on the collar, and pewter buttons. anies in Madrid had a blue coat, waistcoat and breeches, 2324 ‘The French built elaborate blockhouses to protect the roads in northern Spain; these strongholds could generally resist guerrillas armed only with ‘muskets. So the guerrila leaders asked the British for light calibre artillery. By 1812 enough had been delivered to ensure that the blockhouses were no longer safe refuges and forward bases for contra-guerrilla troops, GUERRILLAS AND MILITIAS At the beginning of 1812 the most potent Spanish forces operating d by the French were the guerrilla bands (see MAA 332 details). They controlled the countryside, limiting real French control to towns and fortified posts. They also greatly hampered communications by daring raids on French convoys in spite of strong escorts. Furthermore —and possibly most important to the British - they proved to be outstanding scouts, providing excellent and detailed information to Wellington as his army advanced into Spain. To the British forces the best known of the guerrilla leaders appears to have been Don Juan Sanchez, who was even seen by Rifleman Costello of the 95th walking ‘linked in arm with the Duke’, Hov most powerful contingent was the small army created by Espoz y Mina wally totalled nine infantry and two cavalry regiments. For this force as for the others, the new challenge was a smooth integration into the Spanish field armies as the national territory was liberated (c territory occupit for more specif ver, the Navarra, which ever to convince them to go home rather than turning to banditry). Planned since December I8I1, the inte achieved in 1813. Mina’s forces became the February 1813 most of his battalions were supplied with British-made uniforms consisting of blue coatees with scarlet collar, cuffs and piping, blue pantaloons, short black gaiters, shoes, and black tronconic shakos d th B , pantaloons and greatcoats. In March 1814 the division received jon was mostly Navarra Division. From ions, however, had brown with white plumes. The 6th a coatees 4,000 blue uniforms, half with red and half with green facings, by which time it was a regular force. General Mina also had a personal escort of hussars wearing scarlet dolmans and fur caps.Urban and National Militia The system of urban militias which had existed up to 1808 was all but completely wrecked during the years of invasion, occupation and guerrilla warfare. In many ways the guerrillas and the armed peasantry replaced the volunteers and militias. The few cities unoccupied by the French, such as Cadiz, generally had a militia organization (sec MAA 332) When Madrid was first liberated by the British a Milicia Nacional Urbana de Madrid was raised from 26 August 1812. This embodied militia, which was to serve as garrison and in the field in the vicinity of the capital, had eight battalions of infantry and a squadron of cavalry. The fantry uniform was a blue long-tailed coat with scarletpiped white collar, cuffs, lapels and turnbacks, pewter buttons, a white waistcoat and breeches, black gaiters, and a plain bicorn hat with a white cockade loop. The cavalry had a light green coat with crimson-piped white collar, culls, lapels and turnbacks, pewter buttons, white waistcoat, light green pantaloons, black half-boots, and a bicorn with white lace edging and cockade loop. In 1814 the government wished to re-establish the pre-1808 organizations, and the 1815 register lists those city units with the old uniforms (see MAA 321). However, a new Milicia Nacional came into being on 15 April 1814. This had a streamlined organization, and was to mobilize all able-bodied men from 30 to 50 years of age in their local units according to a scale based on the village’s or town's populat ‘Spanish infantry uniforms adopted in 1815 were colourful, each unit having blue coats with distinet regimental facings. Left, private of a light intantry regiment; centre, line infantry grenadier; right, line infantry tusllier. (Anne 8.K.Brown Military Collection, Brown University; photo R.Chartrand)village of a thousand souls was to furnish 20 men, increasing by 20 per additional thousand, so that e.g. a town of 6,000 would furnish a complete company of 120 men. These were to be infantry formations, but cavalry companies