Unit Information & Photographs - Mexican War Era

The First does other time periods as well.  Here's an article about the Presidio Troops from our own Dave Poulin:  

PRESIDIO DE SANTA FE
By David Poulin


Our unit portrays an infantry company of the Presidio of Santa Fe during the Mexican Period during the 1830's through 1846. The unit was also known as Lanceros de Armijo who was Governor of New Mexico at the time. Mexico had Presidios in San Antonio, Texas; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Durango; Tuscon; and several units in California. These Presidos fell under the jurisdiction of the Mexican Army but due to their remoteness, there were slight differences in organization and uniform. They were organized as legions: small units of all branches: infantry, cavalry, and artillery with staff personnel as appropriate to those branches.

In the military regulations, New Mexico was to have three companies of ninety men each, with a commandante-general in charge. In reality, the Presidio de Santa Fe usually only had about 100-120 men; 200 after Armijo's reorganization, and for a while, Taos had an additional garrison of 27 men. Although the Mexican Government issued several Regulations, the Spanish Regulations of 1772 were re-issued to the presidios because of their proven effectiveness in maintaining order on the northern frontier. In our impression, we use the Spanish fife and drum calls published in 1759 as we feel they had been used in those regulations. The bugle calls we use come from an 1826 publication in Mexico city which was documented to also have been used in the California Presidios.

Taken from a text in a brochure by the Hispanic American Military History Foundation (which was, in turn, copied from the Osprey book on the Mexican War):

"In the north, defence was made by the Presidial companies of which there were eight in Texas, three in New Mexico, and six in California. The Texas and New Mexico companies wore medium blue wool coats with deep red low collars and narrow cuffs. Their trousers were blue and they received blue wool capes for bad weather. Hats were black, broadbrimmed. Cartridge boxes were plain brown, and their bandolier had the presidio name embroidered on them."

"Accouterments consisted of a canvas or leather knapsack and a plain wood water-bottle, made like a small keg and holding about a quart. Bayonets were carried in black leather scabbards held in white crossbelts which made one part of a white 'X' across their chests."

"Each company consisted of a captain, a lieutenant, two sub-lieutenants, a first and four second sergeants, nine corporals, and eighty privates. The fusilier and grenadier companies had a drummer, a bugler, and a fifer, while the riflemen had four buglers."

Normally, each company would be led by a captain with an assistant (the lieutenant), and a first sergeant (who probably acted as an adjutant), a corporal who was possibly the company clerk. Then the company was divided into two platoons with a sub-lieutenant (ensign) in charge of each. Each platoon would have had two sergeants, each in charge of a section of the platoon, and four corporals, each with a squad of ten privates. As in the case of a regimental bugle-corporal, the small battalions of the presidios would have had a corporal as chief musician rather than a full drum major. On the regimental level in the regular service, other skilled technicians were included as pioneers (one per company), an armorer (one per battalion), a tailor, a blacksmith, and a baker (one each per regiment) - and probably were all delegated, at least one each per presidio, because of their isolation and necessity of independence.

The troops of the Presidio de Santa Fe wore flat-top, wide brimmed, black felt hats with a red band and a red cord such as used by the American Civil War Artillery units. For a campaign look, the top of the hat can be rounded and brown or leather hats may also be worn, but the brim should be flat or unshaped. Red, black, or white cotton or silk kerchiefs may be worn under the hats if desired.
Coats were medium blue wool with deep red collars, cuffs, and piping, and plain brass 3/4" buttons. Coats have low red collars, blue shoulder straps with red piping and one button each, red fake cuffs with three buttons each, red turnbacks
with one button at the tie, and red piping throughout. The coat is cut at the waist per the same pattern as American Civil War shell jackets, with a seven button front, and the tails should reach the back of the knees. The coat takes 17 buttons in all.

NCO's had red front double button plates added to their coats. Corporals had no epaulettes but had a red linen strip sewn from the inner seam near the cuff to the outer seam near the elbow. Second Sergeants had one red epaulette on the right shoulder and First Sergeants and Music Majors had two epaulettes. Musicians also had red sword knots. Pantalones were usually white cotton drop fly. Pants made of the same medium blue as the coats are good for a winter uniform, but less desirable in the summer. Many units simply wore the white, cotton undercoat, trimmed in the facings of their units, or entirely untrimmed in the summer (much preferable to wool in the heat of our summers). Zapatas were boots similar to Jefferson brogans or an ankle length style of leather moccasin. These moccasins were probably favored by mounted troops - not by people who padded around on their own pins. It seems that New Mexicans did not wear the Roman-style sandals as were commonly used by Mexican troops. If gaiters are desired, they should be of white canvas and are worn under the pant legs, not over. Leather botas should also be worn for a campaign look. Long plain boots may be worn by NCO and officers. These items are great in the thorny grasslands.

Camisas were white linen pull-overs of the period. Socks were plain color wool or cotton socks. Canteens were the wooden barrel type. Haversacks were the plain white cotton style, such as worn by U.S. troops of the period. Personal jewelry - none. Mexican regulations forbid use of jewelry by soldiers (we're not sure how much that applied to presido companies). Ammo box belts were white and had the words "Presidio de Santa Fe" stitched onto the front of them. Many soldier’s wives and sweethearts sewed crosses on the breasts of the men's jackets. The soldier's were supposed to have blue capes for bad weather, but probably all but officers and NCO's resorted to Mexican blanket ponchos.
 

2005

Las Golondrinas Spring Festival

 

Here's a photo of us at Ft. Union National Monument during their Santa Fe Trails event.  We're in Conquistador, Mexican, and Civil War Uniforms.