British Forces at Cadiz 1810-1814: Organisation, Strength,
and Losses
Organisation in 1812
January
The beginning of 1812 saw, a return to a more orderly distribution
of forces, as outlined in the Allocation of January 25th.[1] The arrival of a second general officer
in the shape of Major General Andrew Ross and the breveting of Lord
Proby to full Colonel also ensured a larger pool of potential brigade
or detachment commanders. The January 25th organisation is detailed
below: because many units were still divided in more than one location,
strengths, from the monthly return of that date,[2] have
been listed separately.
Commanding the Force: Major General George Cooke
First Brigade: Major General Andrew Ross
2/67th (South Hampshire)
Two companies 2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish)
Regiment de Watteville
Second Brigade: Colonel Louis de Watteville[3]
Two companies 2/47th (Lancashire)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions
Reserve: Colonel John Lambert
3/1st Footguards
One coy. 2/95th Rifles
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars
Royal Artillery: Lt. Colonel Alexander Duncan
Campbell’s Company
Owen’s Company
Roberts’
Company
Dickson’s Company
Shenly’s Company
Royal Engineers
Royal Staff Corps
Wagon Train
Tariffa Detachment: Colonel John Skerrett, with Colonel Lord Proby
Eight companies 2/47th (Lancashire)
Eight companies 2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish)
One coy. 2/95th RiflesDetachment 2nd KGL Hussars
Hughes’
Company, Royal Artillery[4]
Detachment Royal Artillery Drivers
Detachment Royal Engineers
Within the Cadiz command proper, the First Brigade was in Cadiz itself
and the Second Brigade and Reserve on the Isla de Leon. Unit strengths
as of January 25th were:
3/1st Footguards (1134/1192)
2/47th (Lancashire) (499/709)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (536/552)
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish) (446/756)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (133/198)
Regiment de Watteville (1241/1359)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (737/756)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1259/1366)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (266/282, with 138 horses)
Royal Artillery (541/612)
Royal Artillery Drivers (162/182, with 300 horses)
Royal Engineers (79/96)
Royal Staff Corps (35/38)
Wagon Train (17/17, with 21 horses)
Total: 7085/8115, with 459 horses
On January 26th, a force was assembled and embarked to garrison
Carthagena, organised as follows:[5]
Commanding the Detachment: Colonel John Lambert
2/67th (South Hampshire) (526)
Five companies Regiment de Watteville (500)
Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery (79)
Detachment Royal Engineers (10)
Total: 1115
February
The return of Skerrett’s detachment from Tariffa occasioned some
shuffling of command assignments by the time of the Allocation and
Return of February 25th,[6] producing
the following distribution of troops:
Commanding the Force: Major General George Cooke
First Brigade: Colonel Lord Proby
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish)
Seven companies Regiment de Watteville
Battalion of Foreign Recruits
Second Brigade: Colonel John Skerrett
2/47th (Lancashire)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions
Reserve: Colonel John Lambert
3/1st Footguards
Detachment 2/95th Rifles
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars
Royal Artillery: Lt. Colonel Alexander Duncan
Hughes’
Company
Owen’s Company
Roberts’
Company
Dickson’s Company
Shenly’s Company
Royal Engineers
Royal Staff Corps
Wagon Train
Carthagena Detachment: Major General Andrew Ross
2/67th (South Hampshire)
Five companies Regiment de Watteville[7]
Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery
Detachment Royal Engineers
As before, the First Brigade was in Cadiz itself and the Second Brigade
and Reserve on the Isla de Leon. Unit strengths as of the same date
were:
3/1st Footguards (1144/1191)
2/47th (Lancashire) (690/749)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (500/552)[8]
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish) (699/752)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (183/198)
Regiment de Watteville (758/1353)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (756/772)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1297/1357)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (147/165, with 135 horses)
Royal Artillery (498/611)
Royal Artillery Drivers (166/183, with 312 horses)
Royal Engineers (69/96)
Royal Staff Corps (38/38)
Wagon Train (17/17, with 21 horses)
Total: 6962/8034, with 468 horses
March
No organisational changes, excepting that 296 of the Battalion of Foreign
Recruits were doing detached duty on the Isla de Leon.[9] Units
