Spanish 2nd Cavalry Division - Almanza Dragoon Trumpeter

Almanza Dragoon Trumpeter

Ah the joys of painting the Spanish, whilst putting together a resource for others to reference, has caused me to present the latest development in my research into the Almanza Dragoons trumpeter.

Thank you to Louis Lepic for supplying me with this excellent depiction of the actual 1805 uniform for the trumpeter and the need to make a slight alteration to the look of my man which will go on the "odds and ends" to do list known as "snagging" in the building trade.

Onwards and upwards.

Spanish 2nd Cavalry Division at Talavera - Almanza Dragoon Regiment

2nd Spanish Cavalry Division - Lieutenant General Duque de Albuquerque
Infante Cavalry Regiment
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment
Pavia Dragoon Regiment
Almanza Dragoon Regiment
1st & 2nd Hussars of Estremadura

The 3rd Almanza Dragoons completes the final cavalry regiment in Lieutenant General Albuquerque's 2nd Spanish Cavalry Division that were positioned to cover the extreme left of the allied line at Talavera in the afternoon in the northern valley.

As mentioned in the previous post on the Pavia Dragoon Regiment, the Spanish dragoons had gone through a period of change between 1803 to 1805 when they were all converted into light cavalry dressed in the green uniform seen in the illustration below and then converted back into dragoon regiments in 1805 causing many units still being portrayed in their former dress several years after the reform and into the war with Imperial France following invasion in 1808.

Arguably the cream of Spanish forces were sent off to support French forces in Prussia in 1807 under General La Romana and the Almanza Regiment formed part of the light cavalry component of this elite corps.

The troops were later repatriated under the noses of French troops back to Spain in 1808 by the British Royal Navy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuation_of_the_La_Romana_Division

Spanish Army under Romana upon its return from Denmark - 9th October l808
Commanding General: Lt. General Marques de la Romana
Chief of Artillery: Brigadier Josef Montes Salazar
Chief of Engineers: Colonel Miguel Rengel`

Zamora Infantry Regiment (3)(39/l,757)
Princesa Infnatry Regiment (3)(56/l,953)
lst de Cataluña Light Infantry Regiment (l)(42/l,066)
lst de Barcelona Light Infantry Regiment (l)(37/l,205)
Det/Guadalajara Infantry Regiment (2/l20)
Det/Austrias Infantry Regiment (2/20)
Misc. ill personnel (0/200)

Rey Cavalry Regimetn (4)(37/55l)
Infante Cavalry Regiment (4)(34/56l)
Almansa Dragoon Regiment (4)(38/560)
Villaviciosa Dragoon Regiment (4)(32/580)
Det/Algarve Cavalry Regiment (l/l2)

Artillery (l4/349)
l3 4pdrs
6 8pdrs
6 7" howitzers
Sapper Company (5/59)
Seccion de Historia Militar, Ejercito Español, Estados de la
Organizacion y Fuerza de los Ejercitos Españoles Beligerantes en
la Peninsula, durante la Guerra de España contra Bonaparte, Viuda
é Hijos de D. Antonio Brum, Barcelona, 1822

3rd Almanza Cazadores (right) as they would have appeared in Hamburg in 1807

In June 1808 following the Spanish insurrection, Oman lists in detail the forces on hand with a list of the available cavalry regiments and their strengths with the Almanza theoretically able to field 479 men at that time.

