The soldados de cuera (English, "leather-jacket soldier")[1] served in the frontier garrisons of northern New Spain, the Presidios, from the late 16th to the early 19th century.[2] 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 (inspector general) 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".[1]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
crespiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Crosby, Harry W. (1994). Antigua California: Mission and Colony on the Peninsular Frontier, 1697-1768 - Harry Crosby - Google Books. ISBN 9780826314956. Retrieved 2012-09-15.