In military tactics, a camisado, or camisade, is a surprise attack occurring at night, or at daybreak, when the enemy are supposed to be asleep.^[1]

The word is said to have come about from an attack of this kind, in which, as a means to recognize one another, the attackers wore shirts, chemise or camise, over their armor.^[1] The term was very common in the 16th and 17th centuries.^[2]

The term come from Spanish camisa (shirt): when the Tercio had actions, (skirmishes) of around 50 men attacking at night with minimum equipment, only sword and dagger (although some soldiers could carry arquebus or musket), and they were dressed only with a white shirt, (thus the Spanish word es:encamisada), in order to kill in silence as many enemies when they were sleeping. This has been perfectly reflected in the film Alatriste, based on the main character of a series of novels written by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, The Adventures of Captain Alatriste (Las aventuras del Capitán Alatriste).

Camisado has been erroneously applied to the shirt worn over armor during a night attack.^[2]

[edit] Notable camisados

• On 9 October 1544, French forces under the Dauphin assault Boulogne by night, but are ultimately unsuccessful.
• On 14 October 1758, General Daun surprise Frederick the Great in the Battle of Hochkirch.
• On 26 December 1776, General George Washington and his Continental Army swiftly defeat the Hessians in the Battle of Trenton.

[edit] Quotations

For I this day will lead the forlorn hope,
The camisado shall be given by me.

——The Four Apprentices of London by Thomas Heywood

• (Spanish) Chapter of "la encamisada" in "El sol de Breda"

[edit] In music

• Alternative rock band Panic at the Disco have a song named Camisado about guitarist Ryan Ross's father's struggle with alcoholism on their album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out.
• Alternative - Screamo Baltimore-based band Camisado's song Rogue Summers Must Die quotes "We are Camisado, sleep well tonight." This is found on their EP, We're Waiting

[edit] References