A Collection of Documents and Links To Aid In Research
about the Presidio de Tucson
Regarding the Tucson Presidio
From the service record (hoja de servicio] of Capt. Don Jose Maria Abate, the Captain of the Presidio of San Carlos de Buenavista in Sonora and is through the end of December of 1787. He writes: "ha hecho la particular servicio de hacer la muralla del Presidio de Tucson, a su costo poniendoles Baluartes, Cuerpo de Guardia, Quartel para soltero y un Mirador y Bandera lo que no [one word illegible] ningun gasto al Real Erario haviendole costado dha. obra cinco mil trescientos cinco ps. dos rs. seis gr."
Rough translation: "he made a particular effort to strengthen the walls of the Presidio of Tucson by constructing, at his own cost, Bastions, a Guard House, Barracks for single men, and a Watchtower with Flag, at no expense to the Royal Treasury,
costing five-thousand thee-hundred pesos, two reales, six granos."
The original is from the Archivo de Simancas, Spain, section Guerra Moderna.
courtesy: Mark Santiago
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Croix to Galvez March 3, 1782
The powder magazine is where it cannot be damaged by fire; but the door was blocked with adobes, and
he has mandated that as commanded that they build a new door with 2 locks, according to Article. 5 of the Royal Regulations. Captain Allande will provide to the townspeople of Tubac, an arroba (25 lbs) of powder from his surplus,
and charge it to the representative of the aforementioned town at a peso per pound: and the paymaster will replace
or retain the money under his power until there is another deliberation.
Resolution: He will provide reimbursement of this amount to the principal administrator in charge of ordinance, and from the supplies at the Presidio he will continue to provide it to the townspeople at 8 reales per pound, returning the money back into the treasury at the end of the year.
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1772 Regulation of instruction for the presidios that form the frontier line of New Spain
Title 3
Uniforms
1. The uniform of the presidial soldiers is to be the same for all, and will consist of a short jacket (fatigue jacket) of heavy plush wool or wool broadcloth in blue (the reglamentos preferred the more durable cloth, but offered a choice), with a small cuff and collar of red, breeches of heavy blue wool, a wool broadcloth cape of the same color, a cartridge box, a leather jacket, and bandoleer of buckskin (deer hide) as is presently in use, and the bandoleer to be embroidered with the name of the presidio in order to distinguish one from another, a black neck stock, hat shoes and leggings.
1772 Reglamento e instruccion para los presidios que se han de formar en la linea de frontera de la Nueva España
Titulo Tercero
Vestuario
1. El vestuario de los soldados de presidio ha de ser uniforme en todos, y constará de una chupa corta de tripe, ó paño azul, con una pequeña vuelta y collarin encarnado, calzon de tripe azul, capa de paño del mismo color, cartuchera, cuera y bandolera de gamuza, en la forma que actualmente las usan, y en la bandolera bordado el nombre de presidio, para que se distingan unos de otros, corbatin negro, sombrero, zapatos, y botines.
Presidio Uniform as defined in 1780
CA 15 PSPBM Tomo IV p. 143-144 1780 Sept. 21 Arispe Comandancia
Anto Bonilla, Secreto de la Comda Gen de Provincias Internas
Vestuario, Armamento y Montura de la tropa
Undress Uniform
Dark Blue Short Coat of plush wool flannel or wool boadcloth. Scarlet Cuffs, collar and lapels.
Blue Breeches of wool or plush flannel with brass knee buckle.
Scarlet waistcoat of linen or lightweight leather.
Gold (brass) buttons throughout.
Flat black hat.
Cape (a regulation serape with a slit for the head) of blue wool broadcloth trimmed in red and with a red rectangle trim around neck opening.
Serape or manga (a short conical shaped poncho) allowed.
Original Spanish
El vestuario de la tropa se compondrá segn el reglamento, de chupa corta, y calzon de paño azul, vueltas, solapa y collarin encarnado, boton dorado, chaleco de lienzo o gamuza, sombrero negro de a la cort tendida con una presilla sobre el lado izquierdo, para manejar el fusil con desembarazo, y una pluma de lana cncarnada, capa de paño azul, permitiendoles el sarape o manga.
Small Clothes
Shirt of white Irish linen or white cotton.
Drawers of white cotton, mid calf in length with ruffle.
White or off white stockings.
Black silk scarf of a large size.
Linen neck stock or cloth neck tie.
Shoes or boots
Cartridge boxes:
Loop style 10 shot box with flint and tool bag sewn onto belt
Rectangular box containing wooden block with belt loops for belt.