Cavalry (---H) - number of horses
lst Rey Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(38/634)(467H)
2nd Reina Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(4l/668)(202H)
3rd Principe Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/573)(434H)
4th Infante Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/6l5)(494H)
5th Borbon Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/6l6)(450H)
6th Farnesio Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(39/5l7)(359H)
7th Alcantara Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/589)(490H)
8th Espana Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(39/553)(358H)
9th Algarve Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/572)(455H)
l0th Calatrava Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(44/679)(369H)
llth Santiago Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(44/549)(370H)
l2th Montesa Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(40/667)(259H)
lst Rey Cazadore Regiment (5)(40/577)(l85H)
2nd Reina Cazadore Regiment (5)(42/58l)(42lH)
3rd Almanza Cazadore Regiment (5)(38/598)(479H)
4th Pavia Cazadore Regiment (5)(42/663)(507H)
5th Villaviciosa Cazadore Regiment (5)(35/628)(448H)
6th Sagunto Cazadore Regiment (5)(39/499)(l89H)
lst Numancia Hussar Regiment (5)(4l/630)(327H)
2nd Lusitania Hussar Regiment (5)(42/554)(409H)
3rd Olivenza Hussar Regiment (5)(37/558)(468H)
4th Voluntarios de Espana Hussar Regiment (5)(34/548)(460H)
5th Maria Luisa Hussar Regiment (5)(40/680)(394H)
6th Espanoles Hussar Regiment (5)(38/692)532H)

On their return from Denmark the Almanza headed south towards Badajoz to re-equip and join the forming Army of Estremadura under General Cuesta.

They arrived in time to be included in the force that met and were defeated by Victor's I Corps at Medellin in March.

Spanish Army at Medellin - 28 March l809
Commanding General: Cuesta (24,000 men total)

Forces from Army of Estremadura:
4/Spanish Guard Infantry Regiment
4/Walloon Guard Infantry Regiment
2nd Majorca Infantry Regiment
2nd Catalonia Light Infantry Regiment
Provincial of Badajos
Provincial Grenadiers
Badajoz Infantry Regiment (2)
Zafra Infantry Regiment*
Truxillo Infantry Regiment*
Merida Infantry Regiment
Plasencia Infantry Regiment*
La Serena Infantry Regiment
Leales de Ferdinando VII (2)*
Total l5 Battaliaons

Troops of old Army of Reserve of Madrid
2/Walloon Guard Infantry Regiment
Jaen Infantry Regiment (2)
Irlanda Infantry Regiment (2)
Parovincial of Toledo
Provincial of Burgos
2nd Volunteers of Madrid
3rd Seville Infantry Regiment

Troops from the Army of the Center
Campo Mayor Infantry Regiment
Provincial of Guadix
Provincial of Cordova
Osuna Infantry Regiment (2)
Granaderos del General
Tiradores de Cadiz

Cavalry (3,000 to 3,200)
Old Army of Estremadura
4th Hussar (Volunteers of Spain) Regiment
lst Hussars of Estremadura (formerly Maria Luisa)

From La Romana's Danish Division:
Rey Cavalry Regiment
Infante Cavalry Regiment
Almanza Cavalry Regiment

New Levies:
Cazadores de Llerena
Imperial de Toledo

Other:
Reyna Cavalry Regiment
Artillery & Sappers:
30 guns - (650)
2 Sapper Coys - 200 men
* Not at battle.

Source - Oman, A History of the Peninsular War

My Almanza Dragoon Regiment are composed of figures from AB supplied by Fighting 15s and are the fifth and final regiment completed as part of 2nd Cavalry Division.

References consulted:
Talavera - Wellington's First Victory in Spain, Andrew W. Field
Napoleonic Armies - Ray Johnson
The Armies of Spain and Portugal - Nafziger
History of the Peninsular War - Sir Charles Oman
The Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars(1) Chartand & Younghusband (Osprey Men at Arms)
http://www.eborense.es/batalla_talavera1809_indice.html

Next up a full parade of General Albuquerque and his 2nd Spanish Cavalry Division

Spanish 2nd Cavalry Division at Talavera - Pavia Dragoon Regiment

2nd Spanish Cavalry Division - Lieutenant General Duque de Albuquerque
Infante Cavalry Regiment
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment
Pavia Dragoon Regiment
Almanza Dragoon Regiment
1st & 2nd Hussars of Estremadura

It doesn't seem that long ago that I was celebrating the 100th post to the blog, presenting my effort at recreating one of the many bell towers that were a feature of the Oporto river crossing.

