THE PORTUGUESE ARMY OF

THE NAPOLEONIC WARS (1)

INTRODUCTION

S
OUTHERN FRANCE, May 1814: the emotionally moved Surgeon
Walter Henry, of His Majestys 66th of Foot, awaits with sadness
Private, 14th Infantry Regiment, the approaching moment when the Portuguese brigade would part
c.1810-1815. Blue coatee and
from the Second British Division. For years, officers and men of both
pantaloons, white collar and
cuffs, scarlet piping and nations had seen and shared all the dangers, horrors, miseries and
turnbacks, blue shoulder straps glories of war; now this most extraordinary period of their lives was
piped scarlet (note characteristic about to end.
Portuguese wing-like shape),
The Portuguese regiments, wrote Surgeon Henry, had secured the
brass buttons; black half-gaiters,
black shako with brass plates esteem and respect of the British soldiers by their gallantry in the field
and white plume. The 14th and general good conduct. The evening before the separation the
(Tavira) Infantry fought at British officers gave a parting entertainment to the Portuguese officers
Bussaco, Albuera, Salamanca,
marked by a remarkable display of cordiality and brotherly affection,
Vittoria and the Nivelle, in the
2nd Brigade commanded initially with British airs sung by the Portuguese and the British singing
by Fonseca and later by Costa. Portuguese in turn; whilst suitable toasts were cheered by all. Early the
(Print after Ribiero Arthur) next morning both armies were on the march; ... and when we came to
the cross-roads where we were to separate, the old fellow-campaigners,
officers and men, embraced and exchanged affectionate adieus: and as
we moved in different directions, loud and prolonged cheers answered
each other in peals and echoes, until they melted in the distance.
Since that morning brought a remarkable military co-operation to a
close, English-speaking historians have often defined Wellingtons
Army as a British force; yet between one-third and one-half of it was
actually Portuguese. It was really a dual army under a unified
command.
Portugals role in the ultimate defeat of Napoleons armies in the
Peninsula was singular. Geography was an important factor:
overland access to Portugal from the east had always been difficult
because of the rugged terrain of her border marches with Spain -
Portugals only (and usually hostile) neighbour. Portugal was thus a
maritime country turned towards the Atlantic; her mariners had
explored and exploited the oceans since the Middle Ages, reaching
India and the Orient at the end of the 15th century. By the early 16th
century the Portuguese had posts and settlements in Brazil, Africa,
India, Ceylon and Indonesia, and her trade routes stretched as far as
Japan.
Portugals history was, for many centuries, largely a chronicle of
her struggle to remain independent, first from the Moors and then from
the Spanish. To counter the invaders medieval Portuguese kings forged
alliances with another maritime nation to the north England. As early
as 1380 contingents of English soldiers led by the Duke of Lancaster
were fighting alongside Portuguese men-at-arms against the Spanish.
Simultaneously, Portugals links with England became stronger as trade
developed between these two outward-looking, sea-going nations. Because

3
of geopolitical and geostrategic common interests they found themselves
allied in most wars, and tended not to hinder each other overseas as their
colonial empires grew. The old saying that Portugal was Englands oldest
ally is certainly true. The English like everyone else since found that
although they shared the same peninsula with the Spaniards the
Contemporary French map of
Portuguese were very different. Many centuries later, French wit and
central and northern Portugal,
author Michel Deon would observe that the Portuguese stood not so where most of the fighting
much face to face as back to back with their Spanish neighbour. occurred. The population of
A deeply devout Roman Catholic country, Portugal was nevertheless Portugal at the time of the
Napoleonic Wars was only
largely pragmatic towards the Protestant reformation during the
2,800,000 souls a tenth that of
Renaissance. A major blow to its independence came when King France. The main gateways to
Sebastian died in 1578 without issue, leaving the empty throne to be and from Spain were at
usurped by Philip II of Spain two years later. This most uneasy of unions Almeida/Ciudad Rodrigo (centre
right) and Elvas/Badajoz (bottom
lasted until 1640 when Joao, Duke of Braganza, raised the standard of
right) though as Wellington
independence, and was proclaimed King Joao IV. The Spanish were remarked, the whole country
beaten in the ensuing war thanks to the extraordinary army raised by was frontier, and its borders
Portugal, and the kingdom was once again free. Portugals naval power were not really defensible. Once
inside, however, the mountains
and colonial empire had been partly lost to the Dutch during the
and rivers channelled invaders
Spanish usurpation Indonesia and Ceylon for good, but the Dutch into only a few practical routes
enclave in Brazil was regained. Other posts in Africa, India and the Far towards the important coastal
East were preserved. Trade with Britain flourished, notably the wine cities. The whole Lisbon
peninsula was fortified in 1810;
trade, which led to British merchants establishing businesses at Porto.
note Vedras (extreme bottom
In the wars of the later 17th and early 18th centuries the Portuguese left) marking the outer extent of
were often found with British troops fighting alongside them in the the famous defensive system.
peninsula, especially during Queen Annes War
(1702-1713) and the last stages of the Seven Years War
in 1762-1763. There was more fighting against the
Spanish in southern Brazil (or northern Argentina and
Uruguay) during the American War of Independence.
In 1793, allied with most nations of Europe, Portugal
went to war against the Republicans in revolutionary
France. A contingent was sent with the Spanish army
into Roussillon, and fought well; but the French
eventually gained the advantage, and peace came in
1795. The Spanish switched sides a year later, but
Portugal remained allied with Britain. With the
enemy suddenly on Portugals borders, Britain sent
a corps of 6,000 men mostly French Emigre units (see
MAA 328 Emigre and Foreign Troops in British
Service (1) 1793-1801) to bolster Portuguese
defences, but no invasion occurred immediately.
It was at sea that the Portuguese struck. In 1798 a
Portuguese Navy squadron annoyed General
Bonaparte so much during his Egyptian expedition that
he vowed revenge: he would make the country pay
with tears of blood ... for daring to offer an affront to
the republic of France.
A sad event at this time was the deteriorating
mental health of Queen Maria I of Portugal. She
was much affected by the executions of Louis XVI,

4
 Marie-Antoinette and countless others by French revolutionaries during
the Terror, and slowly slid into insanity. In 1799 her son became Prince
Regent Joao VI. In a situation not unlike that faced simultaneously by
Britain due to the madness of King George III, Portugal was ruled by
the Prince Regent acting as king with all royal acts being made in his
name.
The government consisted of three state secretariats or ministries:
Foreign Affairs and War (Negocios Estrangeiros e Guerra), Navy and
Colonies (Marinhna e Ultramar), and the internal affairs of the
kingdom (Reino). There were also a number of councils including
the equivalent to a supreme court. Military affairs were run by the
powerful War Council (Conselho da Guerra), set up in 1641, which
consisted of a board of general officers running the daily administration
of land and sea forces, appointment of officers and review of court-martial
findings. Army fiscal and supply matters were the responsibility of the
Assembly of the Three Estates (Junta do Tres Estados). Another ancient
Maria I, Queen of Portugal, department was the Board of Conscience and Orders (Mesa de la
c.1805. Crowned in 1777, she Conscienza e Ordens) which administered the religious and fiscal
became increasingly distraught
needs of the three knighthood orders of Avis, Christ and Sao Tiago (see
by the French Revolution, and in
1799 her son Joao was appointed forthcoming third volume, MAA 356).
Prince Regent. She went to Brazil The opening of the 19th century brought looming threats to
in 1807 and died there in 1816. Portugal. Napoleon resented bitterly her alliance with Britain, which he
(Museu Militar do Porto)
felt to be his arch-enemy. In 1801 he induced Spain to declare war on her
neighbour, contributing a French corps to help the Spaniards. The
Portuguese army was not in good fighting condition, and the British
corps shipped to the Peninsula was much too small to achieve anything.
This War of the Oranges was lost, and Portugal was forced to cede her
border territory of Olivenza in the ensuing peace treaty. As the early
1800s unfolded Portugals political, diplomatic and strategic position was
all but hopeless. The countrys economic links were largely dependent
on its colonial empire in Brazil, Africa and Asia and its considerable
trade with Great Britain; its traditional alliances, diplomatic and military,
were also with Britain. The 1802 Peace of Amiens was short-lived, and
war between Britain and France was resumed in 1803. In late 1804 Spain
also went to war against Britain, and it was only a matter of time before
Portugal would be drawn into the conflict.
In 1806 the institution of Napoleons Continental System, aimed at
locking out all mainland European trade with Britain, created an
enormous national dilemma for Portugal. If she adhered to the French
emperors policy her economy would be largely wiped out in the short
term and there was a risk that her colonial empire would immediately
be occupied by Britain so as to deny its resources to the French or their
allies. Whatever the many similarities between Britains place in Europe
and Portugals, she was not an island, but a nation with a long and
vulnerable land frontier. If Portugal chose to defy Napoleon and
continue her overseas and British trade, she faced invasion by the French
army with Spanish help, the loss of her independence and the fall of the
throne. Attempts were made to find an accommodation, but Paris
considered Portugal to be little more than an enormous loophole for
strategic smuggling. In summer 1807 Napoleon issued his ultimatum:
sever all trade links outside Europe, or be invaded.

5
 THE PORTUGUESE ARMY BEFORE 1807
The modern Portuguese army traced its origins to December 1640,
when the countrys military institutions were set up by King Joao IV.
The next few years saw a number of very important ordinances,
which were amongst the most innovative and sweeping measures of
their time. The king aimed at mobilising all able-bodied men, and
decreed that all aged from 15 to 60 years of age were liable to
obligatory military service according to the countrys ancient
Ordenanzas or ordinances. Faced by the powerful armies of
imperial Spain, King Joao needed all the resources he could muster
by setting up a large standing army. Local officials appointed from the
gentry and nobility who, in time, would become known as
Ordenanza officers were instructed to list all able-bodied men. From
these lists three classes of men were selected.
Joao VI, Prince Regent of
The first class gathered the unmarried younger sons of families,
Portugal, c.1806. Made Prince except for those necessary to work farms and the sons of widows. They
Regent in 1799, Joao proved a were drafted into the royal service as soldados pagos (paid soldiers) in
resilient leader during a most
the regular army. The infantry was organised into terzos of 2,000 men
dramatic period in Portuguese
history. His decision to move the each, the cavalry into companies of 100 troopers. These formed the first
court to Brazil in 1807 eventually line troops.
brought that country recognition The second class required all the exempted men and the married men
as a fully fledged kingdom in
1815, and Joao VI was crowned
able to bear arms to muster into auxiliary terzos of 600 men each,
as King of Portugal and Brazil in organised in every district. This militia reserve formed the second line
1816. His return to Portugal in troops.
1822 prompted the independence
The third class consisted of Ordenanza companies of 240 men
of Brazil, proclaimed by his son
who became Emperor Pedro I. each; made up of older men, these were largely responsible for the
application of the recruiting system. In the event of emergencies they
were to form the third line troops.
The militia and Ordenanza will be examined in detail in the
forthcoming third title in this series, MAA 356. Suffice it to say here
that the dual duties performed by these reserve units were usually much
misunderstood by British and French observers during the Napoleonic
Wars. Their role as reserves and even as a Portuguese equivalent to the
Spanish guerrilleros was much noted. However, the crucial part they
played in the all-important draft system was largely ignored, possibly
because there was nothing quite like it elsewhere.
King Joao FVs orders produced a regular army of 20,000
infantrymen and 4,000 cavalry, one of the largest standing armies in
western Europe at the time. This extraordinary organisation, with its
reserves, insured the independence of the country from Spain. After the
war, Portugal maintained its standing army and continued its selective
draft system.
It should be noted that Portugal, unlike nearly every other kingdom,
did not have regiments of royal guards. The closest thing to a guard unit
was the small company of largely ceremonial archers armed with
halberds which escorted the monarch at court (see forthcoming second
volume, MAA 346). Ordinary guard duties at court and palaces in and
around Lisbon were usually assumed by detachments of marines and of
the 1st Artillery Regiment, which was consequently called the Corte
Regiment (see forthcoming MAA 356).