No longer carry the sash with the Presidio Name
Original Spanish
Tambien se le proveerá de las prendas menores correspondtes, escluyendo los tahalies que para nada sirven.
Saddle Gear
Vaquero tree, with quarter straps, stirrup leather, wooden loop stirrups with tapaderos and a mochila over the tree. Cincha of the period style.
Halter and bridle of horsehair, reins.
Light deer skin leggings of the talon style held with leather garters.
Vaquero spurs of a reasonable size.
Feed bag, cantle duffel bag and canteen.
Original Spanish
La montura de la tropa de cuera y ligeros se ha de reducir precisamto al simple fusta cubriendolo con cojinillos de media mochila, con tal de que esta sea grande para que sirva de coraza. Los estribos en todo iguales a los que estan señaldos para la tropa ligera, jaquimas de cerda, cabrestos, freno, botines de gamuza a estilo del pais, medio botin corto como se usa en esta provincia para asegurar las espuelas que servan vaqueras, y del tamaño regular, costal para pinole, maleta, y guage.
Armament
Standard 33 1/3 in (1 vara) clam shell broad sword.
Original Spanish
Armamento - La gente de cuera llevará el prevenido por el reglamento. La de ligeros o dragones, el que tengo dispuesto.
Original Spanish
No se variará en los tamaños de las espadas de la Tropa Ligera ó a caballo la llevarán en su viricu o cinturon, sobre la cintura, del mismo modo que los dragones, y a pie se terciaran el cinturon sobre el hombre derecho, co la infanteria, pues aunque para el uso de a pie, son largas, tampoco conviene que sean cortas para las maniobras a caballo.
Cuera
The cuera should be of white deerskin of 7 layers.
Original Spanish
Tampoco se innovará oir ahora en el peso y hechura de las cueras. Se permiten solamente a los soldados de esta clase, pero no a los dragones, o ligeras, y estos tampoco podrán usar de adarga.
Firearms
Frontier soldier used what weapons were available in the post arsenal. The escopeta is over represented and while preferred for troops, a presidio soldier would be as likely to be a carbine or musket.
Lances
The lance was usually 9 ft long including the point. A variety of blade designs were used.
Adarga
The adarga should be made of 2-3 layers of rawhide depending upon thickness and backed with deerskin. The technology is well thought out. If a lance or arrow pierces the rawhide, the deerskin backing stretches to absorb some of the weapon's energy.
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The 1793 Inspection Report of Tucson Presidio
Review of the Presidio de Tucson September 29, 1793 by Roque Medina
El vestuario se halla en buen estado y acada uno se le dá quando lo necesíta y la urgencía lo píde el que se compone de chupa corta de paño azul y algunas de trípe con buelta, collarín, y armador encarnado, boton dorado, calzon de trípe azul, y capa de pano del mismo color, y todos tienen a dos mudas de ropa blanca y algunas amas.
El armarnento esta en buen estado y se compone de escopeta y una pistola con llaves a la Española, calibre de catonze adarmes, Sanza con astas de Luiste de los que algunas estan muy cortas, que he mandado las remplazen, espadas tienen todos los Sargentos, Cavos y Caravienos; Cueras solo hay quatro en toda la Compañia y no se encuentra donde proveerlos de ellas, y las apertecen muy poco prolo mucho que les estorvan quando echanpie atierra; Adargas, faltan algunas que se remplazaran con las que han venido de Chihuahua para lo que se ha embiado a Arizpe por ellos.
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1779 List of Clothing Supplies from the Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar
2 ½ varas of blue wool cloth, second grade, for short coat and breeches
¾ and ½ of scarlet wool cloth, second grade, for the front of the waistcoat, and the distinctive collar, lapels and cuffs of the short coat
6 varas of Queretaro woolen cloth for the cape
4 8 buttons of yellow metal for the short coat and breeches
18 of the same, s mall, for the waistcoat
6 varas of French cotton [ruan] to line the short coat, waistcoat, and breeches
1 ounce of silk for sewing the short coat, waistcoat, breeches and cape
1 piece of wide linen [bretaña-British (Irish)] for two shirts
Linen thread for sewing
3 pairs of socks [calzetas]
3 pairs of smooth leather shoes
1 hat
3 varas of ribbon for the hair and for a chinstrap for the hat
1 neckerchief of black taffeta (silk)
1 country- made blanket for the bed
2 pairs of suede leggings which can serve as stockings
provided by David Rickman
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