1812.
On January 1 the organization of the Army was as follows:—
Cavalry. 1st Division. G.O.C., Cotton. B [Slade], 1st Dragoons, 12th Light Dragoons; C [no G.O.C., G. Anson absent], 14th and 16th Light Dragoons; E [Cuming of 11th Light Dragoons in absence of V. Alten], 11th Light Dragoons, 1st Hussars, K.G.L.; A [no G.O.C., de Grey absent], 3rd Dragoon Guards, 4th Dragoons; F [Le Marchant], 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards, 3rd Dragoons.
Cavalry. 2nd Division. No G.O.C.; D [Long], 9th and 13th Light Dragoons, 2nd Hussars, K.G.L.
1st Division. G.O.C., Graham. A [H. Campbell], 1st Coldstreams, 1st Scots, 1 company 5/60th; B [? Blantyre for Stopford], 2/24th, 1/26th, 2/42nd, 1/79th, 1 company 5/60th; C [Löw], 1st, 2nd, and 5th Line, K.G.L.
2nd Division. G.O.C., Hill. A [Howard], 1/50th, 1/71st, 1/92nd 1 company 5/60th; B [Byng], 1/3rd, 1/57th, 1st Provisional Battalion (i.e. 2/31st and 2/66th), 1 company 5/60th; C [Wilson], 1/28th, 2/34th, 1/39th, 1 company 5/60th; also Ashworth’s Portuguese.
3rd Division. G.O.C., Picton. A [Mackinnon], 1/45th, Headquarters 5/60th, 74th, 1/88th; B [J. Campbell for Colville], 2/5th, 77th, 2/83rd, 94th; also Palmeirim’s Portuguese.
4th Division. G.O.C., Colville (for Cole). A [Kemmis], 3/27th, 1/40th, 1 company 5/60th; B [? Pakenham], 1/7th, 1/23rd, 1/48th, 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 [Walker], 1/4th, 2/30th, 2/44th, 1 company Brunswick Oels; also Spry’s Portuguese.
6th Division. No G.O.C., Burne in temporary charge. A [Hulse], 1/11th, 2/53rd, 1/61st, 1 company 5/60th; B [Burne], 2nd, 1/32nd, 1/36th; also Madden’s [?] Portuguese.
7th Division. No G.O.C., Alten in temporary charge. A [C. Halkett for Alten], 1st and 2nd Light Battalions, K.G.L., Brunswick Oels; B [de Bernewitz], 51st, 68th, Chasseurs Britanniques: also Coleman’s Portuguese.
Light Division. G.O.C., R. Craufurd. A [? Barnard], 1/43rd, 4 companies 1/95th, 2 companies 2/95th, 5 companies 3/95th, 1st Caçadores; B [Vandeleur], 1/52nd, 2/52nd, 4 companies 1/95th, 3rd Caçadores.
Portuguese. Hamilton’s division, with brigades under Fonseca and Arch. Campbell. Unattached brigades under Pack and McMahon.
Subsequent changes were:—
Cavalry. On January 1 the 1st and 2nd Dragoons, K.G.L., under Bock arrived at Lisbon: they remained near there till March 12, joining the army at Estremoz March 23, and being reckoned as the 2nd Brigade (= G) of the 2nd Cavalry Division.
By January 8 V. Alten was again in command of his brigade.
Several changes took place under orders issued January 29; the 3rd and 4th Dragoon Guards were posted to Slade’s brigade, from which the 12th Light Dragoons were removed to G. Anson’s, the 4th Dragoons replaced the 4th Dragoon Guards in Le Marchant’s, and de Grey’s brigade disappeared. F. Ponsonby of the 12th Light Dragoons took command of C in Anson’s absence.
By April 8 Erskine had resumed command of the 2nd Cavalry Division, to which Slade’s brigade was transferred April 14, Bock’s joining the 1st Division.
On July 1, an exchange was ordered between the 11th and 14th Light Dragoons: G. Anson, who had resumed command of his brigade, having 11th, 12th and 16th Light Dragoons, V. Alten 14th Light Dragoons and 1st Hussars, K.G.L.
At Salamanca Cotton was wounded, and Le Marchant killed. While Cotton was disabled, Bock commanded the Cavalry, de Jonquières having his brigade. W. Ponsonby, of 5th Dragoon Guards, succeeded to Le Marchant’s brigade (by orders of July 23). Cotton rejoined before October 15, but had to go home again in December invalided. From August 1 V. Alten was absent, but rejoined by the middle of September.
By Orders of October 17, 2nd Hussars, K.G.L., were transferred to V. Alten’s brigade.
1st Division. Stopford resumed command of I B before February 1, but was gone again by April 8. On May 7 Wheatley was appointed to command the brigade until Stopford’s return.
