Geography

Bucareli request information from O'Conor on new presidios and Indian wars; he provides a detailed report with particular information on eastern frontier; includes notes on hostile Indian groups; war customs of enemy; estimates of group size; mail service; problems of communication; Penal code for presidial criminals; formation of new militias; presidios construction; proposed presidial transfers; notes on Texas Indian groups of particular importance in regard to intertribal relations on south plains. (J. Williams, April 1987)

A very detailed informe on present military strength and capability of new presidios transferred as a result of reglamento of 1772; includes details on weapons; constructions at new sites; commanders and officers at posts; geography of region; explorations of O'Conor; and many related details of historical merit. This document has been published in Spanish (Flores and almada) and in translation in English (moore and beene 1961). (J. Williams, April 1987)

Title pages to documents not included in this Tomo (88). (J. Williams, April 1987)

Concerns present condition and advisability of Bonilla's depopulation of province; failure of missionization; economic decline of missions under new Franciscan administration; decline in mission agriculture; decline of mining; decline of commerce; chaos of present spiritual and temporal governing of missions; detachment of Buenavista stationed at powder house at Guaymas; detachment of men from Altar stationed at Pitic; Lafora map; supply reforms; proposal for Colorado River settlements; arrest of Vildosola; poor condition of provincial horse herds; geographic problems created by presidial removal and creation of new line. An important document for history of Sonora. (J. Williams, April 1987)

Concerns plans for O'Conor's 2nd general campaign; his request for viceregal approval;calls for total extermination of Apaches or their conversion to christanity; tables of troops assigned to duty; geographic descriptions of destinations; requirements of field commanders; includes interesting table of forces raised for campaign in New Mexico; viceroy Bucareli grants his approval. (J. Williams, April 1987)

O'Conor diary includes detailed notes on: specific engagements; livestock recovered; enemy killed and captured; progress at new presidio sites; tropa veterana in expeditions; supply problems; orders given to field-force commanders; Indian settlements encountered; structures and fields discovered; Indian material culture; vegetation; terrain; daily activity of force; and use of scouts. O'Conor also provides tables of troop composition in campaign and lists of plunder recovered. Includes curious references to an Apache rancheria with a pequeno baluarte de adove, en el ojo de San Luis. (J. Williams, April 1987)

O'conor describes reasons for his final site selection relative to royal regulation of presidios of 1772; includes notes on subjects such as; vegetation; topography; distances; communications between sites; water availability; proposal for presidio at Yuma. O'Conor bases much of argument on Bonilla's earlier report; includes other insights into new routes to California; Lafora map; and missionization. (J. Williams, April 1987)

A very detailed report providing information about nature of defense and economy of province of Sonora, largely as it related to implementation of royal regulation of 1772; includes information about subjects such as; presidio relocations; site selection; campaigns of Vildosola; battles at Tecoripa; battles at Bisanic; mission Indian alliance with barbarians; Cerro Prieto campaigns; peace negotiations; hardship caused by wars; fertility of region; progress of missions; present ruin of missions due to wars; Mineral richness of province; commerce; presidio Inspections; combat capability of troops stationed in province; daily duties of presidials; scouts; raids on various missions; troop assignments; proposals of troop assignments; corrections to Lafora map; auxiliaries (Indians and civilian); opening of a route to California; proposals to found missions and presidios along northern frontier; Bonilla includes two tables of alternate troop assignments in new defensive line; many significant references to future Yuma settlements. Taken together a document of extreme importance to history of Sonora. (J. Williams, April 1987)

Pineda lists the type of food and other materials for the soldiers. Mention of cost involved. Description of the presidios and their surrounding towns; brief geographical description of the area. Also mention of number of soldiers and condition of horses, weapons etc. Concern for enemy Indians who harass the region. (J. Tapia, may, 1988)

Nentuig reports sending map of Sonora to viceroy but is not accurate due to lack of instruments. Map is not included in this volume. Also mentions Pimas and Seris are active in region and have killed some soldiers. Llenes reports that people are afraid of the Indians. (J. Tapia, may, 1988)