Portuguese Cavalry Regiment #10

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The first of three new regiments of horsemen added to my Napoleonic Portuguese army!

While sometimes referred to as “Dragoons”, in most documents the Portuguese mounted arm were simply referred to as regiments of Cavalry. 

This is the 10th or “Santarem” regiment, with light blue collars and cuffs piped in white. 

As with the infantry, the color of the piping on the front of the jacket and of the collars and cuffs, as well as the turnbacks, reflected the organizational Division to which the regiment belonged – red for the Southern, white for the Central, and yellow for the Northern Division.

Unlike the infantry, each cavalry regiment had 4 flags, one for each squadron, with a white field for the 1st squadron, red for the 2nd, yellow for the 3rd, and blue for the 4th. I have used scaled down Infantry regimental colors by Adolfo Ramos (15mm); these are pretty close to correct, but evidently the regimental designation would have been on a light blue scroll below the Arms of Portugal. Cravats were in the color of the cuffs. 

3rd Regiment, Gardes d’ Honneur

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The 3e Regiment of Gardes d’ Honneur was raised from the 10th (Tolouse ), 11th (Bourdeaux ), 12th (La Rochelle), 13th (Renne ), 20th ( Périgueux), 22nd ( Tours), 29th (Florence ), and 31st (Groningen) Military Divisions. 

A commemorative plaque on the battlefield marks the involvement of the 3rd Regiment in the Battle of Château-Thierry on February  12, 1814. 

The 3e Regiment also fought at Leipzig, Hannau, Saverne, Meaux, Craonne, Reims, Landau, and Paris.

The Colonel of this regiment was Philippe-Paul Segur. He was born in Paris in 1780, became a Colonel in the Chevau-Legers of the Gardes de Paris in 1809, and a Count of the Empire in that year as well. He was promoted to General de Brigade in 1812. In 1824 Ségur published a book on the Russian campaign of 1812, which was not very flattering to Napoleon. General Gaspar Gougaud, who had also served on the Imperial staff in Russia in 1812, severely criticized. Ségur challenged Gourgaud to a duel which was accepted, though he lost the duel and was wounded by Gourgaud. He survived to publish several more books, and die in Paris at the age of 92, in 1873.

The Regiment was disbanded in Tours on July 17, 1814. 

Portuguese 23rd Line, “2nd Almeida”

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The 23rd (of 24 total) Portuguese Line Infantry Regiment was named the 2nd Almeida regiment, and  was recruited in Beira Province and based in Viseu. 

The 23rd belonged to the Southern Military Division, and thus had scarlet piping and turnbacks, and scarlet mixed with dark blue cords on the 1806 shako. 

The 23rd had sky blue collar and cuffs, as seen here. 

Theoretically dark blue trousers were worn in winter and white in summer; it seems the fashion was for the officers to wear the white trousers year round. 

Once again these are 25/28 mm Old Glory 2nd edition British figures painted as Portuguese, with an Adolfo Ramos flag. 

The 23rd formed part of the 9th Portuguese Brigade, along with the previously seen 11th Regiment and the 7th Cazadores. It was attached to the 4th British Division form 1810 onwards. 

Portuguese Napoleonic Artillery

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The latest addition to my Napoleonic Portuguese is two batteries of Artillery.

These figures are sold by Brigade Games in the US.

The cannon are by Foundry, and were already painted as surplus from an order I made for my British Artillery 10+ years ago! 

Portugal had 4 regiments of artillery, differentiated by subtle differences in the colors of the collars and cuffs; this battery has dark blue collar and cuffs. That indicates it belongs to the 1st or Lisbon Regiment. 

Here are both batteries together. 

The other battery has black collars and cuffs, denoting the 2nd or Algarve Regiment. 
Pretty difficult to tell the difference, right?

I have two more painted spare British guns, so maybe I should add a third battery?!

Civil War Letter by Thomas Pear, Newbern, NC, December 28th, 1862

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 When I came to New Milford, CT 40+ years ago, I assumed the practice of an older (in his early 50’s) Family Physician, Dr W. “Fritz” Lahvis. He was a fine physician, and I learned a lot from him during the 6 months or so that we transitioned his practice to me. He asked for nothing for this, except someone to look after his patients. One of his long time patients was Mr. Thomas Pear. ASs we got top know each other over the years, Mr. Pear became aware of my interest in Military History, and mentioned there was Civil War era letter in his family’s possession. He recently provided me with a photocopy of same (he says no one is quite sure where the original is now). The letter is from his ancestor, also named Thomas Pear, to his brother Edward, who was. if I recall what he told me correctly, himself a silversmith in Massachusetts. The letter makes reference to the 10th Connecticut Regiment, one of the more distinguished Union regiments of the War; I believe Thomas served in a CT regiment, if not the 10th. 

Page 1; reference is made to “one of the smarter Major Generals [John Gray] Foster “
Major General John Gray Foster, photo by Mathew Brady, 1863. According to the Wikipedia article, which is well worth reading, Foster was a West Point graduate from Nashua, New Hampshire, who served with distinction as an Engineer during the Mexican-American War and was second in command at Fort Sumpter at the beginning of the American Civil War. He commanded the 1st Bruigade of General Ambrose Burnside’s North Carolina, and distinguished himself at the battle sof Newbern and Roanoake Island. When Burnside left for Virginia, Foster assumed command of the Union Department of North Carolina, and was promoted to Major General in July 1862. 

Page 2; reference is made to Confederate [Brigadier] General Nathan G. Evans.

Brigadier General Evans; also a West Point Graduate, “a number of examples of Evans’ good tactical leadership and bravery in battle are recorded. However, his abrasive personality and his passion for intoxicating beverages led to his constant difficulties with colleagues and superiors.”

The action described is the Battle of Goldsborough Bridge, December 17, 1862.The bridge was a vital link in the railroad from the port of Wilmington, NC, and destroying it disrupted the rail supply line for the Confederates. 

I find the very neat handwriting (done in far less than ideal circumstances)  and the very correct spelling and grammar most impressive as well. 
The (1st) Battle of Newbern, fought in March 1862 There is a Battlefield Park site. 

Many thanks to Mr. Pear for sharing the letter with me!