El Division del Norte Part 1
El Division del Norte Part 2

With all his interest in the Army, Godoy insisted on instituting several clothing changes between the late 1790s and 1805. It is doubtful, however,that Spanish Finances could stand up to the cost, so that there is no certainty that they were actually carried out. What follows is based largely on Bueno's book (see bibliography), since he would appear to have followed the various references available.

The table indicates the "regulation" uniform, but where Bueno has a difference, this is indicated seperately.

Coat Collar Cuffs Lapels Button

Generals:

Headgear was a bicorn, edged in gold and with white feathers. The cockade was red. Smallclothes were white, and the waist sash was red. There was plentiful gold lacing along edges. Horse furniture was red, edged gold.

Blue Red Red Red Gold

Line Infantry:

The headgear was an unlaced bicorn, with a bearskin backed with a long hanging back in regimental distinctive for the grenadiers, decorated with coats of arms etc particular to the regiment. Where lapels, etc were in a regimental distinctive, they were piped white, and vice­versa. Breeches were white, with white gaiters for summer and black for winter. Bueno shows the musicians wearing royal colours, blue coat and red facings, but other references indicate reversed colours. Drums were brass with blue hoops.

Princesa Regiment

White Violet Violet White White

Asturias Regiment

White White Green Green White

Guadalajara Regiment

White Red Red Red White

Zamora Regiment

White White Black Black White

Light Infantry:

The headgear was a Tarleton, with a black fur crest, red turban and green plume. The dolman was worn open. Breeches were white, with black gaiters

2/Volunteers of Barcelona

Green Red Red --- Yellow

1/Volunteers of Catalonia

Green Red Red --- Yellow

Line Cavalry

Headgear was a bicorne with white lace. Turnbacks were red for all regiments. Smallclothes were tan, and boots black. Cross belts were white. Horse furniture was blue, with a gold stripe for officers and yellow for the other ranks. Harness work was black leather. Musicians probably wore the ordinary troopers uniform, but Bueno shows Infante in red faced yellow.

Rey Cavalry Regiment

Blue Red Red Red Yellow with Yellow Piping

Infante Cavalry Regiment

Blue White White White Yellow with Yellow Piping

Algarve Cavalry Regiment

Blue Yellow Yellow Yellow White with Red Piping

Dragoons:

Headgear was a bicorne with white lace. Turnbacks were red. Smallclothes were yellow, with black boots and white belting Horse furniture was yellow edged silver for officers and white for men. Musicians probably wore the ordinary troopers uniform.

Almansa Dragoon Regiment

Yellow Sky Blue Sky Blue Sky Blue White

Villaviciosa Dragoon Regiment

Yellow Green Green Green White

Artillery:

The foot artillery wore an infantry style bicorn. Turnbacks were red. Smallclothes were blue and belting white. The horse artillery wore a shako with a red plume. The officer's shako had a black wing, edged gold wrapped round it.

The train uniform is slightly suspect, but is interesting enough to include. The headgear was a bicorn, with a purple cockade and red plume. Smallclothes were white.

The Sappers and Miners wore a Tarleton helmet with red plume, bicorn for officers. Turnbacks were red, and small clothes blue.

Foot Artillery

Blue Red Red Blue Yellow and piped red

Horse Artillery

Blue Red Red Blue Yellow and piped red

Train

Brown Red Red Red White and piped white

Sappers and Miners

Blue Purple Red Purple White and piped white

Bueno has illustrated the following variations to the above regulation uniforms:

(a) Princessa: Unit could have continued to wear the 1802 uniform, which was a blue coat with black collar, cuffs and lapels, all piped red.
(b) 1st Volunteers of Catalonia: Unit could have been uniformed according to the new 1805 regulation. The jacket was blue, with a blue collar piped yellow, yellow cuffs and lapels. Breeches were white. The headgear was a shako, with a green side plume and yellow decoration.
(c) Villaviciosa Dragoons: The regiment may have continued to wear light cavalry uniform of green jacket and breeches, red collar and cuffs piped white, white frogging across the dolman and white bastions on the upper breeches. The shako had a green tipped red side plume. Officers plumes were red. Trumpeters wore red faced yellow dolmans, red breeches and colpacks. Horse furniture was green edged white..

Spanish Tactics

The experience of fighting the French convinced Godoy that the Spanish Army would have to change from the Frederician tactics it had used from 1763, and learn the new system, but the conservatism of the Spanish generals meant that there was a great deal of opposition to any change. Whilst younger officers saw the need to change, the commision set up to investigate and make recommendations was dissolved before reporting, and it was not until 1807 that any revision took place.

It is highly likely that La Romana, who had been on the receiving end of French attacks, and who was apparently receptive to the idea of combined arms tactics would have ensured that the army received a large amount of training whilst in Denmark, especially since he was operating under the command of Bernadotte, who was famous as a drill master.

Wargaming the Spanish Army

Most wargamers would not touch a Spanish army, primarily because of its record during the War of Independence. The Expeditionary force however offers an opportunity to play with a well balanced army, under a better than average general, and operating without the disadvantage of out of date tactics.

You will be able to dispose of a strong light infantry element, backed up with heavy infantry able to change from column to line, and, if we assume that the cavalry was adequately mounted, with the capability of launching effective charges. The only real drawback is the lack of artillery, but you can beef it up with French companies. Since you can add in some French infantry and cavalry, and some Danes, the whole army will be quite colourful and challenging.

Availability of Figures

Most manufacturers have got some Spanish figures in their range, but there are no huge choices. You may have to take figures from, say, the Seven Years War to eke out units. The odd company out is, of course, AB, who have an excellent selection of all the types that were present in Denmark, except (currently) light cavalry and horse artillery. These can be taken from the French range however, and for those gamers who want to use side plumed light infantry, you can use the AB chasseur figures.

El Division del Norte Part 1
El Division del Norte Part 2
El Division del Norte Part 3