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Post by chrism on Nov 28, 2010 10:44:49 GMT -5
Hi
I'm a bit confused over just who and where were the Mexican light infantry and cavalry. Hefter states that in 1835 some regular and reserve units were converted to light infantry units, but doesn't say which ones. "the United States and Mexico at War" shows the 1-3rd Light Infantry being raised in the reorganization of 1839, but Hefter doesn't mention them specifically until the 1840 uniforms are introduced. Even more confusing is a Gary Zaboly plate showing "Cazadores at the Alamo" which refers to a Battalion of Cazadores, but there is no Battalion of Cazadores in the Mexican order of battle for the Texas revolution. So were one or more units converted to light infantry and if so were they at the Alamo?
Likewise, Hefter says that The Light Mounted Regiment of Mexico was originally raised in 1835. He also states that regular cavalry was transformed into light cavalry in that same year. He also seems to give different uniforms to the Light Mounted and the light cavalry. He also shows A "Mexican Light Cavalry Trooper. Ready for Santa Anna's Texas Campaign of 1836". Once again the Light Mounted Regiment is not on the Order of Battle for Texas so just which, or what, light cavalry was there?
While we are at it, another Hefter plate illustrates the uniform of the Texas Dragoons. Oddly enough, the Texas dragoons are wearing the prescribed light cavalry uniform. However they don't show up in the order of battle for Texas either. So just who, or what, or where, were the Texas Dragoons.
Chris
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Post by Herb on Nov 28, 2010 10:51:50 GMT -5
The Cazadore Battalion at the Alamo, was a provisional battalion organized by consolidating the cazadore companys of the San Luis Potosi, the Matamoros, and the Jimenez Infantry Battalions. This provisonal Battalion was commanded by LTC Minion, during most of the siege, and by LTC Morale, with Minion 2IC on March 6th.
Creating such provisional battalions, by consolidating the elite companies of the line battalions was a common practice. For example Almonte commnaded a provisonal battalion of cazadores at San Jacinto.
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Post by chrism on Nov 28, 2010 11:14:17 GMT -5
Thanks Wolfpack
I see the two converged units on the OB, but I had assumed that the converged preference companies would continue to wear their regimental uniforms. Gary seems to show the battalion wearing the uniform described by Hefter for the light infantry. Hefter also seems to be describing a permanent 8 company unit, or units. Both points would seem to rule out the converged lights as the Battalion of Cazadores, unless its a reorganization that got caught up in operational necessities.
Chris
Chris
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Post by stuart on Nov 28, 2010 12:02:04 GMT -5
I obviously can't speak for Gary, but traditionally the cazadore or light companies within line regiments wore light infantry style distinctions - traditionally a bugle horn badge of some description in place of whatever kind of shako plate the other companies were wearing. They might also have green-fringed epaulettes, while line companies had none and so on. The actual distinctions varied from army to army but generally speaking light/cazadore companies of line regiments were dressed very similarly to men of light infantry regiments - or rather it was the other way round since the light companies came first.
As to the light cavalry I need to check my sources but I have a lurking feeling Hefter got it wrong on this one and that the regiment was never actually raised - and nor were the light infantry regiments before the 1838 re-organisations
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Post by Kevin Young on Nov 28, 2010 12:53:39 GMT -5
Chris, If the Hefter plate showing the Texas Dragoos is the one I am thinking of, it is showing the 1839 Republic of Texas Dragoon Regiment based on the dress regulations.
When the Mexican Army was reorganized in the 1838 period, specific Light Regiments were created.
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Post by chrism on Nov 28, 2010 18:22:43 GMT -5
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Post by Kevin Young on Nov 28, 2010 19:10:24 GMT -5
Right-different plate byHefter. Alan H. has been working on that one, although the other mounted is dressed in what appears in the Coahuila Militia dress regulations...I will let Gary comment on his plate. |
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Post by alanhufffines on Dec 1, 2010 14:01:42 GMT -5
Right-different plate byHefter. Alan H. has been working on that one, although the other mounted is dressed in what appears in the Coahuila Militia dress regulations...I will let Gary comment on his plate. I am at the end of the road on it for now. Maybe in the Spring... |
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Post by garyzaboly on Dec 1, 2010 16:09:34 GMT -5
Hi I'm a bit confused over just who and where were the Mexican light infantry and cavalry. Hefter states that in 1835 some regular and reserve units were converted to light infantry units, but doesn't say which ones. "the United States and Mexico at War" shows the 1-3rd Light Infantry being raised in the reorganization of 1839, but Hefter doesn't mention them specifically until the 1840 uniforms are introduced. Even more confusing is a Gary Zaboly plate showing "Cazadores at the Alamo" which refers to a Battalion of Cazadores, but there is no Battalion of Cazadores in the Mexican order of battle for the Texas revolution. So were one or more units converted to light infantry and if so were they at the Alamo? Likewise, Hefter says that The Light Mounted Regiment of Mexico was originally raised in 1835. He also states that regular cavalry was transformed into light cavalry in that same year. He also seems to give different uniforms to the Light Mounted and the light cavalry. He also shows A "Mexican Light Cavalry Trooper. Ready for Santa Anna's Texas Campaign of 1836". Once again the Light Mounted Regiment is not on the Order of Battle for Texas so just which, or what, light cavalry was there? While we are at it, another Hefter plate illustrates the uniform of the Texas Dragoons. Oddly enough, the Texas dragoons are wearing the prescribed light cavalry uniform. However they don't show up in the order of battle for Texas either. So just who, or what, or where, were the Texas Dragoons. Chris That uniform plate of mine (published by the Company of Military Historians), MEXICAN ARMY RIFLEMEN, TEXAS CAMPAIGNS, 1835-1836, did not refer to---in its accompanying text--- a "battalion" of cazadores. It did mention that the cazadore (light) companies were often detached from other battalions to serve together on special occasions, as at the Alamo on March 6th. In the fifteen years since I wrote that, I've modified my opinion about the ubiquity of the rifle among the cazadores, although more archaeological evidence has since come to light of the Baker Rifle's usage at both San Antonio and Goliad. |
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Post by garyzaboly on Dec 1, 2010 16:26:06 GMT -5
Thanks Wolfpack I see the two converged units on the OB, but I had assumed that the converged preference companies would continue to wear their regimental uniforms. Gary seems to show the battalion wearing the uniform described by Hefter for the light infantry. Hefter also seems to be describing a permanent 8 company unit, or units. Both points would seem to rule out the converged lights as the Battalion of Cazadores, unless its a reorganization that got caught up in operational necessities. Chris Chris This is one of those subjects that scream out for more documentation. A lot of what I showed in that plate represented everything known on the subject at the time, to the best of both my knowledge and that of my friends in the field. However, much else was speculation based on thin or even nonexistent source material. The Aldama Cazadore, for instance, was lifted in part from Hefter. The Activo Cazadore is definitely wearing his usual "regimental" uniform. The officer is wearing the special light troop uniform described by Hefter for 1835 (and among those light troops was a "sharpshooter" company). The man in white is not in a uniform per se but rather in marching kit, with duck round jacket and trousers etc. Green marked light infantry, according to Hefter, and it's confirmed by Colonel Delgado in his San Jacinto memoir. Green was even worn by cazadores back in 1821. Like the grenadiers, the Mexican light infantry (or "chasseurs" or "Cazadores" etc.) were preference companies---elite fellows, and generally good marksmen, hence the infrequent Baker rifle, or other light arm. |
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