The Portuguese Army was completely re-organized and trained from 1808 by British Officers and NCO under the command of William Beresford. They soon became extremely reliable troops capapble of operating in mixed divisions with British units.

The Cacadores were the light troops equivalent of the British riflemen, French Chasseurs a pied, and German Jaeger. some were armed with the Baker rifle others with muskets.

The basic brown unifrom had different facings decorations according to the unit, and the exact cut seems to have varied as contemporary illustrations and surviving uniforms attest.