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The British Army in Portugal and Spain: Its Order-of-Battle (June 1808 - April 1809)Part III: Lieutenant General Sir John Moore's ArmyBy Ron McGuigan Command and StaffIn a General Order issued by Lieutenant General Burrard, on 8 October, the following were to serve with this army: Lieutenant General Sir John Moore This list was later expanded to: Lieutenant General Sir John Moore Colonels C. Craufurd and R. Craufurd, although both Brigadier Generals with their former commands, were only appointed as Colonels on the Staff of Moore's army. No reason was given. Available TroopsThe following units were designated for Moore's Corps: 18th Light Dragoons Due to the high number of sick in the regiments chosen to go into Spain, Lieutenant General Burrard added the 2nd Regiment, 1/9th Regiment, and 20th Regiment from the Portugal Garrison to Lieutenant General Moore's Army. Initial OrganizationOn 8th October the army stood as: Commanding the force: Lieutenant General Sir John Moore Adjutant General: Brigadier General Henry Clinton Quarter Master General: Lieutenant Colonel George Murray Royal Artillery: Colonel John Harding Cavalry Brigade: Brigadier General Charles Stewart 18th Light Dragoons (672) Hope's Division: Lieutenant General John Hope Craufurd's Brigade: Colonel James Catlin Craufurd1/36th Regiment (871) Mackenzie Fraser's Division: Lieutenant General Alexander Mackenzie Fraser Bentinck's Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel James Wynch (4th Regiment)1/4th Regiment (962) Paget's Division: Major General Edward Paget Anstruther's Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ross (20th Regiment)20th Regiment (584) Unattached: Fane's Brigade: Brigadier General Henry Fane1/38th Regiment (955) Artillery: Lieutenant Colonel George Wood Major James Viney with Drummond's Company 3rd Battalion [light 6 pounders] On 13th October, Lieutenant General Burrard received orders to retain in Portugal only eight regiments [including 4 of the King's German Legion], 20th Light Dragoons and artillery, the remainder were to go with Lieutenant General Moore. Before the advance into Spain, there were already changes. Brigadier General Anstruther had been sent ahead to Almeida to provide information on the frontier. He left 7 September. Major General Lord Bentinck was on detached service with the Foreign Office at Madrid. He had left by 14 September. Their brigades were commanded by the senior Battalion Commanders. Acland returned on sick leave to England and his brigade was broken up with the 2nd Regiment going to Catlin Craufurd's Brigade and the 1/6th Regiment at Almeida. The Advance into SpainOn 27th October as the army advanced into Spain, it stood as: Mackenzie Fraser's Division: Lieutenant General Mackenzie Fraser Bentinck's Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Wynch (4th Regiment)1/4th Regiment This force, under the direct command of General Moore, moved by Abrantes and Guarda to Salamanca. Paget's Division: Major General Paget Anstruther's Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Ross (20th Regiment)20th Regiment This force moved by Elvas and Alcantara to Salamanca. Hope's Division: Lieutenant General Hope Cavalry Brigade: Brigadier General Stewart18th Light Dragoons This force moved by Badajoz and the Escurial to Salamanca. Beresford's Brigade: Major General Beresford 1/9th Regiment Fane's Brigade: Brigadier General Fane 1/38th Regiment This force, under Beresford's command, moved by Coimbra and Viseu to Salamanca. ChangesAs Moore's army advanced into Spain more changes occurred. By 22 October, Moore had ordered the 1/3rd Regiment and the 1/50th Regiment to join his army. By 27 October, the 1/6th Regiment and 1/50th Regiment commanded by Brigadier General Moore Disney followed along the Abrantes-Guarda route. Disney, from the garrison of Sicily, had been on his way home to England and had stopped at Lisbon, arriving 6th October. He was employed to reinforce Moore's army. The 1/3rd was escorting a waggon train of stores on the Abrantes-Guarda route. On 13th November, 5 companies 5/60th were ordered back to Portugal, but apparently only left at the end of November. The 1/3rd Regiment was ordered to