6
 Over the following decades the Portuguese army followed the
evolution of other western European armies, with the adoption of
standard arms, flintlock muskets, uniforms, linear tactics, etc. Marshal
Vaubans advances in the art of fortification were applied to the
improvement of the many forts and fortresses in the country. In 1707,
during Queen Annes War when Portuguese troops often served with
British troops in Spain, the terzos were redesignated as regiments.
The cavalry and artillery companies were grouped into regiments the
following year.
During the long period of peace between 1715 and 1762 the army
slid into considerable neglect, and was outclassed when Spain declared
war in the latter year. Fortunately a strong contingent was sent from
Britain to help defend Portugal, but reform of the ineffective army was
clearly essential.
In times of national crisis the Portuguese always proved to be
extremely practical, and to solve the problems at hand they sought
Princess Carlota Joaquina, wife expertise and innovations from any country where they could find them.
of Prince Regent Joao VI, was a In 1762 the Prussian armys reputation was at its zenith. The Count de
Spanish princess, the sister of
Lippe, one of Frederick the Greats generals, was given the command as
King Fernando VII who was
also forced into exile by French marshal-general of the Portuguese army, with a mandate to transform it
invasion. Watercolour by Joao into an effective force. De Lippe introduced massive changes, which
Baptista Ribiero. arguably made it one of the best armies in Europe by the time he left in
(Museu Militar do Porto)
1767. Regimental organisation was refined, regulations modernised,
training given priority, and armament improved. Uniforms, which had
been mostly white with cuffs of various colours, were changed to
Prussian-style blue for all units with various distinctive facings.
However, another lengthy period of peace, coupled with a certain
apathy in government, saw the army slide once again into slovenly
neglect. When the French Revolution broke out in 1789 the army was but
a shadow of its former glory. With the elderly and conservative Marshal-
General Duke of Lafoes in supreme command from 1791, things would
As Marshal Junots French army not be much better for years to come. In 1793 a Portuguese contingent
approached Lisbon the royal under Gen John Forbes-Skelater was attached to the Spanish army
family and the court left for Brazil fighting the French Republic; this consisted of the 1st and 2nd Porto, 1st
on 27 November 1807. Note men
Olivenza, Freire, Cascais and Peniche infantry regiments, with field
of the Lisbon Police Guard at the
left just behind the prince, and a artillery. This Portuguese corps in fact fought well, but Spain sued for
back view of a mounted cavalry peace in 1795. Spain then became the ally of the all-conquering French in
officer. (Museu Militar do Porto) 1796, so the threat to Portugal moved from the Pyrenees to her border
with Spain. Although a British force of 6,800 men
(4,300 emigres and 2,500 British troops) was
despatched to Portugal, the Franco-Spanish
alliance made the defence of the country almost
hopeless with the forces at hand. A German
general was again sought to modernise the army;
the Count de Waldeck arrived in 1795, but his
reforms had little impact before he died in 1798.
Marshal-General Lafoes and the commanders of
the British force Gens Stuart and La Roziere -all
bickered with one another. In 1800 the Count von
der Goltz arrived in Lisbon to become marshal,
but Marshal-General Lafoes did not act on his
proposals to modernise the army and would not
even recognise his rank. In 1801 the Portugu
7
 forces, outmoded and with no clear leadership, were humbled in a two-week
campaign by a powerful Hispano-French army which quickly captured four
border cities with relative ease.
The defeat of 1801 convinced the government to make a complete review
of the army. Prince Regent Joao VI appointed a Military Council, presided
over by Gen Forbes-Skelater, to propose reforms. The Count von der Golz was
unable to contribute much more, and left in 1803. Meanwhile the Military
Council submitted a report containing proposals for structural changes in the
army; printed in 1802, this was widely distributed among army officers and
generally well received, but its implementation was cancelled when its leading
proponent, Minister of War Joao de Almeida, was dismissed in 1803. The
following year the Marquis de Alorna, an officer from the high nobility,
continued to press for reforms with support from Gen Gomes Freire de
Andrade. One of the more innovative officers of the army, Alorna had raised
the Legion of Light Troops (see forthcoming MAA 346) during 1796 in an
effort to modernise tactical doctrine.
The proposed reforms were generally accepted and, on 19 May 1806, a
decree brought in sweeping changes to the organisation of the regular army
The Bishop of Porto, leader of and the reserves. The country was divided into three military regions: the
the resistance against the French Northern Division with HQ at Porto, comprising the provinces of Minho and
in northern Portugal during 1808-
1809. One of the most
Tras os Montes; the Central Division with HQat Santarem, comprising the
remarkable aspects of the provinces of Estramadura, Beira, and the district of Porto; and the Southern
Portuguese national rising in Division with HQ at Abrantes, comprising the provinces of Algarve and
spring 1808 was the almost Alentejo. All regular, militia and Ordenanza units were attached to one of
spontaneous re-assembly of the
these areas. The number of regular units remained the same at 24 infantry
army regiments disbanded in
December 1807.
regiments, 12 of cavalry and four of artillery, but there would now be 48
(Museu Militar do Porto) instead of 43 militia regiments and 24 Ordenanza brigades. The regular line
infantry, cavalry and artillery regiments were henceforth numbered. The
reorganisation also touched generals, staff officers, and indeed just about every
function of the army.

INVASION, OCCUPATION & REVOLT,

1807-08
When, in autumn 1807, Napoleon decided to settle the Portuguese issue by
direct invasion, he had good reason to believe that the Portuguese court
and population were divided on the issues and that consequent his
commanders would meet with feeble resistance. The Portuguesi army
was indeed deeply divided. Its most influential senior officer, the Marquis
de Alorna, was openly pro-French, and believed that Portugals long term
salvation lay in becoming part of the pan-European empire planned by
Napoleon. Nor was Alorna alone: senior officers such as Gomes
Freire de Andrade and some intellectuals could see no other hope for
their country. Even Britain, which had withdrawn its contingent in
1802, felt that the defence of Portugal against Napoleons war machine,
augmented by Spanish contingents, was impossible.
Thus, in November 1807, a French army of 30,000 men under
Marshal Junot, assisted by Spanish troops, marched into Portugal. With

8
the Portuguese army still inefficient and its command deeply divided,
the French crushed what little resistance they encountered and
progressed rapidly towards the capital.
At the royal court in Lisbon it was clear to the Prince Regent that
Junot would soon be at the gates. Some of his officers and courtiers
were rallying to the French party, while others were in complete
despair. In these conditions any fierce resistance would simply result in
a needless bloodbath of ill-prepared and ill-led soldiers and civilians.
Instead, Joao VI made a remarkable decision which saved the crown
and, ultimately, saved Portugal. Instead of submitting to the French
yoke he decided to leave for Brazil, with the royal family and any
officers and court officials who wished to follow him. Many did; and on
27 November the prince, accompanied by some 15,000 people,
embarked on a large fleet which sailed out of the river Tagus. On 30
November Marshal Junot entered Lisbon.
Napoleon and Junot were angry that Joao VI had escaped; his
continued freedom in the colonies would provide a natural focus of
loyalty to the legitimate government. French propaganda immediately
cast him as a catspaw of the British who had abandoned his people
instead of embracing the wise values of a Napoleonic Europe, but the
mass of the Portuguese population were unconvinced. By going to
Brazil the prince had taken the only alternative to becoming Napoleons
prisoner, even if in a gilded cage. And, as all Portuguese knew, Brazil
was hardly a place of miserable exile, but a flourishing country of over
four million souls, with large cities and its own armies.

French occupation and the 1808 revolts

For now, however, the Portuguese could only hope that the French A near-contemporary impression
of the French Gen Brenier
occupation would turn out to be a relatively mild regime. It proved to be surrendering to Sir Arthur
nothing of the sort. French generals in charge of major cities and Wellesley after the battle of
provinces behaved like despots, treating the ordinary Portuguese with Vimeiro, 21 August 1808. The
future Duke of Wellington is
arrogant contempt. The Portuguese are an intensely proud people, but
illustrated surely erroneously -
their pride is not manifested in open bravado. They are of a patient, in Portuguese general officers
orderly, quiet and industrious character; typically, they took the long uniform. (Museu Militar do Porto)
view and bided their time.
As for the Portuguese
army, it was simply
disbanded, the regulars by an
order of 22 December 1807,
the militia and Ordenanza in
January 1808. Soldiers
having over eight years
service were sent home,
leaving their arms behind but
keeping their uniforms. The
cavalrys horses were turned
over to French dragoons as
remounts. Only the Lisbon
police were retained to
maintain order in the capital.
The younger men from the

9
 disbanded regiments were
formed into a Portuguese
Legion from January 1808,
and sent to France under the
pro-French Marquis de
Alorna with some of his
officers (see forthcoming
MAA346).
Deep resentment was
quickly brewing in the hearts
and minds of the peoples of
the Iberian Peninsula. The
French occupation troops
behaved deplorably towards
all classes of society. In Porto
and the north resentment of
the French occupation was
particularly bitter due to the
ruin of the regions ancient
The capture of Porto (Oporto), wine trade with Britain. Instead of soothing local feelings by offering new
the strategic harbour city at the opportunities the French embarked on a vicious cycle of repression.
mouth of the River Douro, on 29
March 1809 by the French 2nd
Those unfamiliar with the Napoleonic period may sometimes be
Corps led by Marshal Soult. Six seduced by its costume drama glamour into ignoring the uglier aspects of
weeks later Wellesley would Napoleons regime; in sober fact, the Nazi Gestapo had nothing to teach his
hustle him out again in six police and counter-intelligence agents. At Porto, squads of French
hours, for the cost of only 123
casualties and right back
soldiers would raid private homes during the night or in broad daylight
across the Spanish frontier. to drag away suspected patriots, whose subsequent fate was likely to be
(Museu Militar do Porto) torture and death. General of Division Jean-Baptiste- Maurice Loison
(nicknamed Maneta since he had only one arm) presided over these
cruel proceedings, and his notoriety spread throughout the country. To
this day there is a popular saying in Portugal, Foi para o Maneta to be
brought before Maneta, meaning that one faces a particularly grim ordeal.
Fortunately, the French occupation of Portugal was to be fairly
short-lived. In May 1808 revolts broke out against the French at first in
Madrid, and then all over Spain and Portugal. Officers and men of the
army disbanded a few months earlier spontaneously gathered and re-
formed, as best as they could, sometimes wearing their old uniforms and
carrying whatever weapons they could get. On 6-7 June, after pitched
battles againsi startled French soldiers, the citizens of Porto captured
its garrison with the help of a Spanish occupation contingent which also
turned on the French. The revolts spread rapidly as, surprised and
under-strength French detachments retreated before being
overwhelmed by angry mobs. The corps of students of the University
of Coimbra occupied the forts of Figuera da Foz where, in August, British
troops led by LtGen Sir Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington,
landed once again.
At this point the whole course of the war changed for Portugal and its
armed forces. In the months and years to come the nation would be
devastated by the sacrifices required to repel French re-invasion; but its
army would be transformed into a world-class fighting force.

10
 THE REBIRTH OF THE ARMY
The Portuguese forces re-raised in 1808 were little more than an armed
rabble who did not stand a chance against a well trained regular enemy.
Britain sent money, arms and supplies at once. A new element to the
Portuguese army appeared in autumn 1808 in the form of the Loyal
Lusitanian Legion (see forthcoming MAA 346). Initially raised from
among Portuguese refugees in Britain at the suggestion of the Portuguese
ambassador, and commanded by the flamboyant Sir Robert Wilson, the
cadre of the Legion arrived in Porto in autumn 1808 with some British
officers. Hastily trained in light infantry tactics, the Legion marched deep
into Spain in early 1809. Although it enjoyed good press coverage for its
daring, such a unit could not do much serious damage to the French.
If Portugal was to be held, it was clear that it would take much more to
successfully defend the country than money, military adventurers such
as Wilson, and shipments of weapons and supplies. A modern state of the
The battle of Amarante bridge, a art Portuguese army would have to be built up; it was obvious that a small
strategic crossing on the Douro British expeditionary force could not hold out against the French alone.
east of Porto. From 18 April to 3
The evacuation of Sir John Moores force from Corunna and Vigo in
May 1809 a force of about 10,000
Portuguese nearly all January 1809 following the collapse of the Spanish Armies of the Left and
militiamen or Ordenanza, and Estramadura was a conclusive lesson.
mostly armed with pikes led by
In Lisbon, a government Council of the Regency had been set up to act
Gen Silveira, Count of Amarante,
managed to delay part of Soults in the name of the Prince Regent. While the councils internal political
army. The French finally took the bickering was deeply discouraging to British generals and statesmen, all
bridge, inflicting heavy losses on
its factions agreed on the necessity of having a functioning army.
the badly armed peasants, but
this delaying action diverted Accordingly, Ambassador Sousa in London asked that a competent
Soults attention while Wellesley and respected British senior officer be appointed to command,
marched up from Coimbra.
reorganise and modernise the Portuguese forces a formidable task;
Painting attributed to Joao
Baptista Ribiero. but even to make such a request showed Portuguese strength of character
(Museu Militar do Porto) in the interests of the common cause.

11
 Marshal Beresfords reforms
The officer chosen by the British government was the 41-year-old
William Carr Beresford, a veteran of victories, defeats, captivity and
escape in Europe, Africa and South America since he first distinguished
himself at Toulon in 1793. The illegitimate son of an Irish peer, and a
former commanding officer of the famous fighting 88th Connaught
Rangers, he had experience as an independent formation commander and
unusually spoke reasonably fluent Portuguese. Rifleman Harris of the
95th recalled him as a fine looking soldier and equal to his business,
with a noble bearing, and uncompromising over order and discipline
even in the most trying circumstances. Beresford was not a tactical genius;
but he was a gifted military administrator and a man of great energy. His
efforts were shrewd, tireless, and above all -successful. Although
keeping the regiments up to strength was always a problem, the size of the
regular army rose considerably between 1809 and 1812, from about
25,000-30,000 men to 50,000-55,000. Meanwhile. its efficiency rose in
proportion.
Among the many measures introduced by Beresford was the
institution of printed daily general orders to keep the army well
informed and under strict regulation. The spirit infused into the array by
Beresford from his first orders, given just after the fall of Porto to the French,
is worth quoting: Let the troops be subordinate to their officers Let them
observe strict discipline, and the country has nothing to fear.
Beresford had genuine respect for Portugals military potential, and a
September 1809 letter to Gen Pereira Forjaz was full of conviction that the
Portuguese soldier would become as good as the best soldiers in the
Portuguese patriots, armed with world. These proved to be prophetic words. Beresfords evident
a motley collection of weapons, confidence in Portugals soldiers, coupled with his energetic and
fighting against the retreating
effective programme to realise their potential, won him a reciprocal
French on the upper Douro, May
1809. Painting attributed to Joao popularity and respect. When he passed through Coimbra in January 1810
Baptista Ribiero. crowds of people hurried to see him; according to Surgeon Boutflower,
(Museu Militar do Porto) he was perfectly idolized by the Portuguese nation.

