British Forces at Cadiz 1810-1814: Organisation, Strength,
and Losses
Organisation in 1813
January
The first month of 1813 saw no organisational changes from the previous
year, the units of the Cadiz command being distributed as follows:
Commanding the Force: Major General George Cooke
Cadiz and Isla de Leon
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire)
Seven companies Battalion of Foreign Recruits|
Seven companies. Regiment de Watteville
Detachment Royal Artillery
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 of Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery
Detachment Royal Engineers
Units strengths as of January 25th stood as follows:[2]
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) (780/809)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (370/464)[3]
Regiment de Watteville (875/1452)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (338/452)
Royal Artillery (287/432)
Royal Artillery Drivers (85/88, with 101 horses)
Royal Engineers (84/112)
Total: 2819/3809, with 101 horses
February
No organisational changes, but a small detachment of the 2/67th, thirty-one
rank and file, was at Cadiz. Unit strengths as of February
25th were as follows:
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) (775/813)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (424/510)[5]
Regiment de Watteville (892/1437)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (347/447)
Royal Artillery (283/430)
Royal Artillery Drivers (83/88, with 99 horses)
Royal Engineers (93/112)
Total: 2897/3837, with 99 horses
March
Early in March, the 29th (Worcestershire) joined the force, being
stationed on the Isla de Leon. The Regiment de Watteville
was concentrated at Cadiz, in preparation for shipment to North America.
With these changes, organisation therefore stood thus:
Commanding the Force: Major General George Cooke
Cadiz and Isla de Leon
29th (Worcestershire)
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire)
Seven companies Battalion of Foreign Recruits
Regiment de Watteville
Detachment Royal Artillery
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)
Part Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery
Detachment Royal Engineers
Unit strengths as of March 25th were as follows:[7]
29th (Worcestershire) (676/713)
2/59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) (782/813)
2/67th (South Hampshire) (424/524)[8]
Regiment de Watteville (1341/1430)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (337/445)
Royal Artillery (284/430)
Royal Artillery Drivers (79/88, with 98 horses)
Royal Engineers (93/112)
Total: 4017/4555, with 98 horses
April
The brief increase in force during March was deceptive, as the forces
attached to the Cadiz command were in fact about to be reduced further.
As noted above, the Regiment de Watteville left for Canada, but Cooke
also lost the 2/59th, sent on to join Wellington now that the 29th
could take its place at Cadiz, and the 2/67th from Carthagena to join
Sir John Murray’s army operating on the Spanish mainland. This
left the remaining, much reduced, forces distributed as follows:
Commanding the Force: Major General George Cooke
Cadiz and Isla de Leon
29th (Worcestershire)
Nine companies Battalion of Foreign Recruits
Regiment de Watteville
Detachment Royal Artillery
Detachment Royal Artillery Drivers
Detachment Royal Engineers
Tariffa
One company Battalion of Foreign Recruits
Part Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery
Carthagena
Part Campbell’s Company, Royal Artillery
Detachment Royal Engineers
Unit strengths as of April 25th were as follows:[10]
29th (Worcestershire) (676/711)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (575/679)
Royal Artillery (277/428)
Royal Artillery Drivers (79/87, with 102 horses)
Royal Engineers (44/59)
Total: 1561/1964, with 102 horses
May
No organisational changes. Unit strengths as of May 25th were
as follows:
29th (Worcestershire) (666/710)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (533/661)
Royal Artillery (275/429)
Royal Artillery Drivers (69/87, with 102 horses)
Royal Engineers (43/59)
Total: 1586/1946, with 102 horses
June
In this month, six companies of Dillon’s Regiment joined the
Carthagena garrison, with a strength of 510 rank and file. However, this unit did not
form part of the Cadiz command as such, unlike the 2/67th, which had
been included on the Cadiz monthly returns even when detached to Carthagena,
albeit with strength data that was out of date or non-existent. On
the other hand, Royal Artillery and Royal Engineer units detached from
Cadiz to Carthagana continue to appear on Cadiz monthly returns. Unit
strengths as of June 25th were as follows:[13]
29th (Worcestershire) (650/707)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (531/659)
Royal Artillery (271/422)
Royal Artillery Drivers (79/85, with 108 horses)
Royal Engineers (45/59)
Total: 1576/1932, with 108 horses
July
On July 2nd, Cooke left the Cadiz station and was replaced by
Colonel the Hon. Thomas Edward Capell. Other than this, there were
no organisational changes.
Unit strengths as of July 25th were as follows:[15]
29th (Worcestershire) (640/705)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (512/657)
Royal Artillery (271/421)
Royal Artillery Drivers (80/85, with 108 horses)
Royal Engineers (44/59)
Total: 1547/1927, with 108 horses
August
No organisational changes. Unit strengths as of August 25th were
as follows:
29th (Worcestershire) (647/700)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (514/652)
Royal Artillery (271/419)
Royal Artillery Drivers (77/85, with 112 horses)
Royal Engineers (43/59)
Total: 1552/1915, with 112 horses
September
No organisational changes. Unit strengths as of September 25th were
as follows:
29th (Worcestershire) (636/696)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (502/647)
Royal Artillery (264/417)
Royal Artillery Drivers (76/85, with 111 horses)
Royal Engineers (43/59)
Total: 1521/1904, with 111 horses
October
No organisational changes. Unit strengths as of October 25th were
as follows:
29th (Worcestershire) (653/693)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (326/615)
Royal Artillery (249/411)
Royal Artillery Drivers (80/85, with 112 horses)
Royal Engineers (44/59)
Total: 1452/1863, with 112 horses
November
No organisational changes. Unit strengths as of November 25th were
as follows:
29th (Worcestershire) (645/690)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (469/605)
Royal Artillery (265/408)
Royal Artillery Drivers (81/85, with 108 horses)
Royal Engineers (46/59)
Total: 1506/1847, with 108 horses
December
No organisational changes. Unit strengths as of December 25th were
as follows:
29th (Worcestershire) (652/690)
Battalion of Foreign Recruits (472/604)
Royal Artillery (263/407)
Royal Artillery Drivers (62/85, with 108 horses)
Royal Engineers (45/58)
Total: 1494/1844, with 108 horses
Notes:
[1] Allocation of January
25th 1813 in TNA, WO1/266, p.13.
[2] TNA, WO17/1488.
[3] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/264.
[4] Allocation of February
25th 1813 in TNA, WO1/266, p.21.
[5] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/264.
[6] Allocation of March
25th 1813 in TNA, WO1/266, p.33. 7>
[7] TNA, WO17/1488.
[8] Data from battalion
monthly return in TNA, WO17/264.
[9] Allocation of April
25th 1813 in TNA, WO1/266, p.45.
[10] TNA, WO17/1488.
[11] TNA, WO17/1488.
[12] Allocation of
June 25th 1813 in TNA, WO1/266, p.73.
[13] TNA, WO17/1488.
[14] Capel to Bathurst,
July 2nd 1813, in TNA, WO1/266, pp.69-70
[15] TNA, WO17/1488.
[16] TNA, WO17/1488.
[17] TNA, WO17/1488.
[18] TNA, WO17/1488.
[19] TNA, WO17/1488.
[20] TNA, WO17/1488.
Placed on the Napoleon Series: October 2009
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