Cais Cavalry
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Origin and History
The regiment was raised on November 15 1707.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:
- in 1757: Colonel Marquis of Marialva
- in 1762: Colonel Count de Sampaio
The regiment was disbanded on December 22 1807 and its troops incorporated into the 1st Regiment of Cavalry.
Service during the War
On August 26, the regiment was part of general Bourgoyne's column, who had spent two days before the Tagus, made a surprise attack on Valencia de Alcantara, a Spanish depot, where he destroyed supplies and provisions. During the campaign of 1762, was initially attached to the main Anglo-Portuguese army where its 3 troops were deployed in the first line of cavalry of the right wing. By mid September, the regiment was part of Burgoyne's who had been ordered to cover the border between Portalegre and Vila Velha de Rodao. This corps occupied a strong position at Tolosa on the Tagus, opposite Villa Velha. On October 18, Burgoyne's corps took position between Nisa and Montalvao. By the end of October, Burgoyne's command was forming a corps of observation between Portalegre and Nisa, manning the watchtowers of Povoa das Meadas and Arco which guarded the unique practicable passage between Elvas and Montalvan.
Uniform
We only know that, in 1740, the regiment had an alvadia (grey-white) uniform. No information has been found on the uniform of this regiment on the eve of the Seven Years' War.
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.
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
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 and Joseph O'Neill for the information and counselling provided for this article.
