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Author Topic: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836  (Read 6157 times)

Offline rumacara

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Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« on: June 04, 2014, 12:00:59 PM »
Hello all

This is a theme i do like and as that i thought on sharing this small article, hoping to provide usefull information about Texan and Mexican uniforms for this period.

By no means i want to present myself as a subject authority. By the oposite, just a curious wargamer and collector sharing information, so feedback and more info are more than welcome.


Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836 (part 1)

Introduction

In 1727 a Spanish colony to the north of Mexico was formed into the province of Tejas or Texas, where settlements had been thrust into the wilderness since 1690.
By 1821 it was estimated that (excluding indians) the population of Texas numbered only some 4000, mostly around the Presidios of San António de Bexar and La Bahia.
After the war wich won Mexico her Independence from Spain in 1821, a civil war broke between conservative centralists, who defended a central government, and the liberal federalists, who defended a loose confederation of semi-autonomous provinces.
After the federalist victory, a congress was called and produced the Constitution of 1824 based on that of the United States. In theory this granted justice for every citizen and a chance of improving the generally wretched lot of the majority.
Settlement was oppened to american colonists who accepted mexican citizenship and roman catholicism.
The first of the american contractors or empresarios, the Missourian Moses Austin whose son Stephen Austin succeeded to his grants in 1821, oppened the settlement of Texas to the american colonists and over the next 12 years, almost 28000 americans settled in Texas.
By 1833 a man enters in mexican history as well as in the american one, by elected himself president of Mexico. Santa Ana was a ruthless politician, corrupt, opium addict and a liar. However he also possessed militar skills and had a charismatic presence both demonstrated  since the war for Mexican Independence and is actions led him to reach power over Mexico.
After a year under is government, Santa Ana changed his stance by dismissing congresso and set about destroying federalism.
Before is presidency and by April 1830 a bano n further American Immigration was instituted by fear that Texas would become too americanised, therefore militar presence increased, central authority was re-establish and pressure over the americans began. By 1832 a convention at San Felipe was held to prepare a proposal for autonomy of Texas, including increased representation in congress and separation from the state of Cuahuila.
After Santa Ana victorious ellection in 1833 a second convention was called to press the texian cause but without success.
With Santa Ana, the depotism of his rule caused federalista rebellions in eight states of Mexico and in April 1835 a revolt erupted in Zacatecas, a state bordering Cuahuila and ordered Gen. Martin Perfecto de Cós to extinguish resistance in Cuahuila itself.
A pro-war sentiment among the american colonists grew more and more and by 2 October 1835, when a mexican detachment was sent from San Antonio to repussess a useless cannon loaned to the citizens of Gonzalez in 1831 for their defense against indian raids, hostilities broke and war began.

Offline rumacara

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2014, 12:03:38 PM »
Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836 (part 2)

Texan army:

The general idea of the Texan army in this period was a group of frontiersmen without any type of military training or uniformity, more like an armed rabble. This is far from true.
First of all many of the american settlers and latter those who went to Texas to participate in the war had militar training in the form of militia from their background states giving a considerable number of men with militar experience (fighting in frontier defense and against indian raids). Some even had served their time in the us army as regulars or state militia units.
In theory there were ideas to create a regular force based on conventional lines and in the us army. In the person of Sam Houston and as decreed in November 1835, the regular army should have a regiment of infantry and another of artillery, of two battalions each. A battalion should comprise five companies of 56 men and in the infantry, each battalion should have a colonel, a lieutenant-colonel and a major, each company a captain, a second-lieutenant, four sergeants and four corporals. The diference for the artillery battalions was of two lieutenant-colonels, two majors per battalion and a third-lieutenant in each company giving all a total force of 1120 men.
In practice things went differently since there was a lack of volunteers for the regular army and the unwillingness to obey orders.
Once more the volunteers as in the war of 1812 went home to tend their crops as soon as they decided they were absent from their homes at a long period. This gave any fighting force a variety in strenght that changed considerably, constantly and in one short period (for the siege of San Antonio by the americans, they started with 900 men and for the final storming Grant had a force of about 300).
So we can conclude that there was no formal army or even militia organisation in Texas at the beguining of the war. After all the fighting Texans called themselves the “Army of the People”.
However there were some uniformed units present in the main actions of this war.


