ABSTRACT
Standing orders were those orders that would “stand” for long periods, to be followed along with those that came each day. They thus tended to contrast with the latter in relating to issues of particular concern to the officers in command. Those below likely emerged as a response to difficulties with army families that irked the central command during a key stage in the Peninsular War. October 1808 saw the French evacuate Portugal in order to regroup in Spain. The French rallied and pushed Sir John Moore’s forces through the mountains of Galicia, resulting in horrific stories of the death of many soldiers and camp-followers. Although Moore’s retreat did not begin until Christmas, these orders suggest that officers anticipated France’s growing strength in Spain and already feared the consequences of a powerful counterattack, particularly on women and children. A “Brigade” was the body of soldiers serving under a brigadier general and usually consisted of three regiments, so Brigade Standing Orders were issued from the general in command and were passed to the men through each regiment’s adjutant or major. They were then read to colonels and lieutenant colonels and dictated to the sergeants of each company who would record them in their order books and relay them to the men.