strengths as of March 25th were as follows:[10]
3/1st Footguards (1133/1190)
2/47th (Lancashire) (693/742)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (493/548)[11]
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish) (694/751)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (183/197)
Regiment de Watteville (771/1359)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (759/771)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1289/1355)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (193/206, with 132 horses)
Royal Artillery (595/610)
Royal Artillery Drivers (173/182, with 321 horses)
Royal Engineers (51/95)
Royal Staff Corps (37/38)
Wagon Train (17/17, with 21 horses)
Total: 6990/8061, with 474 horses
April
No organisational changes, but the detachment of the Battalion of
Foreign Recruits on the Isla de Leon now numbered 294.[12] Units strengths as of March 25th were
as follows:[13
3/1st Footguards (1128/1188)
2/47th (Lancashire) (710/741)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (491/548)[14]
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish) (700/751)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (187/197)
Regiment de Watteville (789/1381)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (754/767)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1264/1354)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (205/224, with 130 horses)
Royal Artillery (505/609)
Royal Artillery Drivers (175/182, with 314 horses)
Royal Engineers (51/95)
Royal Staff Corps (37/38)
Wagon Train (17/17, with 21 horses)
Total: 6522/7533, with 465 horses
May
In this month, the Cadiz force was again called upon to provide a
detachment to garrison Tariffa, albeit one rather smaller than that
posted there previously. This was placed under the command of Lt. Colonel
Hugh Gough of the 2/87th. Captain Charles Smith assumed command of
the Royal Engineers attached to the Cadiz force. As of May 25th,
the distribution and strength of forces therefore stood as follows:[15]
Commanding the Force: Major General George Cooke
First Brigade: Colonel Lord Proby
Four companies 2/87th (Prince of Wales’s own Irish)
Seven companies Regiment de Watteville
Seven companies Battalion of Foreign Recruits
Second Brigade: Colonel John Skerrett
2/47th (Lancashire)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions
Reserve: Colonel John Lambert
3/1st Footguards
Detachment 2/95th Rifles
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars
Royal Artillery: Lt. Colonel Alexander Duncan
Hughes’
Company
Owen’s Company
Roberts’
Company
Dickson’s Company
Shenly’s Company
Royal Engineers
Royal Staff Corps
Wagon Train
Tariffa Detachment: Lt. Colonel Hugh Gough
Six companies 2/87th (Prince of Wales’s own Irish)
Three companies Battalion of Foreign Recruits
Part Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery [16]
Detachment Royal Engineers
Carthagena Detachment: Major General Andrew Ross
2/67th (South Hampshire)
Five companies Regiment de Watteville
Part Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery
Detachment Royal Engineers
Unit strengths on the same date were:
3/1st Footguards (1135/1185)
2/47th (Lancashire) (716/742)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (491/548)[17]
2/87th (Prince of Wales’s own Irish) (408/743)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (183/197)
Regiment de Watteville (776/1375)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (756/762)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1285/1354)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (241/263, with 123 horses)
Royal Artillery (510/671)
Royal Artillery Drivers (174/183, with 288 horses)
Royal Engineers (99/122)
Royal Staff Corps (33/38)
Wagon Train (17/17, with 21 horses)
Total: 6123/7652, with 432 horses
June
No organisational changes. Units strengths as of June 25th were
as follows:[18]
3/1st Footguards (1133/1181)
2/47th (Lancashire) (707/735)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (488/545)[19]
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish) (405/731)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (167/192)
Regiment de Watteville (775/1340)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (554/760)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1294/1369)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (168/185, with 116 horses)
Royal Artillery (503/663)
Royal Artillery Drivers (176/181, with 269 horses)
Royal Engineers (93/117)
Royal Staff Corps (29/38)
Wagon Train (23/23, with 36 horses)
Total: 7010/8060, with 421 horses
July
No organisational changes, beyond that a ten-man detachment of the
Royal Staff Corps had joined Gough’s force at Tariffa.[20] Unit strengths as of July 25th were
as follows:[21]
3/1st Footguards (1124/1176)
