Soldado de cuera
The soldados de cuera (English, "leather-jacket soldier")[1] served in the frontier garrisons of northern New Spain, the Presidios, from the late 16th to the early 19th century.
The leather chaps or aprons, fastened to the pommel of the saddle, protected legs and thighs from brush and cactus spines.
"[1] They were armed with a carbine (escopeta), pair of pistols (pistolas), bow (arco), dagger (puñal), sword (espada ancha), and lance (lanza).
The soldados de cuera manned the presidios that stretched from Los Adaes, Louisiana, in the East, across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, to the Pacific Coast of Alta California in the West.
For the poor general population the service as a soldados de cuera was attractive, with many perks; besides a regular pay, also medical care, the possibility land grants and promotions.
[5] In August 1720 a detachment of about 40 soldados de cuera, accompanied by indigenous allies, undertook an exploratory incursion into what is now Nebraska.
The tropas ligeras (light troops) raised in 1778, did not use the leather armor, the shield or the lance, but were otherwise equipped like normal soldados de cuera except their hats were white.
1: Leather jacket with seven layers
2: Saddle pommel and cantle
3: Carbine
4: Saddle bag
5: Lance
6: Pistols hanging on each side of the fender
7: Buckler
8: Boots and spurs
9: Wooden stirrups
10: Cartridge box [ 3 ]
