The Paraguayan War 1865-70

Brazillian Uniforms and Army

by David A. Stewart
Maps by Karasa
Illustrations by Archambault

THE BRAZILIAN ARMY

The Brazilian Army of 1865 bore many superficial resemblances to the United States Army before the Civil War. In relation to the population, it was quite small, only some 20,000 men. Its main functions were internal security and campaigning against the natives of the frontier areas. The rank and file came from the lower segments of Brazilian society and most infantrymen came from the slave population. The cavalry for the most part came from the Gauchos of the southern provinces. Many of the officers were trained in the Military Academy and many had studied in Europe. Indeed Brazilian officers were among the best trained in the Americas and, ironically, had served as advisors to Lopez in building the Paraguayan Army.

Unfortunately, while most were competent company officers, few had commanded large units. Also, promotion was extremely slow, especially to line officers on the frontier. The coming of the war necessitated an expansion. Some National Guard units, especially Rio Grande do Sol cavalry, were called to active duty and the regulary army expanded slightly. The main source of new manpower was in the Voluntario do Patria battalions. About fifty of these were raised, along with some cavalry and artillery formations.

Brazilian infantry battalions, both regular and volunteer, were classed as either Fusilero (line) or Cacadore (light). Both contained eight companies, with a line battalion having an authorized strength of 37 officers and 840 men, and a light battalion having 37 officers and 642 men. In actuality most units would have had a somewhat smaller field strength, perhaps around 300-400. Among the regulars the 1st through 7th Battalions were line, while the 8th-22nd were light. Line battalions should have carried a full sized musket and socket bayonet, while lights carried a shorter version with sword bayonet.

In practice, a variety of weapons were used, mostly Liege-Enfield rifled muskets, along with American Springfields. At least one battalion, the 15th, received the Prussian Dreyse "Needlegun" in 1868, but they were unpopular. Tactically, there was no difference between line and light units.

The cavalry, of which there were five regular regiments, were organized in four squadron regiments, three of lancers and one of carabiniers. The 1st Regiment was the Guard Regiment and took no part in the war. The National Guard cavalry was formed in regimental sized Corpsdrawn from the various National Guard units. Five corps of Mounted Rifles were formed by drawing men from the carabinier squadrons. These were disbanded at the war's end. A variety of carbines were used, mostly Enfields. Some units did receive Spencer repeating carbines late in the war.

Of the five foot artillery battalions, the 2nd and 4th garrisoned Matto Grosso province, while the others provided detachments for the field armies. Early in the war most of the old or obsolete pieces were replaced with modern rifles, especiiallyWhitworths and La Hittes. The 1st Mounted Artillery, of 40 guns, was armed with 20 pounder Whitworths. During the war a number of other units were raised including the 2nd Provisional Mounted Artillery, the 4th Provisional Artillery Corps, and the German Artillery. The 2nd Provisional contained a battery of Congreve Rockets.

BRAZILIAN UNIFORMS

Infantry: The line infantry wore a blue kepi, piped in red. The kepi was almost always worn with a white cover. The coat was dark blue with red collar patches and blue cuff flaps piped red (some say red shoulder straps or red cuff flaps). Buttons were brass. In the field white trousers were worn, sometimes tucked into black ankle boots. The pack was gray or brown with a blue overcoat roll on top. The cartridge box and scabbard were black, worn on white belts.

Light Infantry: The light battalions wore a uniform essentially like the line with a few differences. The collar and cuff flaps were blue, piped yellow There was also yellow piping around the shoulder straps. All belts were black.

Zouaves: There would appear to have been at least three Zouave units: Zouaves of Bahia, Zouaves of Perhabuco, and the 11th Provisional Line Battalion. They all probably dressed much like the Zouaves of Bahia. The fez was dark red with blue tassel. The vest was blue piped red as was the jacket. The sash was light blue. The Zouave trousers were red, and gaiters white. Belts were black. it might be noted that the Zouaves of Bahia was an all black unit, including the officers.

Cavalry: The cavalry wore a blue coat with red collar and cuff flaps, piped in white. (Note: da Motto Texeira shows an all red collar and red pointed cuffs with no flaps.) As in the infantry the kepi cover and trousers were white. Black leather equipment and boots were worn, along with a steell hilted saber in a steel scabbard. on campaign many units adopted a "semi-Gaucho" dress, wearing baggy white trousers, a broad brimmed black hat, and (in foul weather) a poncho. Lance pennons in lancer squadrons were red. The Mounted Rifle units wore the light infantry uniform with cavalry equipment and boots.

Foot Artillery: The foot artillery battalions wore the infantry dress with black distinctions, piped in red. Belts were black. Artillerymen are shown carrying the Enfield musketoon.

Mounted Artillery: The Mounted Artillery wore a cavalry uniform, including the cavalry boot, earning them the nickname "Oxen in Heavy Boots". Like the cavalry, they often are shown wearing baggy Gaucho pants and a broad brimmed black hat. Under their coat they frequently wore a red shirt with black trim.

Engineers: The engineers wore a uniform like the infantry with black distinctions and black belts.

Fatigue Dress: The fatigue dress, often seen in the field in hot weather, was of light brown ("duck colored") canvas, cut like the normal uniform. The cuffs, cuff flaps, shoulder straps, and collars were piped in the distinguishing colors worn on the blue uniform.

Miscellaneous: Occasionally, instead of the kepi a barracks cap, similar to that worn by some French units, was worn. This was blue, piped in the branch colorwith a tassel of the branch coloron thefront. Units recruited in the south often wore the broad brimmed black hat. Some Volunteer units had special uniforms (apart from the Zouaves). The 7th Sao Paulo Battalion wore a blue pleated jacket rather like the "Burnside" jacket of the Civil War. Officers had black cuffs, the men's were plain. The 20th Parana Battalion and the 29th Santa Catarina Battalion were composed largely of German settlers from those regions.

Left: Brazilian Cavalry in Gaucho Dress. Black hat, white "bombachas" (Gaucho pants).
Middle: Brazilian Infantry
Right: Argentinian Infantry (winter uniform)

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