"Flags of the Portuguese Legion?" Topic

Hi folks,

Another question for those who know everything about everything Napoleonic. Part of Ney's III Corps in the 1812 Russian campaign comprised a battalion each from the 1st and 2nd Portuguese Line Regiments. To the best of my knowledge, these were not units of the Portuguese army at all (which was fighting against the French at the time), but were French army formations made from conscripted POWs, and not even necessarily Portuguese ones at that.

Anyway, my question is, what flags did these "Portuguese" battalions carry? Some of the POW/expat units, like the Spanish and some of the Poles, carried modified French-pattern ones; others, like the Irish, boasted designs of their own.

Extra bonus points to anyone who can send/point me to a picture of the flag!

Search the message boards, this toipic has come up a few times, sorry I cannot remmember the result,

Nick

Indeed, it apparently has come up several times previously. Thanks for pointing that out.

The book "Armies of 1812", Otto Von Pivka, describes it as White, with a central gold device surrounded by gold trophies, Gilt tip, gold cords and brown staff. (Also that there is no reliable info!)

Tally Ho!

Nick,

This discription comes from a set of 6 cards produced by René North from a long series called "Paint your own Cards". These were B&W line drawings with coloring instructions that could be bought from René North, 53 Blackheath Park, London S.E.3, England, in the 1960s and later.

This particular card was based upon a collection of paper soldiers (the name escapes me at the moment, and my set is in storage). The depiction is NOT considered reliable.

Big Al