2/47th (Lancashire) (700/732)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (476/545)[22]
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish) (404/731)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (177/191)
Regiment de Watteville (777/1338)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (534/756)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1290/1372)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (218/231, with 110 horses)
Royal Artillery (497/659)
Royal Artillery Drivers (175/181, with 369 horses)
Royal Engineers (87/116)
Royal Staff Corps (26/38)
Wagon Train (24/24, with 36 horses)
Total: 6509/8090, with 515 horses
August
During this month news of Marmont’s defeat at Salamanca reached
Soult’s Armée du Midi, which included the troops
investing Cadiz. Soult was forced to evacuate Andalucia, thus bringing
an end to the siege. In order to take advantage of the French withdrawal,
and to try and capitalise on any ensuing confusion, Cooke agreed to
provide troops to reinforce the Spanish General Cruz-Murgeon in his
operations against Seville. This force embarked from Cadiz on August
9th, and was organised as follows:[23]
Commanding the Detachment: Colonel John Skerrett
Detachment 3/1st Footguards (629)
Detachment 2/87th, (205)
Detachment 2/95th, (40)
Detachment 20th Portuguese Infantry (650)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (20, with 22 horses)
Detachment Royal Artillery[24] (34,
with one heavy five ½ inch howitzer and two light six-pounders)
Detachment Royal Artillery Drivers (43, with 80 horses)
Detachment Royal Engineers (2, with 1 horse)
Detachment R staff corps, (2)
Total: 1625, with 103 horses and three guns
This detachment landed at Huelva on the 11th, and joined Cruz-Murgeon’s
force with which it then advanced on Seville. Meanwhile, the French
completed their destruction of their lines outside Cadiz on the 24th,
and then fell back on Seville which was then in turn evacuated.[25] Other than the departure of this detachment,
no other organisational changes are recorded. However, it may be inferred
that those troops from the Second Brigade and Reserve remaining on
the Isla de Leon collectively came under Lambert’s command after
Skerrett left. As of the monthly return of August 25th, units
strengths stood thus:[26]
3/1st Footguards (504/1175)
2/47th (Lancashire) (695/731)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (472/545)[27]
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish) (399/731)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (140/191)
Regiment de Watteville (808/1368)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (525/753)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (645/1363)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (196/229, with 105 horses)
Royal Artillery (464/660)
Royal Artillery Drivers (131/180, with 366 horses)
Royal Engineers (81/116)
Royal Staff Corps (24/38)
Wagon Train (23/24, with 35 horses)
Total: 5107/8104, with 506 horses
September
After the fall of Seville, Cooke moved more forces up from Cadiz,
and assumed command there in person. In early September, the Anglo-Portuguese
force at Seville stood thus:[28]
3/1st Footguards (1075)
2/47th (Lancashire) (698)
2/87th (Prince of Wales
’ own Irish) (637)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (171)
Detachment Regiment de Watteville (610)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1349)
Detachment Royal Artillery and Drivers (453, with 311 horses)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (129, with 113 horses)
Total: 5122, with 424 horses
Even before the raising of the siege of Cadiz, plans had been afoot
to withdraw some of the better units from the garrison for duties with
the main field army, replacing them in part with fresh reinforcements
from the home station. With the changed strategic situation, it now
became possible to withdraw yet more forces, and Wellington wrote to
Cooke with orders as to how this was to be done:
You will have received the order of the Secretary of State to send
to Lisbon the 3rd battn. 1st Footguards, which were to be relieved
as I am informed by the 2nd battn. 59th Regiment and I conclude that
you will have carried these orders into action before you receive
this letter.
In the course of yesterday and this day I have received accounts
to which I give credit that the enemy had entirety raised the Blockade
of Cadiz, and it is now necessary that I should give you instructions
which I have received from the Secretary of State for your guidance
in case of the occurrence of this event
You are to withdraw the British garrison from Tariffa with the exception
of the Royal Artillery and Engineers, who are to continue to construct
the works and buildings on the island until further orders.
