1st Estremoz Infantry
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Origin and History
no information available
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:
- 1762: colonel Preston
Another detachment was placed under the command of Richard Vaughan,
Service during the War
During the campaign of 1762, the regiment garrisoned the town and castle of Estremoz while Richard Vaughan's detachment garrisoned the town of Arronches.
Uniform
Traditionally, since about 1660, the Portuguese infantry wore dark blue uniforms. During the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) almost all infantry units wore alvadia (light gray uniforms). These new uniforms were introduced for economic reasons, this type of fabric being much cheaper.
It is now believed that, from 1750, there was a progressive abandon of alvadia uniforms and a return to more traditional Portuguese uniforms. However, it seems that most of the changeover took part sometime after 1759 since, till this date, cloth orders indicated white as the most common colour.
At the outbreak of the war in 1762, there was neither enough uniforms nor cloth for recruits in military warehouses, so it was necessary to use all cloth available. Besides, as there was no central warehouse, every colonel was responsible for the ordering of uniforms. Therefore the fabric was bought from contractors who would cut and turned it into uniforms "more or less" along the official lines.
It must also be noted that the use of gaiters was introduced into the Portuguese infantry only in 1762.
Privates
no information available
Armaments consisted of a musket and a bayonet.
Officers
no information available
Musicians
no information available
Colours
The exact pattern of the Portuguese colonel colours during the Seven Years' War is unknown.
The ordonnance colours were chosen by the colonel of the regiment. For the moment, we have found no source depicting specific colours for this regiment.
Please refer to our article on the Portuguese Line Infantry Colours for more information.
References
Pereira Sales, Ernesto Augusto; O Conde de Lippe em Portugal, Vila Nova de Famalicao: Publicacoes da Comissao de Historia Militar, 1936
Acknowledgment
Manuel Ribeiro Rodrigues and Joseph O'Neill for the information and counselling provided for this article.
