The soldado de cuera served in the frontier garrisons of northern New Spain, the Presidios. They were mounted and were an exclusive corps in the Spanish Empire. They took their name from the multi-layered deer-skin cloak they wore as protection against Indian arrows. When New Spain's visitador José de Gálvez organized the Portola Expedition, he was accompanied by a party of 25 soldiers, the "finest horsemen in the world, and among these soldiers who best earn their bread from the august monarch whom they serve."
Equipment
They were armed with a short musket, a pair of pistols, a bow and arrows, a short sword, a lance, and a bull-hide shield. Each soldier had six horses, a foal, and a mule. Equipment and animals belonged to the soldier personally and they had to pay for them out of their own purse.
Recruitment
These frontier soldiers were recruited from among the mestizo population, Hispanicized Indians, and freed slaves. Most of the officers were Criollos, whereas very few of the enlisted men had this distinction. 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. There was no lack of volunteers for the service. Recruitment took place mainly among the local population, accustomed to the local climate, who were expert horsemen, and expert trackers who knew the country. For the poor general population the service as a soldado de cuera was attractive, with many perks; besides a regular pay, also medical care, the possibility land grants and promotions.
Assignments
When not on campaign against hostile Indians, the soldados de cuera escorted convoys of travelers or merchandise. They also had to take care of watching the enormous remudas of the presidios from native horse thieves; a fifty man garrison had over 500 horses and mules. This constant vigilance reduced the number of men available for other missions.
Organization
In Santa Fe, the governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México was the captain and commander of the company of dragones de cuera. He normally held the rank of teniente coronel graduado, that is Lieutenant Colonel by brevet. In addition there were two lieutenants with a pay of 700 pesos annually. There were also two sergeants with 350 pesos each; six corporals with 300 pesos each; and 69 privates with 290 pesos each. Among the privates were also an armorer, a drummer, and six carabineers. The compañías volantes raised in 1767 were used as a mobile reserve, but had the same equipment as the normal companies. The tropas ligeras 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. The normal strength of the light troops were 19 per company. In Santa Fe they were commanded by a second ensign with 450 pesos annually in pay, and a second sergeant with 320 pesos; light dragoon privates received 216 pesos annually.
Strength
1701
1717
1764
Presidios and their strength in the several provinces: ;Texas
;Nueva Vizcaya Junta de los Ríos, 50 Janos, 51 Guajoquilla, 51 ;Coahuila Rio Grande. 33 San Francisco de Coahuila. 36 Santa Rosa del Sacramento. 52 ;Nuevo León San Agustín Ahumada, 27 ;Sonora Corodeguachi, 51 Guebavi, 51 Horcasitas, 51 Tubac, 51 Caborca, 51 Buenavista, 51 ;California Loreto, 30 San José del Cabo, 30 ;Nuevo Santander
