US Marines, Cuba 1898

While rummaging around in The Lead Pile to come up with the two bags of US commanders painted recently, I found a handful of US Marines.  Before returning back to work on the Hittites, fourteen US Marines for the Spanish-American War muster off the painting desk.  Figures are 25mm Old Glory. 

Included in one of the mounted officer packs was a mounted marine.  Now, the marine contingent will have one of its own to lead them into battle.  As always, the Old Glory SAW range is a good one.  With simple uniform, the figures can be painted and fielded with little effort.  When my seven-year old grandson saw the figures on the painting desk, he identified them as policemen.  You know, these could be used as either cops or even prison guards from the 20s and 30s in a Pulp setting.

Also surfaced in the dig through The Lead Pile were several more packs of SAW infantry.  One bag contained Spanish infantry in sun helmet.  At least 30 of these figures are already present and ready for duty in their white tropical uniform.  While looking up some other matter on the SAW the other day, I came upon the illustration below:

The work by Murat Halstead is entitled, The Last Stand of the Spanish Garrison in Cuba.  From my readings, the Spanish typically wore the tropical whites or rayadillo in Cuba.  If this particular foreign service uniform was worn in Cuba, this would add a lot of color to a Spanish army in Cuba.  Expect to see some Spanish infantry in blue tunic and red pants one day.

Ok, back to the Hittites.