"1806-7 Spanish/local forces Buenos Airies. " Topic

2nd try.

Any one know which units fought the British. Which ones were local and which ones Spanish.

Sure…

you have plenty of information here

link

you can send them emails if you have questions, let me know if you need translation… this is part of my gaming group in Buenos Aires ( though I now live in Austin TX )

cheers
Francisco

Great. I have the British OB but couldn't find anything but the vaguest descriptions for the Spanish.

Also have a look at the Bueno book: La defensa del Río de la Plata

SeldonH

Nice one.

Edwulf

Can't remember where, but I'm sure I read somewhere that black slaves were in the force fighting the British. I'm hoping to be looking into this when I can spare the time, along with some other lesser known actions.

Yes. I've read the same. I'm fairly sure ive seen the same. All local men were conscripted regardless of status.

Im unclear if they were in uniform though were in civilian dress.
I have some ideas that the "soldiers" we're local volunteers but am not sure if any Spanish regulars were there. The local units were colourful.

I'm painting Pictons 3rd division in 6mm. Several 3rd division units were at BA so after my French division is finished… Some Napoleonic Argentinan Napoleonics would be a colourful project.

The regiments involved in the 1807 South American expedition were as follows:
6th Dragoon Guards
9th Light Dragoons
17th Light Dragoons
20th Light Dragoons
21st Light Dragoons
1/5th Foot
1/36th Foot
1/38th Foot
1/40th Foot
1/45th Foot
1/47th Foot
54th Foot
1/71st Foot
1/87th Foot
1/88th Foot
1/89th Foot
1/95th Foot
2/95th Foot
Royal Artillery & Horse Artillery
detachments of Royal Marines and Royal Navy

Great, now that Carlos is here you can get more info than you ever thought you could need on the subject !! :)

( Carlos, fijate q esta muy interesado en el orden de batalla de las fuerzas locales )

Another alternative though more ambitious would be do do wars of liberation in South America.

I think the Viluma/Sipe Sipe campaign is good one.. it has very colorful uniforms on both sides.

I have done the armies for the Andes Campaign of San Martin to play the battles going from Chacabuco to Maipu ( in 15mm )

More pictures here : link

Here are some great resources

Liberator Minaitures.. fantastic AB quality miniatures in 15/18mm for the wars of liberation in South America, and also great generic source books to be used with any rules system

grenadierproductions.com

Here is his Blog:
link

Here you have great minis for the Andes campaign in 28mm
link

Here you can buy excelent little osprey-like pdfs about the uniforms !! In particular I recommend the one about the Viluma/Sipe Sipe campaign, but you can get all of them .. not expensive
link

Here you can see my battle of Maipu at Millennium Con in Austin TX (posting in spanish )
link

And another Maipu game in Austin ( english this time )
link

And finally another collector of Liberators miniatures link

ok… so there you have it.. plenty or resources to exacerbate your vice end extend your napoleonics across the ocean

regards

Francisco

Hola Francisco, un gusto encontrarte por acá. Como mi inglés es espantoso te pido que, por favor, corrijas todo lo necesario para que se entienda. Saludos cordiales.

¡hermosas fotos y magnífica colección!

Francisco, dispongo de un archivo Word que armé con los uniformes de las tropas virreinales y textos en castellano pero no lo puedo subir, si me pasas una dirección de e-mail te lo paso a vos y lo subis acá. Saludos

Invasion of Buenos Aires
contending forces (July 1, 1807)

For the July 1 detail the British forces was:
• Vanguard (Major General John Lewison Gower)
Craufurd Brigade (Brigadier General Robert Craufurd): four companies of the regiment 95th Rifles (Mjr. Travers) and 9 of the light battalion (Lt. Col. Theodore Denis Pack).
Lumley Brigade (Brigadier General William Lumley): 36th Foot (Lieutenant Colonel Robert Burne) and 88th Foot (Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Duff)
2 pieces of 3 pounds, 2 of 6 pounds
Total of 2,620 men
• Center (general Whitelocke and Samuel Auchmuty):
5th Foot (Northumberland) (Lieutenant Colonel Humphrey Davie), 38th Foot (Lt. Col. John Nugent), 45th Foot (William Guard) and 87th Foot (Lt. Col. Edward G. Butler) and four companies of 95th (Mjr. Macleod )
Cavalry regiment No. 9 Dragons, Part 6 Dragons (Lieutenant Colonel N. Kington) and 2 sections of 17 Light Dragoons (Lt. Col. Evan Lloyd.)
Artillery: 2 pieces of 6 pounds (Captain Augustus Simon Frazer, general commander of the artillery)
Total 4,328 men
• Reserve (Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Mahon)
40th Foot (Mjr. Sir Archibald Campbell), a company of 36th Foot, one of 45th Foot (Mjr. Gwynn), one of the 88th Foot and 200 Marines (Captain Rowley and Joyce)
Cavalry regiments 17th Light Dragons (captain Bacon), a squadron of 9th Light Dragons
Artillery: 4 pieces of 6 pounds, a howitzer 5.5 inch (Captain Hawker, second of Frazer)
Total of 2,083 men

