The Portuguese Army of the Napoleonic Wars (2): 1806-1815

The Portuguese constituted a third to a half of the troops under Wellington's command during his campaigns in the Peninsular and were considered first rate troops. This title explores the many battalions in service to the British. Most know that Wellington's Portuguese troops were praised as the 'fighting cocks' of his army; fewer appreciate that they represented between half and one-third of his entire forces. Similarly, most uniform historians have been limited to a few half-understood paintings by Dighton, and brief notes from secondary sources. René Chartrand's recent primary research in Portuguese and British archives now offers a wealth of important new material. This second volume covers the light infantry, cavalry, specialist corps and several supporting military and civilian departments