Infantry:

There were at least two confirmed uniformed units present in Goliad anda t least one in the Alamo.
The New Orleans Greys were the first unit who appeared and they were raised in New Orleans to aid the Texans. They were described as men of many nations and their uniform was similar to the fatigue uniform of the United States Army, but grey instead of the azure blue color of the us infantry.
It had black trim instead of the white and the garrison cap was of black sealskin, the model taken from the us model of 1826 forage cap. It appears that their uniforms were from some obsolete militia uniforms found in depots in New Orleans.
Sixty-five Greys went to Texas, four joined along the way. They were armed with us muskets and rifles provided by us army stores in New Orleans and they saw action in the capture of San Antonio and after that they divided themselves. One part remained in the Alamo (about 33) and the other embarked in the abortive expedition to Matamoros, returning to join Fannin at La Bahia. They were almost all killed at Goliad were just a few survived, ending there the unit. The ones who remained at the Alamo also died when Santa Ana stormed the mission.

Another unit appeared in the history of Texas Independence, the Alabama Red Rovers. They came mostly from around Courtland, Alabama. Their commanding officer was Dr. Jack Shackleford, a veterano f the War of 1812.
It appears that the Red Rovers had two uniforms in use and they were comprised of a service uniform and a parade uniform. The service uniform was of a hunting frock or hunting shirt, fringed on the sleeves and shoulders and dyed bright red (sometimes it appeared Brown because of the sun effects who deteriorated the red colour). The other uniform was copied from the fatigues uniform of the us army although red in colour with white trim and in velvet material. A red cap was also used, again trimmed in white and a blue sash. It appears that white trousers were used on both uniforms but probably on the servisse uniform, other colors  of trousers would be more practical. Their equipment was completed with weapons and accoutrements issued from the state arsenal and given the United States cadet musket model 1830, including bayonets. Appart from the red cap, those using the service uniform woul wear a variety of hats, being mostly common round hats.
Sixty-one, some say seventy-one of the Red Rovers were accepted in the service of Texas on February 1836. They were almost all killed in Goliad except for Dr. Schackelford who was spared to treat mexican casualties.

Other uniformed units are mentioned joining the Texan army of volunteers but unfortunately there are no records of the exact uniforms they wear. Nevertheless here are their names:

Colonel Sidney Sherman Kentucky volunteers Newport Rifles.
Captain Amon B. King´s Paducah volunteers
Major John Allen´s Tampico Blues (us regulars??)

The rest of the “Army of the People” would wear a variety of civilian clothes, hats, trousers in varied fabrics and colours being common hunting shirts, wide brimmed hats, indian leggings, mocassins, frock coats and a huge panoply of weapons from Kentucky rifles, hunting muskets, army muskets, knifes, tomahawks, pistols and blunderbusses. Basicaly personal equipment was a matter of choice and availability.
Many would resemble a Charles Dickens character with frock coat or tail coat, shirt waistcoat and cravat and lots of top hats. Their fisical aspect was of lack of facial hair, beards were not fashionable at this time, with the exception of large sideburns. Many Tejano volunteers elected to fight for Texas and they would be dressed in traditional Vaquero dress with serapes, ponchos and low crown sombreros, more akin to the Spanish bullfighters dress than modern Mexican bandits.
We can also see a large portion of us army deserters who rallied to the Texan cause. The us regular uniform of the period comprised the sky-blue (or azure blue) kersey fatigue uniform, trimmed in white and a leather cap model of 1833. However since the new uniform provided to the us army in 1833 took time to reach the frontier, there are records that at least the us 7th infantry, stationed at Fort Jessup and along the texan border would wear the older gray fatigue uniform trimmed black (similar but note eqqual to the New Orleans Greys).

Texian Artillery.