For its part the defense forces were organized into three divisions:
• Right wing or Balbiani division (César Balbiani)
2 battalions of Patricios, the Grenadiers of Terrada, a marine battalion, two companies of Miñones Catalanes, 1st squadron of Hussars, 3rd squadron of Hussars
14 artillery
Total 1,987 men
• Central or Elío division (Francisco Javier Elio)
Gallegos Battalion, Pardos y Morenos Battalion (Black and Browns), Andalusians Battalion, two companies of Miñones, 2nd squadron of Hussars
9 pieces
1,720 men
• Left Wing or Division Velasco (Bernardo de Velasco)
Regimiento Fijo de Buenos Aires (one battalion) , Blandengues, Vizcaínos Battalion, Arribeños Battalion , two companies of Miñones, squadron of Carlos IV Carabiniers
16 pieces
Total 1,650 men
• Reserve or Division Gutiérrez de la Concha (Juan Antonio Gutiérrez de la Concha)
Dragons, Third Battalion of Patricios, Mountaineers Battalion, Miñones, squadron of Migueletes, squadron of Labradores y Quinteros (farmers)
14 pieces
Total of 1,580 men

This was an overall total of 9,031 British with 11 pieces of artillery and 6,937 defenders with 53 pieces of artillery. Attackers well exceeded in number the Spaniards, as well as his troops and commanders. British forces had great experience in combat and training, weaponry and even doctrine of his troops, especially the vanguard. They were far superior to the ones that opposed the city of Buenos Aires, whose core is formed militia with great enthusiasm but few months of training, and a few veterans forces poor performance in previous campaigns.

Fantastic!
Great stuff. Really appreciate that…

Carlos, pasamelo a seldonmba arroba hotmail punto com

Edwulf, if you have an email we can forward you a word document that Carlos put together with the orders of battle

Francisco

ok.. let me correct that.. if you send me an email.. not if you have an email :) …

Ok. I'll send one later today.

Thanks very much. Much appreciated!

Excellent info! Thanks for posting!

Carlos Alberto

Great info. Much appreciated. Do you have any information on black slaves taking part, if indeed they did?

Gazzola: I hope you find it useful. Apologies for my frightening English.

The Battalion of Caste or Natural(indians), Browns and Blacks Infantry was one militia military unit of Spain in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata which was organized in Buenos Aires after the British invasion of 1806 based on existing militias . It was composed of companies castes: natural (indigenous), brown (free mulattoes) and brown (former black slaves emancipated). After the May Revolution of 1810 was elevated to the regiment, participating in the War of Independence of Argentina.

Blacks and browns soldiers were enrolled in the militia of Rio de la Plata since ancient times, a report of July 1664 indicates that the garrison of Buenos Aires had:
1 Company mulatto Cavalry 30 men.
One black infantry company of 47 men.
A Real Instruction 28 November2 1764 establishing the provincial militias commanded:
Governors of each province or Corregidores take an exact reason for all the inhabitants thereof, Nobles, Commoners, Spaniards, Mestizos, and Mulatos; stating the land they occupy, and according to their number-spot will form battalions or loose, a ratio of the number of people that are made Companies.
In compliance with the Royal Instructions, the Governor of Buenos Aires, Pedro de Cevallos, on 15 December 1765 he created a body of Castes, who had no instructors veterans or organic paintings, and his militiamen were employed in services:
Black body Free Buenos Aires: 3 infantry companies with 168 men in all.
Corps Guarani Indians of Buenos Aires: 6 cavalry companies with 300 men in all.
Pardos body of Buenos Aires 8 cavalry companies with a total of 400 men.
Indians Ladinos body of Buenos Aires: 6 companies cavalry indigenous speaking Castilian, with a total of 300 men.
Militia Regulations 1781
The October 24, 1780 Viceroy Juan Jose de Vértiz and Salcedo raised the king a regulation considered all militant robust and ready for operation individual, without exception of any person of the same family, unless the child is supporting stem widow. The regulations were approved by a Royal Order of March 15, 1781. The militants remained separated by caste.
After military reforms Vertiz existed in the city of Cordoba a battalion of Pardos of Cordoba, with 8 companies of infantry and grenadiers. Leaving the government of Intendance of Cordova of the Tucuman in late 1797, Governor Rafael de Sobremonte wrote a report to his successor, where the battalion is mentioned.