guard the sick and baggage train returning to Portugal. The 1/82nd Regiment was the only regiment of a brigade [Brigadier General Alan Cameron, 1/45th Regiment 1/82nd Regiment and 97th Regiment] sent to join Moore's army. They advanced from Oporto along the road to Zamora and join the main force after 23 December. In a General Order of 17th November, Lieutenant General Moore confirmed the appointment to serve on the staff of his army of Lieutenant Generals Sir David Baird, Lord Henry Paget and Sir Arthur Wellesley; Major Generals Coote Manningham, Ronald Ferguson, John Broderick, Henry Warde, and James Leith; Brigadier Generals John Slade and Miles Nightingall along with Colonel [on the Staff] Robert Craufurd. However, Lieutenant General Wellesley and Brigadier General Nightingall did not have orders to leave England after the Convention Inquiry ended (about 22 December). Wellesley returned to Ireland as the Chief Secretary and Nightingall was appointed to a different staff command. Major General Ferguson sailed for Spain in January 1809. Major Generals Leith and Broderick were placed on the staff for pay purposes as they were performing political assignments in Spain. They both later served in Moore's army. The British Government continued to look at reinforcing the army in Spain and the following were all reported as going on service: On 19 October five cavalry brigades:Brigadier General Slade's7th Light Dragoons On 14 November Lieutenant General Moore was informed that two additional Horse Artillery Troops [Ross's A Troop and probably R. Macdonald's E Troop of 10 light 6 pounders and two 5½ inch light howitzers] and four regiments of cavalry would be embarked once the cavalry transports returned from Corunna. On 25 November the Horse Artillery Troops embarked on the transports; on 3rd December, Major General Payne and this brigade embarked on the transports. On 7 December, Brigadier General Henry Campbell and the 2nd Brigade of Guards were reported as going on service. News that Moore and Baird were withdrawing from Spain, the first time, cancelled the cavalry and artillery embarkation. 1 December 1808On 1st December at Salamanca, Moore's army stood as: Cavalry Brigade: Brigadier General Stewart 18th Light Dragoons Mackenzie Fraser's Division: Lieutenant General Mackenzie Fraser Bentinck's Brigade: Major General Lord Bentinck [rejoined 1st December]1/4th Regiment Hope's Division: Lieutenant General Hope Hill's Brigade: Major General Hill2nd Regiment Paget's Division: Major General Paget Anstruther's Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Ross (20th Regiment)20th Regiment Flank Brigade: Major General Beresford 1/9th Regiment Flank Brigade: Brigadier General Baron Alten 1st Light Battalion King's German Legion Unattached units: 1/6th Regiment On 5th December the 5 companies of 5/60th were placed under Lieutenant General Mackenzie Fraser's command. The next day they were ordered to return to Portugal escorting the heavy baggage, reserve ammunition and sick of Moore's army. At Salamanca, Moore waited for the force sent from England. For the British Government having decided to assist the Spanish armies, also decided to reinforce the army in Spain. This force, from the Home Garrisons, was under the command of Lieutenant General Baird. Baird's CommandAt Cork on 12 September, were Lieutenant General Sir David Baird with the 1st Brigade commanded by Major General Coote Manningham consisting of the 2/14th Regiment, 1/26th Regiment 2/31st Regiment; the 2nd Brigade under Brigadier General John Slade consisting of the 3/1st Regiment, 2/23rd Regiment, 3/27th Regiment, 2/81st Regiment. Holcombe's Company 6th Battalion Royal Artillery and Wall's Company 7th Battalion Royal Artillery were at Cork. Collecting at Falmouth from Ramsgate, Harwich, Portsmouth and Jersey were both a Brigade of Guards under Major General Henry Warde and Brigadier General Robert Craufurd with the 1/43rd Regiment, 51st Regiment, 1/59th Regiment, 2/60th Regiment, 76th Regiment, 4 companies 1/95th Regiment, and 4 companies 2/95th Regiment. Bean's Company and Truscott's Company both 3rd Battalion Royal Artillery were at Falmouth. On 22 September the force stood as: Commanding the force: Lieutenant General Sir