12
 Over the next five years countless improvements were
dailv ordered. Some of the most important measures
included the creation of recruiting depots; the
reopening of the military academy; the reorganisation
of all units and service corps; the distribution of
new weapons and equipment; the grouping of the
line infantry regiments into brigades, and their
dispersal among the divisions of Wellingtons
British army; and the creation of a more
effective logistic organisation. On 1 February
1810 the soldiers pay was raised and a
campaign bonus was instituted. These measures
had a most beneficial effect on morale for the
first time in living memory wages were actually
being paid more or less on time, with less
swindling by treasury officials.
Scores of British officers were detached to
serve in integrated cadres; for instance, if the
colonel of a Portuguese regiment was British his
lieutenant-colonel would be Portuguese, and vice-
versa. Drill and battalion manoeuvres were made as
similar as possible to those in use in the British army. Words
of command were given in English as well as Portuguese so that
the men would understand both immediately; this was vital in battle, Marshal William Carr Beresford
where Portuguese and British units were brigaded together. The British (1768-1854), commander of the
soldier of the day was not overly inclined to give the benefit of the Portuguese army from 1809 to
1820. Born in Ireland the bastard
doubt to foreign armies, but many were impressed by the response of son of the 1st Marquis of
the Portuguese to these reforms. At Thomar in December 1809 Surgeon Waterford, he had entered the
Boutflower recorded that the soldierlike manner in which they went army as a youth and had served
through their evolutions astonished the English officers. They deployed at Toulon (1793), in Egypt (1801),
at the Cape of Good Hope and in
in two ranks like the British troops, and their volley fire became just as the disastrous Buenos Aires
murderous and steady as that of Wellingtons redcoats. Years later, expedition (1806) and, in alliance
Baron Marbot of the French army wrote that firepower had been the with the Portuguese, on Madeira
greatest cause of the success of British troops in the Peninsula, adding (1807). There he had learned
some Portuguese, which he
that Portuguese troops were in no way inferior to the British. improved when he came to the
Traditionally many Portuguese noblemen considered their officers mainland with the British army in
commissions as a birthright. Many were too elderly, vain, ignorant and 1808. He was with Sir John
conservative to be of any use to their country. The new measures which Moore during the retreat to
Corunna. He was a strongly built
were instituted to improve their professionalism struck the officer corps man of great physical courage
like a whirlwind. Officers were now suddenly expected to give the and a hot temper; his irregular
utmost exertions in the field; to be continually educating themselves in features have been somewhat
their profession; to take good care of their men, not only ensuring that flattered here, though the
portrait hints at what was in fact
they were properly provided for but even seeing that they kept a left eye ruined in a shooting
themselves clean and had their clothes mended. Negligent officers accident. He wears the dress
would be severely chastised. For example, in April 1811 the officers of uniform of a marshal according
the 3rd and 15th Infantry were humiliatingly reprimanded in general to the 1806 regulations.
(The Count of Amarante and
orders for imperfect discipline, and those of the 2nd Infantry for their Marquis of Chaves, Porto)
mens unsatisfactory appearance. Predictably, a proportion of older
officers resigned their commissions and were quickly replaced by
eager, energetic younger men.
Equally, rewards and honours were granted to raise the pride and
esteem of officers and men when things went well. On 23 December

13
1810, after being chastised the previous May, the 2nd and 14th Infantry
were praised for their good order and discipline, and officers were
recommended for promotion. Indeed, the armys reputation was
increasing abroad:
At a Common Council held at the Chamber of the Guild Hall of the
City of London on Thursday 9th May 1811 it was resolved
unanimously that the Court is truly sensible of and doth acknowledge
the zeal, discipline and bravery so conspicuously displayed by the
General, Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the
Portuguese Army under the immediate command of Field Marshal Sir
William Carr Beresford which have so essentially contributed to the late
military operations (PRO, AO 16/54/1). Beresfords tireless efforts,
ably backed by many other dedicated British and Portuguese officers,
produced an admirably competent field force the fighting cocks of
the army, in Wellingtons famous phrase.
Sketch plan of the north-eastern
fortress city of Almeida after the
Brigades catastrophic explosion during
The Portuguese line infantry and Cazadores (light infantry) units were the French siege of August 1810.
Some 70 guns were bombarding
organised in brigades from September 1809 to 1814, these usually being Almeida when, on the evening of
attached to British divisions of Wellingtons army. The brigades the 26th, a lucky shell exploded
generally bore their commanders names although the 5th was also in the powder magazine, in the
called the Porto Brigade and were not actually numbered until 13 words of a French dragoon. Not
only the magazine blew up but
August 1813. They were, from September 1809: 1st Brigade 1st and almost the whole city; houses,
16th Line Infantry, 4th Cazadores added from 5 August 1810. churches, towers and palaces,
Commanded by Denis Pack until 19 July 1813,John Wilson until 10 everything collapsed! The earth
was crevassed up to our camp. I
November 1813, Archibald Campbell from23 November 1813. The never heard such an awful noise.
brigade acted independently. This magazine, situated at the
2nd Brigade 2nd and 14th Line Infantry. Commanded by Agostinho centre of city, contained about
Luiz da Fonseca until about June 1811, Antonio Hipolito Costa 100,000 pounds of powder.
Some 5,000 surviving men of the
thereafter. Formed part of the Portuguese Division with Wellingtons garrison surrendered the next
army from 16 December 1809 onwards. day. The letter A indicates the
3rd Brigade 3rd and 15th Line Infantry, 6th Cazadores from 25 old castle, and D the site of the
magazine; the walls were
October to 20 December 1810, 8th Cazadores from 14 March 1811. destroyed on the south and west
Commanded by W.H.Campbell until 29 September 1809, Charles sides, rendering the place
Miller until the end of January 1810, Thomas McMahon until July indefensible.
1810, W.F.Spry until about October 1813, Luiz do
Rego Barreto thereafter. Attached to the 4th British
Division from 28 April to 7 May 1810 and to the 5th
British Division from 6 October 1810 onwards.
4th Brigade 4th and 10th Line Infantry, 10th
Cazadores added from 8 April 1812. Commanded by
Archibald Campbell until 3 September 1813,
John Buchan from November 1813 onwards. Formed
part of the Portuguese Division with Wellingtons
army from 16 December 1809 onwards. 5th Brigade
6th and 18th Line Infantry, 6th Cazadores added
from 5 August 1810. Commanded by W.H.Campbell
from 29 September 1809 until he was killed in
action on 2 January 1811, Manuel Pamplona
Rangel until 14 March 1811, Charles Ashworth until

14
13 December 1813, Henry Hardinge thereafter. Independent until
attached to the 7th British Division on 5 March 1811 and the 2nd British
Division from 8 June 1811 onwards.
6th Brigade 7th and 19th Line Infantry, 2nd Cazadores added from
21 September 1810. Commanded by Richard Blunt until 7 July 1810,
Francis Colman until March 1811, Frederico Lecor until May 1811,
Luiz Inacio Palmeirim until 12 August 1811, resumed by Colman until
December 1811, Richard Collins from 27 February 1812 until he was
killed on 17 February 1813, Frederico Lecor from March to October
1813, John Miller Doyle thereafter. Independent until attached to the 7th
British Division on 5 March 1811, the 3rd British Division from 13
December 1811, reverting to the 7th British Division from February
1812 onwards.
7th Brigade. 8th Line Infantry and Loyal Lusitanian Legion in
October 1810, the Legion replaced by the 12th Line Infantry in April
1811, 9th Cazadores added from 10 April 1812. Commanded by the
Baron Eben until 30 April 1812, the Conde de Rezende D. Luiz until 4
October 1812, George Allen Madden until August 1813, James Douglas
thereafter. Attached to the 6th British Division from 6 October 1810
onwards.
8th Brigade 9th and 21st Line Infantry, 12th Cazadores added from 8
April 1812 but replaced by 11th Cazadores from April 1813 onwards.
Commanded by Jose Joaquim Champelimaud until June 1812, Manly
Powers until July 1813, Charles Sutton thereafter. Attached to the 3rd
British Division from 22 February 1810 onwards.
9th Brigade 11 th and 23rd Line Infantry, 7th Cazadores added from
14 March 1811. Commanded by Robert Hugh McLeroth until 3
November, Francis Colman until 12 January 1810, William Munday
Harvey until he was wounded on 6 April 1810, Thomas William Stubbs
from June 1812 to August 1813, James Miller until November 1813,
Jose de Vasconcelos e Sa thereafter. Attached to the 4th British Division
from 17 May 1810 onwards.
10th Brigade 13th Line Infantry and 5th Cazadores brigaded from 20
July 1811, 24th Line Infantry added 22 August 1811. Commanded by
Thomas McMahon (with some absences) until 20 January 1812,
Thomas Bradford thereafter. Acted independently the 1st and 3rd
Cazadores became an integral part of the British Light Division from
May 1810. There were many other temporary brigades and formations,
of which details can be found in S.G.P.Wards article (see bibliography
in forthcoming third volume, MAA 356). An artillery field battery,
Portuguese or British, was attached to each division. The cavalry was
not as fit to take the field, but some units did serve with Wellingtons
army. The 1st and 7th Portuguese Cavalry were attached to the British
Light Cavalry Division. The 4th and 10th Portuguese Cavalry formed
the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, attached to the British cavalry in 1811-1812.
The 5th and 8th were brigaded with the Spanish army in Estramadura in
1811-1812. The 6th and 12th formed the Brigade of the North in 1809.

Recruitment and training

The Portuguese army was recruited by conscription rather than by
volunteers or recruiting parties as in England. Conscripts were to serve

15
 six years in the regular army. The province was the general area for
recruiting the conscripts, who were first drafted by the Ordenanza and
then trained by the affiliated militia regiment (see forthcoming MAA
356 for more details). From 1806 the recruiting system was refined
according to the three newly created military divisions of the country.
When the army was re-raised in 1808 the same recruiting system
was employed, the Ordenanza brigades and militia regiments being
recreated. On 15 December 1809, in order to complete the regiments, it
was decreed that every man able to bear arms between 18 and 35 years
of age (reduced to 30 from 1813) was to be drafted, with one tenth of
them kept at the provincial depots in reserve. Initially the recruits were
sent at once to their different regular regiments with very little or no
basic training. What they learned with their regiments was better than
nothing, but insufficient to create steady, well drilled and disciplined
units.
Beresford therefore created, in May 1810, a central recruit depot for
the line infantry and Cazadores. The great coastal fortress of Peniche
was selected and Col Blunt, seconded from the British 3rd Foot (The
Buffs), was appointed inspector-general of the recruiting service.
Officers and NCOs detached from the various regiments were posted to
Peniche to drill and organise their men prior to sending them on to their
units in the field. At Peniche they were clothed, fed and given basic
training; this was important as these men, described on their arrival
there as depressed, half-starved, and ill-treated peasants, would be
expected to serve in concert with British units when they reached their
regiments. The manual and words of command for the platoon exercise
were now given in English and Portuguese together to ensure
comprehension of orders throughout the united army. The results of the
training regime were outstanding; but Peniche proved to be swampy and
unhealthy for the recruits, and in 1811 the depot was moved to Mafra
Portuguese infantry overcome
French guns at Bussaco, 27
near Lisbon.
September 1810. Azujclo by In early 1812 the success of the Depot for infantry recruits at
Jorge Colaco, made at the end of Mafra persuaded Beresford to organise a similar establishment for the
the last century. cavalry at Salvatera, under the command of Col John Brown, formerly
(Bussaco Palace) of the 5th Cavalry. The Portuguese cavalry could never be completed as
a totally mounted force. but
this depot trained the,
recruits and their young
horses for those regiments
which were mounted in an
efficient state with the army
in the field.
The efficiency of this
recruiting system was proved
by the fact that in barely two
years the regular army
effectively doubled to an
establishment of some 55,000
men, the largest in Portugals
history. Of this total some
30,000-35,000 were providing
about a third to a half of
Wellingtons field army.
16
 Discipline
The system of discipline was according to the
Portuguese Articles of War, a code dating from as long
ago as 1643 but which was still considered quite
efficient during the Napoleonic Wars. Regimental
courts-martial were preceded by courts of enquiry to
gather evidence. A varying number of officers sat at the
court-martial, their ranks and numbers depending on
the rank of the individual on trial. For the trial of even a
private for a major offence a field officer was to preside
over a board consisting of three captains, three
lieutenants, three ensigns, and revolutionary to British
eyes three sergeants, three corporals, three lance-
Marshal Massenas troops are corporals and three privates. A key officer at the court-martial was the
stopped at the lines of Torres
regimental auditor, the equivalent to the British judge-advocate, who
Vedras In October 1810.
ensured that legal procedure was followed. The findings of all courts-
martial were reviewed, until 1809, by the Council of War; thereafter
Marshal Beresford ordered that they be referred to the auditor-general
(judge-advocate-general), who transmitted dubious cases to the
commander-in-chief.
Major crimes such as conspiracy, theft, wanton neglect of equipment
and disobedience were liable to the death penalty. This was carried out
by firing squad or by the Iberian specialty of strangulation by garrote.
Disrespect to superiors could condemn a man to hard labour on the
fortifications. Feigning illness could get him banished to an African
garrison for life. A host of other minor offences were to be severely
punished, which could mean imprisonment with labour, or the
pancada. The Pancadas de espada de Prancha consisted of striking
the bare back with the flat of a sword; a maximum of 50 blows was
allowed, given five at a time by corporals taking turns. While this
punishment did not tear the flesh as did the British cat-o-nine-tails, Dr
Halliday, who served with the Portuguese army, knew of more than
two or three instances where the poor sufferer had dropped down dead
from a rupture of the aorta, immediately after receiving thirty of these
pancadas.
Marshal Beresford forbade the use of the sword, which was replaced
by a cane. Another practice which he forbade was the habit of some
officers and NCOs of kicking and buffeting the poor soldiers on every
occasion, which quickly disappeared under the new system.

BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF OPERATIONS

These notes list the Portuguese units which served in the main battles of
the war:

1808
1-4 August British troops led by LtGen Sir Arthur Wellesley arrive in
Portugal. 17 August Combat of Rolica; French withdraw (12th, 21st,
24th Inf; 6th Cazad; 6th, 11th, 12th Cav dets.: Lisbon Police Guard det.;
4th Artillery det). 21 August Battle of Vimiero; French under Marshal

17
 Junot defeated by Anglo-Portuguese force. Convention of Sintra (or
Cintra) allows evacuation of the French from Portugal; Wellesley,
though not responsible, recalled to Britain for enquiry. December Fort
Oyapock in French Guyana taken by Portuguese force from Brazil.
Portuguese and British ships blockade the French colony.

1809
January Mixed force of Portuguese colonial infantry and artillery from
Brazil take Cayenne with Royal Navy help, and occupy French Guyana
until 1817.
17 January Battle of Corunna; Sir John Moore killed, British army
evacuates northern Spain.
March (early) Gen Beresford arrives at Lisbon to take command of the
Portuguese army. 10-30 March Marshal Soult invades northern
Portugal, takes Porto (6th, 9th, 18th, 21st Inf, Loyal Lusitanian Legion
det.; 12th Cav det.; 1st and 4th Arty dets; Guarda Real da Policia,
volunteers, militias, Ordenanza).
18 April-3 May Portuguese forces delay French at Amarante bridge on
the upper River Douro (12th Inf, 4th Arty det., militias, Ordenanza).
22 April Wellesley arrives in Lisbon as supreme commander of Anglo-
Portuguese forces. 11 May Combat of Grijo (16th Inf). 12 May
Wellesley retakes Porto (10th and 16th Inf). Soult retreats into Spain.
14 May Combat of Alcantara (Loyal Lusitanian Legion, Idanha Militia,
cavalry det.). (28 July Battle of Talavera no Portuguese presence;
Welleslys British force, with Spanish Army of Estramadura, defeats
Marshal Victor.)
August Sir Robert Wilsons force (Loyal Lusitanian Legion det., 2nd,
3rd Cazad, and Spanish troops) goes deep into Spain as far as vicinity of
Madrid, but is scattered by Marshal Ney at Banos.
(September Wellesley created Viscount Wellington of Talavera.)

1810
24 July Combat on River Coa (1st, 3rd Cazad). 10 August Combat at
Puebla de Sanabria (12th Cav; Tras os Monte Militia units).
During the defence of the lines of
15-27 August Siege and fall of Almeida (24th Inf; 11th Cav det.; Viseu,
Torres Vedras in winter
1810/1811 Wellington lodged and Arganil, Troncoso Militia; artillery).
had his HQ at this mansion in the September French army under Marshal Massena advances into northern
village of Pero Negro. Portugal. 15 September Combat of Fuente de Cantos (3rd det., 5th, 8th
Cav). 27 September Battle of Bussaco;
Wellingtons Anglo-Portuguese field army defeats
pursuing Massena; Portuguese troops behave well
in first major battle of new army (1st, 2nd, 3rd,
4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 18th,
19th, 21st, 23rd Inf; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th Cazad;
Loyal Lusitaniaian Legion, artillery, Tomar
Militia). 1-9 October Wellingtons army retires
within the Lines of Torres Vedras. Massena fails
to break the lines, and retires to Santarem on 14
November.

1811
5 March Massena withdraws from Santarem
towards Spain. 72-22 March Defence of Campo

18
 Maior (det. 3rd Arty, det. Portalegre Militia, Ordenanza). 29 March
Allies take Guarda.3 April Massena and his army leave Portugal, but
quickly re-invade to raise siege of Almeida.
5 May Battle of Fuentes de Onoro; Wellington drives off Massenas
army (3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 21st Inf; 1st, 2nd,
6th, 8th Cazad; 4th and 10th Cav; four artillery batteries).
16 May Battle of Albuera; Beresford, bungling his detached command
of an Anglo-Portuguese corps operating with the Spanish, wins an
unecessarily costly victory over Marshal Soult (2nd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th,
14th, 23rd Inf; 5th Cazad, Loyal Lusitanian Legion, 1st and 7th Cav;
artillery with 12 guns).
25 September Combat of El Bodon (21st Inf; artillery).

1812
8-19 January Siege and capture
of Ciudad Rodrigo (1st, 9th,
16th, 21st Inf; 1st, 3rd, 4th
Cazad; artillery). 17 March-6
April Siege and capture of
Badajoz (9th, 11th, 21st, 23rd
Inf; 1st, 3rd, 7th Cazad;
artillery). 19 May Combat at
Almaraz bridge (6th, 18th Inf;
6th Cazad; artillery).
22 July Battle of Salamanca (or
Arapiles); Wellington routs
Marshal Marmonts army and
French temporarily abandon
Madrid (1st, 3rd, 7th, 8th,
9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th,
15th, 16th, 19th, 21st, 23rd

A naive but spirited contemporary

Portuguese print of the storming
of Badajoz on 6 April 1812.
Wellington cheerfully waves his
hat (left) as red-coated British
and blue-coated Portuguese
infantrymen swarm up the
scaling ladders, and Portuguese
soldiers plant their national flag
or a regimental second colour -
on a tower. Some of the
Portuguese are shown with black
accoutrements.
(Museu Militar do Porto)

19
 Inf; 1st,2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th Cazad; 1st and 11th Cav;
artillery with 6 guns).
12 August Allies enter Madrid; capture of Fort Retiro (7th, 15th, 19th
Inf; 2nd Cazad).
September Blockade of Burgos and assault on Fort San Miguel (1st,
16th Inf; 4th Cazad). Siege fails and Wellington forced to retreat into
Portugal once more.

1813
21 June Battle of Vittoria; Wellington decisively defeats King Joseph
Bonaparte and Marshal Jourdan (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th,
10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 24th Inf;
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th Cazad; 1st, 6th, 11th,
12th Cav; artillery with 12 guns). 31 July Combat of Pirineus (or
Pamplona) (2nd, 4th, 10th, 14th Inf; 4th, 10th Cazad).
25 July 31 August Siege and storming of San Sebastian (3rd, 1 lth,
13th, 15th, 17th, 23rd, 24th Inf; 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th Cazad; artillery).
31 August-1 September Combat on the Bidassoa river; Marshal Soult
forced back to French border (8th, 11th, 12th, 23rd Inf; 2nd, 7th, 9th
Cazad).
7 October The Allied army crosses into France; all its remaining actions
force Soult steadily back.
10 November Battle of the Nivelle (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th,
The battle of Vittoria, 21 June
1813, as presented in a
10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 24th
contemporary Portuguese print. Inf; 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th Cazad; artillery).
(Museu Militar do Porto) 9-13 December Battle of the Nive (or Bayonne) (same units as at Nivelle).

1814
23 February Combat of the Adour (13th, 24th
Inf; 5th Cazad) and Hastingue (7th, 19th Inf;
Cazad).
27 February Battle of Orthez (2nd, 4th, 8th,
9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 21st, 23rd Inf; 1st, 2nd,
3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th Cazad; artillery).
13 March Combat of Viella (4th Cav).
10 April Capture of Toulouse (8th, 9th, 11th,
17th, 21st, 23rd Inf; 1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 11th
artillery). News of Napoleons abdication
arrives following day.

UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

British material aid
Britain had supplied Portugal with arms at various dates. Between 1796
and 1801 these shipments totalled some 32,500 muskets, 17,000
carbines (including 8,000 sergeants), 6,300 pistols and 16,500 swords
(including 3,500 for infantry and drummers), and 20 brass 12-pounder
field guns with ammunition, accoutrements and equipments (PRO, WO
1/223). However, it was from 1808 that this British government aid
became extraordinary; money, arms of all sorts, clothing, and
equipments of all types were sent in great quantity
To that end, in November 1808 Britain agreed to provide not only the

20
money to pay 10,000 men, but also all arms,
clothing and equipment for that number. This
was doubled to 20,000 men in 1809, and
increased yet again to 30,000 by January 1810
in addition to providing the 130,000 necessary
to increase the abvsmal pay of Portuguese
officers. It was, to quote the House of Commons
papers, a great and generous effort from an
already much indebted British Treasury.
It was an extraordinarily expensive policy for
a government already deep in debt whose
spending was practically out of control due to
military operations and support to other
countries. It is therefore hardly surprising that in
February 1809 the wisdom of further aid to
Portugal was questioned in the House of Lords,
raising the possibility of the positive refusal of
such aid however visionary the project of
defending Portugal by English money and
English troops against the united forces of the whole Continent. When The Duke of Wellington, c.1810-
it came to a vote the policy for further aid was carried by 124 to 94, 1815, in the dress uniform of a
marshal in the Portuguese army
which shows there were substantial reservations on the issue. according to the 1806 regulations.
Nevertheless, the aid to Portugal rose from 600,000 to 2,000,000. The Wellingtons Portuguese uniform
opposition to such spending continued; and in 1812 Lord Castlereagh is displayed at Apsley House in
ruled that the value of all arms, clothing and equipments would London. Print after Pellegrini.
(The Count of Amarante and
henceforth be charged against the Portuguese subsidy. Portugal still had Marquis of Chaves, Porto)
to pay for her own regular troops above the 30,000 men paid by Britain,
as well as the militia, the Ordenanza and various other establishments,
plus colonial troops and the navy. It was a tall order for a country with a
modest peacetime economy which had been practically ruined by trade
sanctions and repeated invasions. Revenue was moderate even from
something as basic as the tax on salt cod a staple element in the
countrys diet which brought in less than 30,000; so in spite of
Britains open-handed aid there were real hardships due to lack of
funds. Fortunately this burden could be to some extent off-set against
the wealth of Portugals colonies, especially Brazil, which could fund
their own defence and naval expenses and also contributed towards the
war effort in Europe. The reduction of the British subsidy in 1812 was a
disappointment to the Portuguese government, but was balanced by
increased revenue now that the war was finally being fought entirely
outside the national borders. Some Portuguese ministers started
suggesting that the Portuguese army in the field should no longer be
brigaded with British troops but should form a distinct corps.
Wellington managed to counter this view, but it was an indication that
British influence over Portuguese policy would, in time, come to an end.