1/26th, being too sickly for field service, was out of I B before March 8, being sent down to Lisbon, and thence to Gibraltar to relieve 1/82nd. Their place in I B was taken by 1/42nd, just arrived from England and posted to I B April 23. On May 19 2/42nd was ordered home, drafting its rank and file into 1/42nd. 2/58th was posted to I B by Orders of April 2; on June 1 its transfer to V B was ordered, but “orders will hereafter be given as to the regiment joining the brigade.” It seems to have remained with I B till after the retreat from Burgos.
Graham going home ill July 6, H. Campbell was appointed to command the division, Fermor getting I A.
Wheatley died September 1, Stirling (of 1/42nd) being appointed to I B September 11.
On October 11 E. Paget was posted to command the division, but he was taken prisoner November 17, his place being taken by W. Stewart, who had just returned to the Peninsula.
After the retreat from Burgos the division was reorganized. A new brigade of Guards was added, composed of 1/1st (Grenadier) Guards, who arrived at Corunna from England October 1 and joined the army on the Carrion October 24, and 3/1st Guards, who had been at Cadiz, and came up to Madrid with Skerrett’s column. This was ordered October 17, but cannot have been carried out till later. On November 10 Howard was transferred from II A to command this brigade. On November 11 Stirling’s brigade was ordered to be removed to the 6th Division, the company of 5/60th attached to it remaining in the 1st Division. On December 6 the 1st and 2nd Light Battalions, K.G.L., were removed from VII A to the K.G.L. brigade of the 1st Division.
2nd Division. In Orders of April 14, Tilson-Chowne (formerly Tilson) was appointed to command the division, “under Hill,” but though present at Almaraz in May does not seem to have been present to the end of the year. Howard being transferred to the 1st Division, November 10, Cadogan (of 1/71st) took command of II A.
3rd Division. At Ciudad Rodrigo Mackinnon was killed (January 19), his brigade going to Kempt—in Orders February 8.
At Badajoz Picton and Kempt were wounded (April 6), Wallace taking over Kempt’s brigade, and also having temporary command of the division when Picton was disabled: Forbes (of 1/45th) then commanded III A.
After the fall of Badajoz 77th (a single battalion regiment) was sent down to Lisbon, being much reduced.
On June 28 Pakenham was appointed to command “Colville’s brigade in the 3rd Division,” i.e. III B. At Salamanca he commanded the division, Picton having gone sick again, Wallace and J. Campbell having the brigades.
1/5th, which arrived in May, was posted to III B June 1, both battalions were at Salamanca, but on July 27 2/5th was drafted into 1/5th, the skeleton going home in October.
By Orders of October 17 2/87th, which had come up from Cadiz with Skerrett, was posted to III B, then still called “Colville’s.”
Wallace was invalided home after the retreat from Burgos.
Pakenham was to retain command of the division till the return of “Colville or some other” (W. D., v. 399), his name does not appear in the States as commanding III B after November 1: Colville apparently came back before the end of the year: D. N. B. says in October.
On April 8 Power took over the Portuguese brigade, Champlemond, who had it vice Palmeirim by March 17, having been wounded at Badajoz: 12th Caçadores were added to it on April 8.
4th Division. On February 9, Bowes was appointed to command “the brigade late under Pakenham,” i.e. IV B. In April Colville was wounded at Badajoz, and the division was without a G.O.C. till Cole returned—before July 8.
At Salamanca (July 22), Cole was wounded, and was absent in consequence till October 15. In Cole’s absence W. Anson, who was appointed to IV A April 9, would have commanded the division. The vacancy in IV A was caused by the departure of Kemmis—before April 1: at Badajoz Harcourt (of 1/40th) commanded IV A.
Bowes was transferred to the 6th Division May 2, and it would appear that Ellis (of 1/23rd) commanded IV B temporarily. He certainly was in charge of it at Salamanca, and apparently kept it till Skerrett took charge of it. It was then still described as “Pakenham’s,” as was also the case as late as November 28. Skerrett was appointed to it on October 17, but his force from Cadiz only joined Hill on October 26, and the arrangements ordered on October 17 can hardly have been carried out at once.
Skerrett’s brigade (3/1st Guards, 2/47th, 2/87th and 2 companies 2/95th) seems to have acted with IV after joining Hill’s force, but was broken up when operations ceased.
Orders of October 17 directed 1/82nd, which had come up from Gibraltar in June and was with the 4th Division at Madrid, to join IV B, but the battalion was transferred to VII A by Orders of November 28, the 20th which arrived in December being posted to IV B instead. On 1/82nd joining, 1/48th was transferred to IV A.
On December 6 the 2nd Provisional Battalion (i.e. 2nd and 1/53rd) was posted to IV A.
By Salamanca Stubbs had taken over command of the Portuguese Brigade, which had been under Harvey by March 17 and at the siege of Badajoz.