could also be formed in isolated rural areas. The uniform of the National Militia was deereed to be a blue coatee and pantaloons, with crimson collar and cuffs, blue cuff flaps with three buttons, blue lapels and turnbacks, pewter buttons, black gaiters, and a round hat or shako having a plate with the name of the town or province. Officers and sergeants wore longuailed coats instead of coatees. Weapons were to be furnished by local authorities 1815 and after On 2 March 1815 a massive reorganization of the infanury reduced the number of line regiments to 47 and the number of light regiments to 12, nearly all units being amalgamated into the pre-1808 ‘old’ regiments. Each now had two battalions, each with a company of grenadiers, a company of cazadores and six of fusiliers. The company organization remained the same as in 1812, but there were now only wo drummers (or buglers), four second corporals and 48 privates. The cavalry also went through a reorganization from the end of 1814, the most not effect of the inevitable reduc dragoon regiments to five from 1 June 1815. Thi of hussars, four of mounted cazadores, le jons being the cutting of the number of were four regiments 5 of heayy cavalry including three of cuirassiers, and two of Lancers. From 1815 infanty and cavalry alike adopted a new and claborate system of uniforms. h broke out in Spain’s colonies in South America and Mexico drew many troops across the Adantic. On 12 May 1815 many regiments raised in Spain during the Peninsular ‘War, aswell as old regiments, were allocated to the Americas. These were renamed secondo regimiento of their name, or even given another name. Thus the Leon Regiment was the 2nd Leon in Colombia, while the Murcia Regi the Ist Americano in Mexico. In 1818 the term secondo was replaced by the more appropriate sspedicionarios (expeditionary) to avoid confusion. It was a transformed army in a deeply perturbed country, largely ruined by the War of Independence ~as the Spanish call the Peninsular War. Spain’s previous eminence as a naval power was no more, and thus she lost much of her influence in world affairs. Much of her vast colonial empire was gone by the mid-1820s. Internal politics also remained turbulent, with liberals and conservatives confronting one another in a repetitive cycle of civil wars, which would once again draw French and British soldiers — many of them veterans of the Napoleonic campaigns ~ south of the Pyrenees. The revolutions wh nt bec: Fésiien Fusilior and grenadier, Asturias Regiment of line infantry, 1815. ‘This regiment was assigned sky blue collar, cutfs, lapels and ‘wings; searlet turnbacks; butt piping and buttenhole lace, and brass buttons. Cords and fringes ‘were yellow for fusiliers and red {for gronadiers. (Print atter H.knotel) GRENADIEN.King Jesoph-Napoleon of Spain, €.1809, wearing the blue uniform of his Guard Grenadiers. Joseph powerless at tho hands of his brother, ignored by rapacious French marshals, and despised by Spaniards (who nicknamed him ‘Pepe la botella’ for his alleged love of the bottle). Ironically, he had more genuinely liberal and progressive ideals ‘than Fernando Vil would ever display when he eventually returned to his throne. But all the Spanish people wished was to be rid of the French, whose taxes and depredations ruined an already struggling economy, and whose savagery towards civilians reached unprecedented levels. (Print after Wicar) THE ARMY OF KING JOSEPH-NAPOLEON A factor of the Emperor Napoleon's ‘Grand Plan’ for regenerating Spain was the imposition of his brother Joseph as King of Spain and the Indies. Joseph was not entirely thrilled with the idea, being already happy as King of Naples, but he nevertheless bowed to his imperial brother’s will and started for Spain in June 1808. The reception he received from the Spaniarels was equally unenth French army under G jastic. News of the disastrous defeat of the eneral Dupont at Bailen obliged Joseph and his staff to evacuate Madrid in July. By the end of the year fapoleon had to march into Spain with an army of 200,000 men. Madrid was taken in December, and King Joseph was installed once again. From December 1808 steps were taken to organize for Joseph a ‘Spanish’ army along French lines. French officers and men were