"Mexican uniforms same for 1835, 1845 period?" Topic

To what degree could one use Mexican forces from the Texas Revolution and the Alamo period for Mexican forces during the Mexican-American War?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and comments.

jpipes, the Mexican Army's uniforms definitely changed between the time of the Texas Revolution and the U.S.-Mexican War, and they occured sometime from 1839-41.

Noticeable were the elimination of their belltop shakos in favor of a more narrow and somewhat conical-shaped shako. Also noticable was the establishment of numbered line regiments, identified by the combination of different colored lapels (or plastrons), collars, cuffs, and piping for each unit. The following links show a couple of illustrated examples of the differences between the two eras:

1835: picture

1846: link

There's an Osprey Elite book, 'Santa Anna's Mexican Army 1821-48', which details the changes. By the way, about the 1835 army, here's the link from which the above illustration came from:

link

Good luck with your project, jpipes!

As stated, the uniform significantlt changed between the two conflicts. You could always use them as stand-ins until you painted a proper army.

And no, they never wore white sombreros. Maybe later…?

Thanks for the input folks! That is very much appreciated. I have gathered a very large Alamo period Texian/Mexican force and wanted to get a grasp on how accurately I could use them for Mexican-American battles as well. Sounds like not so much except as geneal stand-ins. That's ok as my intent right now is to focus on the Texas Revolution and The Alamo (small as many of those battles were).

To the last comment above, I understand the Mexican army wasn't just a force of sombrero-wearing peasants, but I also thought sombreros, ponchos, and sandals were absolutely something that could be found because uniform regs were somewhat lax. Is that totally off the mark?? I thought having a few Alamo period Mexican's with non-regulation uniform items would be more accurate than toy soldier like uniformity.

Dear jpipes,

The soldiers in largely civilian dress would well represent most National Guard and irregular units IN MEXICO proper, but not so much units in Texas as part of Santa Anna's invasion force.

While some of your Texian War figures would carry forward adequately to 1846-48 (including many of the Texians, too), the Mexican Army of 1836 is not the same as ten years later and really needs the proper figures.

Fortunately, 15mm manufacturers make almost every uniform needed for the Mexican-American War, though it will require buying from as many as five or six different lines to do so.

No other scale represents all the troop and uniform types even nearly as well as 15mm.

And, "No!," I don't sell any!

TVAG

My Mexicans are mostly from slightly later (Mexican-American War and Mexican Adventure) I do also have a couple of units of troops in sombreros with white trousers and tunics – I use them, as noted, as State troops and local militia – they make great "filler" units, as they can be used from the Mexican-American war to the Mexican Revolution

The only accounts of sombreros wearing units (that I know of) refer to Mexican irregular cavalry during the Mexican-American War. But seriously, this is just a layman talking. Even the semi-regular "ranger" company out of San Antonio is usually shown in 1836 as wearing top or "zorro" style hats for their non-regulation gear, like the guy in this tiny picture:

picture

Was the Speedy Gonzalez style sombrero as we know it even invented at the time? The only account of uniform shortages I know of are for shoes. Santa Ana even ordered the issuance of shoes to his "preferred" companies before they stormed the Alamo, leaving the rest to wear the usual sandles.

I've not read most of the Osprey books, but some valuable information about Mexican uniforms 1836 can be found in Alan Huffine's "Blood of Noble Men:"

link

Softcover copies abound, but I can never find a good link!

link

jpipes, sounds like you've got an impressive 28mm force! Since you're fielding a Texas Revolution-era army, have you seen the 28mm offerings from Cannon Fodder Miniatures of Australia? Here's a link to their agent, Blaze Away Miniatures & Models:

link

I particularly like their San Jacinto command set and the "Come and Take It!" gun, also known as the Gonzales cannon. The Battle of Gonzales is informally known as "The Lexington of Texas".

Try this site as well:

MexAmWar · Mexican American War Association

link

Robert Henry

If you are interested in expanding your Texas War collection Look here:

boothillminiatures.co.uk

The range is expanding this year concentrating firstly on the Mexican army of 1836 then returning to the Texians to add units such as the New Orleans Greys, Alabama Red Rovers etc.