Quick question on the Spanish during AWI

[glenning]

A quick question since I've ordered a bunch of Spanish AWI miniatures from Perry:

Would Grenadiers also be wearing an all-white uniform with detachable cuffs and collar for the warmer months/climates?

So, like in this pic - the tropical version would be an all white uniform(including the waistcoat and breeches) with black cuffs and collar, right?

Did Dragoons follow the same regulations for the warmer months/climates?

Thanks in advance!

[FifteensAway]

Here is a link to what is - hands down - the best resource I have found in twenty-five plus years of hunting for information on the Spanish in the AWI period.  It includes quite a few images of grenadiers from various regiments.

What theater are you working on?  I am focusing my Spanish on Galvez in the Floridas.

[glenning]

Thanks! Can't seem to find the link - am I blind? 

Yes, I'm focusing on Florida as well!

[IronDuke596]

No, you are not blind, there was no link attached.

[FifteensAway]

Guilty, very, very guilty.  Copied the link but forgot to post it.  Here it is:

http://www.uniformology.com/WORLD-10-SPN.html

Mia culpa and all that jazz.

Hope this is helpful. 

[Emir of Askaristan]

I'm not aware of uniforms with detachable cuffs etc, but happy to be corrected if that's the case.

Units in hot climates sometimes swapped European uniforms for lighter weight cloth, (eg cotton rather then wool) cut in the same style - but usually only if they had been posted in country for some years and were not newly arrived, ie units sent from europe for a particular campaign. I believe this was the case with Spanish troops in earlier wars, eg SYW in the Caribbean so see no reason it would be different for the AWI.

Alternatively units could fight in their waistcoats which were often still long sleeved.

Sometimes new uniforms with different colours or facings were issued for a campaign but again usually it was the same cut, style, colour and material and was usually to ensure the troops looked uniform before going on campaign (and were dressed in clothing fit to last through it).

You may be looking a slightly earlier uniforms with deeper cuffs and colours compared to the later period.

[glenning]

Guilty, very, very guilty.  Copied the link but forgot to post it.  Here it is:

http://www.uniformology.com/WORLD-10-SPN.html

Mia culpa and all that jazz.

Hope this is helpful.

Awesome, thanks a lot!

I'm not aware of uniforms with detachable cuffs etc, but happy to be corrected if that's the case.

They Spanish actually had them, there's some good info on the subject in in Osprey's The Spanish Army in North America 1700–1793 as well as in the superb Illustrated Encyclopedia of Uniforms of the American War of Independence.

[Emir of Askaristan]

Checking back, the Osprey on the Spanish certainly gives plenty of info about linen and other materials. And the encyclopedia mentions hook and eye fastenings (stops the white uniform going pink in the wash  )

Removable collars etc might become lost, "mislaid" etc but I bet the Spanish sergeants and officers were as good as handing out punishments for incorrect uniforms as their counterparts before and since in other armies. I suspect that a few individuals aside, and allowing for the rigours of campaign and its impact on clothing most Spanish troops were dressed as closely as the regulation allowed them to be.

In any case, do show us how you decide to depict them - there's not enough Spanish AWI stuff out there and they're an overlooked part of the war.

[glenning]

Do anyone know where I can find more info on the Havana regiment? Did they always wear the blue/yellow uniform or were they issued white ones as well? I'd also like to find some plates on officer uniforms if there are any as well as some standard info, OOB etc. Thanks in advance!

[FifteensAway]

Have you tried Osprey?  If the information isn't in their book on Spanish troops, I doubt you will find anything in the English language.  There is that "other" forum that has a Spanish/Spain page (or did, haven't used it in years), you might try asking there.

[glenning]

Thanks, I'll have a look! Spanish language sources are OK though. 

[Baron von Wreckedoften]

There are two Spanish language books for this conflict that I can recommend - one covers the siege of Pensacola, and the other the siege of Gibraltar.  Both are similar to Ospreys in terms of content, layout, size etc, but are a mix of MAA and Campaign formats.  They have useful colour plates for both sides, although there are a few minor mistakes in the British ones (although nothing like the "howlers" in the Kiley/Smith so-called encyclopedia!!!).  They aren't easily to hand at the moment, so I can't give you the exact titles, but they are part of a much larger series on historic Spanish battles.

[glenning]

Baron von Wreckedoften Thanks a lot, really appreciate it! 

[Baron von Wreckedoften]

Sorry, I think I may have leant them to someone (possibly Alan Perry!).  I seem to recall the series title was Armas y Guerras or something like that - the series covers many famous battles or campaigns from Spanish history.  Let me know if you can't find them and I shall try and track the exact titles down for you (Google is being completely unhelpful at the moment!).

[glenning]

I finally found a nice plate as well as some painted minis of the Habana regiment! Thing is - the plate shows coat turned blue, the mini's blue turned yellow- so which might it have been? I've seen more plates which shows coat turned blue, so maybe I should stick to that?

Anyway, I really like the look of the Habana regiment, maybe because I'm a Swede...