In 1784, there were three "Regular units" stationed in Louisiana and West Florida; the Louisiana Infantry Regiment, the Louisiana Dragoon Company, and a detachment of Artillery.

The Louisiana Infantry Regiment

It was organised in 1765-70, there were three Battalions by 1786, The uniform of this regiment was a "white coat with blue collar, cuffs and linings, with white buttons, a blue vest and blue breeches, a black cocked hat with a white braid border and a red cockade with a white loop and button". In the Americas, vests, linings and breeches were made of white cotton with only the collar and cuffs of regimental blue cloth, detachable when the white uniform was laundered. The heart-shaped white patches on the turnback points are not specified in the regulations, but are consistently shown in reputable reference works. The hat was a black tricorne with white lace and a red cockade fastened by a yellow metallic loop. The stock and shirt were of white cotton, white canvas leggings were held up by black leather straps, while the shoes were of black cordovan. Hair was cut on the upper part of the head, turned up into a single curl at each side, powdered and gathered into a black-tied pigtail.

Organised in 1786, the 3rd Battalion was at first clothed in captured British red coats, until white ones could be sent from Spain.

The Louisiana Dragoon Company

This was organised in 1780, the men of this unit were drafted from the two Regular Dragoon Regiments stationed in Mexico, the company was posted at New Orleans. The Dragoons ".patrolled the coasts and highways to watch for and apprehend the runaway slaves called "cimarrones". In 1784, the Dragoon uniform consisted of a "blue coat with red cuffs and lapels, and yellow buttons, a red vest with blue breeches and cloak.

The Louisiana Artillery

This unit was organised in 1769, the men of this unit wore the uniform of the "Royal Corps of Artillery" which was; a "blue coat with red collar and cuffs, trimmed with broad gold lace, narrow gold lace on the collar and yellow buttons, red waistcoat trimmed with broad gold lace, blue breeches".

In 1784 the Louisiana militia uniform generally worn was a blue coat with red collar, cuffs and lapels, with yellow buttons, red waistcoat and blue breeches.

The "New Orleans Militia Battalion" was organised in June 1775, the uniform for this Battalion was of a "blue coat with red collar, cuffs and lapels, white lining, yellow buttons, a yellow lace loop on the collar, white waistcoat and breeches.

The uniform of the elite volunteer Militia Cavalry Company of Carabineers in 1784, consisted of a puce coloured coat with a white collar, cuffs and lapels, gold lace loops with gilt buttons, a white waistcoat and breeches, this unit was raised among the "gentry of New Orleans".

In 1770, Governor Alejandre O'Reilly organised an unspecified number of militia companies on the "German Coast", its uniform consisted of blue coats with red collars and lapels, yellow buttons, with yellow lace on the collar, white waistcoat and breeches.

In 1779, Captain Fernando de Leyba organised a militia cavalry company at St. Louis, the uniform worn was a red coat with blue collar, cuffs and lapels, with yellow buttons, a blue waistcoat with red breeches.

The firearm of these troops was the regulation flintlock fusil of 15 ball to the pound calibre, introduced in 1752, with a French designed lock manufactured in Spain, this model was in use until 1791. An original that is still in existence has an overall length of 60 inches, it has the name "F. Larroja" on the lock plate, it has a brass ornamental stock plate, trigger guard, flash pan and the top and bottom barrel rings are also of brass, all other metal parts are white, while the rifle sling was made of buckskin.

A straight, broad-based bayonet was suspended at the soldier's left side, while non-coms and grenadiers carried in addition a short, curved sabre with a yellow metal guard and a black leather scabbard. In 1779, buckskin cross-belting with a plain black cartridge box at the right hip came into use again.

Source

Military Uniforms in Spanish Louisiana 1766-1804, by J. D. Holmes, pub. Military Collector & Historian, Vol. XVII, No.4, pp.115-7, n.5.
The Spanish Louisiana Regiment in the Floridas 1779-1781, by F. F. Llull & J. Hefter, pub. Military Collector & Historian, Vol. XVI, No.3, p.80.

( Typing this up I realised just how little was published and easily accessible to the general reader trying to research this topic, the books I have which relate to this period do not have it, obviously N. Orwin Rush's "Battle of Pensacola" pub. Florida State Press, 1966, has good data but it only covers this event and not the earlier ones. I do have two Spanish books which could be of help, I would presume that the first title "Tropas Virreynales (1) Nueva Espana, Yucatan y Louisiana, by Jose Maria Bueno, is on the bookshelf of most people interested in this period. The other one might be a bit harder to come across, so the data which fall into this period have typed up too, hope its of help. T.D.H. )

The Battalion Fijo de la Louisiana was first garrisoned at New Orleans in November 1769. It was organised into 8 fusilier and 1 grenadier companies, each company having; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, 1x drummer, 64 corporals and soldiers. In 1777 it was decided to make it into a Regiment and in 1780 a 2nd Battalion was organised on the same lines as the first. It was the 2nd Battalion which helped capture Mobile and Pensacola and left men to garrison these positions, the 1st Battalion had detachments that fought at; La Baliza, San Bernardo, Fuerte del Estero de San Juan, Valenzuela, Galvestown, Fuerte Butle de Manchac, Baton Rouge, Punta Cortada, Atacapas, Nueva Iberia, Nachitoches, Natchez, Arkansa, Santa Genoveva, San Luis de Ilinois.

