page_title: Soldado de cuera
section_title: Assignments
hierarchical_section_title: Soldado de cuera / Assignments
caption_attribution_description: English: Drawing found on ceiling of cave like feature on a canyon floor in New Mexico, 20 miles NE of Gallup NM.
context_page_description: The soldado de cuera served in the frontier garrisons of northern New Spain, the Presidios. 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 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."
context_section_description: When not on campaign against hostile Indians, the soldados de cuera escorted convoys of travelers or merchandise. They also had to take care of watching the enormous remudas of the presidios from native horse thieves; a fifty man garrison had over 500 horses and mules. This constant vigilance reduced the number of men available for other missions.
caption: Possible Navajo charcoal cave drawing of soldado de cuera, date of drawing unknown
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