Introduction

In 1806, entirely on his own initiative, Captain Sir Home Popham sailed from the newly-captured Cape Colony via St. Helena with a small force and on 8th June sighted Cape St. Mary on the South American coast. On 10th June he entered the Rio de la Plata. The squadron he commanded included the frigate Narcissus, the ships of the line Diadem and Raisonnable and the Diomede of 44 guns. On the evening of 25th June 1,400 men landed unopposed at Point Quilmy a Ponichion. They included a body of Royal Marines from the Diadem, the St. Helena Battalion, and the 71st Foot and were commanded by General Beresford.

At the village of Reduccion they met and overthrew a considerable Spanish force capturing 4 cannon for the loss of 7 Highlanders wounded.

On 25th June Buenos Ayres capitulated to the small British force.

Overcoming their initial surprise, and seeing how few the conquerors in fact were, the local Spaniards regrouped outside the city and early in August 1806 they advanced with 1,500 men commanded by M. Pueyreddon to confront the British.

After a sharp engagement, the British - consisting of some of the Highlanders and the St. Helena Battalion under General Beresford, dispersed the Spaniards and took 10 cannon all for trivial loss.

Undiscouraged, Pueyreddon regathered his men and, joined by more reinforcements, attacked Buenos Ayres on 10th August forcing the British to retire into the fort where, cut off from any aid, they surrendered a short time later.

The uniforms of the captured British troops were used to clothe local militia units (Migulletes, Morenos de Infanteria and the Cazadores de Callaberia*).

* I have not been able to identify any such unit in the sources I have consulted.

Sir Home Popham was recalled to London from the Cape Colony, court martialled and severely reprimanded for his action.

In 1807 other British forces were also involved in Argentina; the 43rd Foot and some seamen and marines (400 men in all) under Lieutenant Colonel Vassal captured the coastal town of Banda Oriental, killing and wounding 50 Spanish troops and taking all their cannon at no loss to themselves. Next day Vassal captured the batteries defending the harbour of Maldoiado, about 70 miles from Monte Video.

Sir Charles Stirling had been appointed to succeed Sir Home Popham and he now arrived at Monte Video with reinforcements in the Ardent and Lancaster (64 guns). Landing 9 miles from the town of San Felipe de Monte Video, General Sir Samuel Achmuty advanced to take the place but was opposed by about 6,000 Spaniards with several guns and cavalry support.

A sharp fight ensued but the Spaniards were finally overthrown by a flanking charge by the 40th Foot and a battalion of the 95th Rifles. Spanish losses were 1,500 dead, wounded or captured and 1 gun.

The British proceeded to attack the city which was defended by well-garrisoned stone fortifications and 160 guns on 25th January 1807. Although without siege artillery, by 2nd February the British had battered a breach and assaulted the city.

The assault was made before dawn on 3rd February and the column was made up of the 95th, the light companies of the line regiments, the grenadiers of the line regiments and the 38th Foot in the van with the 40th and 87th Foot in support. Left in the base camp were 17th Light Dragoons and parts of the 20th and 21st Light Dragoons, the 47th Foot, one company of the 71st Highlanders and 700 marines and seamen.

Despite losing their way in the dark and the fact that the breach had been blocked up again with rolled cattle hides, the assault was successful and by daylight the city had surrendered.

Losses in the assaulting column were 600 men and officers dead and wounded. The Spaniards lost 800 killed, 400 wounded, 2,000 captured. A further 1,500 Spaniards fled the city in boats.

Hearing of these events, the War Ministry diverted an expedition from Africa to reinforce the Argentinian adventure. This force consisted of the 1st Battalions of the 5th, 36th, 45th and 88th Foot, 5 more companies of the 95th, two squadrons of the 6th Dragoon Guards and two companies of artillery. Starting from the Cape of Good Hope on 6th April 1807, they called at St. Helena on 21st-26th to water and reprovision and arrived at Monte Video on 14th June. During May 1807 Lieutenant General Whitelock had arrived there with a further 1,630 men and the entire force at his disposal was now 7,822 rank and file including 150 mounted dragoons and 18 guns with 200 horses and mules to move them.

From their camp at Ensenada de Barragon, a port on the Rio de la Plata, 30 miles from Buenos Ayres, they marched on the latter city reaching the village of Reduction on 1st July. Next day they approached their target to find their way blocked near the Coral de Miserere by a considerable Spanish force of all arms. Brigadier Crawford, with the 95th and the light battalion, made a furious charge and dispersed the enemy taking 9 guns and a howitzer and chasing them back into the suburbs where a halt was made for the night.

Next day (3rd July) General Whitelock summoned the city to surrender. This being refused, he assaulted the place on 5th July and his force became bogged down in bitter street fighting and was cut up in detail, losing 2,500 dead, wounded and captured.

On 6th July the Spanish commander, General Liniers, offered to release all the prisoners taken in the previous year's campaign, plus all those of the present fighting and to guarantee unhindered withdrawal if the British would evacuate the country. General Whitelock agreed and the disastrous adventure ca e to a close. For this action he was court martialled and cashiered.

An interesting tailpiece to this drama is the capture (under circumstances unknown to me) of the British 12-gun schooner, the Belem, by the Hussars of Pueyrredon on 10th August 1807. For this action they received the following dress distinctions (of which I have only a verbal description): on each side of the collar a 3 cm diameter bronze disc and on the upper left arm a patch of grey cloth 65 cm x 55 cm with an oval disc.

In the centre of the oval were two men-o-war over an anchor and below an eagle. Above the oval was a scroll bearing: "Uo TSRCo GSTdsde Bs As" (To the conquerors of Buenos Ayres) and beneath it: "PERDRIEL 10de agosto 1806". The collar ovals also bore this inscription.

The Uniforms of the Spanish Forces in Argentina 1806-07

Following the capture of the British troops in 1806, their uniforms were used to clothe at least three of the newly raised regiments. From the available illustrations it would seem that the regimental lace was removed from the jackets. The 71st Foot (buff facings and white buttons) provided clothing for the Migueletes; an unidentified regiment with white facings (43rd Foot?) clothed the Morenos de Infanteria and there is mention that the 'Cazadores de Caballeria' also wore red British coats but no further details are known. Veteranos (troops of the line).

REGIMENT & STRENGTH

Real Cuerpo de Marina:

482 men Black cocked hat, red cockade, yellow loop and button; dark blue jacket, red collar, lapels, cuffs, shoulder straps and piping to pocket and white, 3-point cuff flap. White piping to lapels and shoulder straps; white belts, waistcoat and trousers, short black gaiters. Other ranks wore a brass anchor badge on the collar.

Real Cuerpo de Artilleria:

219 men Dark blue uniform of line infantry cut with red facings, yellow buttons and yellow grenade badge on the collar. Black cocked hat with red cockade.

Fijo de Buenos Aires:

167 men

Dragones de Buenos Aires:

196 men

Blandengues de Buenos Aires:

147 men

Argentinian Uniforms 1807: Part 2: Infantry and Cavalry [ED v2n4]