1811.
On January 1 the Army was organized as follows:—
Cavalry. G.O.C., Cotton. A [de Grey], 3rd Dragoon Guards, 4th Dragoons; B [Slade], 1st Dragoons, 14th Light Dragoons; C [G. Anson], 16th Light Dragoons, 1st Hussars, K.G.L.; unbrigaded, 13th Light Dragoons.
1st Division. G.O.C., Spencer. A [Stopford], 1st Coldstream, 1st Scots, 1 company 5/60th; B [? Blantyre, acting], 2/24th, 2/42nd, 1/79th, 1 company 5/60th; C [Löw], 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th Line, K.G.L., detachment Light Battalions, K.G.L.; D [Erskine], 1/50th, 1/71st, 1/92nd, 1 company 3/95th.
2nd Division. G.O.C., W. Stewart. A [Colborne], 1/3rd, 2/31st, 2/48th, 2/66th, 1 company 5/60th; B [Hoghton], 29th, 1/48th, 1/57th, 1 company 5/60th; C [Lumley], 2/28th, 2/34th, 2/39th, 1 company 5/60th.
3rd Division. G.O.C., Picton. A [Mackinnon], 1/45th, 1/74th, 1/88th; B [Colville], 2/5th, 3 companies 5/60th, 2/83rd, 94th; also Sutton’s Portuguese.
4th Division. G.O.C., Cole. A [Kemmis], 3/27th, 1/40th, 97th, 1 company 5/60th; B [Pakenham], 1/7th, 2/7th, 1/23rd, 1 Company Brunswick Oels; also Collins’ Portuguese.
5th Division. G.O.C., Leith. A [Hay], 3/1st, 1/9th, 2/38th, 1 company Brunswick Oels; B [Dunlop], 1/4th, 2/30th, 2/44th, 1 company Brunswick Oels; also Spry’s Portuguese.
6th Division. G.O.C., A. Campbell. A [Hulse], 1/11th, 2/53rd, 1/61st, 1 company 5/60th; also Eben’s Portuguese.
Light Division. G.O.C., R. Craufurd. A [Beckwith], 1/43rd, 4 companies 1/95th, 1 company 2/95th, 1st Caçadores; B [Wynch], 1/52nd, 4 companies 1/95th, Brunswick Oels, 3rd Caçadores.
Portuguese. Hamilton’s Division, brigades under Fonseca (2nd) and Archibald Campbell (4th). Unattached brigades under Pack (1st), Ashworth, late A. Campbell (5th), Coleman (6th), and Bradford (10th).
Subsequent changes were:—
Cavalry. Cotton went home January 15, returning April 22; in his absence Slade commanded the division until March 7, when Erskine seems to have been placed in command of both the Cavalry and the Light Division. While Slade had the division, his brigade was apparently under Hawker of 14th Light Dragoons, and from March 1 to May 15, G. Anson being absent, Arentschildt of 1st K.G.L. Hussars, commanded C.
On March 19 Long was posted to command the cavalry of the force usually under Hill, but commanded by Beresford during Hill’s absence. At Albuera Lumley (of II C) was in command of Beresford’s cavalry, Long’s conduct not having given satisfaction to the Marshal. On May 11 Erskine was appointed to command “the cavalry south of the Tagus.”
On June 13 a new brigade, D, was formed under Long, composed of 13th Light Dragoons and 2nd Hussars K.G.L., two squadrons of which had landed April 8. On June 18 the 11th Light Dragoons (arrived June 1) replaced the 13th, transferred to Slade’s brigade.
On June 19 a reorganization of the cavalry in two divisions was ordered, as follows:—
1st Cavalry Division. G.O.C., Cotton. B [Slade], 1st Dragoons, 13th and 14th Light Dragoons; C [G. Anson], 16th Light Dragoons, 1st Hussars, K.G.L.; also Madden’s Portuguese.
2nd Cavalry Division. G.O.C., Erskine. A [de Grey], 3rd Dragoon Guards, 4th Dragoons; D [Long], 11th Light Dragoons, 2nd Hussars, K.G.L.
On July 19 another reorganization took place, the final result being as follows:—
1st Cavalry Division. G.O.C., Cotton. B [Slade], 1st Dragoons, 12th Light Dragoons (arrived July 1), vice 13th (to C) and 14th (to D); C [G. Anson], 13th and 16th Light Dragoons; E [V. Alten, a new brigade], 11th Light Dragoons (from D) and 1st Hussars, K.G.L. (from C); Madden’s Portuguese.
2nd Cavalry Division. A [de Grey], 3rd Dragoon Guards, 4th Dragoons; D [Long], 14th Light Dragoons, 2nd Hussars, K.G.L.
On August 1, 9th Light Dragoons (newly arrived) were posted to Long’s brigade, together with 13th Light Dragoons, which exchanged from C with 14th.
