green beanie | 19 Mar 2018 6:04 a.m. PST |
Yesterday my local hobby shop was running a Napoleonic War game between Spain & France. The Spanish player had in some of his Spanish battalions grenadiers, fusiliers and caradors. I thought that only the Portuguese Army had caradors as light infantry or riflemen in brown uniforms. Most of my uniform books of the era do not show any Spanish caradors so makes me wonder could I be wrong? Thanks for the help in advance. |
Chalfant | 19 Mar 2018 6:39 a.m. PST |
Spanish Cazadores…. Portuguese Cacadores… but yes, the same type of troop. Chalfant |
Chalfant | 19 Mar 2018 6:43 a.m. PST |
Oh, and on the colors… I am not the expert on this site, but yes, my general knowledge is that the Portuguese cacadores were usually (always?) in brown. The Spanish cazadores were frequently in light blue…. but, as was typical for the Spanish, I "think" you could find cazadores in other colors… The word is "hunter" so essentially the same as Germanic "jaeger", similar role on a Napoleonic battlefield. Chalfant |
BrigadeGames | 19 Mar 2018 6:52 a.m. PST |
We have some Spanish light infantry… BG-NSP030 Spanish Light Infantry Command (4)
BG-NSP031 Spanish Light Infantry Skirmishing (6)
BG-NSP032 Spanish Light Infantry Marching
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green beanie | 19 Mar 2018 6:53 a.m. PST |
These were in brown uniforms which is what confused me for I knew the Spanish Light infantry were in light blue/Sky blue uniforms. |
Whirlwind | 19 Mar 2018 6:54 a.m. PST |
Lots of Spanish infantry wore brown between 1808 and 1812. |
kustenjaeger | 19 Mar 2018 6:54 a.m. PST |
Greetings As I understand it, the 1812 (paper) reorganisation had infantry battalions with six companies, of which one was grenadier, four fusilier and one cazadore. However cazadore companies are recorded earlier in some units e.g. In 1811. There were battalions named cazadores as well, mainly volunteer light units often absorbed into line regiments (and some cavalry units). Regards Edward |
robert piepenbrink | 19 Mar 2018 9:42 a.m. PST |
Remember the sheep. In much of the Iberian Peninsula, brown wool is or was the cheapest cloth. So when you're raising troops in a hurry and on a budget, you wind up with lots of brown uniforms. |
John Tyson | 19 Mar 2018 10:04 a.m. PST |
I did my Spanish Light Infantry in the 1806 dark blue tunics with bicorn hats. I believe the foreign (i.e. Irish) Spanish Light Infantry worn light blue. By 1810, much of the Spanish army was uniformed by the British, and then the Spanish Light Infantry wore light blue tunics. |
21eRegt | 19 Mar 2018 5:16 p.m. PST |
Romana's Spanish division had the dedicated Barcelona and Catalonian light infantry. They wore a green uniform like the miniatures above.
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Major Bloodnok | 20 Mar 2018 6:01 a.m. PST |
I am under the impression that the light blue uniforms for Spanish Light Inf. is a misunderstanding about the issuing of the British made blue and light blue informs. It seems most of the light blue uniforms went to the Spanish troops in southern Spain, so you could see Line and light in light blue, not just the lights. One light unit I can think of was in red. Then there is d'Espana's troops, with Wellington, were clothed in dark blue jackets and trousers, and Tarleton helmets (for a while). d'Espana's infantry included a unit of Tiradores and another of Cazadores. So light blue isn't the default colour for Spanish Light inf. 1810+. |
Rudysnelson | 20 Mar 2018 6:57 p.m. PST |
Several postcards from Spanish forts in Florida, show that they were still wearing bicornes in Pensacola when the Americans attacked. I am not sure when the troops got more updated uniforms and headgear. |
Prince of Essling | 21 Mar 2018 2:51 p.m. PST |
See helpful articles on Spanish Light infantry at link and also (but in Spanish) link |
summerfield | 23 Mar 2018 7:00 a.m. PST |
You may also find our book on the Spanish Infantry of the Early Peninsular War. It is now back in print. EXTRACT link A second volume on the Cavalry and Artillery has also now back in print. link Stephen |