This post marks a bit of a landmark as the 500th to the blog and it is the Spanish Pavia Dragoons that grab the honour. Thank you to everyone who has joined me on this e-journal of my gaming and other historical, be they military or natural, activities. Here's looking forward to 1000th posting. It will be fun looking back to see where things have progressed to.

So on with the blog and specifically the Pavia Dragoons.

In 1803 under the Godoy reforms the corps of dragoons were disbanded and the regiments converted into hussars and mounted chasseurs, but in 1805 Prime Minister Godoy realised the folly of this decision and reestablished the eight regiments, instructed to wear yellow coated uniform with red turnbacks, with regimental colours displayed on the collars, cuffs and cuff-flaps.

This change took time to complete and several illustrations like the one below and the Suhr Brothers illustrations of the Villaviciosa Regiment in Hamburg in 1808 depict regiments still wearing the 1803 uniforms three or four years later.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/images/military/organization/Spain/Suhr/Suhrspanish13b.jpg

3rd Almanza Cazadore (right), subject of the next post, in the pre-1809 uniform
before the Cazadore's reverted back to Dragoons dressed in the familiar yellow

The first reference I have for the Pavia Dragoons shows them assigned to the Spanish Army of Aragon being put together in May of 1808 with a cadre of men listed in the February of 1809

Spanish Army of Aragon, May l808 - February l809

                                           Assigned
                                               or
Force                                   Raised     Force        Observations
Dragones de Pavia                   -             14                  2/09

Source: Gomez de Arteche Y Moro, Guerra de la Independencia, Historia Militar de Espana de l808 a l8l4

However other references shown below have them at a strength of three to four squadrons attached to the Army of the Centre in and around Madrid as they fell back before the French offensive in the November of 1808. Ah the joys of researching the Spanish!

In June 1808 following the Spanish insurrection, Oman lists in detail the forces on hand with a list of the available cavalry regiments and their strengths: Note the dragoons are still listed as Cazadore's.

Cavalry (---H) - number of horses
lst Rey Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(38/634)(467H)
2nd Reina Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(4l/668)(202H)
3rd Principe Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/573)(434H)
4th Infante Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/6l5)(494H)
5th Borbon Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/6l6)(450H)
6th Farnesio Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(39/5l7)(359H)
7th Alcantara Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/589)(490H)
8th Espana Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(39/553)(358H)
9th Algarve Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/572)(455H)
l0th Calatrava Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(44/679)(369H)
llth Santiago Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(44/549)(370H)
l2th Montesa Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(40/667)(259H)
lst Rey Cazadore Regiment (5)(40/577)(l85H)
2nd Reina Cazadore Regiment (5)(42/58l)(42lH)
3rd Almanza Cazadore Regiment (5)(38/598)(479H)
4th Pavia Cazadore Regiment (5)(42/663)(507H)
5th Villaviciosa Cazadore Regiment (5)(35/628)(448H)
6th Sagunto Cazadore Regiment (5)(39/499)(l89H)
lst Numancia Hussar Regiment (5)(4l/630)(327H)
2nd Lusitania Hussar Regiment (5)(42/554)(409H)
3rd Olivenza Hussar Regiment (5)(37/558)(468H)
4th Voluntarios de Espana Hussar Regiment (5)(34/548)(460H)
5th Maria Luisa Hussar Regiment (5)(40/680)(394H)
6th Espanoles Hussar Regiment (5)(38/692)532H)

 

By the October of 1808 the Pavia are listed as part of the Army of Castile under General Pignatelli which formed part of General Castanos' Army of the Centre joining forces at the end of that month.