Weapons and accoutrements

In concrete terrris, besides pay and supplies, the amount of arms
furnished was impressive. In June 1808, 2,200 muskets and 500 sea
service sabres were sent from Gibraltar. Nearly 33,000 muskets, 120
rifles, over 8,000 cavalry swords and 17,000 pikes were sent from

21
 England that July and August, and a further 10,000 muskets in
December. In January 1809 Gen Sir John Cradock wrote of the
Portuguese army that except for about 10,000 English arms, I believe
they have no other... Many of their regiments of cavalry are without
horses, without pistols, swords, &c. Their battalions are not half
clothed... (PRO, WO 1/232). Consequently more arms were sent,
especially in 1809 and 1810. In all, between 1808 and 1814, Portugal
received about 160,000 muskets, 2,300 Baker rifles, 3,000 cavalry
carbines, 7,000 pistols and some 15,000 cavalry swords. Ordnance was
also furnished.
Accoutrements were also supplied from Britain. Although
Portuguese soldiers are consistently shown with white buff
accoutrement belts, especially by modern illustrators, these were in fact
mostly of black leather. An initial 10,000 sets of black accoutrements
The cockades worn on the Duke
of Wellingtons bicorn hat during
were supplied in June 1808, another 10,000 black sets in May 1809, and
the Peninsular War. Two smaller a further 20,000 black sets in February 1810. These 40,000 sets of black
cockades one scarlet with a accoutrements were perfectly new, of the established (British) pattern
cross, for Spain (left), and one and made to hold 60 rounds of ball cartridges. In addition to these,
red and blue, for Portugal (right)
were fastened to the larger
10,000 sets of used accoutrements were sent in August 1810, 6,000 of
black British cockade either side black and 4,000 of buff leather; these were selected from those returned
of the gold cord. by (British) volunteer corps and (the boxes) were of varying sizes and
(Print after Gibbs) patterns principally made to hold 18 rounds. In 1813, another 20,000
sets were supplied along with the muskets shipped that year and a
further 20,000 in reserve; the colour of the belts was not mentioned, but
all were to have 60 round pouches and belts with plain breast plates, as
well as musket slings (PRO, WO 1/848 and 257). There were also
shipments of cavalry accoutrements, as well as smaller quantities to
individual corps such as the Loyal Lusitanian Legion. In all, in excess of
150,000 sets of accoutrements were shipped from Britain to Portugal
during the war. The mens shoulder belt plates appear to have been
generally of brass, oval with a stud and two hooks at the back and
without inscriptions. Equipment such as knapsacks, haversacks and
canteens were also sent from Britain in great numbers; these were
similar to those of the British army.

Clothing
Material for about 190,000 suits of clothing was sent from England
between 1808 and 1815. Very little of this apart from some green
uniforms for the Loyal Lusitanian Legion appears to have been
shipped in 1808. In 1809, over 32,240 suits were sent. Of these, 2,240
were green for the Loyal Lusitanian Legion; 20,000 were grey jackets
and pantaloons; and 10,000 were unmade suits in materials, along with
53,000 pairs of shoes, 5,700 pairs of boots, 10,000 black leather stocks
and 30,000 shakos with plumes.
The supply and quality of the grey clothing was very ill received by
Beresford, who complained to Wellington in October 1809 about the
20,000 suits of clothing sent out to the Portuguese Army, very little
benefit has been derived from the white cloth and grey uniforms /made
of great coat cloth/ not being at all applicable and they are lying here.
Wellington in turn wrote to Lord Liverpool that all of these 20,000
(suits) were useless, and orders have now been given to send them
elsewhere. Lord Bathurst did not want them back in England, and

22
instructed that they be sent to Spain where grey clothing will be no
objection, except for a couple of thousand suits already in use. This
meant that another 30,000 suits, this time of blue cloth, had to be swiftly
shipped to Portugal.
Blue clothing was to be sent in early 1810. It was done without using
the usual tender system, so as to hasten delivery, but again the resulting
uniforms were disappointing. In July 1810 Beresford wrote to
Wellington that the quality of these clothes was below that of British
soldiers, the sizes were often too small, and the facing colours were
often put on wrongly so that the coatees had to be here again undone,
and remade up all of which was a waste of money. This caused more
recriminating correspondence between officials and contractors in
Britain, the latter defending the quality of their products and the
swiftness of their services, and somewhat questioning Beresfords
LtGen Francisco de Paula Leite;
judgement (PRO, WO 1/242, 244 and Dispatches V). this experienced, efficient, active
The ever-energetic Beresford now came up with a stream of detailed and ingenious general officer
instructions and memoranda as to the nature of Portuguese infantry was held in high regard by all
uniforms. The clothiers had obviously not been too careful with the memoirists who met him. In
1810, during the French invasion
colour and manufacture of the previous batches; they were now to regret by Marshal Massena, he was
it. Beresford required all materials for all coatees, waistcoats and given the command of the great
pantaloons to be sent out unmade, as the Portuguese were perfectly fortress of Elvas, the key to
capable of making the suits up properly after delivery. This caused some south-eastern Portugal. Of all the
Portuguese generals, Oman
grumbling by contractors whose profits would be cut by this system, but wrote, Leite was the one whom
Wellington and Liverpool prevailed, and supply officials had to most Wellington most trusted.
readily comply in October 1810 (PRO, WO 1/1120). From that time on Generals below the rank of
the material only was sent to Portugal for making the coatees, marshal wore gold bullion
epaulettes with silver stars on
waistcoats, trousers and half-gaiters on the spot. The buttons, stocks, the straps; cf Plate C.
shirts, short stockings and shoes were made in Britain and sent out. (Museu Militar do Porto)

The 1806 Uniform Regulations

The blue, somewhat Germanic-looking uniform of the Portuguese army
introduced in the early 1760s was part of Count de Lippes reforms. In
the 1790s the coats were still cutaway with turned-down collars and
rather small hats, while other nations were adopting standing collars and
large bicorn hats. Fashion seems to have caught up with some of the
Portuguese military by about 1800, as there is evidence of standing
collars, coats closing at the waist, and bicorns. Officers also adopted
epaulettes, apparently during the 1780s. Gorgets were gold or silver as
per the button colour.
Cockades were ordered to be black from 1764 to 1796. In the late
1780s some green and white cockades were also seen. From 7 January
1796 the cockades were ordered to be scarlet and blue. Portuguese
cockades were usually of a bow shape.
The reforms ordered on 19 May 1806 included sweeping and
innovative dress regulations. The smart new uniform consisted of a
single-breasted coatee, with a becoming high-fronted shako festooned
with cords and with a plume on the left side for foot troops, and helmets
for cavalry. Collar and cuffs were of the corps facing colour, while the
piping and turnbacks were according to its military region. All regular
units now had yellow metal buttons and insignia. The rank badges were
as follows:
Colonel Two gold scale epaulettes with gold bullion fringes.
Lieutenant-colonel Right shoulder, gold scale epaulette with gold bullion
23
21
 fringes; left shoulder, gold scale epaulette with gold strand fringes.
Major Right shoulder, gold scale epaulette with gold strand fringes; left
shoulder, gold scale epaulette with gold bullion fringes.
Captain Two gold scale epaulettes with gold strand fringes.
Lieutenant Right shoulder, gold scale epaulette with gold strand fringes;
left shoulder, gold scale epaulette without fringes.
Sub-lieutenant Right shoulder, gold scale epaulette without fringes; left
shoulder, gold scale epaulette with gold strand fringes.
Ensign or cornet Two gold scale epaulette straps without fringes.
First sergeant or quartermaster sergeant Two brass scale epaulettes
with yellow silk fringes.
Second sergeant, drum-major or trumpet-major Right shoulder, brass
scale epaulette with yellow silk fringes; left shoulder, brass scale
epaulette without fringes.
Third sergeant of infantry or artillery Right shoulder, brass scale
epaulette without fringes; left shoulder, brass scale epaulette with
yellow silk fringes.
Corporal Two yellow laces above each cuff.
Lance-corporal One yellow lace above each cuff.
Surgeon-majorT-wo narrow gold laces intertwined to form a chain pattern
General in the 1806 dress chevron on upper sleeve, point up, touching the top of the sleeve.
uniform; and general officer in
As time passed, some changes to the NCOs rank badges appeared.
undress, with embroidery at
collar and cuffs only cf Plate C. Instead of epaulettes, British-style chevrons were seen on the upper
(Museu Militar do Porto) arm with three or four bars of gold lace, according to the fantasy

24
 1: Private, 1st Olivenza Infantry Regt, c.1793-95
2: Officer, 2nd Porto Infantry Regt c.1793-95
3: Drummer 1st Porto Infantry Regt c.1793-95

1 2 3

A
1: Officer, Viana Infantry Regt, c.1800
2: General, c.1793-1805
3: Officer, Campo Maior Infantry Regt c.1801

1 2 3

B
 1: Lieutenant-general, full dress, c.1806-15
2: Lieutenant-general, undress, c.1806-15
3: Brigadier-general, full dress, c.1806-15

1 2

C
1: Trooper, Corps of Mounted Guides, c.1808-14
2: Captain, Quartermaster-Generals Dept, c.1806-15
3: Aide-de-camp, c.1811-15

1 2 3

D
 1: Drummer, 21st Infantry Regt, c.1806-08
2: Captain, 24th Infantry Regt, c.1806-10
3: Grenadier, 6th Infantry Regt, c.1806-08

1 2 3

E
1, 2 & 3: Infantry fusiliers in British-supplied slop clothing, 1809-10

3 1

F
 1: Corporal, Light Coy., 9th Infantry Regt, c.1810-15
2: Drum-major, 2nd Infantry Regt, c.1810-15
3: Sub-lieutenant, 11th Infantry Regt, c.1810-15

2 3
1

G
1: Grenadier-sergeant, 23rd Infantry Regt, c.1813-15
2: Officer, greatcoat, 13th Infantry Regt, c.1810-15
3: Sapper, 16th Infantry Regt, c.1813-15

1 2 3

H
of commanders. Marshal Beresford ordered this stopped and re-issued
the 1806 regulations for the rank badges of NCOs and privates on 24
March 1813.
Regarding hairstyles, Portuguese officers and men were generally
clean shaven during the Peninsular War. The exceptions were
grenadiers and Cazadores, some of whom were reported or
illustrated with moustaches, although this French-inspired fashion
was not universal. Sappers had full sets of moustaches and beards,
as was traditional in most armies.

General Officers and Staff

The highest rank in the Portuguese army was that of marshal-
general, followed by marshal; general of infantry, of cavalry or of
artillery; lieutenant-general, marechal de campo (major-general), and
brigadier-general. These titles were brought in by the Count de Lippe
from 1762 to replace the ancient titles such as Sargento Mor de
Batalha (major-general) used until then. In 1809 the Duke of Col Luis Machados de Mendoza,
Alencastre Infantry Regiment,
Wellington was made the marshal-general of the Portuguese army by c.1805. The regimental uniform
Joao VI, the supreme rank which gave him the necessary authority as was a blue coat with blue collar,
commander-in-chief of Allied forces. The marshal of the Portuguese white lapels, cuffs and
army was William Carr Beresford; this was the highest executive rank turnbacks, and gold buttons.
This unit became the 16th (Vieira
in that force. In 1812 there were two generals, 15 lieutenant-generals Telles) Regiment during the
(one British), ten major-generals (one British) and 27 brigadier-generals reforms of 1806; cf Plate H3. The
(11 British), giving a total of 56 general officers of whom 43 were 16th fought in Denis Packs 1st
Portuguese. Brigade at Porto, Ciudad
Rodrigo, Salamanca, Burgos and
Uniforms The dress worn by Portuguese general officers before the Vittoria, alongside the 1st
beginning of the 19th century was vaguely defined. The first regulation Infantry and 4th Cazadores.
appeared in 1762 but mostly concerned rank distinctions. A marshal had
three fingers-wide gold lace buttonholes and gold buttons on the coat
and waistcoat. Lieutenant-generals had two gold laces three fingers
wide edging the coat and its cuffs and the waistcoat. A marechal de
campo (major-general) had one such lace. Brigadier-generals had a
plainer gold lace two fingers wide. An epaulette of gold cord might
also be worn. The uniform as such appears to have been an all-blue coat
with buff or white waistcoat and breeches. According to,portraits of
generals, these instructions were interpreted freely see Plate B.
The 1806 regulations for general officers were very detailed. They
even included plates showing in detail the types of embroidery, lace,
buttons, weapons, etc to which each rank was entitled. There were two
types of uniforms: dress and undress. The dress uniform was an all-
blue coat with long tails which were not turned back, gold piping edging
the collar, cuffs, horizontal pockets, front closure and back vent, gold
buttons and buttonhole lace. The uniform was completed by a red sash
with silver tassels; white waistcoat, breeches and stockings; gold-
buckled shoes or black high boots; a bicorn without lace (many portraits
show gold lace, however) and with white plume edging from end to end,
gold cord and cockade loop. Dress horse housings were red edged with
gold lace and embroidery. Embroidery and epaulettes were according to
rank:
Marshal-general The uniform coat and waistcoat were edged with
the most elaborate and richest palm leaf embroidery, the skirts being
almost covered. No epaulettes nor aiguillettes.

