The Army of the Three Guarantees under the Liberator of Mexico Don Agustin Iturbide marched into Mexico City on the 27th September 1821. 22 years later one Domingo Revilla wrote an article in the journal "El Museo Mexicano" recalling that day and giving details of the units which marched into the city and some idea of the order of the march. He states that he drew on an unpublished document in the care of Colonel Don José María Aréchaga, former adjutant to Iturbide, for the details of the units and numbers taking part.

The units are given as follows;

INFANTERIA

1st Detail;

Regimiento de la Corona 353
Regimiento de la Celaya 490
Grenaderos Imperiales, (columna) 258
Total: 1101

2nd Detail;

Tres Villas 368
Guadalajara 134
Santo Domingo 162
Total: 664

3rd Detail;

Cazadores de San Luis 47
Regimiento de Fernando VII 382
Ligero del Imperio 153
Total: 582

4th Detail;

Ligero de Querétaro 318
Segundo de la Libertad 195
Total: 513

5th Detail;

Batallon de San Fernando 239
Ligero de Morelos 129
Segundo de la Union 176
Primero de la Libertad 485
Total: 1029

Fijo de Puebla 265
Cazadores de la Patria 62
Comercio de Puebla 157
Tlaxcala 54
Total: 538

Batallon de la Lealtad, Tulancingo y Huachinango 205
Guanajuato 91
Zacualtipam 94
Total: 390

Comercio de México 339
Batallon Primero Americana 359
Total: 698

Regimiento fijo de México 516
Total: 516

Constancia 100
Valladolid 95
Batallon Mixto 200
Total: 395

Primero de la Union 220
Segundo de México 270
Total: 490

Infanteria del Padre Izquierdo 500
Total: 500

ARTILLERIA 68 piezas de todos calibres 763
Total: 763

CABALLERIA

1st Seccion;

Escolta del Sr. Iturbide, al mando del señor Coronel Don Epitacio Sanchez 300
Total: 300

Dragones de México 305
Caballeria del Sr. Chávarri 186
Dragones de Santander 190
Total: 681

Fieles del Potosi 300
Dragones del Rey 159
Sierra-Gorda 155
Total: 614

San Carlos 310
Provinciales de México 80
Total: 390

Dragones de Valladolid 448
Moncada 240
Total: 648

Regimiento de Toluca 250
Caballeria del Padre Izquierdo 300
Total: 530

Regimiento de Querétaro 283
Regimiento del Principe 241
Total: 524

Dragones de Puebla 119
Dragones de Tulancingo 324
Apam 132
Total: 575

Dragones de la Libertad 400
Total: 400

Dragones de Atlixco 83
Dragones de la Union 389
Voluntarios del Valle 130
Voluntarios Nacionales 247
Total: 849

Dragones de América 150
Dragones de Guanajuato 263
Dragones de Sierra de Guanajuato 37
Total: 450

Dragones de San Miguel 126
Chilpancingo 124
Del Sur 92
Total: 342

Dragones de los Campeones 166
Santa Rita 130
Compañias del Sur 60
Escolta del General Guerrero 146
Total: 502

Flanqueadores 87
Compañias del Montalto, Tehuacan y Temascaltepec 189
Total: 276

Dragones de Atzcapotzalo 200
Dragones de Xilotepec 114v Total: 314

Dragones de San Luis 500
Total: 500

Grand Total: 16,134

Below this order of units taking part in the procession are further details:

"Five "batidores" (drummers) opened the procession, followed by a group of superior officers. Then came Iturbide, "el primer gefe", on a dark, fiery steed adorned with magnificent trappings. Iturbide wore a bicorne with three plumes and cockade in the three colours of the flags of the Army of the Three Guarantees, red-white-green, and a sash of the same colours around his waist, from which hung a lavishly jewelled sword. Adjutants of the staff followed under Brigadier Don Melchior Alvarez, then the Escort of the "primer gefe" under Don Epitacio Sanchez.

Having the honour of marching at the head of the army was the column of grenadiers, at their head was Colonel Don Jose Joaquin de Herrera. The next division was headed by Don Anastasio Bustamente, followed by the division of General Guerrero. Succeeding divisions were under Colonels Don Luis Cortazar, Don Miguel Barragan, Don Nicolás Bravo, Don Rafael Ramios, Don Joaquin Parres and Don Pedro Zarzoza with the regiments "Fieles de Potosi" and the "Dragoons of San Luis", (the finest of the Mexican cavalry), Colonel Filisola and last Colonel Chávarri." [ It may be noted that the order of units do not necessarily agree with these further details. ]

The orders given by Iturbide for the march are also given; senior officers of infantry were to march on foot with their men; only senior commanders and adjutants of infantry were to ride. Adjutants of the staff attached to each division were to ride at the side of the senior commanders as were their orderly officers. The general staff were to ride with the "el señor primer gefe". Officers were particularly enjoined to ensure that the army present the best appearance possible bearing in mind the lack of uniforms, and that arms and equipment were to be clean; the army was to observe the strictest silence and good behaviour on the march and to maintain good relations with the people of the city and give proof of their discipline and bearing.

Source: "El Museo Méxicano" 1843, pp.231-236, & "Estudios Historicos, 27 Septiembre de 1821", by Domingo Revilla, México 1843.