The Presidial Soldiers

Versión en español

In several posts on this blog, we have already discussed the term “dragones de cuera,” which is often used to refer to presidial soldiers or cuera soldiers. Although they functioned as dragoons, they were never referred to as such in the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

This "microvideo" (3'34") explains who these soldiers were, why they were called cueras, what their weapons and equipment were, what missions they were entrusted with, the role they played in the north of the viceroyalty, and their qualities as frontier troops.

We made the video for the Héroes de Cavite Cultural Association.

For two and a half centuries, the presidial soldiers defended the northern border of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and were one of the pillars of the Spanish presence and exploration of those territories. They did not disappear definitively until Mexico's defeat in the war with the United States.

These soldiers were also known as cueras or cuera soldiers because of the vest made of several layers of tanned leather, the cuera, which they wore as protection against the arrows and bladed weapons.

In the 18th century, their standard weaponry included pistols, shotguns, broad swords, and spears and shields, which were very suitable for fighting in those remote lands. This heavy equipment made it necessary for each soldier to have several horses. Only then could they effectively carry out the many tasks entrusted to them: patrols, escorts, pursuit of hostile people, participation in campaigns, protection of missions, settlements, the presidio itself and its horses... And if they had time, they worked on their ranches because, in addition to being soldiers, they were often settlers.

The relative security offered by the presidios encouraged others to settle in the surrounding areas, resulting in the mixing of the settlers and the emergence of new towns, many of which still exist today and retain their Spanish names.

Of all the accounts of the presidiales, the most descriptive is probably the one written by General Vicente Filísola during the Texas War in 1836. It reads as follows:

This type of troop was the most useful that could be found to travel through those deserted countries because they know them like the back of their hand, and in addition to being as brave in battle as any other good troop, they have many other highly valuable qualities that they acquire from childhood and perfect with experience and the habit of constantly raiding to defend the borders and pursue the barbarians who harass them.

Thus, they know how to distinguish all kinds of tracks, how many days old they are, and the signs and smoke signals which, by their number, position, and distribution in high and low places, in squares, triangles, groups, etc., serve as means of intelligence for their enemies. They also know the signs of the weather, changes in temperature, and the hours of the night by the course of the stars.

They are excellent marksmen, horsemen, and swimmers, tireless in their efforts, extraordinarily sober, admirable caretakers of all kinds of animals, cautious against all the snares of the barbarians, good rowers, canoeists, extremely useful for handling carts and pack mules, for slaughtering cattle, and unmatched as guides and couriers in those deserts and trails that no one understands or knows as well as they do.

Source: History of the Texas War (1836). General Vicente Filísola

Related posts
Cuera Dragoons (Leather-Jacket Soldiers)
The Ballad of Cuera Dragoons (Leather-Jacket Soldiers)
The Ballad of Anza
Educational micro-videos