Army of Castile - Source Oman
Division: General Pignatelli (Cartaojal after 30/10/08) 
(ll,000)
Cantabria Infantry Regiment (2)
Leon Militia Infantry Regiment (l)
Grenadiers del General (l)(new levee)
Cazadores de Cuenca (l) (new levee)
lst, 2nd & 3rd Volunteers of Leon (3)(new levee)
lst, 2nd & 3rd Tercoios of Castile (3)(new levee)
Tiradores de Castilla (l)(new levee)
Volunteers of Benavente (l)(new levee)
Volunteers of Zamora (l)(new levee)
Volunteers of Ledesma (l)(new levee)
Cavalry (3,292 on 29 October)
Farnesio Cavalry Regiment
Montesa Cavalry Regiment
Reina Cavalry Regiment
Borbon Cavalry Regiment
Olivenza Cavalry Regiment
Espana Cavalry Regiment
Calatrava Cavalry Regiment
Santiago Cavalry Regiment
Sagunto Cavalry Regiment
Principe Cavalry Regiment
Pavia Cavalry Regiment
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment

In January of 1809 the regiment is shown as part of the Army of the Centre now, following the dismissal of General Castanos, under the command of the Duke of Infantado and based around Cuenca threatening the eastern approaches to Madrid

Spanish Army of the Centre, llth January l809
Cavalry: (l,8l4)
Reyna Cavalry Regiment (276)
Principe Cavalry Regiment (l4l)
Borbon Cavalry Regiment (ll9)
Espana Cavalry Regiment (342)
Santiago Cavalry Regiment (74)
Tejas Cavalry Regiment (l3l)
Pavia Cavalry Regiment (428)
Lusitania Cavalry Regiment (l58)
Dragones de Castilla (l25)
Farnesio Cavalry Regiment
Montesa Cavalry Regiment
Calatrava Cavalry Regiment
Sagunto Cavalry Regiment
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment

At some stage that I have been unable to determine exactly when it happened, several cavalry regiments were, including the Pavia Dragoons, detached from the old Army of the Centre to join the newly formed Army of Estremadura.

The Pavia are not listed with Cuesta's Army that was defeated at the Battle of Medellin on the 24th of March and, as Andrew Field mentions four regular dismounted cavalry regiments being sent to the area around Badajoz to gather remounts, I assume the Pavia Dragoons were part of that group.

As well as tracing the movements of this regiment, another challenge for the prospective modeler is getting a reliable reference on the look of the regimental musicians. The only dragoon trumpeter illustration I have been able to track down is the one below of the Reina regiment.

Nafziger describes the Reina regimental facings as 'Carnation' (light red) whilst the Pavia are described as  'Carnation' (red). Interestingly Chartrand has the Pavia with yellow facings for collar, cuffs and cuff flaps, but I cannot find any other references that agree with that so I am sticking with Nafziger.

Thus my Pavia trumpeter sports a red outfit similar to the Reina illustration below and I am reserving artistic license when it comes to the Almanza Dragoons which both Nafziger and Chartrand agree on Sky Blue facings.

Trumpeter from the Reina Dragoon Regiment
illustrates the facing colour worn by musicians

My Pavia Dragoon Regiment are composed of figures from AB supplied by Fighting 15s and are the fourth regiment completed as part of 2nd Cavalry Division.

Next time we will look at the last of the two dragoon regiments, namely the Almanza Regiment, and we will get to see the division as a whole with General Albuquerque at its head, but before that we will have some more 28mm Dark Age Saxons from Tom and some Vikings from Steve M.

References consulted:
Talavera - Wellington's First Victory in Spain, Andrew W. Field
Napoleonic Armies - Ray Johnson
The Armies of Spain and Portugal - Nafziger
History of the Peninsular War - Sir Charles Oman
The Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars(1) Chartand & Younghusband (Osprey Men at Arms)
http://www.eborense.es/batalla_talavera1809_indice.html

Spanish 2nd Cavalry Division at Talavera - Alcantara Cavalry Regiment

2nd Spanish Cavalry Division - Lieutenant General Duque de Albuquerque
Infante Cavalry Regiment
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment
Pavia Cavalry Regiment
Almanza Cavalry Regiment
1st & 2nd Hussars of Estremadura

The other heavy cavalry regiment in the 2nd Cavalry Division was the Alcantara Regiment.

