From: lra4@pge.com
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 99 17:20:21 CDT

> Can Anyone give me descriptions of Spanish Army
> Uniforms pre French Invasion, circa 1805, colors, etc, for Regulars,
> troops serving in Morrocco, Marines, and Guard/Grenadiers.  Also, perhaps
> Regimental Names, and maybe a couple of good books with color plates ?

The best easily found reference for the period you have in mind is the latest
Osprey Men-at-arms #321, The Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars, which
covers the period @ 1792-1808. There is some mention of Marines and troops in
Morocco, though only one (period) illustration of the latter. Given the
amount of change in uniforms over this period the terse treatment it is
forced into can get confusing.

Alternately, I think Haythornethwaite's Uniforms of the Penninsular War may
still be available. It begins with 1808, but there is quite a lot of overlap
with the Osprey title, as well as some conflicting information. No Marines or
Moroccans though.

Other sources include Handbook of Uniforms(not certain of the title, I do not
have my books handy), Knotel, Knotel & Sieg, my edition is from 1980. It
should be fairly easy to find in libraries. B&W illustartions, but you get
some idea of uniform evolution. Just a short section on your relevant period.
The regimental specifics are for 1808.

Funcken's (sp) Napoleonic series has three plates on the Spanish army, plus
regimental distinctions for 1808. This should also be fairly easy to find in
libraries.

Uniform descriptions - Line Infantry - unfortunately the Spanish army changed
uniforms at least 4 times over the period. Most of the above sources give
regimental specifics only for the 1806 uniforms. In 1805 I believe most of
the infantry were wearing light blue with yellow facings, without colored
distinctions they had before and after. The jacket style had semi-closed
lapels similar to the contemporary French uniform (but my Knotel disagrees),
and similar cuffs, but with 4 buttons. They wore bicornes, I am not sure with
lace or not, plus red cockades and plumes. Gaiters were below the knee.

I am not sure if the Guard also wore light blue or retained the dark blue I
am sure they had before and after. If dark blue, the two Guard Regiments
(Spanish and Walloon Guard) would have worn dark blue coats with red facings,
probably white lace on the buttonholes, and white vests and pants. Cuffs
would have been Swedish style with white lace.

The 1806 uniform was white with colored distinctions according to regiment.
Jackets had closed lapels, similar to the French 1812 jacket. They wore
bicornes with white or possibly yellow lace. Other details remained the same.

Grenadiers wore bearskin caps without plates, with a large elaborately
embroidered hanging bag. Haythornethwaite has a fine illustration of this
embroidery, and the Osprey has photos of a surviving example.

Sappers bearskins had plates, but no reference has details on the bags on
these.

Undress caps were almost identical to the French in style, but I have no idea
of the colors as they seem to have varied by regiment. Haythornethwaite has an
illustration. In 1808 and after, at least, the undress cap was widely used in
the field.

Musicians uniforms were apparently all over the place. Haythornethwaite has
illustrations of some based on contemporary drawings.

Irish regiments either did not revise their uniforms in 1806 or retained the
light blue color in the new style.

Marines would have worn blue all over with red facings. The Osprey has a fine
illustration of a marine at Trafalgar.

The light infantry would have worn, from 1802-1807, a green hussar-style
short jacket (probably never fastened), white vest and pants, a helmet
similar to the British Tarleton, a red sash, and traditional hose and
sandals. They would always have worn their cartridge pouch on a belt in
front. The Osprey has a good illustration.

Artillery would have worn dark blue all over, with red piping.

Cavalry uniforms are an even more confusing subject. The Osprey does a brave
job of trying to keep up with this. Also look at the illustrations in
www.histofig.com/empire/uniformes - the heavy cavalry uniforms would be the
same; the dragoons may have been different in 1805.

Regiment names - Infantry - Rey, Reina, Princesa, Borbon, Zamora...(a whole
lot of provincial names), Africa (constantly in the penninsula in this
period, apparently), etc. Light Infantry - Voluntarios de Catalunia,
Voluntarios de Navarra, de Valencia, etc. Cavalry - check the www.histofig
site for a full list. All those regiments were in existence in 1805 There
were also numerous colonial units, only a few of which are mentioned in the
Osprey.

Luis