Regulation militia 1801
A Royal Order of 22 August 1791 stated that the disciplined militias or regulated were those that were more flat veteran and a formal meeting with the corresponding regime. The rest of the militia were considered urban or provincial.
The militias were reorganized from the "Regulations for the militia, infantry and cavalry disciplines of the Viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres, approved by S. M. and sent to observe inviolate", approved by Royal Decree of 14 January 1801.
According to the 1801 Regulations they were disciplined militias various bodies, including some of castes:

In Buenos Aires:
Company Grenadier Free Pardos Buenos Aires: 100 seats
Company Grenadier Free Dark Buenos Aires: 60 seats. Both companies of grenadiers, had an NCO-grade veteran sergeant and a corporal in each drum and veterans. The commander of the two companies was the biggest helper oldest Volunteer Battalion of Infantry of Buenos Aires veteran.
In Montevideo:
Company Grenadier Free Pardos Montevideo: 100 seats
Company Grenadier Free Morenos Montevideo: 60 seats. Both companies were equal to those of Buenos Aires. The commander of the two companies was the biggest helper oldest Volunteer Battalion Infantry veteran Montevideo.
In Paraguay:
Pardos and Morenos company Free Artillery Paraguay: located in Asuncion. He had a captain, a lieutenant, a second lieutenant and 50 seats including sergeants, corporals and drums. The unit depended on the commander and officers of the Royal Artillery.
Companies Infantry Grenadiers were made up of: 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, one lieutenant, two sergeants (one of whom was a veteran and the other militia), 3 first ends (2 veterans and one militiaman), 3-ply seconds, 1 drum veteran and 61 soldiers.
The infantry rifle companies were composed of: 1 captain, one lieutenant, one lieutenant, three sergeants (one veteran and two militiamen), 4 first ends (2 veterans and 2 militia), 4 strands seconds, 1 drum and 65 veteran soldiers .
They were not ruled the two companies existing Indian artillery in Montevideo, also dependent on the Royal Artillery:
Company No. 1 Indian Artillery Montevideo with 105 seats, plus a captain (by 2 companies artillery natural), a lieutenant and two lieutenants.
Company No. 2 Artillery Natural Montevideo with 105 seats, plus a captain, a lieutenant and two lieutenants.
A Royal Order of April 29, 1804 ordered the 11 militia companies existing in the Viceroyalty artillery reduced to 4, passing the rest to integrate infantry units. Although another Royal Order of May 5, 1805 decided to restore 3 units of militia artillery soldiers caste Montevideo and Asuncion seems that joined infantry units.

British invasions
Once produced the reconquest of the viceregal capital after the British invasion of 1806, Buenos Aires militias were reorganized.
In August 1806 the 167 men who formed companies Grenadiers: Free Pardos and Free Dark of Buenos Aires, and 600 Indians, brown and black militants were gathered by Lieutenant Juan del Pino during the reconquista, were the basis of Caste Battalion or Natural, Black and Browns Infantry.
Shortly after it was formed part of that battalion Artillery Corps Natural, Browns and Blacks or Caste Artillery Corps taking 24 officers and 383 soldiers of the companies 2nd, 3rd and 4th Indians; 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th of Brown; and 2th of Black.
In October 1806 the Battalion Indians, Blacks and Browns Infantry had a total of 352 seats commanded by Lieutenant Colonel José Ramón Baudrix, seconded by Manuel Ruiz and Jose Superí. The body consisted of two companies of grenadiers and riflemen 7 formed by natural (indigenous people living in Buenos Aires, companies 1, 2, 3 and 4), Brown (mestizos) and Black (ex freed black slaves). Each caste wore different uniforms, red jacket for Black, light blue for Brown and Indians, they all wore on the head a kind of Terleton. His staff had one major, one sergeant, two senior aides, two champions, one chaplain, one surgeon and one drum.
In June 1807, the body was made up of five companies browns, two Indians and 2 brown.
In October 1806 the Artillery Corps of Indian, Black and Browns had 8 separate caste, with 426 seats in command of Francisco de Agustini companies. It was equipped by the Cabildo of Buenos Aires and was commanded by ensign Sunday Ugalde. In June 1807 the body was made up of four companies of Browns, 2 of Blacks and 2 of Indigenous .
It was also created a Corps of Slaves made up about 200 slaves Buenos Aires grouped in 4 companies, who would arm it if necessary if the city was attacked. He was in command of José de María.
The Joint of War February 16, 1807 resolved to give his commander 150 dozen knives, but this body did not participate in any military exercise, since it was formed with the forecast: should not therefore act only on the precise time of coming to blows. He fought armed with knives and spears as infantry.

All these bodies militia and slaves, participated in the defense of Buenos Aires against the Second British Invasion.

In my blog there are pictures of battalion Caste, are 28 mm figures transformed from Spanish Light Infantry Front Rank. link

The flag was replaced by the one shown in this other link link

Great figures!

Carlos Alberto

Many thanks for information and detail. Much appreciated. People willing to share information and knowledge is one of the greatest things about this website.