Name/Title
4th Tarragona Battalion [Button]Description
Late Spanish Colonial period uniform coat button for the 4th Ligero (Tarragona) Batallon de Infanteria Expedicionario. The almost French style of button was adopted by decree around 1816, showing “4 (a circle or “o” serves as the number suffix “th”) / LIGERO / TARRA /GONA”. They were in general use until superseded by the adoption of a new button design throughout the Spanish Army in 1823.Context
This button is from the period of Tarragona's sojourn in North America. It was definitely one of the light infantry units sent Ultramar to Cuba in response to rebellions against Spanish colonial rule. Elements of the Tarragona Light infantry were dispatched from there to Florida during Andrew Jackson's Pensacola activities of 1818, and some also served as a cadre in training militia troops at St. Augustine in 1820. A Tarragona Light Infantry presence in West Florida actually extended until 1821, when that locality was finally ceded to the United States. This service aside, a small number of Tarragona men were part of the Cuerpo Expedicionario de la Isla de Cuba sent to reinforce the fortress San Juan de Ulua garrison at Veracruz in 1821 - other small Tarragona contingents were included in the 1st and 2nd relief detachments posted there in 1822 and 1823. The whole battalion was a major part of the last relief in January, 1825, serving under Jose Maria Coppinger (who had been the last Spanish governor of East Florida) until the fortress was finally surrendered to Mexican forces. Thus, the unit is well associated with significant events and localities in Florida and Nueva Espana in those times.