Portuguese and Spanish Army
By Robert Burnham & Gareth Glover
During the Peninsular War, over 350 British officers were seconded to the Portuguese Army. They were usually given at least one step in rank but also kept their seniority in their British regiment.
Beresford, William. “Letter to General Mathias Azedo dated 7 February 1813” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Page54
Notes: About Captain David Goodman, who was a prisoner, and Captain Henry Grove, who had left the Portuguese Army.
Beresford Marshal William Carr Letter dated Leiria 3 October 1810 Waterloo Association Online Archive https://archives.waterlooassociation.org.uk/wordpress/
Blakiston, John. Twelve Years’ Military Adventure in Three Quarters of the Globe. London: Henry Colburn; 1840. 2 volumes.
Notes: Java, 1810; 17th Portuguese Line Regiment 1813-1814.
Blunt, Richard. “Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Hardinge, Military Secretary to Marshal Beresford dated 25 August 1811” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Page 43
Notes: General Blunt commanded the 6th Portuguese Brigade. Letter acquiring about previous letter recommending Adjutants Tenesee (?) and Thomas Horner who was the Adjutant of the depot at Peniche.
Bunbury, Thomas. Reminiscences of a Veteran. Uckfield: Naval and Military Press in association with the National Army Museum, 2009. 3 volumes.
Notes: Only the first volume covers the Napoleonic Wars; spent 1808 – 1809 in 3rd Foot. served as the adjutant of the 1st Battalion of Detachments after Talavera; captain in the 20th Portuguese Regiment in October 1809, served as the brigade major of Skerrett’s Brigade from July 1811 – September 1812, commanded a company in the 5th Caçadores, command the 6th Caçadores at Toulouse, and would end the war serving as a major in the 3rd and then the 4th Caçadores.
Campbell Neil Napoleon at Fontainbleau and Elba London Murray 1869 398 pages
Notes 16th Portuguese Infantry
Letters of Brigadier William Parker Carrol, 3rd Spanish Division 25 June 1810- 29 April 1811. Napoleonic Archive Volume 4, Ken Trotman 2021
Cox Colonel William Letter from Almeida dated 25 April 1810. Waterloo Association Online Archive https://archives.waterlooassociation.org.uk/wordpress/
Dickson, Alexander. The Dickson Manuscripts: Being Diaries, Letters, Maps, Account Books, with Various Other Papers of the Late Major-General Sir Alexander Dickson. John H. Leslie (ed.). 5 vols.;Cambridge: Ken Trotman; 1987. 1190 pages.
Notes: Years 1809 – 1813. Served with Portuguese Artillery before becoming chief of Wellington’s siege trains.
Dobbs, John. Recollections of an Old 52nd Man. Staplehurst: Spellmount; 2000. 101 pages.
Notes: Commanded a company of the 5th Cacadores in 1813; claims to be the last British officer wounded in the Peninsula War, 14 April 1814.
D’Urban, Benjamin. The Peninsular War Journal: 1808-1817. London: Greenhill Napoleonic Library; 1988. 385 pages.
Notes: Staff officer to Robert Wilson; Quarter Master General for Marshal Beresford; commanded brigade of Portuguese Cavalry 1812.
Eben, Frederick. “Letter to Marshal Beresford dated 3 April 1809” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Pages 13 – 15
Notes: covers the French capture of Oporto. Colonel Eben was in the Loyal Luisitanian Legion.
Elder, George. “The Storming of Badajoz” published in William Maxwell’s Peninsular Sketches; by Actors on the Scene. Cambridge: Ken Trotman; 1998. 2 vols. 389 & 399 pages.
Notes: Vol. I; Pages 304 – 320. Commander of 3rd Cacadores.
Hardinge, Henry. “Letter to Fitzroy Somerset dated 27 October 1811 ” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Page 44
Notes: Covers use of funds by Colonel William Mayne of the Loyal Lusitanian Legion
Light Cornet William The Life and Letters of Colonel William Light, by M P Mayo Adelaide 1937,
Note: In Peninsula 1809-14, serving some of his time with the Spanish Army.
Madden Sir George The Services of General Sir George Allen Madden. Edited by Mark S Thompson. Mark Thompson Publishing. 1999. Copy of oroginal published 1820
Notes; A controversial Cavalry commander
Mayne, William and Lillie. A Narrative of the Campaigns of the Loyal Lusitanian Legion during the Years 1809, 1810 & 1811. Cambridge: Ken Trotman; 1986. 358 pages.
Notes: Good account of the battle of Alcantara.
Morse Staff Surgeon George Five letters from the Peninsula to his wife from September 1809 to April 1811. Waterloo Association Online Archive https://archives.waterlooassociation.org.uk/wordpress/
Note : In Portuguese Service
Patrick, Robert. “Letter to Marshal Beresford dated 5 April 1809” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Pages 17 -19
Notes: Commanded the 12th Portuguese Line Regiment. Covers command problems between Generals Bacelar and Silveira in northern Portugal.
Patrick, Robert. “Letter to Marshal Beresford dated 13 April 1809” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Pages 137 – 40
Notes: Commanded the 12th Portuguese Line Regiment. Good detail on his command and the problems he had with them.
Somerset, Fitroy. “Three Letters to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Hardinge, Military Secretary to Marshal Beresford dated 28 June, 6 and 25 August 1811” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Pages 41, 43and 44
Notes: Covers Lieutenant Colonel Charles Turner’s health issue, Ensign William Galbraith’s appointment, and Sergeant Backhausen’s promotion to ensign.
Somerset, Fitroy. “Two Letters to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Arbutnot, Aide-de-Camp to Marshal Beresford dated 1 and 8 November 1811” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Pages 49 – 50
Notes: Cover requests by Lieutenant Colonel David Ximenes and Captain Peter Adamson to join the Portuguese Army.
Somerset, Fitroy. “Two Letters to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Arbutnot, Aide-de-Camp to Marshal Beresford dated 8 and 9 November 1811” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Pages 53 – 54
Notes: Letters are about funds advanced to Colonel Colquhoun Grant and ox carts for use by the Portuguese Army.
Trant, Nicholas. “Two Letters to Marshal Beresford both dated 5 April 1809” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Pages 19 – 23, & 32
Notes: Part of the Loyal Luisitanian Legion. The letters cover problem with commanding the Portuguese, especially getting them to retreat and not confront the French.
Trant Colonel Nicholas Letter dated Foz do Douro 26 September 1813. Waterloo Association Online Archive https://archives.waterlooassociation.org.uk/wordpress/
Tulloh, Alexander. “Twp Letters to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Arbuthnot, Aide-de-Camp to Marshal Beresford, both dated 8 November 1811” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Pages 49 – 50, 52 – 53
Notes: Major Tulloh was in the Royal Artillery. Both letters cover the state of the artillery in the Fortress of Elvas.
Warre, William. Letters from the Peninsula: 1808 – 1812. Staplehurst: Spellmount; 1999. 231 pages.
Notes: Aide to General Ferguson at Rolica and Vimeiro; aide to Marshal Beresford 1809 – 1812.
Williams, Richard. “Letter to Marshal Beresford dated 6 November 1811” in The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Centre, Rice University, Texas. edited by Gareth Glover. Godmanchester: Ken Trotman, 2010. Page 51
Notes: Major Williams was an officer in the Royal Marine Artillery. Letter is about state of artillery in Fort Bugio.