No. XXIV.
THE FOLLOWING EXTRACT FROM A MINUTE MADE BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK IN 1808
Proves that sixty thousand men could have been provided for the campaign of 1808-9 in Spain, without detriment to other services.
| “There are present in Portugal, |
| Cavalry | 1640 | ┐ | 31,446 |
| Infantry 34 battalions | 29,806 | ┘ |
| “Under orders to embark, | ┌ Cavalry | 3410 | ┐ | 14,829 |
| └ Infantry | 11,419 | ┘ |
| | | | ——— |
| | Total. | | 46,275 |
| | | | ——— |
“Of this force the 20th dragoons and 8 battalions should remain in Portugal. The disposeable force would then be |
|
| | Cavalry. | | Infantry. |
| From Portugal | 1313 | | 23,575 |
| Under orders | 3200 | | 11,419 |
| Force to be drawn from Sicily | | 8000 |
| | —————————— |
| Total | 4513 | | 42,994 |
| “To this may be added four regs of cavry |
| And the two brigades of guards | 2560 | | 2434 |
| | —————————— |
| Grand total | 7073 | | 45,428 |
| | —————————— |
“When to this you add 4 battalions of infantry, which may be spared, and the artillery, it will form a corps of above sixty thousand rank and file.” |
Note.—The detail of names and strength of the regiments are omitted to save space. |