The (English, "leather-jacket soldier") served in the frontier garrisons of northern

New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( es, Virreinato de Nueva España, ), or Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain during the Spanish colonization of the A ...

, the ''

Presidios A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th and 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Spanish Philippines in particular, were cen ...

'', from the late 16th to the early 19th century. They were mounted and were an exclusive corps in the

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...

. They took their name from the multi-layered deer-skin cloak they wore as protection against Indian arrows. When New Spain's visitador (inspector general) José de Gálvez organized the

Portola Expedition Portola may refer to: * ''Portola'' (album), a 1998 album by Rose Melberg * Portola, California * Portola, San Francisco, California People with the surname * Gaspar de Portolá Gaspar de Portolá y Rovira (January 1, 1716 – October 10, 1 ...

, he was accompanied by a party of 25 soldiers, the "finest horsemen in the world, and among these soldiers who best earn their bread from the august monarch whom they serve".

Equipment

They were armed with a

carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and lighte ...

(), pair of

pistol A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, a ...

s (), bow (),

dagger A dagger is a fighting knife with a very sharp point and usually two sharp edges, typically designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon.State v. Martin, 633 S.W.2d 80 (Mo. 1982): This is the dictionary or popular-use def ...

(),

sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...

(), and

lance A lance is a spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior or cavalry soldier (lancer). In ancient and medieval warfare, it evolved into the leading weapon in cavalry charges, and was unsuited for throwing or for repeated thrusting, unlike s ...

(). They also carried a bull-hide shield () or a small round metal shield () for defense against weapons such as swords, spears, javelins, and arrows. Each soldier had six horses, a foal, and a mule (until 1720 they had 10 horses). Equipment and animals belonged to the soldier personally and they had to pay for them out of their own purse.Bueno, José María, ''op. cit.'', p. 20.

Recruitment

These frontier soldiers were recruited from among the

Mestizo (; ; fem. ) is a term used for racial classification to refer to a person of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry. In certain regions such as Latin America, it may also refer to people who are culturally European even though thei ...

population, Hispanicized Native Americans, and freed slaves. Most of the officers were

Criollos In Hispanic America, criollo () is a term used originally to describe people of Spanish descent born in the colonies. In different Latin American countries the word has come to have different meanings, sometimes referring to the local-born majo ...

, whereas very few of the enlisted men had this distinction. The manned the

presidio A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th and 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Spanish Philippines in particular, were cen ...

s that stretched from Los Adaes, Louisiana, in the East, across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, to the Pacific Coast of

Alta California Alta California ('Upper California'), also known as ('New California') among other names, was a province of New Spain, formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but ...

in the West. There was no lack of volunteers for the service. Recruitment took place mainly among the local population, accustomed to the local climate, who were expert horsemen, and expert trackers who knew the country. For the poor general population the service as a was attractive, with many perks; besides a regular pay, also medical care, the possibility land grants and promotions.

Assignments

Possible Navajo charcol cave draving of soldado de cuera cira unknown

When not on campaign against hostile Indians, the escorted convoys of travelers or merchandise. They also had to take care of watching the enormous

remuda A remuda is a herd of horses that ranch hands select their mounts from. The word is of Spanish derivation, for 'remount' i.e. "change of horses" and is commonly used in the American West. The person in charge of the remuda is generally known as a ...

s of the presidios from native horse thieves; a fifty man garrison had over 500 horses and mules. This constant vigilance reduced the number of men available for other missions.

Villasur expedition The Villasur expedition of 1720 was a Spanish military expedition intended to check New France's growing influence on the North American Great Plains, led by Lieutenant-General Pedro de Villasur. Pawnee and Otoe Indians attacked the expedition ...

In August 1720 a detachment of about 40 ''soldados de cuera'', accompanied by indigenous allies, undertook an exploratory incursion into what is now Nebraska. Ambushed by

Pawnee Pawnee initially refers to a Native American people and its language: * Pawnee people * Pawnee language Pawnee is also the name of several places in the United States: * Pawnee, Illinois * Pawnee, Kansas * Pawnee, Missouri * Pawnee City, Nebraska ...

and Otoe tribal groups the column was destroyed with only a few horseholders amongst the ''cuera'' soldiers escaping. This defeat marked the end of Spanish expansion eastwards into the Great Plains.

Organization

In Santa Fe, the governor of

Santa Fe de Nuevo México Santa Fe de Nuevo México ( en, Holy Faith of New Mexico; shortened as Nuevo México or Nuevo Méjico, and translated as New Mexico in English) was a Kingdom of the Spanish Empire and New Spain, and later a territory (geographic region), territ ...

was the captain and commander of the company of He normally held the rank of , that is Lieutenant Colonel by brevet. In addition there were two lieutenants (the first lieutenant normally captain by brevet) with a pay of 700 pesos annually. There were also two sergeants with 350 pesos each; six corporals with 300 pesos each; and 69 privates with 290 pesos each. Among the privates were also an armorer, a drummer, and six carabineers. The (flying companies) raised in 1767 were used as a mobile reserve, but had the same equipment as the normal companies. The (light troops) raised in 1778, did not use the leather armor, the shield or the lance, but were otherwise equipped like normal except their hats were white. The normal strength of the light troops were 19 per company. In Santa Fe they were commanded by a second ensign with 450 pesos annually in pay, and a second sergeant with 320 pesos; light dragoon privates received 216 pesos annually.

Strength

1701

1717

1764

Presidios and their strength in the several provinces: ;Texas *Bahía del Espíritu Santo, 51 *Adaes, 61 *San Sabá, 101 *Trinidad, 31 * Bejar, 23 *Nuevo México *Santa Fe, 81 *El Paso, 50 ;Nayarit *Nayarit, 43 ;Nueva Vizcaya Junta de los Ríos, 50 Janos, 51 Guajoquilla, 51 ;Coahuila Rio Grande. 33 San Francisco de Coahuila. 36 Santa Rosa del Sacramento. 52 ;Nuevo León San Agustín Ahumada, 27 ;Sonora Corodeguachi, 51 Guebavi, 51 Horcasitas, 51 Tubac, 51 Caborca (Altar), 51 Buenavista, 51 ;California Loreto, 30 San José del Cabo, 30 ;Nuevo Santander *Santa Ana Calnargo, 13 *Villa de San Fernando, 10 *Villa de San Antonio Padilla, 5 *Nuestra Señora De Loreto de Burgos, 12 *Santa Maria de Llera, 12 *San Francisco de Güemes, 8 *San Juan Bautista Horcasitas, 11 *Dulce Nombre de Jesús Escandan, 9 *Soto la Marina, 11 *Cinco Señores de Santander, 22 *Reinosa, 11 *Santa Maria de Aguayo, 1 *San Antonio Padilla, 12 Source: Bueno, José María, ''op. cit.'', pp. 11-12.

References

Notes

{{Reflist Military history of Mexico History of Mexico New Spain Military history of Spain