The majority of the field pieces available to the Texian army were either captured from the Mexicans or made locally along the same lines as those of the Mexican army. These would have been similar to the Gribeauval style guns used during the Napoleonic wars.
The tubes would have been either brass or iron, 4pdr – 6pdrs with only heavier pieces being present at the Alamo such as several 12pdr guns and the more famous 18pdr. Some of the tubes at the Alamo may have been mounted on naval carriages and there was at least one cannonade. Reports vary for the total guns at the Alamo, but current thinking suggests 21pieces.
At San Jacinto Houston had two guns at his disposal affectionately known as the “Twin Sisters” both probably 6pdrs a gift from the residents of Cincinnati Ohio.
There is also the “Come and Take it” or Gonzales gun. It was a small calibre piece, probably iron and has mentioned earlier, it had been given to the residents of Gonzales by the Mexicans to scare away the Comanche. The residents had mounted it on a crude carriage made out of a tree trunk. The gun itself sparked the war when the residents of Gonzales dared the Mexicans to “Come and Take it” from them.

Offline rumacara

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2014, 12:05:30 PM »
Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836 (part 3)

Texian cavalry:

Mounted volunteers were the most common cavalry soldier on the Texan army as well as Mexican vaqueros and rancheros who sided with the Texans. Once more an enormous variety in clothes and weapons was the common aspect of a Texan cavalryman and not existing any uniform attributed to the cavalry.



The Mexican Army

The Mexican army of the campaign in Texas was impressive … on paper. The total number of effectives was estimated at 6019, however the reality was quite diferent. The strenght of a mexican battalion was eight companies of 80 men each but during the campaign of 1836, many companies fielded fewer than 40 soldados.
There were two types of mexican infantry battalions. The Permanentes were the permanent or regular troops providing the core of veterans around which Santa Anna intended to build his army. Activos, federally funded territorial militia, augmented the full-time veterans.
The permanente battalions took their names from heroes of the revolution against Spain like Abasolo, Aldama, Galeana, Guerrero, Landero, Matamoros and others. By oposite the Activos took their names from their local origins assuming the names of their hometowns or states like the Toluca, San Luis and Querétaro battalions.
The six center companies each battalion of Activos had formed the fighting core. Line troops or fusileros bore the brunt of most battles.
The fusiliers carried the .75 Caliber East India Pattern “Brown Bess”. Two elite or “preferred“ units supported the center companies. One company of cazadores (riflemen or light troops) acted as squirmishers or flankers. Company commanders issued the .61 Caliber Baker rifle to the best marksmen, however most of the company had to contend with special light infantry muskets.
One grenadier company – grenaderos – consisted of older veterans who acted has reserve troops. They also carried “Brown Bess” muskets.
The elite troops were the sapadores (sappers). Highly motivated and well-trained they were the cream of the regular forces and Santa Anna valued them for their engineering skills and their fighting ability.

Infantry uniforms:

According to regulations, permanente infantry units were to receive every 30 months a medium or dark blue coatee (most commonly dark blue) with scarlet colar, cuffs and lapels, white piping, coarse lining and yellow buttons; two white sailcloth jackets and trousers, two white linen shirts, two black velveted stocks, two pairs of black shoes and a barracks or forage cap with tassel (dark blue). Every 60 months they were to receive na overcoat, a shako made of leather with brass chinscales and plate, either an oval bearing the national coat of arms and unit designation, a grenade for grenadiers or a more elaborate coat of arms, slightly bell-topped, with red or yellow lace ornamenting the upper hedge, bearing the universal national tricolour cockade of red, white and green, cotton cords and a red pompon for fusiliers and green for light infantry, and a hide or canvas knapsack with leather straps. Also issued was a cartridge box with tin interior and leather belt, a canteen with strap and a burlap blanket with leather straps. In 1835 an extra shirt, shoulder belt, tool-kit, towel, bayonet and scabbard and one pair each of full dress, cloth and canvas trousers are noted. Yellow stripes on the left arm denoted their rank. The sappers carried a short sword in addition to the bayonet. The activo units also had the same uniform but since the availability varied enormously they would have a more varied set of clothes.
Among the mexican infantry there were also white uniforms, according to Rueben Marmaduke Potter wich describes it as a “fatigue suit consisting of white cotton round jackets and trousers, with black shoulder straps crossed on the breast. Head dress was the old-fashioned black shako of leather or felt. The usual pom pom and metallic trimmings such as a letter or number. It often had drawn on it, a close fitting white cloth cover with the decorations outsider, worsted shoulder knots of red, blue or green worn by some battalions.” The crossbelts in the Texas campaign were white and the jacket collar and cuffs were red as well as the shoulder wings. The shako ornaments were removed when the white cover was worn.
The field officers would wear a bicorne hat, with tricoloured feathers for senior officers. The regimental officers would wear the shako in campaign and service duty . All officers wore bright red silk waist sashes.

