2nd Chaves Infantry

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Origin and History

Private in 1762 - Source: Detail from an anonymous work reproduced from the book 300 years of Military Uniforms... with the kind authorisation of Manuel Ribeiro Rodrigues

The regiment was raised in 1643 as the Terço de Chaves.

On April 20 1762, the regiment was divided into two distinct units: the 1st and 2nd Chaves regiments.

During the Seven Years' War, the 2nd regiments was under the command of:

• João António de Sá Pereira

Service during the War

At the beginning of the campaign of 1762, the regiment was assigned to the Portuguese corps operating in the province of Beira under lieutenant-general Townshend and the count de Santiago. Its mission was to cover the Beira Baixa region against Spanish incursions.

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

Uniform of Privates in 1762 - Source: Ibrahim90

Uniform Details as per
the book 300 Anos de Uniformes Militares do Exército de Portugal 1660-1960

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced white with a red/blue cockade Grenadier black bearskins with a red flame probably piped with a thin white lace.
Neckstock	white
Coat	dark brown lined red with one white button above the right lapel, one white button under the right lapel and one white button on each side in the small of the back Collar red with 2 small white buttons on the right side and two very narrow white buttonholes on the left side Shoulder Straps dark brown with a small white button Lapels red with 8 white buttons and 8 narrow white buttonholes Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 white buttons and 3 narrow white buttonholes Cuffs red with 3 white buttons Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	dark brown with white buttons and narrow white buttonholes
Breeches	dark brown
Gaiters	white
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather with a white metal buckle Waistbelt natural leather Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard black Scabbard none

Armaments consisted of a musket and a bayonet.

Officers

Officer in 1762 - Source: Detail from an anonymous work reproduced from the book 300 years of Military Uniforms...

Officers wore a uniform very similar to the one worn by privates with the following distinctions:

• a gold laced tricorne
• a duty gorget
• a thin silver lace at the collar
• red waistcoat laced silver with 2 rows of white buttons, each pair of buttons joined by a narrow white buttonhole
• an officer stick
• a sword
• a spontoon

Musicians

Drummer in 1762 - Source: Detail from an anonymous work reproduced from the book 300 years of Military Uniforms...

Drummers wore a uniform very similar to the one worn by privates with the following distinctions:

• a white lace edging the seams of the coat; and the collar, lapels and cuffs
• a white lace edging the waistcoat
• 3 inverted white chevrons on each sleeve

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

Amaral, Manuel, O Exértico Português em finais do Antiguo Regime

Kirby, Mike, The Portuguese Army - Seven Years War, Seven Years War Association Journal, Vol. XII No. 3

Moskowich, Emilio; Portuguese Army in SYW, 1st ed., March 2006

Pereira Sales, Ernesto Augusto; O Conde de Lippe em Portugal, Vila Nova de Famalicao: Publicacoes da Comissao de Historia Militar, 1936

Ribeiro Rodrigues, Manuel A.; 300 Anos de Uniformes Militares do Exército de Portugal 1660-1960, Exército Portugués and Sociedade Historica da Independéncia de Portugal, 1998

Acknowledgment

Manuel Ribeiro Rodrigues, Joseph O'Neil and Juan José Torres and the Asociación Cultural de Modelismo Histórico Alabarda for the information and counselling provided for this article.