For details on the organisation of the Spanish heavy cavalry regiments follow the link to the Infante Cavalry Regiment above.

The first reference I have for the Alcantara Regiment is for May 1808 when the unit was part of Spanish occupation forces in Portugal providing two squadrons.

Spanish Army of Andalusia 20th May l808
In Portugal:
l/Murcia Infantry Regiment (23/78l)
2/Murcia Infantry Regiment (22/700)
Grenadiers Provinciales de Vieja Castilla (l)(26/680)
2nd Grenadiers Provinciales de Vieja Castilla (l)(26/680)
Grenadiers Provinciales de Neuva Castilla (2)(54/l,360)
Voluntarios de Valencia (l/2)(20/600)
Voluntarios de Tarragona (l/2)(20/600)
Reyna Cavalry Regiment (2)(l7/340)(300 horses)
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment (2 sqn)(l7/340)(300 horses)
Santiago Cavalry Regiment (2)(l6/340)(? horses)
Montesa Cavalry Regiment (l)(l)(9/l70)
Horse Artillery (7/l28)
Sappers (l/47)

Source - Clerc, Capitulation de Baylen, Causes et Consequences, Paris, l903

In June 1808 following the Spanish insurrection, Oman lists in detail the forces on hand with a list of the available cavalry regiments and their strengths:

Cavalry (---H) - number of horses
lst Rey Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(38/634)(467H)
2nd Reina Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(4l/668)(202H)
3rd Principe Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/573)(434H)
4th Infante Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/6l5)(494H)
5th Borbon Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/6l6)(450H)
6th Farnesio Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(39/5l7)(359H)
7th Alcantara Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/589)(490H)
8th Espana Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(39/553)(358H)
9th Algarve Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(42/572)(455H)
l0th Calatrava Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(44/679)(369H)
llth Santiago Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(44/549)(370H)
l2th Montesa Heavy Cavalry Regiment (5)(40/667)(259H)
lst Rey Cazadore Regiment (5)(40/577)(l85H)
2nd Reina Cazadore Regiment (5)(42/58l)(42lH)
3rd Almanza Cazadore Regiment (5)(38/598)(479H)
4th Pavia Cazadore Regiment (5)(42/663)(507H)
5th Villaviciosa Cazadore Regiment (5)(35/628)(448H)
6th Sagunto Cazadore Regiment (5)(39/499)(l89H)
lst Numancia Hussar Regiment (5)(4l/630)(327H)
2nd Lusitania Hussar Regiment (5)(42/554)(409H)
3rd Olivenza Hussar Regiment (5)(37/558)(468H)
4th Voluntarios de Espana Hussar Regiment (5)(34/548)(460H)
5th Maria Luisa Hussar Regiment (5)(40/680)(394H)
6th Espanoles Hussar Regiment (5)(38/692)532H)

By the October of 1808 and the languid pursuit of French forces to the River Ebro the Alcantara are listed as part of the Army of Castile which formed part of Castanos' Army of the Centre joining forces at the end of that month.

Army of Castile - Source Oman
Division: General Pignatelli (Cartaojal after 30/10/08) 
(ll,000)
Cantabria Infantry Regiment (2)
Leon Militia Infantry Regiment (l)
Grenadiers del General (l)(new levee)
Cazadores de Cuenca (l) (new levee)
lst, 2nd & 3rd Volunteers of Leon (3)(new levee)
lst, 2nd & 3rd Tercoios of Castile (3)(new levee)
Tiradores de Castilla (l)(new levee)
Volunteers of Benavente (l)(new levee)
Volunteers of Zamora (l)(new levee)
Volunteers of Ledesma (l)(new levee)
Cavalry (3,292 on 29 October)
Farnesio Cavalry Regiment
Montesa Cavalry Regiment
Reina Cavalry Regiment
Borbon Cavalry Regiment
Olivenza Cavalry Regiment
Espana Cavalry Regiment
Calatrava Cavalry Regiment
Santiago Cavalry Regiment
Sagunto Cavalry Regiment
Principe Cavalry Regiment
Pavia Cavalry Regiment
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment

Following the French offensive in November a much reduced regiment, barely amounting to one squadron are shown as part of the forces defending the approaches to Madrid in the Somosierra Pass.

Spanish Forces Defending Somosierra - Source Oman
Army of the Reserve
November l808
lst Voluntarios de Madrid (l,500)
2nd Voluntarios de Madrid (l,500)
Guardias Walonas (500)
Jaen Infantry Regiment (2)l,300)
l/,3/Corona Infantry Regiment (2)(l,039)
Cordoba Infantry Regiment (l,300)
Badajoz Infantry Regiment (566)
l/,3/Irlanda Infantry Regiment (2)(l,l86)
Reyna Infantry Regiment (2)(927)
Provincial de Toledo (500)
Provincial de Alcazar (400)
3/Voluntarios de Sebilla (400)
Principe Cavalry Regiment (2)(200)
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment (l00)
Montesa Cavalry Regiment (l00)
Voluntarios de Madrid Cavalry Regiment (2)(200)
Artillery (22 guns, 200 gunners)

In January of 1809 the regiment is shown as part of the Army of the Centre now following the dismissal of General Castanos under the command of the Duke of Infantado and based around Cuenca threatening the eastern approaches to Madrid

Spanish Army of the Centre, llth January l809
Cavalry: (l,8l4)
Reyna Cavalry Regiment (276)
Principe Cavalry Regiment (l4l)
Borbon Cavalry Regiment (ll9)
Espana Cavalry Regiment (342)
Santiago Cavalry Regiment (74)
Tejas Cavalry Regiment (l3l)
Pavia Cavalry Regiment (428)
Lusitania Cavalry Regiment (l58)
Dragones de Castilla (l25)
Farnesio Cavalry Regiment
Montesa Cavalry Regiment
Calatrava Cavalry Regiment
Sagunto Cavalry Regiment
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment

Map to illustrate the movements of the Alacantara Regiment

Following the defeat of the Vanguard Division of the Army of the Centre in January 1809 at the Battle of Ucles, commanded by General Venegas, Infantado was relieved of command and General Venegas assumed command of the newly formed Army of La Mancha that continued to be a threat to the southern approaches to Madrid going into the summer of 1809 leading up to the Talavera campaign.

At some stage the Alcantara Regiment was transferred to the Army of Estremadura under General Cuesta where it was part of the 2nd Cavalry Division in the July.

Venegas's Army of La Mancha (or Army of the Centre) l6th June l809
3rd Division: Mariscal de camp D.Pedro Grimarest
2/de Jaen Infantry Regiment (985)
Ecija Infantry Regiment (902)
2/Cordoba Infantry Regiment (849)
Bailen Infantry Regiment (l,l2l)
l/Reales Guardias Infantry Regiment (663)
Alpujarras Infantry Regiment (579)
Velez Malaga Infantry Regiment (445)
Farnesio Cavalry Regiment (404)
Santiago Cavalry Regiment (295)
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment (343)
Principe Cavalry Regiment (324)
3 8pdr, 2 4pdrs & 2 7pdr howitzers

My Alcantara Regiment are composed of figures from AB supplied by Fighting 15s and are the third regiment completed as part of 2nd Cavalry Division.

Next time we will look at the first of the two dragoon regiments, namely the Pavia Regiment, but before that we will have some more 28mm Dark Ages.