Offline Malamute

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2014, 12:07:47 PM »
Great stuff Rui. ;D
"These creatures do not die like the bee after the first sting, but go on age after age, feeding on the blood of the living"  - Abraham Van Helsing

Offline rumacara

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2014, 12:09:50 PM »
Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836 (part 4)

Cavalry uniforms:

The cavalry had several diferente uniforms as well as units. The lancers had a leather jockey cap with a vertical tricolor plume on the left side with the mexican national colors and a black plume in the center of horse or goat hair. The short red coatee worn by regular cavalry had green colar, cuffs, turnbacks and piping, white bottons and the campaign overalls were of grey cloths and the trousers for dismounted duty of blue cloth, both with a red stripe. The cloack was yellow with a green colar.
The militia cavalry wore similar uniforms only in reversed colors; green coatee and red collar, cuffs, piping and turnbacks, also white bottons and red shabraques.
The presidialles had a more simple uniform. A short dark blue coatee with red collar, cuffs and turnbacks and dark blue, for garrison duty blue overalls with red stripe and black leather reinforcements were worn and for service duty, blue or grey loose-fitting overalls with red stripe and protective buckskin gaiters composed the uniform. They usually had a black hat with white decorations. This uniform could vary depending on the region they came. There are also red coatees mentioned in some presidialles units.


Artillery uniforms:

The artillery uniforms were much the same as the infantry being issued the use of dark blue trousers with red stripe and red epaulettes on their shoulders.

Santa Anna´s Army of Operations was a mass of contradictions and contrasts. Many of the officers were experienced professionals but others, through family connections secured their rank knowing nothing of their profession. Santa Anna purchased much surplus equipment from Europe after the Napoleonic wars and is army was based on Napoleons French army although on a much smaller scale. After all Santa Anna is entitled the “Napoleon of the West”.
In opposition, the army of Texas was a mixed band of volunteers, some with fighting experience, others simply defending their homes and properties, but lacking a sense of obedience to their fellow officers and coming and going as they seemed fit.



Wargaming the Texan war of independence.

For the wargamer and collector there is a bigger choice of miniatures than anyone can find at first eye. If we look closer to some ranges that at first sight have nothing to do with the Alamo and the Texan war of Independence we can discover many suitable figures and for those who have the skill and patience, many more that, with a small amount of green stuff can become wonderfull miniatures for the period.
Of course many of you can tell about other manufacturers apart from those mentioned here but have in mind that these are the ones i know and by no means i intent to forget or even offend anyone so my advice is search in your known manufacturers for a start. There might be a surprise.

One big special thanks goes to Nick (aka Malamute)  att Boot Hill Miniatures for helping me on this article. Without his help it would be harder for me to do it.

Any information written i take full responsibility for it.



Figures:

28mm

Boot Hill Miniatures leads in 28mm presenting the best range so far about the Texan War of Independence with many more figures planned to complete it. The miniatures are full of character and variety. Nick Futter the owner is also a wargamer and in his web page you can find lots of information as well as wonderfully painted figures to give you all ideas.

Artizan Designs also has a small range for the period presenting great miniatures that can also be mixed with others to complete your forces.

Old Glory presents a range of figures that is vast although on a personnal opinion the miniatures are nice but lack a character aspect, nevertheless they are a reference and can always be used to the rank and file. You can also check other periods/conflicts for example the seminole wars were you can find regular army figures suitable for the Alamo as well as volunteers suitable for texans.

Wargames Foundry doesnt have a specific range about the Texan War of Independence but if you look carefully you will find lots of figures on the Old West range that suit the conflict and mixed together with Boot Hill Miniatures they look great.

Front Rank can also provide lots of miniatures for your collections and armies if you search in French Napoleonics for some types of mexican infantry and cavalry, and spanish guerrillas (yes, that to) that can be usefull for mexican peons and vaqueros.

20mm

I dont know any specific range in any manufacturer i can advise but i use miniatures from the following manufacturers.

Newline Designs range of American Civil War for the Texans and the Napoleonic French for the mexican army. Also there is a pack of Spanish Guerrillas for the Napoleonics that many of the figures will suit for texans (tejanos and vaqueros) and if you feel brave enough you can always add a little green stuff and convert many figures.

B and B miniatures have in their American Revolution range (yes, really) packs of american militia suitable for texans. The miniatures come in hunting shirts and wide brimmed hats or bareheaded perfect for the civilians.

For cavalry i use mounted figures from Newline Designs ACW and Napoleonics again for the mexican cavalry (since many regiments still had uniforms very similar to the french ones) and Tumbling Dice ACW converted.
After all Santa Ana was known as the Napoleon of the West.

15mm

This is the tricky scale since i dont paint 15mm but i think if you search for ACW (confederates mainly) and American Revolution ranges you are abble to find lots of figures for the period. You can always convert a few to add variety.

I think Old Glory has in their us-mexican war range many figures suitable for this period.

Blue Moon has a specific and extensive range for the Alamo.


Bibliography

Osprey Campaign 89 – The Alamo 1836
Osprey Men-at-Arms 173 – The Alamo and the Texan War of Independence 1835 - 36
Osprey Elite 102 – Santa Annas Mexican Army 1821 – 48
Osprey Men-at-Arms 398 – The Texan Army 1835 – 46
Schiffer Military History Book – Uniforms of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution (Bruce Marshall).

The following books although not specific for the period are usefull Reading and information.

Osprey Men-at-Arms 454 – The Seminole Wars 1818 – 58 (information regarding both regular and volunteer units for the period as well as color plates of volunteers and army regulars).

Osprey Warrior 129 – Frontier Militiaman in the War of 1812 (sounds strange but provides the mind of frontiersmen and militiaman, their recruiting methods and fighting willingness as well as painting guides of clothes and equipment still used for the Alamo period).


I hope you liked reading this article as much i did in writting it.

Cheers all

Rui
« Last Edit: June 04, 2014, 12:41:26 PM by rumacara »

Offline Emir of Askaristan

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2014, 01:13:21 PM »
Good stuff - I have some Artizan and OG figures for this but haven been able to play much games -a colourful, interesting and neglected period.

You may also wish to add the following to your bibliography.

Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836  - Stephen Hardin

Excellent background and retelling of events with great line illustrations to match.

Offline rumacara

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2014, 01:19:08 PM »
Hello Emir of Askaristan and Malamute

Thank you for the feedback.
Nick, you know you have your hand on this too. :D
Emir, that might be an interesting book that unfortunately i havent bought yet.
Keep the information coming.

Cheers all

Rui

Offline Bugsda

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #7 on: June 04, 2014, 01:36:30 PM »
That's handy, now I won't have to keep messaging Malamute   :D
Well I've lead an evil life, so they say, but I'll outrun the Devil on judgement day.

Offline Romark

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #8 on: June 04, 2014, 09:33:05 PM »
A Very useful post,also I'd like to second the Emir's recommendation of a Texian Illiad,a good read and the line drawings are excellent.


Offline Dr. The Viking

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2014, 12:09:11 PM »
Wow! Thanks.


So you are saying that my black cross belted white uniform Mexican is wrong in every way?
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Offline rumacara

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #10 on: June 05, 2014, 12:23:45 PM »
Hello all

Dr. The Viking, by no way i´m saying that.
Dont forget that the mexican suppliers and officers where in their majority, corrupt so as already said in another post, a variety of equipment would be used. ;)
Just keep them coming mate.

Bugsda, hope this is usefull as anyone is free to add information on this post.
I also hope this means more pictures of miniatures painted by you. :D

Cheers

Rui

Offline Dr. The Viking

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2014, 12:25:11 PM »
Ah good then!  lol


That's handy, now I won't have to keep messaging Malamute   :D

No you can stop massaging him now.  lol

Offline rumacara

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #12 on: June 05, 2014, 12:27:48 PM »
 lol lol lol

Offline Hu Rhu

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #13 on: June 05, 2014, 01:23:16 PM »
No you can stop massaging him now.  lol

As long as it's only his ego you were massaging ;)

Offline Bugsda

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Re: Uniforms of the Texan War of Independence 1835-1836
« Reply #14 on: June 05, 2014, 06:15:27 PM »
As long as it's only his ego you were massaging ;)

Well, if the money's right.   ;)

 

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