Lancers for the King

 I have an interest in the fascinating Cuera Soldiers who protected Spanish settlements from the Gulf of California to the Gulf of Mexico for around a hundred years. These men wore thick leather coats and carried lances and shields, riding horses with leather trappers to protect them from the arrows of the Apache, Comanche and other Indian tribes. 

I think only the London War Room range from RSM makes them in miniature which is a great pity as these men were every bit as colourful and brave as the American cavalry who followed them. 

The picture below is from a hide painting sent to Europe from New Mexico in 1758 and shows what is thought to be the defeat of the Villasur expedition - a column sent by Spain in 1720 to gather intelligence on French movement around the river Platte and to exert control and influence on the region. The expedition including Cuera Soldiers and the Indian allies was ambushed by Pawnee and Otoe tribesmen at dawn, and suffered heavy loss. The survivors made it back to Spanish territory  having penetrated further north and east than any other land based force at that time. The French were delighted to hear of its defeat,  but did not form any links with the region either. 

The Lancers of the King is a book I picked up on EBay and is a translation of the King of Spain's instructions on the organisation and structure of the Cuera Soldiers, their equipment, uniforms, garrison locations and details of the Indian scouts who supported them. It also has background on the history of the region as well as several excellent drawings, photographs and maps. Written in 1965 it's not a common book and probably very scarce on this side of the Atlantic, so I was lucky to find it. It's been a very interesting read. 

I think I might have to try and get my hands on the LWR figs or possibly try converting some Spanish garrochista guerillas by giving them a long coat and ardaga shield. Eagle Figures do some nice figs. Boot Hill and 1st Corps do later presidial cav, but the cross belts etc are probably too much to carve away.