transferred to the new force, and Napoleon made sure that the most senior regiments of his brother's Guard were French. Recruiting Spaniards to serve the French cause was no easy task. The effective strength of Joseph's army is open to conjecture, estimates varying from less than 6,000 to over 17,000 men. Of these, about half were actually French or of other nation- alities; most of the rest were Spaniards forcibly impressed into the ranks. The quality and loyalty of such an army could not be high. guerril band. Indeed, a common joke was that Joseph was the clothier of the guerrillas! Some of King Joseph’s Spanish toops served faithfully, but French generals always doubted their reliability. Soldiers deserted at the first opportunity, fully equipped, to It is of interest to note that the Count de Teba, a Spanish officer of the Guard light artillery, remained loyal to Joseph and found refuge in France; and four decades later his daughter ie became the Empress of France. Rank Insignia From 28 January 1809 rank badges for regir Napoleon's army were the same as in the Frer worn by all officers. NCOs, however, kept the old Spanish system mixed with French features: first sergeants had two woollen epaulettes, second serge: t corporals two laces of the button colour edging the collar and cuffs, second corporals one lace: gre ntal officers in Joseph- ch army, epauilettes being nts on adiers had three laces on each cuff and two laces on the collar and grenades on the turnbacks. The firadores which were the equivalent of French voltigenrs had collars of a different and unspecified colour, probably buff, The cockade was ordered by royal decree of 18 August 1809 to be scarlet for all troops of Joseph’s army. Generals On 8 February 1809 the uniform of generals was ordered (in su of a long regulation) to be, fe nary full dress, a blue coat without lapels and let collar, cuffs and turnbacks, scarlet waistcoat and breeches The ordinary uniform was an all-blue coat, white waistcoat and breeches = very similar to that of French generals. Both uniforms had gold with se‘The French army's rapacious behaviour in Spain, trom ‘generals down to privates, was ‘condoned by Napoleon himselt. ‘This ilustration Is based on a real incident, when his Guard Grenadiers ransacked the palace of the Bishop of Burgos in his presence. The soldiers are depicted with an amusingly raffish air; but there was nothing remotely amusing about the fate of many thousands of the common people at the hands of the occupiers, Inevitably, this cruelty was repayed in kind ‘whenever opportunities offered: French stragglers dreaded falling Into the hands of the guerrillas, ‘with good reason. (Print after Jos) buttons, epaulettes and embroidery, For the rank of captain-general three embroidered laces embellished the collar and cuffs, the bicorn had a white plume border and gold lace, and a gold sash was worn. Two laces, a bicorn with gold lace and a scarlet and gold sash identified lieutenant-generals; ., a bicorn with a white plume border and a green sash were specified for Mariscales de Campos. The turnback ornaments were gold lions and turrets. ne | The Royal Guard All were French ept for the Fusiliers, Hussars and Royal Horse 3endarmerie, who were Spanish. The artillery appears 10 have been mixed. The Guard was raised from December 1808 and disbanded on 25 November 1813. Company of Halberdiers Palace guard company which accompanied Joseph from Naples; 70 men in 1809, disbanded in 1813. Blue coat; scarlet collar and cuffs; silver butions and buttonhole lace; white waistcoat and breeches; bicorn edged with white plumes and with a tall red plume. Regiment of Grenadiers Two battalions. In December 1808 some 400 white waistcoats and blue breeches were issued to the Guard, probably to this regiment. General Hugo later recalled that ‘the Grenadiers of the Royal Guard wore the same uniform as the Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, but the breeches, instead of being white, were of a yellowish fabric’, The uniform was thus a blue coat with blue collar, white lapels and white three-pointed cuff flaps, red cuffs and turnbacks with orange grenades; red epaulettes; bi te waist coat; yellowish (buff?) breeches; bearskin cap with cords, red ch with a white grenade, red