Jose San Martin Wargaming Project for the Peninsular War

I wanted to build some Peninsular War Armies for Shako based on a historical Order of Battle. For the French army I wanted mostly French troops as the allies could form Bonus Selections. And to my way of thinking you can’t do the Peninsular justice without a Spanish army.

I was thinking of doing an Albuera Project, then a Blake Project following Joaquín Blake y Joyes through the Peninsular War, but that is perhaps too ambitious.

My latest thinking is a San Martin Project. José de San Martin was one of the famous Liberators in the South American Wars of Liberation. He was active in the liberation of Argentina, the liberated Chile and Peru. I’ve followed San Martin in my 1817-18 Chilean Project. What people might not realise about San Martin is that he fought for the Spanish in the Peninsular. This is a brief history of San Martin’s life up to his declaration against Spain:

Life history

25 Feb 1778: born in the Viceroyalty of La Plata (modern Argentina) (Harvey, 2000).

1786: Age seven moved to Spain with his family (Harvey, 2000; Monografias: Biografía de San Martín).

1789: At age 11 joined the Murcia Regiment (Harvey, 2000; Monografias: Biografía de San Martín).

Age 12: First saw action at in North Africa near Melilla (Harvey, 2000).

1791: Fought in the Seige of Oran (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana)

1793: Fought with Captain General Ricardo against Revolutionary France north of the Pyrenees (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana; Harvey, 2000). Was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant (Monografias: Biografía de San Martín). San Martin fought at the Clash of Mas d’Eu (19 May 1793), the Battle of Truilles (22 Sep 1793) and various defensive combats. And at the taking of San Telmo, Port Vendres, and Collioure (20 Dec 1793). I’m not sure about his involvement after Collioure but the Franco-Spanish war finished two years later after the fall of Bellver (27 Jul 1795). Names and dates of actions are from Smith (1998).

19 May 1793: Fought at the Clash of Mas d’Eu (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana).

22 Sep 1793: Fought at the Battle of Truilles (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana).

20 Dec 1793: Was at the fall of Collioure (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana).

14 Feb 1797: was with the defeated Spanish at the naval Battle of Cape St Vincent (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana; Harvey, 2000).

15 Feb 1798: Captured aboard the frigate Santa Dorotea (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana; Harvey, 2000). San Martin was soon exchanged for a British officer.

1800: San Martin was fighting the Portuguese and was present at the blockade of Gibraltar (Harvey, 2000). He had the rank of Captain (second class) of light infantry (Monografias: Biografía de San Martín).

1801: San Martin led a company of the Murcia Regiment in the Seige of Olivenza (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana).

San Martin was present at the blockade of Gibraltar (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana; Harvey, 2000). He had the rank of Captain (second class) of light infantry (Monografias: Biografía de San Martn).

1807: San Martin was now part of the First Regiment Voluntarios de Campo Mayor (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana).

1808, after the revolt against the French began: San Martin was made adjutant of the First Regiment Voluntarios de Campo Mayor (Harvey, 2000; Monografias: Biografía de San Martín). This regiment was then incorporated into the Regiment of Andalusia.

At the Battle of Arjonilla he charged the French positions head on with only 21 horsemen supported by some infantry (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana; Harvey, 2000). He was promoted to Captain of the Regiment of Borbon (Monografias: Biografía de San Martín).

18-22 Jul 1808: He fought at Bailen a few weeks later (Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana; Harvey, 2000). His conduct at this battle earnt his a promotion to Lt Colonel and a medal (Monografias: Biografía de San Martín).

1808: Two months after Bailen he fell ill (Harvey, 2000). After this period of illness he joined the Army of Catalonia.

1810: Became adjutant-general of the Army of Catalonia (Harvey, 2000).

1811 Took command of a regiment of dragoons at Sagunto (Harvey, 2000).

16 May 1811: Fought at Albuera (Hooker, 1991; Monografias: Biografía de San Martn)

Fought at the second siege of Badajoz (1811).

14 Sep 1811: after 20 years in the Spanish army San Martin resigned his commission and sailed for Argentia via London (Harvey, 2000; Monografias: Biografía de San Martín).

9 Mar 1812: Arrived in Buenos Aires and took up arms against Spain (Hooker, 1991).

References

Cruce De Los Andes: Historia Sanmartiniana

Harvey, R. (2000). Liberators: South America’s Savage Wars of Freedom 1810-30. London: Robinson.

Hooker, T. (1991). The Armies of Bolivar and San Martin [Men-at-Arms 232]. Osprey.

Monografias: Biografía de San Martín [Spanish]

Wikipedia: Jos de San Martin has the same content in English.

Smith, D. (1998). The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book. Greenhill.

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