33
 Marshal The uniform had rich palm leaf
embroidery, but not quite so elaborate; it
covered much of the collar, the chest and much
of the sides of the skirt.
General Palm leaf embroidery covering much of
the collar, edging the chest and the sides of the
skirt. One gold cord epaulette on the right
shoulder supporting a very rich and elaborate
gold aiguillette with gilt tips.
Lieutenant-general Less elaborate palm leaf
embroidery. Three rows of embroidery on each
cuff. Two gold epaulettes, each with three silver
stars on the strap.
Marechal de campo (major-general) Similar but
narrower palm leaf embroidery. Two rows of
embroidery on each cuff. Two gold epaulettes,
each with two silver stars on the strap.
Brigadier-general Wide gold lace edging the
collar, cuffs, pockets, front closure and back
vent. Two gold epaulettes, each with one silver
star on the strap.
War Council (Conselheiros de Guerra) Generals
who belonged to the kingdoms War Council
had three chain-lace embroidered chevrons with
a button at the centre of each, worn points-down
Officer of Engineers (left) and above the cuff on the left sleeve only.
officer of 16th Infantry Regiment, Inspectors General officers who were inspectors had an epaulette on
1808-1809. In this print after their left shoulder which had three, long flat laces ending in thin fringes
William Bradford and only here
the colour down the front of the
instead of bullion.
infantry officers coatee is shown Governors General officers who were governors wore their generals
as if it were wide lace rather than uniform.
regulation piping. However, The undress uniform for generals consisted of an all-blue coat with
some other details are
convincing cf Plate E2. The
white piping and turnbacks; eight gold buttons on the front and three to
engineer is shown in a double- each vertical pocket but none on the cuffs; and blue and gold turnback
breasted coat instead of having ornaments. Only the collars and cuffs were embroidered, with the same
the single row of nine buttons pattern of gold palm leaf lace as on the dress coat appropriate to each
specified in Portuguese sources.
rank; and epaulettes of rank were worn. Brigadier-generals had,
however, flat gold lace rather than embroidery edging their coat collar
and cuffs. Generals could also wear in undress a white waistcoat, blue
breeches, black high boots, and a bicorn laced with wide gold lace and
edged with white plumes from end to end, with gold cord and cockade
loop. Brigadier-generals had no edging plume to their hats, but a
standing white plume instead. Horse housings for undress were blue
edged with gold lace.
Generals who were colonels of regiments could wear these
distinctions on their regimental uniforms but, in practice, it appears that
few did.
A note must be added about the well-known dislike of many British
officers when on campaign for any uniform in favour of more
comfortable and practical travelling dress. The example started at the
top. Wellington, the commander-in-chief, usually wore his famous three
cockades (see illustration) on a plain hat, and a common civilian blue

34
coat or frock coat, with a grey greatcoat added at
Bussaco. But his Portuguese soldiers would
recognise and cheer him nonetheless; at San
Sebastian, dressed in a grey frock and grey
pantaloons with his low bicorn covered in an
oilskin, some Cazadores instandy recognised
him and shouted Douro! Douro! the
nickname the Portuguese gave him.
Marshal Beresford was fond of uniform fuss
and feathers when in Lisbon, where he would
be seen riding the streets with a glittering suite
of staff officers, but in the field it was another
matter. At Salamanca he wore a blue civilian
frock coat with a plain white waistcoat. He also
received a greatcoat from England in February
1810. (See also Michael Barthorp, Wellingtons
Generals, MAA 84.) It seems that many of the
British officers seconded to the Portuguese army
followed suit and, no doubt, some Portuguese
officers must have opted for comfort as well.
Beresfords orders to his army insisted on the
wear of proper uniforms, yet he turned a blind
eye for his own ADC, who did not have a
Portuguese uniform for years.

General Staff of the Army

The Estado Mayor do Exercito included various grades of adjutants, Infantry officer: an engraving
quartermasters, inspectors and aides-de-camp to general officers. The after the 1806 dress regulations
showing the front and the back
adjutant-general had four deputies and six assistant deputies, six
of the uniform.
divisional deputies and 18 brigade majors. The officers attached to the Note the six buttons and three
quartermaster-general became a separate department from 1809, but lines of piping around the central
there remained about 60 or 70 officers who were mostly orderlies or rear vent of the coatee; and the
oval plate fixed high on the front
aides-de-camps (ADC). Among these officers was Capt William Warre,
of the barretina shako.
appointed to be Marshal Beresfords senior ADC. Warre was replaced
in May 1812 by Capt William Sewell, who held that appointment until
April 1814. Beresford also had five Portuguese and another British
ADC; the other generals had from one to six ADCs each.
The headquarters of the six provinces and the district of Porto also
each had a general commanding, with ADCs and a military secretary.
Each infantry division was to have an assistant to the adjutant-general,
an assistant to the quartermaster-general; each brigade, a brigade-major
and an assistant brigade-major.
UniformThere are no known regulations before 1806. The staff officers
appear to have worn their regimental or corps uniforms while attached
to the staff. By the 1806 regulations, they were assigned a blue coat
with blue collar and cuffs, white piping and turnbacks, three gold chain-
pattern laces to each cuff, two at each side of the collar and a slip of lace
to each turnback, gold buttons, white breeches, and a bicorn hat laced
gold with mixed blue, white and gold cord and a white-over-scarlet
plume. They were to be armed with a sword only. See Plate D for some
variations on these regulations.

35
 Quartermaster-Generals Department
The Quarteis Generaes was originally part of the
General Staff of the Army. The Portuguese army
being relatively static in peacetime, the office of
quartermaster-general was not too crucial and
went to a superannuated general officer at court.
On the rare occasions when the army took the
field, engineer officers would be detached to
assume the duties as Deputados do Quarteis
Generaes.
From 1808 Portuguese troops were
constantly in the field, and in early 1809
Marshal Beresford appointed Benjamin
DUrban to establish a distinct department.
DUrban set it up along the lines of the British
QMGs Department with the assistance of
several British as well as Portuguese officers.
The quartermaster-general had four deputies, 12
assistants and 12 deputy assistants. The
Portuguese officers were most enthusiastic, and
became so proficient that DUrban and other
Britons could be appointed to other duties in
1811. The department worked closely with its
British counterpart for the rest of the Peninsular
War. Uniform See Plate D.

The Corps of Mounted Guides

This unit was raised in Portugal from 26
September 1808 to act as guides and orderlies
to the British generals and their staff. Initially
the Corps of Guides only had a sergeant, a
corporal and 18 troopers. It was commanded
from 1808 to 1814 by Major (later LtCol)
Infantry private: front and rear George Scovell, seconded from the QMGs Department. Wellington
views of the uniform in an later mentioned that when he took command of the army in April 1809
engraving after the 1806 dress
regulations.
he formed a Corps of Horsemen then denominated the Corps of Guides
which was placed under the command of an officer of the (British)
Quartermaster-generals Department (PRO, WO 1/257) it was
actually already in existence as the small troop described above.
Wellington rapidly expanded and transformed it into a real military
intelligence corps at the service of the leaders of the Anglo-Portuguese
army in the field, and it was indeed attached to the British QMGs
Department. Some 15 officers (including 12 Portuguese) were
appointed to the corps between 25 April and 3 June 1809; many more
enlisted men were also added and, in 1813, the corps had 12 officers
and 193 men. In 1808-1810 the corps was largely Portuguese, its
officers being generally students of the University of Coimbra. All
were to speak both English and Portuguese. Later recruits were
generally of foreign deserters and Spaniards in order to gather
information for Wellingtons army in Spain and southern France.
They also took advantage of the semaphores in the Peninsula. In the
1812-1814 campaigns the Corps of Mounted Guides was increasingly
tasked with transmission of despatches, and also became more involved
36
in provost duties. This corps is somewhat hard to classify as it was not
listed on the official establishment of either the Portuguese or the
British forces. As it was initially raised in Portugal with Portuguese
personnel, we have included it with the Portuguese forces. It was
probably disbanded in the middle of 1814.
Uniform The clothing issued in 1808 was obviously in the style of the
light dragoons. Its complete suits included helmets, a pelisse the same
as the hussars, and boots. Stable dress included a red stable shirt,
trousers, shoes with laces (PRO, WO 37/10). The guides were described
in 1813 by Francis Larpent as dressed in scarlet jackets looking more While this print after a
regular than most Spanish regulars and not unlike our own volunteer contemporary watercolour of
Portuguese infantrymen of c.
yeomanry cavalry with an air of consequence. This certainly indicates 1810-15 reproduces too dark to
that the style was indeed that of the light dragoons before 1812-1813, show much detail, they definitely
featuring the Tarleton helmet and the jacket trimmed with cords. It wear the British-style stovepipe
would also seem to indicate that the guides wore the colours of the shako which began to replace the
barretina in 1809-10. The original
British QMs Department: scarlet faced with blue, with white or silver upper plate and lower band
buttons and lace see Plate D. in brass have been retained.

THE LINE INFANTRY

In the last decades of the 18th century the line
infantry had 26 regiments. These were not
numbered but known by the name of the areas or
towns to which they were attached (see the
uniform chart below); a few, such as Lippe or
Freire, bore the names of prestigious officers.
Under Marshal Lippes reforms each infantry
regiment had two battalions, each having seven
companies. It was led by a colonel, a lieutenant-
colonel and a major with a staff consisting of an
adjutant, a quarter-master, a surgeon, six
assistant surgeons, a drum-major, an armourer
and a provost. The 1st Battalion had a company
of grenadiers and six companies of fusiliers; the
2nd Bn had a light company and six fusilier
companies. Of the 26 regiments, three (Estremos,
Moura and 1st Braganza) had been sent to
reinforce the garrison of Brazil in 1767, and
remained overseas. So there remained 23 reg-
iments in Portugal until a 24th, the Lisboa
Regiment, was raised in 1797 from part of the
personnel from two disbanded marine regiments.
In the 1790s each company had an
establishment of 116 NCOs and privates but the
actual strength was far lower. Following the
War of the Oranges of 1801 the infantry
regiments were supposed to have ten companies
of 150 men each. Each regiment was divided into
two battalions of five companies each, one
battalion having a grenadier company and
the other a light company. Again, the actual
strength was lower than establishment. The

37
1806 regulations introduced the numbering of the regiments; although
known henceforth by their numbers, each continued the traditions of the
original areas where they were first raised. Each regiment was now
attached to one of the countrys three new military divisions:

Regiment Area Division

1st (Lippe/Lisbon) Centre
2nd (Lagos) Southern
3rd (1st Olivenza) Northern
4th (Freire) Centre
5th (1st Elvas) Southern
6th (1st Porto) Northern
7th (Sebutal) Centre
8th (Evora) Southern
9th (Viana) Northern
10th (Lisbon) Centre
11th (1st Almeida) Southern
12th (Chaves) Northern
13th (Peniche) Centre
14th (Tavira) Southern
15th (2nd Olivenza) Northern
16th (Viera Telles) Centre
17th (2nd Elvas) Southern
18th (2nd Porto) Northern
19th (Cascaes) Centre A Portuguese infantry regiment
20th (Campo Maior) Southern formed in square with colours in
21th (Valenza) Northern the centre is seen fighting off
22th (Serpa) Centre French cavalry, c.1810-1815.
Note the British-style cylindrical
23rd (2nd Almeida) Southern shakos and white linen pantaloons.
24th (Braganza) Northern (Museu Militar do Porto)

On 13 July reorganised
regiments were to have a
single bat-talion of ten
companies eight of
fusiliers, one each of
grenadiers and light infantry.
Each regiment had a staff
consisting of: one colonel,
one lieutenant-colonel, two
majors, two adjutants, one
quartermaster (a senior
NCO, the equivalent of a
British sergeant-major), two
brigade sergeants, two
quartermaster sergeants, one
chaplain, one surgeon, two
assistant surgeons, one
gunsmith for woodwork, one
gunsmith for ironwork,

38
 Table A: Infantry regimental
strengths, late 1808
Regiment Men Arms Uniforms Location
1st 844 600 200 Lisbon
2nd 1,144 1,019 - Abrantes
3rd 594 340 - Estremos
4th 260 600 200 Lisbon
5th 449 371 - -
6th 1,507 1,404 1,505 Porto, Lamego
7th 512 400 - Setuba
8th 491 471 220 Castelo de Vide
9th 1,527 1,444 1,375 Tomar.Viana
10th 455 600 200 Lisbon
11th 1,409 1,39 264 Viseu
12th 1,542 1,2 - Chaves, Vila Real
13th 578 600 200 Lisbon
14th 1,341 1,516 - Tomar
15th 420 209 118 Vila Vizosa
16th 592 600 200 Lisbon
17th 244 186 68 Elvas
18th 1,815 1,545 1,344 Porto, Tomar
19th 459 250 Cascaes
20th 610 497 126 Campo Maior
21st 1,142 869 892 Valenza,
Guimaraes
22nd 242 217 - Elvas
23rd 1,389 1,281 - Almeida
24th 1,534 1,534 - Braganza

six sappers, one drum-major, one drum-corporal, two

fifers, a bandmaster and eight bandsmen. Each
company had a captain, a lieutenant, two sub-
20th Infantry Regiment, Cadiz, lieutenants, six sergeants, six corporals, six lance-corporals, two
1810. Blue coatee and drummers and 128 privates.
pantaloons, yellow collar, cuffs,
lace and edging, blue shoulder
Naturally, the regiments were often below the establishment although
strap piped yellow; black shako this improved over the years. The accompanying Table A shows the
with yellow trim and red-over- state of the re-raised infantry regiments as computed at the end of 1808
white plume. This figure, (PRO, WO 1/232).
captioned as the 20th Portuguese,
was part of the Cadiz garrison in
This compilation shows that some 21,094 men had rallied to the
1810, but many details are regiments by December 1808, but that but they had only 19,113
puzzling -especially the yellow weapons and 6,912 uniforms. These, however, were new uniforms, as
lace on the chest, and the yellow th,e men who still had old uniforms were not counted. Weapons were
instead of scarlet piping and
turnbacks (see Table D). The
reported of various calibres to a great part of them, little fit for use, as
yellow lace perhaps indicates well as the lethern belts. From these beginnings British aid and
that a bandsman of the 20th was Portuguese determination would produce one of the best infantries in
sketched by Pacheco, which Europe. By January 1811 the infantry had increased to an effective
might explain the other
anachronisms. Watercolour by
strength of about 36,000 men, only 1,200 short of its establishment
Antonio Pareira Pacheco. strength (PRO, FO 63/120).
(Biblioteca Publica Municipal, Sometimes assignments would be irrespective of traditional or
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary district divisions. By early 1812 the distribution of the regiments was
Islands)
reported to be as in Table B (PRO, WO 1/401).
After the war most regiments were again attached to their 1806
locality, but some of these would subsequently change. Following the
Peninsular War no regiments were disbanded, although the
establishment was reduced to 24,264 infantry in late 1814 only to be
raised again to the old establishment of 37,248 on 21 October 1816.