plume; blue greatcoat; blue forage cap with white piping, orange lace edging tum-up and orange grenade badge edged white in front, Regiment of Voltigeurs Two battalions. Blue coat with buff collar, red lapels and culls piped white, white cuff flaps piped red, red turnbacks; green epaulettes with yellow c rass buttons; wl brass plate, whi escents; brass buttons; white waistcoat; buff breeches; shako with yellow bands and cords, brass plate and green- tipped yellow plume.Regiment of Fusiliers Two battalions. Blue coatee and collar, white lapels piped red, red culls piped white, white cuff flaps, red turnbacks; white epaulettes; brass buttons; white waistcoat; buff breeches: shako with yellow b brass plate and scarlet plume. Regiment of Light Horse Four squadrons. Green coatee, green lapels piped yellow with yellow butionholes, yellow collar and turnbacks: green shoulder straps piped yellow; br: breeches; black hussar boots edged yellow: white gloves with pale buff gauntlets; brass he black caterpillar comb, black fur tu feather; white accoutrements; light cavalry sabre and dragoon musket; green housings edged yellow with crowned ‘JN’ monogram. Officers had gold buttons, lace, epaulette and aiguillette, a helmet with a leopardskin turban and white ph 4 Ieopardskin housings. Trumpeters wore the same as the men but with a red comb, and white plume on the helmet, a yell lapels piped red, yellow-piped red buttonholes, red collar edged with yellow lace and tassel, red and yellow shoulder knots and trumpet cords. Regiment of Hussars Two squadrons. Blick bearskin busby with scarlet bag, red and yellow plume; scarlet dolman; scarlet pelisse edged with black fur; white breeches; brass buttons; ngs edged yellow. Foot Artillery, one company, Horse Artillery, two companies, and the Train, two companies, were organized, equipped and uniformed generally the same as in the French Army. The horse artillery had a gold bomb badge on the collar of the c flaming bomb plate and red plume instead of a busby: Elite Gendarmerie This single platoon had the same uniformas the Gendarmerie of the French Imperial Guard. Royal Horse Gendarmerie Company The Compania de Gendarmeria Real @ Caballo was to have 73 officers and troopers, and was to be the senior unit in the army. Tt was raised f nds, white cords, s butions; white et with pan and red and cellow cords; sky blue hous flamin n 22 February 1811 for service in Madrid, and vanished the following year when Joseph evacuated the capital. The uniform was a long blue coat with blue collar and culfs, scarlet turnbacks, white aiguillette, and pewter buttons; a buff waistcoat and breeches; a hat laced white; bulf gauntlet gloves; high boots; white shoulder belt and waistbelt with square brass square buckle bearing the King’s cipher; black cartridge box with brass grenade; Spanish-style saddlery, with blue housings edged white. Each trooper was armed with a carbine, a sabre and a pair of pistols. Line Regiments, Corps and Militias The troops of the line were raised from late 1808. They were rarely up to establishment, and some were never formed. Some units apparently did although they were rarely deployed alongside the French regulars; the foreign units were the most dependable moderately good service General Nicolas Guye, 1773-1945. He came to Spain as alde-de- ‘camp to King Josoph whom he had served in Naples since 1806. In January 1810 he was promoted ‘mariscal de campo in Joseph's ‘Spanish army (in which uniform he is depicted here), and was also ‘governor of several provinces. Ho campaigned with some ‘success against the guerri ‘of EI Empecinado’ in 1812. Following the French defeat at Vittoria Guye was transferred to the French army and later served In the Pyrenees, the defence of Paris in 1814, and at Waterloo. ‘This portrait was painted by Francisco Goya in September 1810; he wears a blue coat with {90ld epaulettes, embroidery and buttons, and holds a hat with white plume border. His gold aiguillettes denote his ‘appointment as one of the king's ADCs. Around his neck and on his breast are the stars of the ‘Order of the Two Siclies, of which he was commander, as ‘wall as the cross of the Legion of Honour. The breeches aro butf-white, which was allowed In summer instead of scarlet. (Print