"Jine the (Mexican) Cavalry?" Topic

Just curious. I'm reading Utley on the Plains Wars, and at one point, a band of Apache cross the Rio Grande back into US territory, sign treaties and wind up on reservations because of attacks by Mexican cavalry.

Fair enough, but outside of a cameo in Rio Grande, I don't think I've ever seen post-ACW Mexican--as opposed to Imperial French--cavalry in a movie, seen them mentioned in write-ups of Wild West games or heard of them being offered for sale by miniatures makers--just peasants and bandits. Are they out there and I'm missing them? Or is this a "faction" no one actually paints and plays?

'Major Dundee', I think.

After Charlton Heston's expedition enters Mexico chasing Apaches, they encounter Mexican Republican cavalry (and the French intervention forces).

And possibly 'Two Mules for Sister Sara'.

I think Hollywood movies ignore them because they're not glamorous
and if you want Mexicans, Rurales are more visually iconic.

Most of the Maximilian era cavalry would work, especially troopers in kepis or round headgear.

I do some Old West gaming in 54mm and I just use my Mexican Alamo era infantry and cavalry since my figure choices are a little more limited.

Yeah, you can't move in movieland Mexico without tripping over French lancers: Vera Cruz, Major Dundee and The Undefeated come to mind. I don't remember Republican forces in Major Dundee. I do remember Republican infantry in Two Mules for Sister Sara and in The Undefeated--but only infantry, and of course only in the context of the French intervention.

So Mexican Republican cavalry doing Wild West cavalry things--fighting Indians, dealing with banditry--were a thing, but aren't a miniatures thing? Or a movie thing? Is this different among Mexican wargamers or Spanish-language movies?

You'd think somewhere there'd have been an interesting battle or so.

The movie "Juarez" (1939) had a few scenes involving Republican forces, but once again in the context of the French intervention.

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The movie "Geronimo: An American Legend" (1993) also had a few scenes at the film's beginning involving Mexican forces battling Geronimo.

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I have a dozen of Gringo40s fine Mexican cavalry. They are in sombreros, which I prefer as it makes them useful across a wider period than any kepis or caps. They are a bit larger but work just fine in a separate unit. A nice mix of lancers and sabers with command. Mine are painted more as vaqueros, not uniforms, but you could do them in uniform. They back up my presidials, and then also fight with rangers a hundred years later.

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Plus the female captive is essential for CYNTHIA ANN'S WAR.

Overall, the Indian Wars would be later than Major Dundee or Undefeated. The French intervention was over soon after the Civil War. You would be talking real Mexican Army by the time you get into the 1870s and the many Indian Wars.

Thank you one and all.

Female captives are essential for all skirmish/RPG game systems, doc mcb. And the less they wear, the more periods they can be used for. (My story and I'm sticking to it.)

Here are some paintings of Mexican cavalry from the Apache wars period by Frederic Remington:

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