39
Uniforms and weapons Table B:
At the beginning of the 1790s the infantry coat was Regimental distribution, early 1812
blue with collar, cuffs, lapels, turnbacks and buttons Regiment Province Quarters

of various colours as shown in the accompanying 1 st Infantry Estramadura Lisbon

2nd Infantry Algarve Faro
Table C. The last three regiments listed Estremos,
3rd Infantry Beira Castro Bairo
Moura and 1st Braganza were posted at Rio de
4th Infantry Estramadura Santarem
Janeiro in Brazil. Not listed is the Lisboa Regiment, 5th Infantry Alentejo Elvas
raised in 1797, from the two disbanded marine 6th Infantry Minho Porto
regiments. It appears eventually to have worn blue 7th Infantry Estramadura Setubal
faced with scarlet, but still had its old green 8th Infantry Beira Abrantes
uniforms faced with scarlet in 1801 (see the section 9th Infantry Minho Viana
on the navy in the forthcoming third volume, MAA 10th Infantry Porto Coimbra
356). 11th Infantry Beira Almeida
12th Infantry Tras os Montes Vila Real
The style of infantry uniforms was somewhat old
13th Infantry Estramadura Lisbon
fashioned and distinctly similar to those of
14th Infantry Altenjo Beja
Frederickian Prussia, with long lapels having eight 15th Infantry Beira Aveiro
or more buttons, three buttons below the right lapel, 16th Infantry Estramadura Leira
the collar turned down, the cuffs with three buttons 17th Infantry Beira Portalegre
and the pockets horizontal with three buttons. In the 18th Infantry Minho Porto
1760s the uniforms often had lace of the button 19th Infantry Estramadura Almada
colour but by the 1790s this had largely vanished. 20th Infantry Beira Fundao
This cut and style appears to have remained much 21st Infantry Minho Valenza
the same until the late 1790s, when standing collars 22nd Infantry Porto Figuera
23rd Infantry Beira Viseu
appeared. From about 1800 the lapels were
24th Infantry Tras os Montes Monte dos Corvos
shortened and closed by hooks and eyes from the
neck to the waist.
There was much variety in the colours of the
waistcoats. Generally they were: white for Lippe, 1st
Olivenza, Minas, 1st Porto, Setubal, Catelo de Vide,
Viana, Peniche, Tavira, 2nd Olivenza, Alencastre,
2nd Elvas, Cascais, Valenza, Estremos, 1st and 2nd
Braganza and Campo Maior; blue for Lagos, 1st
Elvas and Valenza; yellow for Penamacor, Serpa,
Almeida and Moura; scarlet for Chaves. The
breeches were blue for all regiments except for
yellow worn by Moura and 2nd Porto, and white by
Valenza. The hats were edged with lace of the button
colour.
Officers had the same uniforms but of better
quality, trimmed with silver or gold buttons and
epaulettes. They wore crimson waist sashes with
silver fringes.
Infantry uniforms were considerably simplified
by the orders of 19 May 1806. Henceforth, all
regimental officers and enlisted men had the same
type of short-skirted, single-breasted coatee of cloth
lined with linen and having 24 buttons. The colour
of the coatee for all regiments was blue, with collar,
cuffs and piping as indicated in the accompanying
Table D.
The shoulder straps were blue, shaped like
wings and edged with the regiments piping. The

40
 turnbacks were the colour of
the piping with a small blue
triangle as ornament. The
colour of the piping and
turnbacks worn by a
regiment corresponded to
one of the three divisions to
which it belonged: scarlet
for the Southern, white for
the Centre, and yellow for
the Northern.
Buttons were to be of
yellow metal for all
regiments, brass for the men
and gilt for officers. The
most common type of button
during the Peninsular War
appears to have been a
universal model made in
Britain and sent with the
material to make the
uniforms. It bore D Joao
over the Portuguese royal crown over VI and, with Princepe Regente
Detail from the print showing the
storming of Badajoz, 1812. around the rim see page 47.
However cheerfully naive the The men were to be issued yearly a pair of blue cloth pantaloons
drawing, it certainly shows lined with linen with nine buttons; black cloth half-gaiters; a white cloth
Portuguese infantry wearing
sleeved waistcoat lined with linen with 11 buttons; a black leather stock;
'stovepipe' shakos, blue coatees,
white pantaloons and cross two shirts; two pairs of shoes with soles and heels, and one pair of short
belts; and note the brown rolls stockings.
shown behind the shoulders The shako (named barretma) adopted by the Portuguese infantry
instead of knapsacks.
from 1806 was of black felt with a raised, rounded front. The top was
(Museu Militar do Porto)
covered with thin black leather, and there was a semi-circular patch of
the same rising from the bottom rear edge. A brass oval plate stamped
with the Portuguese arms was attached high at the front; and a brass
band, bearing the regimental number on its rising central part, appeared
OPPOSITE Portuguese infantry at the bottom just above the black leather visor. The white plume was
at Albuera, 16 May 1811, drawn attached at the left side, above the blue and red Portuguese cockade.
up in the British two-rank
Cords were draped around the front and back, of blue mixed with the
formation. Sir Charles Oman
records that the French Gen regiments piping colour. (The Belgic or Waterloo shako taken into
Latour-Maubourg 'sent four wear by the British infantry after 1812 much resembled the 1806
regiments at the middle of the Portuguese barretina, and there can be little doubt that this was its
Portuguese brigade, thinking to
inspiration.)
break it down' easily; but they,
keeping absolutely steady, The grenadiers, light infantry and sappers also had grenade, bugle horn
delivered a series of volleys and crossed axes badges respectively. These have been interpreted as
which completely shattered the being either stamped on the bottom band; worn between the bottom band
advance of the charging
and the oval plate; or worn in place of the oval plate. Contemporary prints
squadrons. It was a fine
achievement for troops which show the shakos of the French Portuguese Legion (see forthcoming MAA
had never before taken part in 346) with this latter arrangement on the 1806 Portuguese shako. A
the thick of a battle - for the 11th watercolour showing the 1806 uniform of the Artificers Company has
and 23rd Portuguese Line had
the crossed axes in place of the oval badge. We lean towards the separate
not been engaged at Bussaco or
any action of importance. brass badge, put on either below or in place of the oval plate on the upper
(Print after N.Silva) part of the front, as the most probable interpretation.

41
 From about 1810-1811,
Table C:Regimental distinctions, early1790s
the 1806 shako was
Regiment collar cuffs lapels turnbacks buttons replaced with the British-
Lippe crimson crimson blue white white style cylindrical shako,
Lagos white white blue blue white
which was sometimes
1 st Olivenza orange orange orange scarlet white
slightly tapered towards
Freire scarlet scarlet scarlet white white
1 st Elvas scarlet scarlet scarlet blue yellow
the top. It was of black felt
1 st Porto scarlet scarlet blue yellow white with a black leather top
Sebutal yellow yellow blue yellow white and trim, the narrow brass
Castelo de Vide white white blue scarlet yellow plate at the bottom coming
Viana white white orange scarlet white to a point at the centre, the
Penamacor yellow yellow scarlet scarlet white oval brass plate with the
Chaves white white scarlet white yellow royal arms above, and the
Peniche white white blue white yellow
cockade and white plume
Tavira scarlet scarlet blue blue yellow
moved to the front. The
2nd Olivenza blue blue blue yellow yellow
Alencaatre blue white white white yellow
distinctive badges for
2nd Elvas white white white scarlet white
grenadiers, light infantry
2nd Porto blue blue yellow scarlet white and sappers do not seem to
Cascais blue blue blue blue yellow have been worn on the
Campo Maior scarlet scarlet scarlet scarlet white 1810 cylindrical shako. For
Valenza yellow yellow yellow scarlet white undress the men had a blue
Serpa scarlet scarlet yellow scarlet white serge forage cap.
Almeida yellow yellow scarlet scarlet white For the uniforms and
2nd Braganza yellow yellow yellow white white
particular distinctions of
Estremos scarlet scarlet blue white white
grenadiers, light infantry,
Moura yellow yellow yellow white white
1 st Braganza scarlet yellow white scarlet Yellow
sappers, drummers and
fifers, see Plates E, G and H.
Table D: Regimental distinctions, Each regiment had a band
of music consisting of a bandmaster and eight
regulations of May 1806
Regiment collar cuffs piping
bandsmen. In 1810 Marshal Beresford initially
1 st (Lippe) blue white white wished that their uniforms should be white, but in
nd
2 (Lagos) blue white scarlet October of that year the uniforms ordered for the
rd
3 (1st Olivenza) blue white yellow 24 bandmasters and 192 bandsmen were blue, with
4th (Freire) blue scarlet white the respective regimental facings like the men's,
5th (1 st Elvas) blue scarlet scarlet
th
and trimmed with yellow silk lace at the coatee
6 (1st Porto) blue scarlet yellow
7th (Sebutal) blue yellow white
seams for all regimental bandsmen.
8th (Evora) blue yellow scarlet The NCOs and privates were armed with
9th (Viana) blue yellow yellow muskets and bayonets. The NCOs, grenadiers and
10th (Lisbon) blue sky blue white light infantry had short sabres until the army was
11th (1st Almeida) blue sky blue scarlet disbanded in December 1807. The pre-1808
12th (Chaves) blue sky blue yellow
Portuguese muskets generally resembled the
13th (Peniche) white white white
th British models but with barrel bands added; there
14 (Tavira) white white scarlet
15th (2nd Olivenza). white white yellow
were also many thousands of British muskets
16th(VieraTelles) scarlet scarlet white which had been received in the late 1790s. In 1808
17th (2nd Elvas) scarlet scarlet scarlet the weapons were whatever could be acquired;
18th (2nd Porto) scarlet scarlet yellow from 1809 they were probably all British. From
19th (Cascaes) yellow yellow white that time the NCOs', grenadiers' and light
20th (Campo Maior) yellow yellow scarlet
infantrymens' sabres were no longer issued.
21st (Valenza) yellow yellow yellow
22th (Serpa) sky blue sky blue white
Although always shown white, many line
23rd (2d Almeida) sky blue sky blue scarlet infantrymen in fact had black accoutrements - as
24th (Braganza) sky blue sky blue yellow discussed above under 'British Material Aid'.

42
THE PLATES
A1: Private, 1st Olivenza Infantry Regiment,
c.1793-95
During the 1790s Portuguese uniforms displayed a
somewhat old-fashioned cut with fall collar, cutaway
lapels and tricorn hats, recalling the 1760s reforms of
the Prussian Count de Lippe. The 1st Olivenza
Regiment was deployed in Roussillon, and was
mentioned in despatches for its good conduct. It wore
blue with orange facings, scarlet turnbacks, white
waistcoat, blue breeches, white metal buttons and
white hat lace.

A2: Officer, 2nd Porto Infantry Regiment, c.1793-95

The 2nd Porto Regiment had a blue collar and cuffs,
yellow lapels, scarlet turnbacks and silver buttons.
Officers had scarlet silk sashes which were often
actually crimson, with mixed blue and silver fringes; a
gilt gorget, and black boots. They wore epaulettes in
the 1790s. This unit fought the French in 1793-94.
Both the 1st and 2nd Porto Regiments originated in an
infantry unit raised in March 1659 which was split into
two regiments on 20 April 1762.

A3: Drummer, 1st Porto Regiment, c.1793-95 Gen John Forbes-Skelater (1733-1808) was a Scottish
Before 1806 drummers and fifers generally had Catholic officer brought to Portugal by the Count de Lippe.
conventionally reversed uniforms of the colour of the He remained in the country, married a Portuguese lady and
regimental facing or of the turnbacks. The 1st Porto became adjutant-general of the army until 1789 when
Regiment had yellow turnbacks, so its drummers wore promoted general and made knight of the Order of Aviz. He
an all-yellow coat with scarlet waistcoat, yellow commanded the Portuguese contingent which fought against
breeches, white metal buttons and white hat lace. The the French in Roussillon and northern Spain in 1793-1794;
drums were painted the colour of the coat with the arms and later presided over the council which made the initial
of the kingdom on the front. This regiment was also part proposals for army reforms in 1803. Too elderly for active
of the contingent sent to fight the French in 1793-95. service, he left for Brazil with the royal family in 1807 and
died in Rio de Janeiro in April 1808. (Print after portrait)

B1: Officer, Viana Infantry Regiment, c.1800

From about 1800 Portuguese uniforms became more
stylish, featuring standing collars, closed lapels and
bicorn hats. The Viana Regiment had white collar and
cuffs, orange lapels, scarlet turnbacks, and silver
buttons, lace and epaulettes. It was raised in 1707 as
the Monzao Regiment, redesignated Viana in 1763.

