Exploration

Concerns designation of Ruiz as commissioner of departamento de San Blas. Concerns letters by Ruiz de Texada about the sale of Pita (agave) by the Indians of Aguascalientes; Indians are said to be ignorant, lazy, and non-reliable. Letter concerning desertion of navigators from ship Princesa in port of Acapulco; includes a list of desertors' names. Concerns notification of departures and arrivals to puerto de San Blas of ships. Includes a description of physical condition, weapons, soldiers and navigators of ship Balbanera. Concerns promotions. (R. Gomez, may 1989)

Ripperda reports arrival of mail including document for governor of Louisiana. Assures continuance of postal service. Discusses Louisiana border and English fort as key to enemy's destruction of province. Peace with Comanches and other Indians advantageous in case of war with English. Considers exploration of coast and islands necessary as guard against establishment of foreigners and subjection of Indians. Need for establishment of 100 of best troops to resist English and Indians of the north. (L. L. Woodward, March 1988)

Rich details of history and settlement of missions and presidios near San Fernando. Founding and abandonment of presidio of Texas. Details of Indian invasion of mission of los Adaes, French and Indian fighting against Spanish. Gives geographical limits of province of Texas, describes fruits cultivated, resources for pasturing, construction, water, wildlife, animals, commerce, mining. Discusses war with Apaches and inability to reduce them. Establishment of San Fernando and population figures. Request for troops in San Sabas; cattle, horses, provisions in Adaes due to Indians leaving missions, ranches needing to be reestablished, Indian war hindering exploitation of land, risk of families leaving. Ripperda responds that movement of troops will be held up until he can provide for detachment to San Sabas. (L. L. Woodward, February1988)

Letter and diary of trip made by Cazorla to coast in order to fight against Carancahuaces- from may 25 to June 5, 1776. Detailed description of land and proposal to build a fort to defend coast and watch for ships. Description of English shipwreck and mention of exchange of goods between English and Carancahuaces. Letter concerning irish shipwreck and transfer of survivors to la Habana. (M. Vasquez, may 1988)

Letter from Cabello thanking Galvez for naming him teniente del rey de Plaza de la Habana and sub-inspector of troops in Cuba. Rangel to be in charge of naming replacement of Cabello. Order to transfer cattle from Bexar to Luisiana. Mention of Cabello's sisters and their wellbeing in Madrid. Description of distribution of presents for Comanches and their reaction. Mention of murder of Comanche captain Cabeza Rapada, and account of Cabello's final acts as governor of Texas. Mentions intention to discover route from Bexar to Nueva Mexico. (M. Vasquez, April 1988)

Recommendation to Cuellar to direct military operations to Coahuila, to cover frontiers of Sonora and to fight in province of Gila. Statement of Cuellar's distrust of Indians, and of reduction to be achieved through weapons. Governor of Coahuila speaks as representative of viceroy; mention of composition of military companies to fight for Nueva Vizcaya and of Francisco Cuellar's military history. Copy of correspondence between Cuellar and captain of San Buenaventura concerning discussion of threats made by Indian enemies and military tactics for their reduction; emphasis on importance of exterminating them. Cuellar's diary of happenings in expedition at his charge terrain, of military organization, of encounter with Indians, war tactics, endurance of soldiers and auxiliaries, provisions, injured and dead soldiers and Indians, description of difficulties encountered in clashes with Indians, mention of Indian spies and information given by them, information of other military officials doings. (M. Vasquez, July 1988)

Correspondence mentioning donations to buy gunpowder and artillery for war against Indians. Order given by Cuellar to his Brother to instruct troops; discussion of death penalty or punishment of baqueta given to Indians; discussion of donations in money and beasts promised by commerce of Durango; acknowledgement of arrival of Cuellar's Brother to Chihuahua and detailed description of desertion of one of his Cavos during trip to Chihuahua; discussion of difficulty at presidio due to lack of payment of salaries to soldiers for several years; description of Indian raids in Chihuahua and urgent campaign against them by Cuellar; mention of promised donations to be given by several haciendas, list of those who have not contributed to expedition, and list of people, places and monetary amounts donated; also various letters giving thanks for donations received. (M. Vasquez, June 1988)

Series of documents concerning establishment of postal service between Durango and Chihuahua. Arrest of military official. Transportation of Indian prisoners. Reorganization of missions and haciendas personnel. Reports on Apache attacks and potential threat to crops and weapons in storage from Indian rebels. Traitor Indians guides leading attacks against haciendas and presidios. Prosecution of illegal gambling house leaser.

(M. Marroquin, August 1988)/

Concerns campaigns against Indian rebels. Military administration. Military promotions. References to Indians attacks. Documents bear little information. (M. Marroquin, August 1988)