The following troops are to be embarked at once and sent to Lisbon
without loss of time, unless you should have the means of transport
to enable you to march them through the country viz:
Detachment of the 2nd Hussars
20th Portuguese Regt
3rd battn. 1st Footguards
Detachment 2nd battn. 95th Regiment
Company of the Royal Staff Corps
2nd battn. 87th Regiment of Foot
Captain Owen’s and Captain Dickson’s Companies of Artillery
All the artillery horses and mules excepting 170 horses
Artillery Drivers in proportion to the number of horses and mules
sent
Colonel Skerrett must come in command of these Troops[29]
This would therefore leave, as a force to garrison Cadiz, Tariffa,
and Carthegena, four infantry battalions (2/47th, 2/67th, Watteville’s,
Foreign Recruits), four artillery companies with drivers and 170
horses, and detachments of engineers. However, Wellington then went
on give instructions for a further potential withdrawal:
In case the 2nd battn. 59th Regiment should have arrived at Cadiz
before you shall receive this order you will send either that battn.
or the 2nd battn. 47th Regiment with Colonel Skerrett’s Detachment
according to you judgement which of the two is best fit for service
in the field
Whenever the 2nd battn 59th regt shall arrive after you have carried
these orders into execution you will send to Lusbon whichever of
that battalion or the 2nd battn. 47th Regiment is most fit for service,
retaining at Cadiz one British battalion.[30]
The 2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) had indeed arrived at Cadiz by the
time of Wellington’s letter, disembarking on September 6th along
with a hundred-man draft for the 2/87th,[31] and
Cooke therefore elected to retain the new battalion there and send
the 2/47th, with was already at Seville, on to join Wellington. Skerrett’s
command therefore comprised the units as listed in Wellington’s
letter, plus the 2/47th, and set off to march overland to join the
main army.[32] Cooke’s
remaining forces were distributed as follows:
Cadiz and Isla de Leon:
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire)
Seven companies Battalion of Foreign Recruits
Seven companies Regiment de Watteville
Detachment Royal Artillery[33]
Detachment Royal Artillery Drivers
Detachment Royal Engineers
Tariffa:
Three companies Battalion of Foreign Recruits
Part Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery
Detachment Royal Engineers
Carthagena:
2/67th (South Hampshire)
Five companies Regiment de Watteville
Part Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery
Detachment Royal Engineers
Major General Ross died at Carthagena on September 26th, leaving
Lt. Colonel Prevost as the senior officer on that station. As of the
return of September 25th, [34] unit strengths, including
those for Skerrett’s force on its way to join Wellington, were
as follows:
3/1st Footguards (960/1170)
2/47th (Lancashire) (641/729)
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) (696/826)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (378/536)[35]
2/87th (Prince of Wales ’s own Irish) (655/798)
Detachment 2/95th Rifles (162/190)
Regiment de Watteville (642/1416)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (600/751)
20th Portuguese Infantry, two battalions (1157/1350)
Detachment 2nd KGL Hussars (118/151, with 116 horses)
Royal Artillery (299/651)
Royal Artillery Drivers (159/180, with 359 horses)
Royal Engineers (78/114)
Royal Staff Corps (28/38)
Wagon Train (23/24, with 34 horses)
Total: 6696/8924, with 509 horses
October
Organisation of the remaining forces did not change during October,
but over and above the men included in the return of October 25th[36] were a total of
seventeen officers, twenty-seven sergeants, four drummers, and fifty-eight
rank and file left behind by those units that had marched with Skerrett.[37]
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) (766/817)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (392/509)[38]
Regiment de Watteville (842/1407)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (590/742)
Royal Artillery (294/433)
Royal Artillery Drivers (79/89, with 167 horses)
Royal Engineers (83/114)
Total: 3046/4111, with 167 horses
November
No organisational changes. The detachment of men left behind by Skerrett’s
regiments now comprised three officers, six sergeants, one drummer,
and sixty-three rank and file.[39] As
of the monthly return of November 25th,[40] unit
strengths stood as follows:
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) (739/817)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (382/489)[41]
Regiment de Watteville (854/1397)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (629/739)
Royal Artillery (307/427)
Royal Artillery Drivers (88/89, with 159 horses)
Royal Engineers (83/114)
Total: 3082/4072, with 159 horses
December
No organisational changes.[42] Units
strengths as of December 25th stood as follows:[43]
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) (758/809)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (390/477)[44]
Regiment de Watteville (890/1459)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (617/729)
Royal Artillery (290/433)
Royal Artillery Drivers (84/88, with 103 horses)
Royal Engineers (83/113)
Total: 3112/4108, with 103 horses
Notes:
[1] TNA, WO1/264, p.61.
