Ideas for a historical novel featuring the British Legion in the Colombian War of Independence

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

About a year ago, I bought a biography of Simon Bolivar by Mary Arana. In this biography I read about the British who volunteered to go to South America to fight alongside the Colombians. I was amazed at the role they played and the fact that they had been almost forgotten in England.
Over the next period of time I looked for information relating to the British Legion, mainly about the uniforms they wore, because I thought if I was going to tell a story relating to them, I had to know exactly what they looked like.
As far as I know, at least 5,000 Englishmen took part in the expedition to South America, including Englishmen, Irishmen, Scotsmen, and even Hanoverians.

Liberator Simón Bolívar wanted to increase the combat effectiveness of his army by recruiting foreign soldiers, so in 1817, Bolívar's agent in London, Luis López Méndez, began recruiting British veterans with the approval of the Duke of Wellington.

Don Luis López Méndez

Not surprisingly, the conscription went exceptionally well; the end of the Napoleonic Wars had brought an influx of discharged soldiers into Britain and left a large number of weapons unused; in April 1817, The Times claimed that there were 500,000 discharged soldiers among Britain's population of 25 million.
Veterans needed to find new jobs to support their families, and the British government was anxious about the economic pressures and social problems caused by veterans. At the same time, the end of the Napoleonic Wars ended the alliance between Spain and Britain, and the two countries gradually returned to the path of confrontation.
For all these reasons, Mendes' job went smoothly - conscripts came in like a raging tide.

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

Despite the complexity of their motivations, the British Legion was recognized for its performance, charging into battle with customary bravery in faraway South America. After the Battle of Boyacá on August 7, 1819,Bolivar commented that "those soldier-liberators are the men who deserve these laurels"

Battle of Boyacá, by J.M. Darmet

After the Battle of Carabobo on 24,June,1821,Bolivar even called the soldiers of the British Legion:
"the saviours of my country".

Battle of Carabobo, by Martin Tovar y Tovar

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

Many figures from the British Legion have made a mark in the history of Colombia and other countries, such as the loyal General Daniel Florencio O'Leary and Colonel Belford Hinton Wilson, and the brave Irish Colonel James Rooke (best known for lost his left arm during the battle of Vargas Swam, and raised it with his right arm and shouted in Spanish: "Viva la Patria!"(Long live the homeland),then the surgeon asked him : "Which Country? Ireland or England?" Rooke replied: "The country which will bury me..."),General Gregor MacGregor, the con man and adventurer known for fictionalizing a country，etc.

 

[AllanR]

And further south there was O'Higgins Bernardo O'Higgins - Wikipedia

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

I have not yet set up the main character of the novel in detail, but I have conceived the time of his departure.
I placed the protagonist in a British unit that departed between 1817 and 1818, the First British Legion.

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

Next I will list the units included in the First British Legion and the uniforms they used throughout history ...

 

[paranoid marvin]

And further south there was O'Higgins Bernardo O'Higgins - Wikipedia

I was going to mention this also. The only reason I found out about it was Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's Devil. Perhaps not entirely historically accurate, but one of his more enjoyable reads.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Despite the complexity of their motivations, the British Legion was recognized for its performance, charging into battle with customary bravery in faraway South America. After the Battle of Boyacá on August 7, 1819,Bolivar commented that "those soldier-liberators are the men who deserve these laurels"
View attachment 105365
Battle of Boyacá, by J.M. Darmet

After the Battle of Carabobo on 24,June,1821,Bolivar even called the soldiers of the British Legion:
"the saviours of my country".
View attachment 105366
Battle of Carabobo, by Martin Tovar y Tovar

I'd certainly like to read this when it happens.

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

Units included in the First British Legion:
1 Venezuelan Rifle Regt. (Col. D. Campbell), 37 officers, 198 NCOs.

1st Venezuelan Hussars (Col. G. M. Hippisley),30 officers and 160 NCOs.

2nd Venezuelan Hussars (Col. H. Wilson), 20 officers,100 NCOs.

1st Venezuelan Lancers (Col. R. Skeene), 20 officers and 200 NCOs.

Artillery Brigade (Col. J. A. Gillmore)，10 officers and 80 NCOs. 5 6-pounders, 1 5½ howitzer.

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

Uniforms:
Artillery Brigade
Their uniform is dark blue jacket, collar, cuffs and piping in scarlet,and ribbed with gold lace.

Uniform of Colonel Gillmore ‘s Artillery Brigade,by José Peña

1st Venezuelan Hussars
This regiment was known as the "Green Hussars" because of their uniforms,their uniform is green jacket(maybe dolman), scarlet collar , cuffs and lapel, some gold cord around the collar and cuffs ,and Austrian style lace on the sleeve .They also have green pantaloons with gold stripes.
They use hussar boots (or called “Wellington boots”).

Uniform of 1st Venezuelan Hussars,by José Peña

2nd Venezuelan Hussars
Their uniforms was hussar style, included dolman.
The dolman is Scarlet with Light blue collar and cuffs, ornamented gold lace.Scarlet pantaloons.
According to Colonel Gustav Hippisley, commander of the 1st Venezuelan Hussar Regiment, in his memoirs,this regiment ‘s uniforms is most richly and expensively.

This illustration about 2nd Venezuelan Hussars was taken from Mr. Terry D. Hooker's book The armies of Bolivar and San Martin (published by Osprey ) ,was drawn by Ron Poulter.

Illustration of the 2nd Venezuelan Hussars by José Peña

1st Venezuelan Rifles Regt.
Their uniforms were very similar to those of the British riflemen, both "green jackets".

This illustration of the 1st Venezuelan Rifles also taken from The armies of Bolivar and San Martin ，was drawn by Ron Poulter.

Illustration of 1st Venezuelan rifles regt. by José Peña

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

I thought about placing the main character in the rifle regiment, but then it occurred to me that if I placed the main character in the first Venezuelan rifle regiment, the story would become a South American version of Sharpe ...

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

But it must be admitted that there could hardly have been a better choice than the 1st Venezuelan Rifles, they are the most legendary unit of the British Legion, who fought in almost all the important battles of the Venezuelan and Colombian wars of independence with great distinction and were incorporated into the guard of the liberators. They also took part in the Peruvian campaign.1 Venezuelan Rifle Regt. Wikipedia

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

A very helpful reference is the expedition journal of Dr. J.H. Robinson, surgeon of the British Legion, who participated in the expedition to South America in 1818 aboard Captain Dormer's Dowson with the First Venezuelan Rifles, detailing the glorious journey.

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

The journey was very difficult, the sea wind and waves (the ship carrying the 1st Venezuelan Lancers sank in the wind and waves and all the members died) and the tropical climate, disease afflicted the expeditionaries, and the unfortunate death of one of the sons of Colonel Campbell, the commander of the First Venezuelan Regiment of Rifles, who contracted yellow fever in San Martin, caused Colonel Campbell to resign from his post. After many difficulties, the First Venezuelan Rifles finally arrived in Angostura, Venezuela, in July 1818.
This maritime adventure may become an exciting part of the novel, as well as a classic element in many classical overseas adventure novels.

 

[Albert N. Wilmarth]

I'd certainly like to read this when it happens.

Thank you very much for your encouragement, but this thread is placed in the History section now, as the Historical Fiction section actually discusses works that have already been published.