#1 [url]

Nov 11 09 2:19 PM

RtL,
forgive a small correction on nomenclature (which was confusing). The Staff Corps was a group of people put together by the Quarter Master General's staff to pool useful skills such as artificers, bridge builders, and others necessary to the army's movement.
The Staff Cavalry Corps was formed after the 1812 campaign, taking part in those of 1813-14. It was also used in the 100 days campaign. Its function were those of military police and orderly dragoons. They wore a red tunic and bell top shako.
Between June 1809 and the formation of the Staff Cav Corps, the Corps of Mounted Guides performed a number of important functions for Wellington's Headquarters. These included riding with dispatches, intelligence gathering, and setting up courier runs to the army's spies in places like Salamanca. They numbered a few dozen and were a truly polyglot bunch - including Irish and Swiss deserters from the French army. Their junior officers were Portugese and their commander was Capt then Maj George Scovell of Wellington's QMG staff. Their uniform was that of the Portugese (foot) Cacadores - a brown jacket with black lace and red cuffs, but they wore British-style tarleton headgear.
cheers
EC