[2] TNA, WO17/1487.
[3] Absent, troops reporting
to Lambert.
[4] As of January 5th,
the ordnance at Tariffa comprised: two brass eight ½ inch howitzers,
five brass sixteen-pounders, and two brass twelve-pounders: see Skerrett’s
return of that date in TNA, WO1/264, p.19.
[5] “Embarkation
Return of Troops Embarked for a particular service under the command
of Colonel Lambert”, in TNA, WO1/263, p.53; Oman
, Peninsular War, Vol.V, p.621. Unit strengths are rank and
file only. Inasmuch as the Ross had taken over the Carthagena command
by the following month, it may be doubted that Lambert ever sailed.
[6] Respectively in TNA,
WO1/263, p.109; TNA, WO17/1487.
[7] It will be noted that,
with the seven companies at Cadiz, this now gives twelve for the whole
regiment. It is unclear whether the twelfth had earlier been detached,
or whether the 1811 allocations totalling only eleven companies represents
an error.
[8] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/188.
[9] Allocation of March
25th 1812, in TNA, WO1/264, p.157.
[10] TNA, WO17/1487.
[11] Data from monthly
return of April 1812, data for this unit being provided one month in
arrears in the returns of April-June.
[12] Allocation of April
25th 1812, in TNA, WO1/264, p.235.
[13] TNA, WO17/1487.
[14] Data from monthly
return of May 1812.
[15] Allocation of May
25th 1812, in TNA, WO1/265, p.9; TNA, WO17/1487.
[16] That the artillery
came from Carthagena rather than Cadiz is per Oman
, Peninsular War, Vol.V, p.621.
[17] Data from monthly
return of June 1812.
[18] Monthly Return of
July 25th 1812 in TNA, WO17/1487.
[19] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/188.
[20] Allocation of July
25th in TNA, WO1/165, p.95.
[21] Monthly Return of
June 25th 1812 in TNA, WO17/1487.
[22] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/188.
[23] “Return of
the Force embarked for a particular service under the command of Colonel
Skerrett” August 9th 1812, in TNA, WO1/265, p.87.
[24] It is unclear from
which artillery company these men and guns came.
[25] Details of these
operations in Oman
, Peninsular War, Vol.V, pp.539-542.
[26] TNA, WO17/1487.
[27] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/188.
[28] “Troops under
the Immediate command of Major general Cooke not including those at
Tariffa, Carthagena and the Isla de Leon”, in TNA, WO1/265, p.151.
It is not clear what brigading, if any, was used within this force.
[29] Wellington to Cooke,
September 9th 1812, in TNA, WO1/265, pp.159-163.
[30] Ibid.
[31] Cadiz Journal, entry
for September 6th 1812, in TNA, WO28/341.
[32] Oman, Peninsular
War, Vol.V, p.580.
[33] Companies of Hughes,
Roberts, and Shenley.
[34] TNA, WO17/1487.
[35] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/188.
[36] TNA, WO17/1487.
[37] “Detachments
of different Corps not belonging to the Troops under the Major General’s
command” October 25th 1812, in TNA, WO1/265, p.185.
[38] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/188.
[39] Allotment of November
25th 1812, in TNA, WO1/256, p.195.
[40] TNA, WO17/1487.
[41] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/188.
[42] Allotment of December
25th 1812, in TNA, WO1/266, p.5.
[43] TNA, WO17/1487.
[44] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/188.
Placed on the Napoleon Series: September 2009
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