References consulted:
Napoleonic Armies - Ray Johnson
The Armies of Spain and Portugal - Nafziger
History of the Peninsular War - Sir Charles Oman
The Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars(2) Chartand & Younghusband (Osprey Men at Arms)
http://www.eborense.es/batalla_talavera1809_indice.html

Spanish 2nd Cavalry Division at Talavera - Infante Cavalry Regiment

The second unit completed in General Albuquerque's cavalry division is the first of the four heavy cavalry regiments, the Infante (Prince's) Regiment.
Spanish 2nd Cavalry Division- Army of Estremadura
Hussars of Estremadura

Spanish heavy cavalry was composed of regiments of heavy cavalry and dragoons and in 1805 consisted of twelve regiments of heavy cavalry and eight regiments of dragoons principally distinguished by the former being dressed in blue coats and the latter yellow.

The Infante Regiment could possibly be considered one of the best of the heavy regiments having been selected in 1807 to form part of General La Romana's 15,000 strong Spanish Army of the North that was composed of the best units in the Spanish army to join Napoleon's Grande Armee, being sent to Hamburg in March of that year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuation_of_the_La_Romana_Division

The regiment was pictured in the uniform plates of Spanish forces in Hamburg and produced by the Suhr Brothers. The pictures are presented at the link below to the Napoleon Series and are interesting in that they appear to show the regiment wearing the 1803 uniform common to all the regiments with the white lapels and crimson red collar cuffs and turn-backs. This uniform was not that popular in some quarters having dispensed with the distinguishing regimental facing colours.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/Spain/c_Suhrspanish.html

The Infante were repatriated to Spain by the British Royal Navy in 1808 following the Dos de Mayo rising and the commencement of the Peninsular War. The cavalry regiments of La Romana's force were sent south after landing at Santander to Estremadura to gather remounts and rebuild their strength before becoming part of the forming Army of Estremadura.

I have made the assumption with my unit that they have been re-equipped with the 1805 uniform that saw a return to the regimental facings of white cuffs, lapels and collar as pictured in the illustrations. I have however gone for the brown leather and wood sword scabbards as depicted by the Suhr Brothers in Hamburg.

As with most thoughts on the look of Spanish units, this can be speculative, educated guess work, but at least shows you my thinking as to why I have this regiment looking this way for Talavera.

On the 30th January 1803 all cavalry regiments, light and heavy, were directed to have the same organisation and establishment with each regiment having five squadrons of two companies each company numbering 71 troopers and 54 horses. This gave a theoretical total of 670 men per regiment with 540 mounts when the regimental staff were added in.

On the 1st October 1808 all regiments reorganised to four squadrons each of three companies which saw the regimental strength rise in theory to 869 men with 648 mounts, however as mentioned in the post looking at the Estremaduran Hussars losses in 1809 reduced many regiments to at most three squadrons as they struggled to maintain squadron strengths.

Thus in theory with a full strength squadron of 195 mounted troops and a regimental staff numbering 16 men, a regiment could have 601 men, but as can be seen from the total number of 2,500 men in the 2nd Cavalry Division with about twenty squadrons in total, the average squadron would have had nearer 125 men.

My Infante Regiment is composed of figures from AB and is depicted as a four squadron unit numbering about 500 men commanded by Colonel Ribera.

References consulted:
Napoleonic Armies - Ray Johnson
The Armies of Spain and Portugal - Nafziger
History of the Peninsular War - Sir Charles Oman
The Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars(2) Chartand & Younghusband (Osprey Men at Arms)
http://www.eborense.es/batalla_talavera1809_indice.html

Spanish 2nd Cavalry Division at Talavera - Hussars of Estremadura

The 1st and 2nd Regiments of Estremaduran Hussars were raised on the 15th July 1808 under the commands of Colonel's Augustin Sanchez and Rafael Mariano with a starting strength of five squadrons of two companies and each regiment totaling 491 men and horses.

