In a world wide exclusive I was really excited to get my hands on the new Perry Spanish Cuirassier set.

Nah – not really – these are a box of Perry French plastic cuirassiers that I have painted as Spanish Cuirassiers. I painted them all in the ‘captured’ uniform. If this unit represents the entire regiment then most would have probably been in shakos and simple red British supplied tunics (a bit of guess work here). The flag is one I found on the internet and resized. I did these away from home and my normal painting environment.

From http://tocdesomatent.blogspot.com/

ENGLISH TEXT

The regiment was formed in Catalonia were it fought between 1810 and 1814.

The regiment was divided in several detachments due to the lack of cavalry in Catalonia. It took part in a lot of minor actions including two raids in French territory.

1810

May: The 24th the regiment is raised in Reus from the regiment of Húsares de Granada: 1 regiment with 2 squadrons. 360 men and 140 horses. Coronel: Juan Malats. The uniforms were supplied by the british and the equipment captured to the 3rd Provisional Cuirassiers at the battle of Mollet.

July: Absorbs the detachment of Cazadores de Olivenza which was in Catalonia. Now the regiment has 15 officers, 385 troopers and 355 horses in two squadrons. Coronel Juan Malats, Lieutenant Coronel (?) Casasola, Mayor Juan Jaldón.

September/October: A detachment of 60 men in General O’Donnell army fought in different actions near Barcelona: Molí del Besós (18/09) were it takes 68 soldiers and 10 cuirassiers as prisoners and at Creu Coberta (24/10) were it takes 57 more prisoners. However in a fight with the Italian Dragon Napoleon regiment one of its companies (about 30men) is completely destroyed.

The rest of the regiment operated in the zone between Tasrragona and Benicarló.

1811

January: The regiment is reorganized at Valls: 2 squadrons, 254 men, 195 horses. It fights the French 24th of Dragoons at Plà de Sta. Maria.

April-June: The regiment is divided between Tarragona (Div. Campoverde) where it takes part in the defense of the city and Empordà (Div. Volante) fighting at Figueres and Olot.

May: escapes from Tarragona.

October: 1st raid in French territory (Div. Eroles). Actions at Montluis (24/10) and Marens (29/10) 50 troopers involved.

November: Combats at Vallès: San Celoni (03/11), La Garriga (05/11), Granollers and Hostalric (07/11)

1812

January: MOMENT OF DISGRACE. Battle of Altafulla (24/01), French division of Maurice-Mathieu tries to relief the city of Tarragona (now under siege by the Spanish). The two armies clash in Ferran on the banks of Gayà River. The regiment (about 200 men) is charged by the 29th Chasseurs a Cheval. Many troopers are killed (only 40 left) and Lieutenant Coronel taken prisoner.

February: 2nd raid in French territory. Actions of Tarascon, Cabannes, Foix and MontLuis.

May: MOMENT OF GLORY. Molins de Rey bridge. The regiment charges taking 200 prisoners to the enemy. Only 1 dead and 5 wounded. Mayor Juan Gonzalez Anleo.

August: Battle of Molins de Rei captures 400 prisoners. Coronel Luis Decreft.

1813

February: The regiment is in Vic. 140 men and 151 horses.

May: Bisbal del Penedès (17/05). 1 dead, 1 wounded and 2 horses killed.

July: Battle of Torregrossa (27/07): Coronel Juan Gonzalez Anleo leads three charges against the enemy squares. 10 dead and 26 wounded.

December: Siege of Lleida.”