MASTER-GENERAL OF THE ORDNANCE IN IRELAND. 237 
a check to the enemy who had marched into Portugal with a view to 
besiege Olivenza, or oblige the Portuguese to give them battle. 
The reduced condition of the allied forces in Portugal, owing to the 
fact of the veteran troops being in Spain with Lord Galway, did not 
allow of any offensive operations on the part of our forces, but in 
March 1708, Galway returned to Lisbon and by his representations 
Queen Anne determined to increase the strength of the allied forces in 
Portugal. Six dragoon regiments were ordered to be raised and 
equipped in Portugal at Her Majesty’s expense who reserved the 
right of appointing the officers to the said regiments. It was decided 
to appoint Huguenot officers to these cavalry regiments, and the 
Marquis de Montandre was one of the first officers chosen for command 
ofa regiment. A MS. list of Montandre’s regiment, dated July 14th, 
1708, is still extant, but owing to many delays, partly caused by the 
King of Portugal objecting to have any of his regiments commanded 
by French Protestant officers, these new regiments were not embodied 
until the following summer, when we find this notice in a London 
chronicle :— 
Post-Boy, April 9th, 1709.—*The French officers and others who 
are to serve in the five (sic) Portuguese regiments in Her 
Majesty’s pay that are raising in Portugal, having received 
four months’ pay, began yesterday, according to their orders, 
to set out for Portsmouth in order to embark there. Four 
of the Colonels are to be Portuguese, the fifth the Marquis 
de Montandre.” 
In the spring of 1709, viz. on May 7th, was fought the battle of the 
Caya. For once in their lives the Portuguese were anxious to bring 
on a general action and try their strength with the Franco-Spanish 
force commanded by the Marquis de Bay. Lord Galway, knowing the 
instability of his Portuguese allies, was averse to their opening the 
ball and advised a defensive, rather than an offensive, course. But 
the Marquis de Fronteira, who commanded as Generalissimo, persisted 
in the contrary resolution. Accordingly the Portuguese cavalry and 
artillery, with a British infantry brigade, consisting of the 5th, 20th, 
39th and Lord Paston’s regiments, commanded by the Marquis de 
Montandre, crossed the river Caya, and gaining the opposite heights 
opened fire on the enemy. The Marquis de Bay, who commanded the 
Spanish army, being very advantageously posted, lost no time in leading 
a cavalry charge against Fronteira’s right wing composed of Portuguese 
horse. ‘These latter wheeled round and fled ventres & terre without 
waiting to be attacked, leaving their artillery to be captured. Mon- 
tandre’s brigade was then attacked, but this General made a most 
determined stand and repulsed three charges. Galway lost no time 
in coming to Montandre’s assistance with the remaining British 
infantry brigade, commanded by Major-General Sankey and supported 
by the Portuguese cavalry of Fronteira’s left wing. Sankey’s brigade 
(Barrymore’s, Stanwix’s and Galway’s regiments) retook the captured 
guns with a rush, but meanwhile the cavalry of the left wing had 
