EDITOR'S NOTE: I would like to thank David for the following article. Given the difficulty of finding accurate information on the Mexican Army of this period what follows is of great value. Where possible, if I was able to augment the information given in the article I have made the appropriate notes which is hoped will further assist the reader. - BOB MARSHALL Fig. 1 is from Los Simbolos (see references), and is the standard of the Batallon Activo de San Blas, which is said to have been at the defense of Chapultepec. The standard has the inverse of the usual Mexican color order, three vertical stripes, red next to the pole, then white, then green. In the center is a black-and-white outline of an eagle grasping a serpent (a variant of the national symbol) and the three-line motto, "BATTALON/ ACTIVO. DE/SAN BLAS". The illustration also shows a ribbon arrangement for which I appear to have failed to record the colors, but which is probably a green, white, and red combination. Fig. 2 is also from Los Simbolos, and is the standard of the Batallon Guardia Nacional de Artilleria de Mina, which is said to have fought at Molino del Rey. Caution, the illustration appears to be the reverse side, so that of the three vertical stripes, red, white, and green, it would be the green stripe nearthe pole. The center stripe has another black-and-white eagle and serpent variant, with a black inscription of one line above the eagle "GUARDIA NACIONAL" and another black line below the eagle "ARTILLERIA DE MINA". There is another ribbon arrangement at the pole, possibly one solid color. EDITOR'S NOTE: This ribbon arrangement is a solid red color with a gold fringe along the bottom of the ribbon. Also, in order not to mislead the reader, it appears as if the Los Simbolos text that David refers to, both here and above, is a black and white presentation. both of the Mexican national symbols described for the San Bias standard and for the Artilleria de Mina standard would be in natural colors of a brown eagle with a light green serpent in its beak. Fig. 3 is from Washburn, and is a swallowtail cavalry guidon of the Escuadron Activo de Vera Cruz, a guidon which is said to have been captured by the US naval force duringthe investment of, orthe 1847 surrender of Vera Cruz. It appears to have the three vertical stripesof green next to the pole, white, and red (the red cut by the swallowtail), with a gold fringe. Moreover, there appears to be a brown eagle grasping a green serpent and standing on a green cactus, with a gold motto extending through all three stripes in an arch above the eagle, "ESCUADRON ACTIVO DE VERA CRUZ". (NOTE: The Washburn illustration I have is black and white, so these are probably colors for Fig. 3 and 4). Fig. 4 is from Washburn, and is a rectangular cavalry guidon of the Escuadron Activo de Jalapa, a guidon again probably captured at Vera Cruz. It appears to have a dark background (red or green?) with a fringe, probably gold, and two inscriptions, probably white or gold. The top is in an arch and is an abbreviated name, in script "En AO de Japala". The bottom straight line is difficult to read, and is some other abbreviation, possibly "La b Loo", again in script (I read the first letters as L's;'it is possible they are ornate G's). EDITOR'S NOTE: Based on a similar standard carried bya Mexican infantry battalion captured at Churubusco the standard color described by David would be red with gold lettering and a gold fringe around the circumference. Additionally, David has correctly identified the letters in question as Ls. Finally, there is a standard, not illustrated, for the San Patricio Company. This unit underwent some reorganization, but Finke believes the standard was carried from Buena Vista through Churubusco, and describes the standard as green, with painted or embroidered on a figure of Saint Patrick, the Harp of Erin, and a Shamrock. REFERENCES Finke, Detmar H. "The Organization and Uniforms of the San Patricio Unites of the Mexican Army, 1846-1848," Military Collector and Historian, IC, No. 2 (Summery 1957), 36-38. Los Simbolos de la Patria. Monterrey (Mexico), 1969. Washburn, Harold C. Illustrated Case Inscriptions from the Official Catalogue of the Trophy Flags of the United States Navy. Baltimore, 1913. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. IX No. 3 Back to Courier List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1989 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com