The Artillery of New Orleans was organised in 1769, in 1785 it was composed of 2x captains, 1x sublieutenant, 1x sergeant, 12 gunners.

The Dragoons of New Orleans was created as a company in 1780 using men from the cavalry regiments "Dragones de España" and the "Dragones de México", it was composed of; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 2x sergeants, 1x drummer ("Tambor", would this have been a trumpeter rather than a drummer, I personally would go with a trumpeter.), 25 corporals and troopers.

The Militia Battalion of New Orleans, started out as 5 separate companies in 1770, each company having 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 1x drummer, 60 soldiers (this would, I think, include n.c.o's.), in 1775 these companies were formed into the "Batallon de Milicias de Nueva Orleans", with 4 companies of fusiliers and 1 of grenadiers. Their uniform was; casaca y calzón azul; vuelta, solapa, collarín y chupa encarnada, botón dorado.

The Militia Artillery Company in 1775 was composed of 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, 65 corporals and soldiers, uniform was the same as the infantry.

In 1775 the Coloured Militia was made up of a company of Pardos and another of Morenos, each company was composed of; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, 87x corporals and soldiers. Uniform for the Pardos; casaca corta, chupa y calzó blancos, con collarín, solapas y vueltas de color verde y botón de plata, the uniform for the Morenos was the same except; se dispuso el mismo uniforme, pero con el collarín, solapas y vueltas encarnadas y botón dorado.

In the towns of the Province these Companies of Militia were created during 1775;

Costa de Cabahanose: One Company with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, 88 corporals and soldiers.

Fourche de Chetimaches: One Company with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, 100x corporals and soldiers.

Valenzuela: One Company with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 2x sergeants, 60x corporals and soldiers.

Costa de Iberville: One Company with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, 104 corporals and soldiers.

Galvestown: One Company with: 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, 100 corporals and soldiers.

Costa de Punta Cortada: Two Companies with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, 62x corporals and soldiers.

Atakapas: One Company with; 1x captain, 2x lieutenants, 1x sublieutenant, 4x sergeants, 55x corporals and soldiers.

Pelouzas: One Company with; 1x captain, 2x lieutenants, 1x sublieutenant, 2x sergeants, 60x corporals and soldiers.

Nachitoches: One Infantry Company with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 2x sergeants, 60x corporals and soldiers.

One Cavalry Company with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 2x sergeants, 60x corporals and troopers.

Onachita: One Company with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 90 corporals and soldiers.

San Luis de Ilinoa: Two Companies each with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 2x sergeants, 277 corporals and soldiers.

(Could this figure of 277 other ranks mean the total of both companies? Otherwise it is a large amount of men for one company.)

Santa Genoveva de Ilinoa: One Company with; 1x captain, 1xlieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 2x sergeants, 189x corporals and soldiers.

Avaoyees: Half Company with; 1x sublieutenant, 1x sergeant, 33x corporals and soldiers.

Costa de Alemanes: Two Companies each with; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 3x sergeants, the 1st Company had 100x corporals and soldiers, the 2nd had 150x corporals and soldiers.

(These two companies wore the same uniform as for the Militia Battalion of New Orleans.)

Carabineros de Nueva Orleans was created in 1779 from "la genta más lucida de la Capital y sus inmediaciones", formed into two companies, each company was composed of; 1x captain, 1x lieutenant, 1x sublieutenant, 2x sergeants, 48 corporals and soldiers. Their uniform was; Uniforme vistió casaca de color de "pulga", chupa, calzón, collarín y solapas blancas, ojales con galón de oro, botón dorado.

Cavalry Company of San Luis, this was created in 1779, it used the same company organisation as the New Orleans Carabineers, its uniforme was; su vistoso uniforme se componía de casaca y calzón encarnado, con collarín, solapa, vueltas y chupa azul, botón dorado.

Source

El Ejercito de los Borbones, Vol.3, Book 2, by M. Gómez Ruiz and V. Alonso Juanola, pub. Servicio Histórico Militar y Museo del Ejército, Madrid, 1992.

More Spanish and British Units: American Revolution

1st Note: British at Pensacola
2nd Note: Spanish in Louisiana
3rd Note: Spanish at St. Louis
4th Note: British at Mobile
5th Note: Spanish at Mobile
6th Note: British Attack St. Louis
7th Note: Spanish Garrison of St. Louis
8th Note: Spanish "Regular" units in Louisiana and West Florida