B2: General, c. 1793-1805

From the 1760s general officers had worn an all-blue
coat trimmed with gold lace of various widths
according to rank. Our figure is based on a c.1800
portrait of Marechal do Campo (Major-General)
Forbes-Skellater. It shows lace narrower than the
official instructions but otherwise set correctly. The
epaulette of gold cord was actually an aiguillette
worn on the right shoulder; and a plain white waistcoat
is also shown. The hats had a wide gold lace but no
plumes.

Frederico Guilherme de Sousa, Governor and Captain-General

of Goa, India, 1779-86, wearing the dress uniform of a
lieutenant-general as per the 1762 regulations. Note the gold
three fingers-wide buttonhole lace. (Print after portrait at Goa)

43
 Epaulettes conforming to the 1806 regulations for
regimental officers, made of gilded brass scales with gold
fringes. Note the very distinctive shape, echoing that of the
mens shoulder straps. (Museu Militar do Bussaco)

LEFT Major William Warre (1784-1853), senior ADC to

Marshal Beresford, c.1809. An officer of the British 23rd
Light Dragoons, he was ideally suited for this appointment
his family owned a famous wine-trading company, he had
been born and raised in Porto, and he spoke fluent
Portuguese. In this print after J.C.D.Engleheart he wears the
uniform of the 23rd LD, a blue dolman and pelisse with
crimson collar and cuffs, silver buttons and lace. He
apparently wore his regimentals until he finally obtained a
Portuguese ADCs uniform in about 1811.

B3: Officer, Campo Maior Infantry Regiment, scarlet pelisse with white cords and pewter buttons; a
c.1801 Tarleton helmet, pantaloons and light cavalry
This regiment, raised in May 1642, was part of the armament and housings. (PRO, WO 37/10;
garrison of the fortress of Campo Maior which was D.S.V.Fosten, Wellingtons Eyes, Military Modelling,
besieged by the Spanish in May 1801; the Portuguese November 1992)
were compelled to evacuate it at the end of the
month. A bill of June 1801 confirms the blue coat D2: Captain, Quartermaster-Generals Department,
faced with scarlet, white waistcoat and breeches, 1806-15
silver buttons, epaulettes and hat lace being worn at The uniform was the same as for other General Staff
that time. officers. Our figure shows the complete uniform and
C1: Lieutenant-general, full dress, 1806-15 rank distinctions according to the 1806 regulations,
The 1806 full dress uniform of Portuguese generals with gold-laced hat and white-over-red plume.
was richly embroidered with a palm leaf pattern in gold.
Each rank had its distinctive embroidery for full dress D3: Aide-de-camp, c. 1811-15
and undress uniforms. The three rows of lace at the This figure illustrates the regulation uniform decribed
cuff and three silver stars on the epaulette identify a in the text. However, some British officers in
lieutenant-general; the three chevrons of chain Portuguese staff appointments seem to have retained
embroidery on the left forearm mark him as a member their British uniforms for a time, or to have assumed a
of the War Council. simple costume for field service. Beresfords senior
C2: Lieutenant-general, undress, 1806-15 ADC, Capt William Warre, avoided acquiring a
The undress uniform was to be worn in the field and Portuguese uniform in 1809 because it was very
for ordinary duty, and bore palm leaf embroidery only expensive and the hat ornaments tawdry. In
at the collar and cuffs though again, note the War February 1810 what he felt to be really useful was a
Council distinction on the left sleeve. cloak lined with any warm light stuff. When it rained,
C3: Brigadier-general, full dress, 1806-15 he rode around with an oil skin cape over his
Brigadiers had all-blue uniforms as the other general greatcoat. He finally had a Portuguese uniform by
officers, but embellished with a single line of gold lace June 1811; however, he frowned on gold-laced hats,
rather than embroidery. Their hats were not edged feeling that their wearers made good targets for
with white plumage but had a tall standing plume French voltigeurs; we may thus assume his hat was
rising from the cockade. plain. He also got himself some double-barrelled
D1: Trooper, Corps of Mounted Guides, 1808-14 pistols, and would have carried his handy 1796 sabre.
The uniform can be reconstructed from various data. It Nor was Warre unusual in his attitude towards
was probably a scarlet dolman with blue collar and dress and armament. A peak of sorts was achieved
cuffs, white cords and three rows of pewter buttons; a near Orthez on 26 February 1814 when Warres

44
successor as senior ADC, Capt Sewell, was seen by in 1808, with over 800 men reported in uniform. Its
Woodbury charging with the cavalry wielding a distinctions were a yellow collar, yellow cuffs and
broomstick, since he had forgotten his sword! yellow piping and turnbacks. Note the distinctive wing
shape of the Portuguese shoulder straps. The drum
E1: Drummer, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1806-08 shell was blue with red hoops and the royal arms of
Each company had two drummers, making a corps of Portugal painted on the front. There were also two
20 drummers per regiment. They wore the regimental fifers per regiment wearing the same uniforms as
uniform with drummers lace edging the collar, cuffs drummers. The 21st was originally raised in Valenza
and front closure and sewn on the seams; this lace in February 1664.
was blue with small crosses down the centre and
wavy lines on each side in the regiments piping E2: Captain, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1806-10
colour. The 21st (Valenza) was fairly well dressed The officers wore essentially the same uniform as
their men, but of better quality materials, with gilt scale
epaulettes following the shape of the mens shoulder
straps, and silver-tasselled crimson sashes. The 24th
(Braganza) had a sky blue collar and cuffs, yellow
piping and turnbacks. The officers of the 24th
probably still wore their 1806 uniforms until their
capture after the desperate defence of Almeida in
July/August 1810. The regiment had originally been
raised as the 2nd Braganza in 1762.

E3: Grenadier, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1806-08

From 1806 grenadiers were distinguished by two blue
wool epaulettes edged with regimental piping colour
and fringed with blue mixed with the piping colour; a
brass grenade badge was worn on the shako.
Moustaches were apparently worn as a distinction, the
battalion companies being generally clean shaven.
The 6th (1st Porto) raised in that city in 1762 had
a blue collar, scarlet cuffs, yellow piping and
turnbacks; the grenadiers epaulettes thus had blue
and yellow mixed fringes.

F1: Fusilier, Infantry, 1809-10

To Marshal Beresfords intense displeasure, grey
cloth uniforms were sent from Britain in 1809. In
September he wrote to Wellington that some 10,000
grey jackets with red cuffs and cape (collar), are sent
out, for what object I know not. I have seen one and I
think it would fit a man of five feet; they are made of
the cloth of which our English great-coats are made. I
have sent to see if there are different sizes; but the
whole may as well go home again. The trousers of the
same stuff, if large enough, might very well answer...
Some of this clothing was sent on to Spain, but some
Portuguese troops were also issued it for lack of
anything else. The accoutrements were most likely black.
Our figure wears an old 1806 shako. (Supplementary
despatches...Vol."VI; PRO, WO 1/244 and 883)

F2: Fusilier, Infantry, 1809-10

The grey episode was not quite over in spite of Beresfords
complaints. In late November 1809, 14,000 grey jackets,

Portuguese infantryman giving a drink to a wounded

Frenchman, c.1812. Apart from the plate and band on the
stovepipe shako and some apparent coatee detail, his field kit
is entirely British in appearance. (Detail from print after sketch
by Lt Manuel Izidro de Praz, 7th Infantry)

RIGHT Two regimental officers gilt gorgets, both having the

arms of Portugal in silver. The larger one on the right is an
older pattern. (Museu Militar do Bussaco)

45
20,000 grey trousers and 20,000 shakos with F3: Fusilier, Infantry, 1809-10
cockades were sent to Lisbon as slop clothing for The infantry were also sent 6,000 blue jackets as slop
recruits. The style appears to have been the round clothing in late November along with the grey trousers
jacket without tails, quite plain and probably with and the shakos. As this was the colour of the national
pewter buttons. The thousands of men drafted as uniform there were no complaints about this shipment,
infantry recruits and getting their basic training at which must have been quickly distributed to the
Peniche would have worn some of this clothing. troops.
(PRO, FO 63/74 and 81; WO 1/242).
G1: Corporal, Light Company, 9th Infantry Regiment,
1810-15
Light company shoulder straps/epaulettes had green
fringes. The 9th (Viana) had a blue collar with yellow
cuffs, piping and turnbacks; the corporals two rank
stripes, sewn above the cuffs, were yellow in all
regiments. In the field the soldiers equipment such as
knapsacks, haversacks and canteens -not illustrated
here were usually of British origin and identical to
those carried by the redcoats. According to Lt
Woodberry, the Portuguese received no tents but
constructed themselves very neat temporary shelters.
The 9th Infantry was raised in Viana in November
1707.

G2: Drum-major, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1810-15

The regimental drum-major had a similar uniform to
the drummers but of officers quality cloth, and the
drummers lace decorating his coatee was of silk. His
NCOs rank was indicated by the brass scale
epaulette with yellow silk fringes on his right shoulder
and the fringeless counter-epaulette on his left. The
shako cords on the 1806 pattern were of mixed yellow
silk and gold (the British shako illustrated here did not
have these). The varnished wood drum-majors cane
had a gilt pommel engraved with the regimental
number and its silk cord was mixed blue, scarlet, gold
and the colour of the regiments piping. The drum-
majors baldric was very plain, and featured only a pair
of small drum sticks with their holders. The 2nd (Lagos)
Regiment, originally raised in 1693, had a blue collar,
white cuffs and scarlet piping and turnbacks; the small
crosses and wavy lines in the drum-majors silken lace
were thus scarlet.

G3: Sub-lieutenant, 11th Infantry Regiment, 1810-15

Company officers had generally the same uniform as in
1806 but with the British cylindrical shako. On campaign

Portuguese regimental field officer wearing a greatcoat; he has

not bothered to add his epaulettes and, like his British
comrades, obviously favours a relaxed form of dress for
campaigning. (Detail from print after sketch by Lt Manuel Izidro
de Praz, 7th Infantry)

RIGHT Regimental officers all-gilt gorget, c. 1800-1815. It bears

the arms of Portugal at the centre below a scroll engraved with
PRINCEPE REGENTE. (Museu Militar do Bussaco)

46
 23rd Infantry. The wings on the coatee are black or
possibly very dark blue with silver lace, probably
indicating a sergeant of grenadiers. It has a yellow
grenade edged with blue on each turnback; a sky blue
collar and cuffs; scarlet piping and turnbacks; and
brass buttons marked with a crowned VI and D Joao
Princepe Regente. The 23rd was raised at Almeida in
July 1642 and was always associated with that
fortress city until 1816, when it was attached to
Lamego. (Musee militaire vaudois, Switzerland; PRO,
WO 1/888 and 889)

H2: Officer, greatcoat, 13th Infantry Regiment,

1810-1815
For cold weather officers had a blue double-breasted
greatcoat with collar and cuffs of the regimental facing
colour. The 13th (Peniche) had white collar, cuffs,
piping and turnbacks on its coatee. The 13th was
raised in Peniche in July 1697, was attached to Lisbon
in 1808, returned to Peniche in 1816 and was later
attached to Evora.

H3: Sapper, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1813-15

Sappers had the same distinctions as grenadiers
which would have been, in the later part of the
Peninsular War, blue wings with white worsted lace
and fringes. They had a buff leather apron and
gauntlet gloves; carried an axe and a short sabre; and
were allowed to grow beards. The 16th (Viera Telles)
had a scarlet collar and cuffs, white piping and
turnbacks; the regiment was originally raised in Lisbon
in March 1668.

Gilt officers button of the line infantry, c.1809-1815.

Portuguese army buttons were usually of a universal model
bearing D JOAO7 crown/ VI in the centre, and PRINCEPE
REGENTE at the edge. An exception was the Cazadores
uniform, which had plain buttons. This particular button was
made in England and has the Prince of Wales feathers as a
backmark. (Museu Militar do Porto)

they wore pantaloons like the British officers they

served with. A few officers ventured to put on lapels
but were sternly ordered by Beresford, on 22 October
1814, to adhere rigorously to the official uniform. He
also noted that some officers wore pantaloons of a
different colour than their coatee, which was
unacceptable; blue pantaloons could be worn in the
morning and white in the afternoon. The 11th (1st
Almeida), raised in July 1642, had a blue collar, sky
blue cuffs, scarlet piping and turnbacks.

H1: Grenadier sergeant, 23rd Infantry Regiment,

1813-15
Blue shoulder straps/epaulettes with fringes of mixed
blue and piping colour were the official distinction of
grenadiers from 1806; however, some units started
using wings from about 1812-1813. In 1814-15 the
clothing sent from England included blue wings
trimmed with white lace and fringes for all grenadiers.
There were variations, as shown in this illustration, Infantry officers gilt shoulder belt plate, c.1806-1815.
which is taken from a surviving coatee of the (Museu Militar do Bussaco)

47