The regular Yucatan Squadron had 90 men. The Yucatan volunteer cavalry may have worn the uniform of the active militia cavalry. The light battalion probably wore the uniform of the regular light infantry (8 companies. Including 1 rifle company). One would think that most of the militia infantry (6 fusilier company, 1 grenadier, 1 rifle or light) would have worn the canvas tropical uniform, with the officers in dress uniform. Officer's epaulets (gold for foot, silver for cavalry): Colonel - gold fringed w Lt. Colonel - same except without stars. Captain - epaulets without fringe. Lieutenants - right shoulder only. Sublieutenants - left shoulder only. NCO - epaulets in branch color with fringe. lst Sergeant - 2 epaulets. 2nd Sergeant - right shoulder only. Corporals have yellow diagonal stripe from inner seam of both cuffs to outer seam at elbow. Colonel and Lt. Colonel wore red waist sash. Militia officer's epaulets are in the opposite colors, silver for foot and gold for cavalry. Militia infantry sergeants have red epaulets with green fringe and cavalry have green with red fringe. During the crises of 1848, there was a large turnover in units as many formations at the front disintegrated, to be replaced with a haphazard collection of units hastily raised from refugees on the coast. These new units were probably equipped with Spanish or (American delivered) Mexican arms. It seems unlikely they would have been properly uniformed, and more likely wore civilian garb with a combination of military accoutrements. Back to Table of Contents -- Savage and Soldier Vol. XXIII No. 2 Back to Savage and Soldier List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1992 by Milton Soong. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com