Maria Luisa Hussars

The two regiments were raised using cadres of officers and men from the dissolved 5th or Maria Luisa Hussars established in the 1803 Godoy reorganisation of the Spanish cavalry.

In October of 1808 the regiment was reorganised as part of the new directive that all regiments should have four squadrons of three companies with a company in theory consisting of 65 men. However with the losses in men and horses leading into 1809 the regiments of cavalry were often forced to dissolve one squadron to maintain the strength of the other three and with most regiments reduced to two squadrons.

The first mention I have of the regiment in an order of battle is their inclusion in Cuesta's army during the Medellin campaign in March 1809, with the 1st regiment included as part of the "Old Army of Estremadura".

Spanish Army at Medellin, 28 March l809
Commanding General: Cuesta (24,000 men total)

Forces from Army of Estremadura:
4/Spanish Guard Infantry Regiment
4/Walloon Guard Infantry Regiment
2nd Majorca Infantry Regiment
2nd Catalonia Light Infantry Regiment
Provincial of Badajos
Provincial Grenadiers
Badajoz Infantry Regiment (2)
Zafra Infantry Regiment*
Truxillo Infantry Regiment*
Merida Infantry Regiment
Plasencia Infantry Regiment*
La Serena Infantry Regiment
Leales de Ferdinando VII (2)*
Total l5 Battaliaons

Troops of old Army of Reserve of Madrid
2/Walloon Guard Infantry Regiment
Jaen Infantry Regiment (2)
Irlanda Infantry Regiment (2)
Parovincial of Toledo
Provincial of Burgos
2nd Volunteers of Madrid
3rd Seville Infantry Regiment

Troops from the Army of the Center
Campo Mayor Infantry Regiment
Provincial of Guadix
Provincial of Cordova
Osuna Infantry Regiment (2)
Granaderos del General
Tiradores de Cadiz
Cavalry (3,000 to 3,200)

Old Army of Estremadura
4th Hussar (Volunteers of Spain) Regiment
lst Hussars of Estremadura (formerly Maria Luisa)
From La Romana's Danish Division:
Rey Cavalry Regiment
Infante Cavalry Regiment
Almanza Cavalry Regiment

New Levies:
Cazadores de Llerena
Imperial de Toledo
Other:
Reyna Cavalry Regiment
Artillery & Sappers:
30 guns - (650)
2 Sapper Coys - 200 men
* Not at battle.
Oman, A History of the Peninsular War

The look of the regiment is very much a tribute to their antecedents in the Maria Luisa regiment using a reversal of their colours on the jacket, breeches and pelisse, but with a very strong French influence with the adoption of the shako and chords and a busby for the elite squadron. The Spanish look is maintained with the typical light blue shabraque (saddle-cloth) as opposed to the sheepskin used by the French.

My figures are AB French hussars, suitably adapted to assume the look of the Estremadurans with the filing down of the sheepskin covers and the addition of saddle cloth points using the metal covering from old wine bottles (very handy stuff). In addition the fancy pompoms and plumes have been removed  to better reflect the look in the illustrations.

AB French hussars come with their pelisse's worn and buttoned up (a slightly added protection against sword cuts), so the regiment has a very striking red appearance against the light blue of their shabraque's. In addition the French models are wearing overalls as opposed to the Hessian boots worn in the illustrations, but I don't think it unlikely that the overalls would not have made an appearance at some stage, being much more functional in the field.

The regiment would go on to serve at Albuera as an amalgamation of the two former regiments and based on my assessment of their likely strength, I have modeled them as a combined unit which will operate as two units of two squadrons (two bases) during our Talavera re-fight.

References consulted:
Napoleonic Armies - Ray Johnson
The Armies of Spain and Portugal - Nafziger
History of the Peninsular War - Sir Charles Oman
The Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars(2) Chartand & Younghusband (Osprey Men at Arms)