after Goya) 37Infantryman of King Joseph's army, €.1810; the unit Is probably the 4th of Sth Bn. of the Royal Foreign Regiment, or the 5th Regiment of line infantry. The soldier belongs to an elite company, possibly the grenadiers. The uniform is brown with yellow collar, cuffs, lapels and turnbacks; white pointed buttonhole lace, brass buttons, land white epaulettes with red crescent; white waistcoat and breeches; shake with white top band and cords, brass plate, red cockade and white-over-red plume. White accoutrements; bblue-grey roll on top of knapsack; brass-turnished {Spanish 7) musket. (Sketch by R.Forthotter after Lecomte) Royal Foreign Infantry Regiment Raised from 14 December 1808, Royal-Etranger was composed of Germans, Austrians and Italians. It was to have had four field and a fifth depot bavalion totaling 6,000 men, but actual strength was about 2,000; down to tvo battalions when disbanded in January 1814. The uniforms were most colourful: the Ist Battalion had yellow faced with blue, the 2nd blue faced scarlet, the 3rd white faced scarlet, the 4th and 5th brown faced yellow, (General Hugo, who commanded part of Joseph’s army, mentions this; but also says that the 2nd had white coats and the 3rd blue.) Red waistcoats and breeches, and hats were sent to Madrid in December 1808 for this unit; later issues were probably shakos and white waistcoats and breeches. Royal Irish Infantry Regiment Raised from March 1809. Two battalions deployed in Guadalajara in 1810, The regimental commander and more than a hundred men deserted to the British in 1811. The number of Irishmen in the ranks seems to have been very low; the unit was apparently merged into Royal-Ewanger in about 1812. Brown coat and lapels, buff collar, cuffs, tarnbacks and piping; grenadiers had busby-shaped fur caps, others shakos. Ist Castilla & 2nd Murcia Light Infantry Regiments Raised from March 1809. The Ist Castilla was in the Spanish division attached to the French army in 1811 and 1813. It had 71 off when disbanded in January 1814, The 2nd Murcia app dissolved in late 1812. For the uniform see Plate H. ers and 861 men in two battal s to have been Line Infantry Regiments: Each regiment was to bear the name of a Spanish city, with two field baualions and a third depot battalion. The first two regiments were raised from 23 January 1809, the others following the invasion of ng 1810. Only the 2nd Toledo Regiment appears to have been fully recruited and organized. By mid-1813 only remnants of the 1st and 2nd were left, these being incorporated into the Ist Castilla Light Infantry, All were to have had a brown coat with white turnbacks, facings as listed, white waistcoat and breeches, brown campaign trousers with facing-colour stripes, black gaiters, and French-style shakos with red cords for grenadiers, green for tiradores and white for fusiliers (However, see commentary to Plate H1 for an example of actual issue.) The coat facings were to be: Ist Madrid. carlet lapels, cuffs and cuff flaps; white piping; brass butions. 2nd Toledo Brown collar; scarlet lapels, cutis and cuff flaps; white piping; brass buttons. Appears to have also had, or changed to, sky blue facings. 3rd Sevilla Black collar, lapels and cuffs; yellow pipi 4th Soria Violet collar, lapels and cuffs; white piping; 5th Grenada Yellow collar, lapels and cuffs; brass buttons. 6th Malaga Blue collar, lapels and cuffs; white piping, pewter buttons. 7th Cordoba Red collar, lapels and cufls; brass buttons. Andalucia du rown collai fass buttons. s buttons. Mounted Chasseurs These four regiments of Cazadores a Caballo were to \d men each, an establishment that remained wishful have had a thou thinking. The Ist Regiment was raised from 29 August 1809, lost a squadron at Guadalajara in August 1812, and had 349 men when disbanded in December 1813. The 2nd was raised in 1810, and had398 men when dishanded in December 1813. The 3rd was raised in 1810 having initially 162 men; there were only 148 in November 1813, a month before disbandment. The 4th was raised in 1810, and had about 360 men; it served with Marshal Soult’ at Albuera in 1811, and was dissolved in late 1812. The Ist Regiment was to have had a crimson dolman trimmed with black fur and white cords, green pantaloons, shako and