The uniform of cuera dragoons consisted of a short blue coat or chupa with red collar, cuffs, and lapels. Blue breeches or calzones were worn with buttons of brass. The soldado used a black Texcuco hat that was wide brimmed, turned up, and held by a loop on the left side to handle the musket with ease. A black scarf or mascada negra de Barcelona and a blue cloth cape or capa were also issued.
Officers wore a blue coat with scarlet collar, cuffs and lapels. The collar was edged with gold lace. A buff or red waistcoat was also worn with blue knee breeches. The hat was a gold-laced tricorn. The field uniform was much like the enlisted uniform only of better quality.
Presidios on the Spanish Frontier were Caballarías or mounted soldier companies. They consisted of a Captain or Capitán, a Lieutenant or Teniente, an Ensign or Alférez, a Chaplain or Capellán, one or two Sergeants or Sargentos, two Corporals or Cabos, some forty or so soldiers or soldados, and a number of Indian scouts.
It would have been a rare occurrence to see a full presidial company in formation. The strength of a company was usually dispersed in small detachments on various assignments. In addition to garrisoning the presidio, soldados de cuera were detached to explore, to help establish new missions, to garrison existing missions as an escolta (escort or guard) to protect missions from hostile Indians, protect supply caravans, carry dispatches, and perform any number of other duties as assigned to them by the provincial governors. In response to a question about the number of duties assigned to presidial soldiers posed by an inspecting Spanish official, one soldado responded, “I have more duties than the Devil has Fallen Angels!”
Presidial soldiers could advance themselves in a number of ways. They were paid a salary (which might not be collected for as many as five years at a time). They could also be given land grants or promoted in the military based on their ability to read and write.