Monday 9 March 2015

2nd Antequera Volunteer Light Infantry Regiment

The Barcelona Light Infantry as depicted by the Suhr brothers in 1807
The next unit completed as part of General Portago's 3rd Spanish Division is the 2nd Antequera Infantry Regiment of Volunteer Light Infantry (Cazadores).


Map to show areas of interest in the story of the 2nd Antequera
The city of Antequera is located in the heart of Andalusia and can trace its origins back to Roman times. Even today it is an area popular with hunters of small game and wild boar, so perhaps it unsurprising that a unit representing the city in the Spanish order of battle should be a cazadore (light infantry) regiment.

Map C - The city of Antequera, nestling in the mountains between Seville & Granada
Antequera

Spanish Army of Estremadura
3rd Division: Major-General Marquis de Portago
1st Battalion Badajoz Infantry Regiment - Volunteer Line Infantry
2nd Battalion Badajoz Infantry Regiment - Volunteer Line Infantry
2nd Antequera Infantry Regiment  - Volunteer Light Infantry in Shakos
Imperial de Toledo - Volunteer Line Infantry in Shako
Provincial de Badajoz  - Militia Infantry
Provincial de Guadix - Militia Infantry

Rey Cavalry Regiment - Regular Line


The Cazadores de Antequera Regiment, consisting of two battalions were formed in September 1808, according to Esdaile and were still on the lists of the Spanish regular forces in 1814, although their first battalion was lost with the surrender of the Figueras garrison in July 1811.

*(Note see the comments on the post about the Imperial de Toledo, link below, where Teodoro Reding points to their origins being based on the 6th Volunteers of Granada where they were in action at Mengibar and Bailen in 1808).

The 1200 strong Antequera Regiment appear in the order of battle for the Battle of Valls 25th February 1809 as part of Marti's division under the command of General Reding with a force of 11,800 men.

Map A showing where the Battle of Valls, Feb 25th 1809, occurred
Battle of Valls


On 28th March they are shown as part of General Henestrosa's vanguard division at the Battle of Medellin where Oman shows the Antequerans with 893 men. On the 12th of April 1809 the 1200 strong regiment is recorded as detached from the Army of Granada and under orders to reinforce the Army of Estremadura joining its 3rd Division and presumably falling back on Badajoz with the rest of Cuesta's badly mauled army.

Map B, Brings the story up to and including Medellin and Talavera, showing their locations in relation to each


Thus by the spring of 1809 the regiment had seen a lot of action with the French, all be it with little success to show for it and it would seem that they would have had a cadre of experienced troops mixed in with a larger cohort of new conscripts.


The look of the Antequerans is unclear to say the least and thus the wargamer is forced to make choices when modelling them. I have gone with producing a unit using the new look light infantry uniform that has the men in shakos with the light infantry green plumes. I doubt they were this uniform in appearance and I would again point you towards Teodoro Reding's points about the likely supplies of uniform stocks available to the unit during its formation as being bell topped shakos and top hats.


In the end it comes down to a choice and as I am wanting to give my army a look of the Spanish forces as a whole as much as one based on the limited references available for the Estremadurans in 1809, I have, for the time being, decided to refer to this battalion as my tribute to the Cazadores de Antequera. The greatest tribute to pay the unit is that all the battle experience they gained allowed them to stay formed as a regiment on the Spanish order of battle right to the end of the war in spite of the defeats suffered by the various armies they were part of.


My regiment is formed using figures from the AB range, with scratch built skirmishers with head transplants and the Colour is from GMB Flags.

Sources referred to in this post include
The Peninsular War Atlas - Osprey, Colonel Nick Liscombe
The Nafziger and Oman orders of battle
The Spanish Army of the Peninsular War - Charles Esdaile
The Spanish Army of the Peninsular War Series - Osprey, Rene Chartrand, Bill Younghusband
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?460616-Spanish-regimental-names-1805-14
And thank you to Brian (Teodoro Reding) for sharing his research and notes.

Next up, Casa de Salinas game 3, Provincial de Badajoz  - Militia Infantry and British Light Infantry Arm - Book Review.

15 comments:

  1. Excellent job. They look great. What shades of blue did you use for the uniform?

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    1. Thanks Adam, the blue is a base of Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue, first highlight-Medium Blue and second highlight Medium Blue and Buff mix. I wanted to get a warmer blue than the French.

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  2. Another lovely unit Jonathan and a great read to. Cracking blue shade!

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    1. Thanks Paul. I was inspired to play with the blue after seeing your French general officers with your Napoleon group.

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    2. That's really nice to hear jonathan, what colour did you settle on?

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    3. Sorry jonathan I see you have explained your blue on the reply above, Homer Simpson moment!

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    4. Don't worry, I get a few of those myself

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  3. I have to say, I really love your blog, the detail in your posts, top of with the brilliantly painted units make your blog exciting to visit every time I come here, I am never disappointed, I always leave thinking, "I really want that unit" well done.

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    1. Hi Dan, I really appreciate your comment. I do this stuff for fun and I hope other people enjoy it as well, so it is really nice to know that is the case.
      Thanks again
      JJ

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    2. Hi JJ,

      Just to follow up on Stephen T's comments we have now played Talavera for the 2nd time at the club. This time linking the proceeding engagements to determine unit strengths in the main battle. This year we fielded the Spanish 3rd, 4th & 5th Infantry Divisions and the 2nd Cavalry Division. All in glorious 28mm. Your blog and accompanying research has inspired those of us collecting Spanish forces.

      Stephen Mesmer.

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    3. Hi Stephen,
      Thank you for your kind comment, and what fun you guys are having. I will be getting back to the Spanish myself very soon as I still have Bassecourt's chaps to do so stay tuned, plus I have had some help getting some Spanish flags done for a particular unit which I will be sharing when they are done.

      Cheers
      JJ

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  4. A really impressive blog with plenty of useful information. One of the gamers at the New Buckenham Historical Wargamers is putting on Talavera in 28mm this year. I am tempted to get my 15mm's out of the loft!

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    1. Hi Stephen T, thank you, glad you are enjoying it. If you are interested in the Peninsular War, Talavera is just one of those battles you are going to want to do. If you are thinking about doing the full thing covering the two days, then 15/18mm is probably the best way to do it, and this blog is all about tempting readers to get started, so get the loft ladder up.

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  5. These are ace, BUT I just can't face yet another army right now and this is so tempting for our Peninsular collection, I'll just have to make do with looking at yours for now. Put a game up soon please.
    Very best wishes,
    Jeremy

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    1. Hi Jeremy, well with all those lovely Peninsula 28mm figs on show the other day, it seems to me you would only have to add a few Spanish. I'll try and inspire the creative juices.

      Casa de Salinas test game three is on tonight, and I am playing the French with two significant changes that should produce an interesting game. Tom has been warned!
      Cheers
      JJ

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