half-boots, a for service a short green jacket with crimson collar, cuffs and piping, baggy trousers. Uniforms for the other regiments are unknown in any detail but they were apparently brown and cut after French chaswurs @ cheval fashion. Heavy Cavalry These regiments, supposed to have been recruited from 1809, existed largely on paper. The Ist Regiment may have been partly raised, and some cadres for the others were probably appointed, but none appear to have been actually formed and deployed. The uniform was to have been: brown coat with lapels of regimental facing colours, edged with yellow lace and with yellow laced butionholes, white turnbacks; yellow aiguillette on right shoulder and yellow shoulder strap on lefi; white waistcoat and breeches; brass buttons; high boots; bicorn laced yellow; white belts with brass buckles; brown housings edged w facing colour lace. Regimental facing scarlet; 3rd, sky blue; 4th, amaranth red; 5th, black; 6th, green. Officers had gold distinctions instead of yellow. Trumpeters of the Ist Regiment wore a rec-overyellow plume, yellow lace edging the coat and accou- trements, blue and yellow wings, and red and yellow trumpet cords. Sevilla Lancers Raised in Sevilla from 4 October 1810, also called Lancers del Duque de Daimacia (the Duke of Dalmatia, Marshal Soult) and Laneems de Aguado afwer the commander, Colonel Alejandro Aguado Ramirez, Formed with the assistance of the Polish 7th Light Horse; sometimes also mentioned as “7th Cavalry’. It was to have had two squadrons, but actual effective strength was only between 42 and 75 men, Served with the French army in the provinces of Huelva and Sevilla; campaigned from mid-1812 with Suchet’s army in central Spain; disbanded in March 1813. For uniform see Plate H.’ ariny, ss were t have been: Ist and 2nd, Guadalajara Hussars Raised in April 1812 by ng of a former guerrilla Satuno Albuin, consi squadron of 100 men; up to 13 officers men when disbanded in January 1814 Artillery Two battalions and independent ga companies raised from 1809; down to one company when disbanded in January 1814. Uniform generally the same as French artillery, but of h brown trousers with scarlet stripes. ‘ecunave prmary researen by Luis Sorando Musas revealed the confor, Soe Pre’ Rapmrto da ances Espancie’ in Passarning # Orgone, Vol, Nos (1957. ‘The Gendarmerie of Spain was formed by Napoleon's orders from January 1810, to control ‘the guerrillas. This corps of 4,000 French gendarmes: detached for service in Spain ‘saw much action but had only patchy success. It was dissolved ‘on the retreat from Spain in late 1013. At left, a gendarme wears ‘2 blue coat with red collar, cutts, lapels, and turnbacks with blue ‘grenades; red epaulettes; pewter buttons; yollow-butl waistcoat land breeches; bicorn edged white with ared plume, At right 1s a trooper of the Gendarmes Lanciors.40 Sapper Battalion Raised as a battalion in 1809 but only a company existed when disbanded in January 1814 Possibly a brown coat, red- piped black collar, cuffs and lapels, yellow lace. brass buttons; white waistcoat, grey breeches. The — Enginee officers who commanded this battalion had the same uniform but with gold Corps buttons and lace and wore gold-laced bicorns. Gendarmerie: 1809 with two squadrons, but down to three officers and 54 men when dis banded in January 1814. Blue coat, red collar edge with white lace, red lapels with white buttonhole lace, red t din nbacks, white shoulder trefoils, pewter buttons; white waistcoat and breeches; high boots; bicorn edged with white lace; white gauntlet glove white belts; blue housings edged white Catalonian Guides ‘The Guides Catalans were raised in 1810 with 50 mounted and 100 unmounted men for convoy escort duty disbanded in January 1814, Blue coatee with blue pointed cuffs and turnbacks, medium green collar, yellow piping edging the pewter buttons; white waistcoat and breeches; plain bicorn; boots and cavalry sabres for mounted guides, black gaiters and muskets for foot Urban Militia In April 1809 King Joseph decreed the levy of Urban Militia units in Madrid and the towns of the nearby provinces of Toledo and La Mancha. They were assis cuffs, piping and sabre knot, wh ront, the cuffs, collar and turnbacks; da blue coatee with crimson collar, 1c waistcoat, and blue pantaloons. This militia was amalgamated into the Civic Militia the following year Civie Militia Following the experiment with the Urban Militia, Joseph decided to expand it to other cities. In February 1810 he decreed the formation of a Civic Militia, sometimes called a Civic Guard, in Cordoba, Jacn, Grenada and Sevilla, with other cities to follow suit, The Urban‘Trooper of the Gendarmes. Lanciers, formed in Spain at the ‘end of 1810 by training two ‘squadrons of French mounted ‘gendarmes in Aragon to use lances and light cavairy tactics, nan effort to mateh the Spanish lancers. They were disbanded in 1814. The uniform was a blue cost, blue peinted lapels piped red, red collar, pointed cutts and ‘chinscales and red plume; white belts; red-over-white lance ‘pennon; blue housings edged with white lace, and white ‘grenade. (Print after Martinet. ‘Anne 8.K.Brown Military Collection, Brown University, photo R.Chartrand) itias already exist Q g were to be amalgamated with the new organization. As before, its ‘sole and special purpose’ was insuring ‘public tranquillity’ — which included, of course, chasing ‘bandits’. (Under the circumstances this phrase obviously embraced both common criminals and patriotic guerrillas.) The Civic Militia was organized into battalions of six companies, each company having 94 officers and men. A town would have one or more battalions; the city of Madrid had ten. There could also be troops of light cavalr The uniforms were to be, for the infantry, a blue coat with scarlet collar and cuffs, blue cuff flaps, and pewier buttons, with white waistcoat and breeches. The cavalry were to wear a blue dolman and pantaloons, white cords, and half-boots. From February 1810 members of the Civic Militia not in uniform but under arms were to wear on their civilian clothes searlet armband and a scarlet cockade, The organization seems to have collapsed in 181 Provincial Militia This organization was supposed to continue the pre-1808 provincial militia regiments. With the countryside often controlled by guerrillas, these units could exist only in the most secure areas, When the could be conscripted these troops were paid and equipped when on active duty. Uniform was a brown coatee with brown-piped yellow lapels red-piped yellow collar, cuffs and shoulder straps; red turnbacks; brass buttons; white waistcoat and breeches; yellowish gaiters (possibly leather?), with sandals; bicorn with red lace and pompon; and white accoutrements, Another type of provincial militia was a company of Migueletes de Navarra de José Napoleon raised from 19 December 1809. They were to wear blue jacket and trousers with crimson collar, cuffs and edging, and a cap with a white company number; arms and equipment were & musket, bayonet, pistol and belly box with 24 rounds. Contraguerrillas These were small independent units in French pay raised especially in Catalonia among miqueletes or mountaineers. Relatively few seem to have existed, and they appear to have vanished by 1813. They usually wore brown round-bottomed jackets with red collar and cuffs, brown trousers with red stripes, red sashes, and round hats with uicolour cockades. Spanish Units in the French Imperial Army Besides Joseph's army a number of Spanish units were raised for the French Army; most were posted away from Spain, for obvious reasons. Joseph-Napoléon Regiment Raised in Spain from 13 February 1809, to four battalions. Served in Germany and Russia in 1812; reduced to wo battalions in 1813; disbanded 25 November 1813. Uniform: White coat, light green collar, cuffs, lapels and tumnbacks; brass buttons; white waistcoat and breeches; shako with brass eagle plate. Catalonian Regiment Raised in Spain from 2 February 181] with an establishment of three battalions. Only partly raised when the Allied victory at Salamanca (12 July 1812) caused its disbandment. Uniform White coat, sky blue collar, cuffs and lapels; brass buttons; white waistcoat and breeches; shako with brass eagle plate. Spanish Sappers Battalion Formed from 18 February 1811, this became the &th French Sapper Battalion in 1812. Nearly all lost in Russia; the remnants became the Company of Spanish Sappers in December 1813, disbanded in May 1814, Uniform was the same as French Sappers, at