Climate

Notification of Vasquez' desertion from compania de Lampazos. Flores authorization for sick soldiers to change from one compania to another if the Weather will help their health. One document suspends pardon to desertors. Flores suggests Ugalde modernize weapons used by troops in el Nuevo Reyno de Leon. (R. Gomez, July 1989)

Administrative correspondence for 1781 re: arrival of Lasagi in Nuevo Santander as gobernador; required use of papel sellado; initiation of production of lino and canamo; need to send collera of Indian prisoners to capital due to large number at Aguaio; death of Alvarez; problems caused by hurricane including rivers flooding, houses and fields destroyed. (D. Uhlman, March 1988)

Very important document on instructions and rules for founding new missions, presidios and towns. Neve expresses need for equalization of salaries for same rank/position among military, religious and civil personnel. Document divided into titulos, transportation, accountability, rations; crops; horses, mules; craftsmen. II. - lists of officers at each mission, presidio; description of terrain, Indian settlements for planning defensive positions; military escorts to establishments at Santa Barbara channel; salaries of officers/soldiers at four sailers and craftsmen on blandra Pilar, lanchas Lauretana and San Juan hepomuceno. III. - clothing; canons. IV. - armour distribution, types, purposes and accountability of funds; procedures for filling vacancies; evaluations by service reports. Ix. - requires monthly status report of each company. X. - Indian treaties. Xi. -gubernatorial functions regarding (ff. 386-390). - details on selection/training of habilitados (paymasters); accountability to real hacienda, Naval/military superiors and settlers; F. 390 consists of inventory and production data of small animals, cattle, horses, mules. Xiv. Settlement and use of land; supplies; irrigation and crops; house construction; cattle; taxes; regulations re. Establishment and defense in Canal; optimum placement for defense and religious organization along frontier and Camino real. (J. M. Johnson, February 1989)

Neve's correspondence includes (most important documents, service records and promotions, rebuilding mission at San Diego and constructing Capistrano. Details geography of area around San Francisco and Santa Clara mission, especially natural resources. Lists of numbers of officers and craftsmen at four Principal California presidios, supply escorts, real reglamentos pertaining to details of presidio construction and tackle for cavalry companies. Ff. 354-356 is list of salaries and numbers of officers, craftsmen, and rations for presidios crews and ships, including Actual costs vs. Those alloted by missionaries, income from tobacco and other crops, purchase and distribution of mules, horses, and supplies, shipping, tackle for soldiers and settlers. Ff. 359-360 estimates of rations per single man and families, after spoilage in salaries by rank for officers, craftsmen and Naval personnel. Ff. 368-369 allotments of supply rations and money for presidios in Santa Barbara channel. (J. M. Johnson, February 1989)

Very important and detailed correspondence include (especially agricultural and religious supplies for 3 missions of the Santa Barbara Canal; F. 309 lists officers for 3 Principal California presidios. Serra reports on repairs to old and construction of new missions, emphasizing temporal and evangelical elements in conquest of souls. F. 312 details requirements for furnishing missions and religious objects for each mission. Provides salaries of religious personnel for each. F. 313 is a list of priests at each of 8 missions attached to Monterrey. Comments on bad examples for Indians set by troops and settlers in area. Neve discusses weapons and clothing supplies for California troops and settlers. F. 318 list of clothing necessary for people in missions and presidios. Ff. 319-320 refer to past methods in determining minimal subsistance of food and clothing supplies. F. 321 is chart of amount of bullets, gunpowder, flints and types of weapons by presidio needed for defense. Defines need for new regulations to correct deficiencies due to distances of king and real hacienda from California. Proposes improved military organization and requests greater numbers of soldiers, supplies and horses. F. 324 discusses military escorts, organization, personnel, time of year with estimated subordination of soldiers, military promotions, equipment for cavalry units. Census of military personnel, including tackle and rider's clothing for cavalry. Distribution of animals to each presidio. Ff. 332-333 provides detailed list of tackle and clothing by cavalry officer for Monterrey, San Francisco and San Diego. F. 336 is chart of higher officers and numbers of soldiers for same presidios. F. 339 distribution by type and number of weapons to same three. F. 341 numbers of mules and horses distributed to these presidios. Other topics of San Francisco, storage and distribution of weapons to prevent sales to Indians, rations of food to presidios and missions, references to past ordinances for founding missions, family life of soldiers in presidios, evacuation of families in case of attack, duties and types of craftsmen with necessary supplies for same for settlements. (J. M. Johnson, January 1989)

Details of Principal concerns and needs for California establishments. Detailed information on climate, agricultural conditions, pasturing livestock, geographical measurements and features of terrain, arable lands, irrigation, social and safety measures for settlers/recruits, food and other supplies for population, horses and mules. Other documents list family relationships and Vital statistics of colonists requesting land tenure rights, lists of types and numbers of cargo animals for missions, planned distribution of & place purchased of these & smaller domestic food/clothing animals. Description of geography, Flora and potential for irrigation of rivers in region. Founding and contruction of presidio San Joseph (Guadalupe). (J. M. Johnson, January 1989)

(S. Gibbs, September 1987)

Concerns Indian murders, horse thefts and unsuccessful attempts by villagers to catch offenders due to snow and poor mounts. Mentions peaceful Navajos who have planted on ancient grounds. Virrey(?) Acknowledges receipt of letters and indicates hope that 1500 horses will aid in apprehending Indian offenders. (S. Gibbs, September 1987)

Mendinueta recounts Indian thefts, kidnappings, murders. Mentions Cumanche ambivalence in village commerce and war. explains drought and winter has killed horses. Bucareli expresses sympathy for depredations but declares faith in Mendinueta's ability to control Indians through zeal and prudence. (S. Gibbs, September 1987)

Mendinueta recounts Cumanche and Apache murders. Mentions snow as impediment to attackers. (S. Gibbs, August 1987)