These classifications are a combination of those given in the 'Principles of War' Colonial and Continental army lists, as well as those given in Richard Clarke's articles in Wargames Illustrated. I have tried to keep classifications simple, whilst offering maximum variety. Troops are graded relative to other troops within the same conflict, and not to those outside Mexico.
French
|
Unit |
Strength |
Weapons |
Notes |
|
Line or Naval Infantry |
6 |
MLR |
Steadfast |
|
Chasseurs a Pied |
8 |
MLR |
Steadfast, Light Infantry, Marksmen |
|
Zouaves or Tiraillers |
8 |
MLR |
Steadfast, may be Light Infantry |
|
Legion Infantry |
8 |
MLR |
Steadfast. One company may be Mounted Infantry |
|
Chasseurs d'Afrique |
8 |
MW |
|
|
Other Cavalry |
6 |
MW |
|
|
Artillery |
6 |
BRO |
Medium guns |
Conservative/Imperial Mexicans
|
Unit |
Strength |
Weapons |
Notes |
|
Line Infantry |
4 |
SB or MLR |
MLR supplied by French, so proportion should increase later in the war. |
|
Elite Infantry |
4 or 6 |
MLR |
May be Light Infantry. If foreign troops then they may be Steadfast. |
|
Empress Lancers |
6 |
La |
|
|
Red Hussars |
8 |
MW |
Austrian troops. |
|
Other Cavalry |
4 |
MW or La |
|
|
Artillery |
4 |
SB |
Medium guns |
Foreign Troops
|
Unit |
Strength |
Weapons |
Notes |
|
Austrian Jagers |
6 |
MLR |
Steadfast |
|
Austrian Hussars |
8 |
MW |
|
|
Austrian Lancers |
8 |
La |
|
|
Austrian Artillery |
6 |
SB |
Medium guns |
|
Belgian Infantry |
4 |
MLR |
Steadfast |
|
Egyptian Infantry |
6 |
MLR |
Steadfast, Light Infantry |
|
Contra-Guerilla Foot |
6 |
MLR |
Irregular Skirmish Foot, Mounted Infantry (Mules) |
|
Contra-Guerilla Horse |
6 |
MW |
Irregular Horse |
|
Contra-Guerilla Artillery |
4 |
SB |
Light Guns |
Republican Mexican
|
Unit |
Strength |
Weapons |
Notes |
|
Regular Infantry |
4 |
MLR |
Steadfast |
|
Elite Infantry |
6 |
MLR or BLC |
Steadfast. BLC from 1865 onwards, and may be upgraded to RC. Both should be very rare. |
|
National Guard or Militia |
4 |
SB or MLR |
MLR from 1865 onwards. |
|
Cavalry |
4 |
MW, La or BLC |
BLC from 1865 onwards, and may be upgraded to RC. Both should be rare. Note that cavalry armed as such is not Mounted Infantry trained. |
|
Artillery |
4 |
SB or MLR |
MLR more common from 1865 onwards. |
|
Guerilla Foot |
2 |
IML |
Skirmish Foot. May be Mounted Infantry |
|
Guerilla Horse |
4 |
MW or La* |
Irregular Horse. If armed with Lance they do not get the multiplier, but do count column shifts. |
NB: Early war Infantry and Artillery may be graded Poor Shots to represent a shortage of supplies. BLC and RC represent US supplied weapons. The BLC grading best reflects the fact that the supply of such weapons was unreliable and less ammunition may have been available for them.