Further to my recent article on Spanish Napoleonic uniforms (NNQ, No. 7,12-15) 1 have come across an interesting reference in a recently published work on relations between Britain and Asturias during the Peninsular War, viz. A. Laspra Rodriguez, Intervencionismo y revolucion: Asturias y Gran Bretana durante la guerra de la independencia (180-1813) (Oviedo, 1992). As I noted in my article, most of the uniforms sent to Spain were the famous light and dark blue suits depicted in so many works on the uniforms of the Penisular War. Early in the war, however, this does not seem to have been the case. Thus, according to Laspra in December 1808 Asturias received 4,000 complete uniforms. Its representatives in London had originally requested that the colour for all uniforms sent to the province should be blue, but contemporary documents suggest that no such uniforms were available, and that those sent were either green with red, white or grey facings, or red, the latter apparently being none other than standard British infantry uniforms.

Setting aside the former, which were certainly worn by the Regimiento de la Muerte which was raised in Galicia in 1809, Bueno gives several examples of Spanish troops wearing red uniforms of such a pattern (viz. J. Bueno, Uniformes Militares de la Guerra de la Independencia (Madrid, 1989), figs. 26, 68), but I had always tended to reject these figures as being highly improbable. Now, however, it seems that I must revise my opinion, whilst wargames should have the opportunity of livening up an already colourful force.

More Notes

#12: Copy of a Circular Letter to the Lords Lieutenents of England and Wales. Whitehall 26th November 1797
#13. Circular. Colonial Department
#14. General Orders
#15. General Orders. Horse Guards. 1st July 1802
#16. Spanish Napoleonic Uniforms - A Further Note
#17. The Volley-gun: The Legend and the Truth