On August 30, a new brigade, F, was added, comprising 4th Dragoon Guards, arrived August 15, and 3rd Dragoons, arrived before August 20, its commander being Le Marchant. By October 1, 5th Dragoon Guards had been added to this brigade.
On October 5 de Grey’s brigade was transferred to the 1st Cavalry Division, to which Le Marchant’s was attached by Orders of November 8, the Portuguese brigade being struck off that division.
From December 8 on the States do not give any G.O.C. for the 2nd Cavalry Division.
1st Division. On January 23 Nightingale was posted to I B: on February 6 Howard obtained I D, when Erskine was transferred to the command of the 5th Division. On June 8 H. Campbell’s name is given in the “State” as in command of I A, Stopford being transferred to IV B (in Orders for this June 18). Nightingale departing to Bengal before June 25 his brigade had no permanent commander till July 28, when Stopford got it.
Owing to the heavy losses of the 2nd Division at Albuera and its consequent reconstruction, Howard’s brigade was transferred to it on June 6, and at the same time the detachment of the Light Battalions of the K.G.L., hitherto in I C, rejoined those battalions, which had been posted to VII A.
On June 26 orders were issued for the 7th Line K.G.L., to go home, its rank and file being drafted into the other three battalions. On July 21 1/26th were added to I B, having recently arrived from England.
On August 9, Graham was appointed to command the division, Spencer having gone home in July, he received leave July 25. From December 1 onward I B appears in the “States” as having no G.O.C.
2nd Division. The heavy losses at Albuera led to the reorganization of the division, detailed in Orders June 6. Howard’s brigade of the 1st Division was transferred to the 2nd Division, becoming II A. The remainder of the brigades of Colborne and Hoghton (who was killed) were formed into a Provisional Battalion, less 1/48th and 2/48th; 1/48th, to which the rank and file of 2/48th were drafted (the cadre of 2/48th going home), was transferred to IV B.
This Provisional Battalion was placed in Lumley’s brigade, of which Abercromby (of 2/28th) had had temporary command at Albuera, while Lumley was in charge of the cavalry. At the same time, Ashworth’s Portuguese brigade was definitely attached to it: this was the 5th Brigade, which had been under A. Campbell in October, 1810, but had come under Ashworth by March 11; it comprised the 6th and 18th Line and 6th Caçadores. Cf. also Wellington Dispatches, viii, 566, and S. D. vii. 135.
Before the end of May Hill returned and took over command of the division, as well as of the whole force commanded by Beresford at Albuera.
On July 22 1/28th (newly arrived from Gibraltar) was posted to Lumley’s brigade.
On August 7 orders were issued for 1/3rd and 1/57th to resume their separate formations, large drafts having arrived from their second battalions in England. The division was again formed in three brigades, Howard’s being II A, and 1/3rd, 1/57th, and the Provisional Battalion, [i.e. 29th (3 companies), 2/31st (4 companies) and 2/66th (3 companies)] forming II B, apparently under Inglis of 1/57th, while 1/28th, 2/28th, 2/34th, and 2/39th under Lumley formed II C.
On August 21 2/28th was drafted into 1/28th, and sent home, and the company 3/95th, hitherto in Howard’s brigade, were transferred to Beckwith’s brigade of the Light Division, being replaced in II A by a company of 5/60th, there being three with the division.
On September 21 Byng was posted to command II B, and on October 9 Wilson was appointed to command II C, Lumley having gone home sick early in August.
On October 3 orders were issued for 29th to go home to recruit; on October 20 1/39th, just arrived from Sicily, was added to II C, 2/39th being drafted into it and sent home by Orders issued December 17.
3rd Division. Orders of March 5 direct the transfer of the headquarter companies 5/60th to III A, 2/88th, on garrison duty at Lisbon since September 4, 1810, being added to III B. On July 10, 2/88th was ordered to be drafted into 1/88th, and the cadre sent home.
On July 22 the 77th were added to III B.
From July 1 to October 31 Mackinnon was absent from his brigade, ill, Wallace of 1/88th commanding it in his place.
On December 22 Colville was transferred to the command of the 4th Division, in Cole’s absence on leave, J. Campbell of the 94th getting III B.
Champlemond had the Portuguese brigade on March 19; but by Fuentes Power had it.
4th Division. By February 1 the headquarters and 9 companies Brunswick Oels had been added to IV A, having been removed from the Light Division, but on the formation of the 7th Division (March 5), they were removed to it.
On January 23 Houston was appointed to IV B vice Pakenham, but left the brigade again March 5, on being appointed to command the 7th Division: Myers would seem to have commanded IV B till Albuera, where he was killed. On June 18 Stopford was appointed to command IV B, but was transferred to I B on July 28, Pakenham again getting IV B. From November 15 onwards the “States” do not give any brigadier for IV B, but it continued to be described as “Pakenham’s.”
