Reinforcement troops arrive for the Portuguese, including a mounted officer and the famous Caçadores – the elite light infantry troops of the Portuguese Army!
Portuguese Mounted Officer
The Portuguese troops were brave but outnumbered and unskilled in 1807. Reforms of the Portuguese army made by Sir Lt.General William Beresford changed that, adopting British drill and tactics. The changes transformed the Portuguese into an effective fighting force.
Portuguese Caçadores Command
Caçadore, “hunter” in Portuguese, a name used to distinguish the elite light infantry soldiers of the Portuguese Army, the direct equivalent of the German Jäger and the French Chasseurs.
Portuguese Caçadores
6 battalions of Caçadores were created (with more added later) and each would include a special Atiradores (sharpshooters) company armed with rifles. Some Caçadores units were integrated into the elite ‘Light Division’, brigaded with the British units of the 95th Rifles.
Especially notable for their marksmanship at long distances, Arthur Wellesley referred the Portuguese Caçadores as the “fighting cocks” of his Anglo-Portuguese Army.
The line infantry in their blue coats, and their light troops in brown performed very well, soon had Marshall Soult back over the Pyrenees with the allied army in hot pursuit.
Wellington, as Wellesley famously became, applauded his Portuguese troops calling them his ‘fighting cocks’, praise indeed from a man who knew a good soldier when he saw one. Less magnanimous was the popular name British soldiers used – ‘pork and beans’ – with good-humoured respect.
Our plastic Portuguese soldiers are supplied with the option of the early Barretina shako used between 1806 and 1810, or the later Stovepipe-style version which entered service in 1810.
This Box Set contains;
– 20 plastic easy-build Portuguese Line Infantry.
– 4 metal command miniatures: officer, drummer and two ensigns with wire flagpoles and banner tops.
– 2-page background guide including ten full-colour flags
To add to your ranks in Black Powder you might like a full regiment of 48 troops:
Or even field an entire Brigade – 96 troops at a great price!
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy
