THE HORSE GRENADIERS OF THE GUARD

First decreed on April 29th 1853, the Horse Grenadiers of the Guard of the Supreme Powers was created. Pay was superior to the line cavalry and on parade the regiment was to head the regular cavalry. Only this regiment was to furnish escorts to the Supreme Powers and the “guardia de prevención,” or guard room, of its barracks.

The uniform was to consist of a short red coat with collar, epaulettes, cuffs, turnbacks and piping light blue, lapel of the same colour with 9 white buttonholes, flat or plain buttons, a white grenade on the left forearm and two of the same colour on the end of the turnbacks as fastenings. Perpendicular pockets, white lace of a “pulgada” and a half width around the cuff, light blue breeches with a white stripe of 1 1/2 “pulgadas” width and reinforcements and false boots of black leather. Helmet of brass with a comb of the same, a black horse hair crest and a white grenade as a badge. Gloves of white buckskin and gauntlets of leather, spurs and riding boots, shabraque of red with a light blue edge, and a white grenade in the corner, double holster covers of the same colours and a cylindrical valise of light blue with an edge of red.

The medio uniform was a turkish blue coat (casaca - a tailed coat), with red collar, cuffs, turnbacks and piping, trousers turkish blue with a red stripe, reinforcements and false boots of black leather, a small or low (“pequeno”) shako of leather with red band on the lower part, and a white grenade as a badge. Shabraque and holster covers turkish blue with red edging all around, a grey cloak with high red collar and a dark blanket. Horses were to be at least 7 “cuartas” high.

The organisation in the decree of June 8th 1854 was, for the staff, a colonel, lieutenant colonel, two squadron commanders, two adjutants, ( the organisation of April 29th 1853 added a supernumerary captain “para cajero” and a lieutenant “idem para habilitado"), 4 guidon bearers, a chaplain, a trumpet major, a first sergeant marshal, two second sergeants, a leatherworker and another armourer, two corporals, one of batidores, and one of trumpeters, 8 batidores, (outriders, the equivalent in the cavalry of pioneers and a practice drawn from the Spanish army. They were distinguished in the Spanish army of the 1830’s by lances, with an elaborate pennon, a more elaborate helmet and later in the century - and possibly at this time in Mexico - by gauntlets and cords across the chest) and 4 “mancebos”. The regiment consisted of four squadrons, each of two companies, each company with a captain, lieutenant, two alféreces, a first sergeant, 4 second sergeants, 9 corporals, two trumpeters and 64 men.

By the 26th July 1854 decree, two adjutants and two sub-adjutants were added to the regimental staff.

On January 13th 1854 the following uniform was laid down for “grands formations”: A long tail coat of turkish blue with collar, cuffs and turnbacks of the same, red piping on the collar, chest and turnbacks, grenades on the collar and turnbacks and one on the left arm, “marruecas” of silver lace 1 1/2 “pulgadas” wide on the cuff (this is a cuff slash or flap). The description of the buttonholes and lace on the front of the tunic is confusing but seems to indicate 9 buttons with bars of silver lace across the chest.. The Spanish reads as follows: “nueve ojales de galon en el pecho con botones de alamares, siendo el resto de la botonadura plana y blanca, tres ojales en cada faldon de la casaca”. From this it appears that the rest of the buttons were to be plain and white with three buttonholes on each coat tail.

Epaulettes were white with fringes, aiguillettes were worn on the right and tight riding breeches of white cloth were prescribed, with riding boots and spurs. Headgear was a fur cap with a grenade on the rear and a white “chilillo”, which could perhaps mean a braided cord, worn across the front with hanging points or flounders to one side, and the horse furniture was a turkish blue shabraque with a white edge and grenades on the rear angle, a cylindrical valise of the same colour and with the same lace on the cover and seams and a grenade. A black cartridge box and black equipment, a black waist belt and white gauntlets and gloves completed the uniform.

However, white equipment was prescribed for all corps of the guard on 26th July 1854.

The June 8th 1854 decree specified again the uniform of 1853, for full dress the short red tail coat with light blue facings exactly as laid down in 1853. The medio uniform was also exactly the same as the 1853 regulations, although not quite as detailed.

By the decree of 26th July 1854, the gala uniform was to be that decreed on January 13th.

THE LANCERS OF THE GUARD

The staff and organisation was as the Horse Grenadiers.

By the 26th July 1854 decree, two adjutants and two sub-adjutants were added to the regimental staff.

The decree of June 20th laid down a piqueta, or short tail coat, of dark green, with collar, cuffs, turnbacks and piping red, white epaulettes and sardinetas, black patent leather gauntlets, red breeches with dark green stripe and black leather reinforcement, a black cross belt and cartouche box, red schapska with yellow metal shield and chain (a band of yellow metal in the June 8th 1854 decree), white falling plume and forrajera, the shabraque of dark green with a red edge and a white “L” in the angle, the valise and double holster covers also green with red trimming.

The Medio uniform was a piqueta, breeches, kepi, shabraque, valise and holster covers all grey-blue with red trimming, a barrack cap for troops and grey kepi for officers.

By the decree of 26th July 1854, in full dress red lapels were to be worn with white “alamares”, possibly button hole lace or perhaps bars of lace across the lapel.

Mexico 1853 - 1855: Part 1 Uniforms of the Army in Santa Anna's Last Presidency

Introduction
Officers and Staff
The Presidential Guard
Guard: Sappers, Engineers, and Artillery
Guard: Grenadiers and Light Infantry Bttns
Guard: Horse Grenadiers and Lancers
Squadron of Guides of the President
Medical Corps of the Guard