David Baird Second-in-command: Major General Coote Manningham Artillery: Lieutenant Colonel John Sheldrake Warde's Brigade: Major General Henry Warde 1/1st Foot Guards (1356) [This was the 1st Guards Brigade as organized in Great Britain since 1803] Mackenzie's Brigade: Major General John Randoll Mackenzie [temporary] 51st Regiment (620) Slade's Brigade: Brigadier General John Slade 3/1st Regiment (723) Craufurd's Brigade: Colonel Robert Craufurd 2/14th Regiment (630) Royal Artillery: Major Robert Beevor (402) Bean's Company 3rd Battalion Additional ChangesChanges however occurred almost immediately as Manningham took over Slade's Brigade. Brigadier General Slade was given command of a cavalry brigade [8 Troops 7th Light Dragoons (672), 8 Troops 10th Light Dragoons (675), 8 Troops 15th Light Dragoons (674)]. With this brigade came the Lieutenant Colonel George Cookson, RHA, with Downman's B Troop and Evelegh's C Troop Royal Horse Artillery of ten light 6 pounders and two 5½ inch light howitzers (283). This brigade, with Lieutenant General Lord Henry Paget, had been added to Baird's Corps. The units were collecting at Portsmouth. Lord Paget was to command the cavalry of Moore's army. Major General Mackenzie was placed on the staff at Lisbon but was to serve temporarily with Baird's Corps. Major General Ronald Ferguson was on the staff of this Corps, but due to being a witness at the Convention of Cintra Inquiry, did not immediately accompany it. On 13th October, Baird's Corps arrived off Corunna and on the 16th stood as: Warde's Brigade: Major General Warde 1/1st Foot Guards Mackenzie's Brigade: Major General Mackenzie [temporary] 51st Regiment Manningham's Brigade: Major General Manningham 3/1st Regiment Craufurd's Brigade: Colonel R. Craufurd 2/14th Regiment Baird's force began to land on 26 October. The 2/60th Regiment, being under strength, and Holcombe's Company were left as the Garrison of Corunna. Major General John Broderick [Broderick being one of a number of officers used by Lord Castlereagh to report on the affairs in Spain] was appointed 25 September to superintend the landing and supplying of Baird's Corps, but did not arrive at Corunna until 24 October. He was appointed the Commandant of Corunna by Baird by 4 November. The 3/27th Regiment and 2/31st Regiment did not arrive until 22 October and were sent on to Lisbon. They were to replace two regiments [1/3rd Regiment and 1/50th Regiment] from Portugal ordered forward by Lieutenant General Moore. The 2/81st Regiment was transferred to Manningham's Brigade. By 19 November, Major General Mackenzie was ordered to Lisbon by Lieutenant General Burrard to take the command upon Burrard's departure and Major General Leith [Leith being one of a number of officers used by Lord Castlereagh to report on the affairs in Spain] was ordered by Lieutenant General Moore for service with Baird's Corps which was short of General Officers. The Cavalry Brigade, with Lieutenant General Lord Paget and Brigadier General Slade, had not arrived in October. The 7th and 10th Light Dragoons arrived 7 November and the 15th Light Dragoons on 12 November. Lieutenant Colonel Cookson RHA, Major Beevor with Downman's B Troop and Evelegh's C Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrived 8 November. In December, Baird was informed that the 14th Light Dragoons were to go first to Vigo and land there to join his Corps if he thought necessary. [It went to Lisbon in late December] Baird's Re-OrganizationOn Baird's advance to join Moore, he organized his Corps about 19th-23rd November as: Warde's Division: Major General Warde Warde's Brigade: Colonel William Anson (1st Foot Guards)1/1st Foot Guards Manningham's Division: Major General Manningham Leith's Brigade: Colonel Robert Cheney (1st Foot Guards)51st Regiment Cavalry: Lieutenant General Lord Paget and Brigadier General Slade 7th Light Dragoons Artillery: Lieutenant Colonel Sheldrake & Major Beevor. Bean's Company, Truscott's Company, and Wall's Company were attached to Warde's, R. Craufurd's and Manningham's Brigades. By 10th December, Major General Leith was in temporary command of 3/1st Regiment 1/26th Regiment and 2/81st Regiment at Lugo. In December, left behind at Astorga were Lieutenant Colonel