5th Division. At Badajoz Walker was wounded (April 6): his brigade had no regular G.O.C. till Pringle was appointed to it June 28.
On May 10 2/4th, arrived at Lisbon during April, was posted to V B. In June 1/38th came out and was present at Salamanca, apparently with V A, but it only appears as part of that brigade in the “States” of August 8 and afterwards.
Orders of June 1 directed 2/58th to join V B, but the battalion seems to have been with I B till reorganized as part of the 3rd Provisional Battalion in December.
Hay was absent from June 8, Greville of 1/38th commanding the brigade till July 31, when Hulse was transferred to it. Hulse must have also commanded the division, as Leith was wounded at Salamanca and invalided home. Hulse dying (September 6), Pringle commanded the division, until Oswald was appointed to it (October 25), when Pringle reverted to his brigade, of which Brooke (of 4th) had been in command.
Orders of June 18 directed 1/9th to exchange with 2/30th and 2/44th, but these were cancelled June 28. E. Barnes was in Orders to command V A October 28, but seems to have been with the brigade at Villa Muriel three days earlier. On December 6 he was transferred to VII A. Hay appears to have returned before December 31.
On December 6 Orders directed the drafting 2/4th into 1/4th and 2/38th into 1/38th, the skeletons being sent home, also for forming 2/30th and 2/44th into a Provisional Battalion, the 4th. By Orders of October 17 2/47th of Skerrett’s column had been posted to V B, which was then described as Walker’s brigade.
6th Division. On February 9 H. Clinton was appointed to command the division.
By April 1 VI B was without a brigadier: Bowes was appointed to it May 2, but he was killed in the attack on the Salamanca forts (June 24). On this Hinde, of 32nd, commanded the brigade, being appointed definitely to it September 30, but ante-dated to June.
On Hulse being transferred to V A, July 31, VI A was without a brigadier, Bingham, of 2/53rd, being actually in command, until the amalgamation of the two brigades by Orders of November 11. At the same time Stirling’s brigade was transferred from the 1st Division to the 6th, 1/91st, which arrived at Corunna October 8, being added to it by Orders of November 28—it actually joined December 14.
On December 6 orders were issued for the formation of 2nd and 2/53rd as the 2nd Provisional Battalion, and of 2/24th, and 2/58th as the 3rd Provisional Battalion, and for their transfer to IV A and VII A respectively.
The Portuguese Brigade was under Eben till April 30, when the Conde de Rezende took command. It was joined by 9th Caçadores on April 10. Rezende was invalided in November, and succeeded by Madden.
7th Division. On May 2 Alten was transferred to command the Light Division: John Hope being given command of the 7th. Halkett of 2nd Light Battalion, K.G.L. seems to have commanded VII A, though in the “States” no brigadier is named from May 2 till December 6, when E. Barnes was appointed to it.
Hope having to quit the army on account of his health September 23, the division had no G.O.C. till October 25, when Lord Dalhousie was appointed to it, having been put on the Staff of the Army September 12.
On November 28, 1/6th, newly arrived from England, was added to VII A, then called “Colonel Halkett’s,” and 1/82nd, from IV B, was added to VII B.
Orders of December 6 directed the transfer of the Light Battalions, K.G.L., to the 1st Division, the 3rd Provisional Battalion (i.e. 2/24th and 2/58th) being added to VII A.
The Portuguese Brigade was under Palmeirim in March: later it seems to have been under Doyle of the 19th Line.
Light Division. At Ciudad Rodrigo (January 19), Craufurd was killed, and Vandeleur wounded; Barnard then took command of the division, and Gibbs of 1/52nd of the 2nd Brigade. By April 15 Vandeleur had resumed command, 2/52nd was drafted to 1/52nd by Orders of February 23, the skeleton being sent home.
On May 2 C. Alten received command of the division.
By May 8 1/95th had been united in the 2nd Brigade, but Orders of August 24 again divided it, 3 companies in each brigade: before the end of the year it was again united and placed in the 1st Brigade.
Two more companies 2/95th came out from England in May, and joined those already out, the four being in the 2nd Brigade. Two more came up from Cadiz with Skerrett, and joined the brigade.
3/95th seems to have been transferred temporarily to the 2nd Brigade, but was back in the 1st by the end of the year.
The 20th Portuguese, which had come up with Skerrett, were posted to “Beckwith’s brigade,” October 17.
Portuguese. In April, 1812, Power had replaced Arch. Campbell in command of the 4th Brigade, while Bradford had the 11th vice McMahon: this now included the 5th Caçadores, 13th and 24th Line.
By July Power had exchanged the 4th Brigade for the 8th, which was in the 3rd Division. A. Campbell would seem to have again commanded the 4th, to which on April 8 the 10th Caçadores were added.
Changes in 1813