new mexico SAR Color Guard
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The New Mexico Society Color Guard is rich with representation of those who served during the Revolutionary period. In addition to the American Colonial Militia and Continental Line uniforms depicted by other SAR Color Guards, the Spanish colony of New Mexico had Spanish Presidio soldiers, of whom some of our guard members emulate and whose valuable contributions to the cause of American Independence qualify their descendants as SAR members.
The New Mexico Society over the past several years has researched the Spanish Presidio Soldiers garrisoned at Santa Fe and also the garrisons at San Antonio and El Paso, TX, Tucson, AZ and Presidios along the California Camino Real. Most of these Presidio's took part in King Carlos III request for donations to his war chest to support Spain and France's war with England in the mid and late 1700's, the same time as our Revolutionary War. As Spain's part in the war, King Carlos saw to it that shiploads of suppliers reached General Washington and the Continental Army (in most cases by the French Navy). It is recorded that tents, cots, blankets, uniforms, muskets, cannon, ball and powder, medical supplies all were part of the shipments resulting from the Spanish King's war chest.
The records of the Presidio Soldiers that provided financial support to the King are rather complete and the documentation is available thanks to the work of researcher's like Dr Hough and others. These listings provide ample proof of eligibility for the descendents of these men to be members of the SAR. This has led to several members of the New Mexico Society tracing their heritage back to one of the Presidio Soldiers.
So it is an honor to have developed a Color Guard that represents the Spanish contribution to our Revolutionary war. The Presidio's soldiers were not well supplied with uniforms until about 1775 and there after. A review of the Presidio's, requested by the King and General Galvez, determined that a uniformed garrison was lacking and the quartermaster in Mexico City was directed that each soldier would have at least two uniforms - one for daily activities and the other for dress.
The New Mexico Society over the past several years has researched the Spanish Presidio Soldiers garrisoned at Santa Fe and also the garrisons at San Antonio and El Paso, TX, Tucson, AZ and Presidios along the California Camino Real. Most of these Presidio's took part in King Carlos III request for donations to his war chest to support Spain and France's war with England in the mid and late 1700's, the same time as our Revolutionary War. As Spain's part in the war, King Carlos saw to it that shiploads of suppliers reached General Washington and the Continental Army (in most cases by the French Navy). It is recorded that tents, cots, blankets, uniforms, muskets, cannon, ball and powder, medical supplies all were part of the shipments resulting from the Spanish King's war chest.
The records of the Presidio Soldiers that provided financial support to the King are rather complete and the documentation is available thanks to the work of researcher's like Dr Hough and others. These listings provide ample proof of eligibility for the descendents of these men to be members of the SAR. This has led to several members of the New Mexico Society tracing their heritage back to one of the Presidio Soldiers.
So it is an honor to have developed a Color Guard that represents the Spanish contribution to our Revolutionary war. The Presidio's soldiers were not well supplied with uniforms until about 1775 and there after. A review of the Presidio's, requested by the King and General Galvez, determined that a uniformed garrison was lacking and the quartermaster in Mexico City was directed that each soldier would have at least two uniforms - one for daily activities and the other for dress.