Sheldrake(?) with Truscott's Company Royal Artillery (light 6 pounders). Joining of ForcesOn 20th December, Moore's Army and Baird's Corps united at Mayorga and a new organization was in orders: 1st Division: Lieutenant General Baird [Baird having preferred an active command instead of being second-in-command] Warde's Brigade: Major General Warde1/1st Foot Guards 2nd Division: Lieutenant General Hope Hill's Brigade: Major General Hill2nd Regiment 3rd Division: Lieutenant General Mackenzie Fraser Beresford's Brigade: Major General Beresford1/6th Regiment Reserve Division: Major General Paget Disney's Brigade: Brigadier General Disney1/28th Regiment Flank Brigade: Colonel R. Craufurd 1/43rd Regiment Flank Brigade: Brigadier General Baron Alten 1st Light Battalion King's German Legion Cavalry: Lieutenant General Lord Paget Slade's Brigade: Brigadier General Slade10th Light Dragoons Reserve Artillery: Colonel Harding Crawford's Company Artillery Organization of Moore's ForceBy 25 December, the artillery was organized as: Colonel Harding with Lieutenant Colonel Cookson RHA commanding:Evelegh's C Troop RHA [light 6 pounders] The Final OrganizationOn 11 January 1809, Lieutenant General Moore was informed that should he retire on the Tagus, Lieutenant General Cradock would be recalled and the whole force in Spain and Portugal would be under his command. This then was the army which conducted the final campaign, with cavalry actions at Sahagun, 21 December 1808 and Benavente, 29 December 1808, ending in the Battle of Corunna, 16 January 1809, and the evacuation of the army from Spain, which was completed on the 18th. [Battle Honours were awarded for the cavalry action at Sahagun and for Corunna.] Changes which occurred included Brigadier General Anstruther ill [died 14 January] and his brigade commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ross, 20th Regiment, Lieutenant General Moore, mortally wounded, and Lieutenant General Baird severely wounded, 16 January. Command of the army devolved upon Lieutenant General Hope. Major General Lord Bentinck succeeded to the command of the 1st Division and his brigade was perhaps commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Stirling, 1/42nd Regiment. Major General Hill succeeded to the command of the 2nd Division and his brigade was perhaps commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Hinde, 1/32nd Regiment. Colonel Long only arrived off of Corunna on 15 January. Embarked by 15 January, were the cavalry and all of the artillery except for seven light 6 pounders and one 5½ inch light howitzer, along with four Spanish 8 pounders, which were manned by Major Viney with Truscott's and Wilmot's Companies and fought at the Battle of Corunna. On the 17th, Major Beevor assisted by Brevet Major Thornhill, with Thornhill's Company, Bean's Company and Truscott's Company helped man the land defences of Corunna with the Spanish to cover the evacuation. Major Viney's guns could not be embarked due to severe weather and were destroyed. Major General Hill's Brigade and Major General Beresford's Brigade formed the rear guard under Beresford's command. By this time, the artillery had embarked from Portugal or Spain a total of 82 guns to England: 15 9 pounders with ten limbers The British Government continued to look at reinforcing the army in Spain and confirmed for foreign service on 14 December were: 1st, 3rd, and 4th Dragoon Guards The British Government ordered out more reinforcements, two brigades under Major General John Sherbrooke, in December 1808 for Spain [they sailed 15 January 1809]. They were to support Baird's Corps, if Baird could not join Moore's army and remained in Galicia or they were to join Moore's army if they could. They eventually arrived at Lisbon by 13 March 1809. Meantime the Government had also tried to reinforce Baird's Corps with a force under Major General Ronald Ferguson and Major General William Dyott. They sailed from Portsmouth in January 1809 for Corunna with detachments for the 1st Regiment, 9th Regiment, 29th Regiment, 43rd Regiment, 50th Regiment, and others. They sailed back to England in the convoy with the Flank Brigades of Craufurd and Alten.
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