After Albuera 2/7th was drafted into 1/7th, the remnants being sent home June 26; 1/48th from the 2nd Division was added to IV B June 6. On October 3, the 97th, a single battalion regiment, was ordered home in consequence of its severe losses.
On December 22 Colville was appointed to command the division, Cole having gone home ill.
At Albuera Harvey was in command of the Portuguese brigade of the division, to which 1st battalion Loyal Lusitanian Legion had been added on March 14: by September this unit was renamed 7th Caçadores, the brigade was then again under Collins, who at Albuera had led a provisional brigade from the Elvas garrison [5th Line, 5th Caçadores].
5th Division. From February 1 to February 6 the division was without a G.O.C., Leith being absent: on February 6, Erskine was appointed to command it, but was transferred to the command of the advanced guard (the Light Division and cavalry), from March 7 to April 22. During this period Dunlop seems to have commanded the division, Egerton of 2/44th commanding V B.
On May 11 Erskine was appointed to the 2nd Cavalry Division, and Dunlop again had temporary command of the division until October 2, when G. T. Walker was appointed to command his brigade. By December 1 Leith was again in command of the division.
On March 14 the 2nd Battalion Loyal Lusitanian Legion had been added to Spry’s Portuguese brigade. By September it had been renamed 8th Caçadores.
6th Division. Orders of March 5 directed the addition to the division of a new brigade under Burne (of 1/36th), comprising 2nd and 1/36th.
It seems to have been intended to put the Brunswick Oels into the 6th Division, but on the formation of the 7th Division (March 5), they were put in C. Alten’s brigade.
On July 21 1/32nd, arrived at Lisbon before July 8, was posted to VI B.
A. Campbell leaving for India in November, the division was without a definite G.O.C. till the end of the year, Burne commanding it temporarily.
On March 14 the Loyal Lusitanian Legion was removed from the Portuguese brigade of the division, and distributed as Caçador battalions to the 4th and 5th Divisions, being replaced by the 12th Line, formerly in Bradford’s brigade. At Fuentes Madden commanded the brigade.
Light Division. Wynch dying January 6, the 2nd Brigade was without a commander till February 7, when Drummond (of 1/52nd) was appointed to it. Craufurd having gone home on leave before February 8, the division had no G.O.C., but was under Erskine from March 7 on, together with the Cavalry who also were in the advanced guard.
On March 5 2/52nd, newly arrived at Lisbon, was added to Drummond’s brigade.
R. Craufurd returned April 22 and took over the division from Erskine.
By August 1 Beckwith had been invalided home, Andrew Barnard of the 95th commanding the brigade in his place.
On August 21 the headquarters and four companies of the 3/95th, which had gone out to Cadiz in 1810, arrived at Lisbon, and were added to the 1st Brigade, the company 3/95th hitherto with II A being also added to the same brigade.
Drummond dying before September 8, Vandeleur was appointed to the vacant brigade on September 30. By October 1 another company 2/95th had been added to the 1st Brigade.
7th Division. Orders were issued on March 5 for the formation of this division, to be composed of two British brigades under C. Alten and Long, and Coleman’s Portuguese, i.e. 7th and 19th Line and 2nd Caçadores. The composition of the British brigades is not given, but General Orders say that the Brunswick Oels should be in Alten’s brigade, and the Chasseurs Britanniques (arrived at Lisbon from Cadiz, January 28) in Long’s. The other regiments in the division were 51st (arrived during February), 85th (arrived March 4), which were in Long’s brigade, and the 1st and 2nd Light Battalions, K.G.L., in Alten’s. These last only landed on March 21, and did not join the division till it came down with Wellington from Almeida to the Guadiana Valley for the second siege of Badajoz. Till then they had been attached to the force under Beresford: Schwertfeger (Geschichte der K.G.L., i. 317) says the battalions formed part of the 2nd Division, but this does not seem accurate. As they had no casualties at the siege of Badajoz, in which the 7th Division suffered severely, one may presume that they finally joined the division after the siege was raised.
Thus the British brigade (at first there was only one) was 51st, 85th, Chasseurs Britanniques, Brunswick Oels. On March 31 Sontag was posted to it vice Long, removed to command Beresford’s cavalry, March 19.
On July 19 68th (just arrived) was posted to VII B.
Houston was invalided home before August 1, Sontag commanding the division. By October he too was invalided (his A.D.C. received orders to rejoin his regiment on October 29). Alten was in temporary command, C. Halkett commanding his brigade. VII B was without a G.O.C. from October 15 till de Bernewitz got it on December 23.
On October 3 85th (a single-battalion regiment) was ordered to go home to recruit.
Le Cor was posted to Coleman’s brigade on March 14; at Fuentes Doyle had it.
Portuguese. No changes seem to have taken place in Hamilton’s division, or in Pack’s brigade, but the other unattached brigade was under McMahon in September, and included the 13th and 22nd Line and 5th Caçadores, the 12th Line having been transferred to the 6th Division.
Organization on January 1, 1812