Diaries

Pedro Vial (a Frenchman) is sent by Concha (governor of New Mexico) to explore the route between Santa Fe and Irinueces (Luisiana). Two copies of his orders and one of his travel diary are included. There he records day by day distances and directions traveled, geographic features, and Indian groups he met. He relates how he was caught by the Cancex and miraculously saved by some Indian friends. (A. Nielsen, November 1989)

Series of documents concerning reports of military forces that are available or incomplete in the various provincias del poniente. Documents include chart of comparative figures on military personnel, Indian prisoners, inventories of war supplies, ill soldiers, religious personnel and military in charge of presidios, military exercise and training, weapons and ammunition making, military escorts authorized, campaigns against Indians, postal services, target practices for soldiers, and a variety of events related to the activities proper of the presidios life. Documents include figures only. Names of people and military officials can be found in the chart foot notes. Documents consist of charts and a Series of entries in form of a diary, which presents the novedades occurred in every place or presidio. (M. Marroquin, December 1988)

Concerns Series of letters giving notices of taxes, military actions against Indians, congratulations to officials for successful campaigns, soldiers from fronteras being exempted from paying taxes, reports on the status of military forces asked, charts reporting military status in Nuevo Santander (report includes ammunition, food, weapons, mules, horses, clothing, etc). Diaries of activities held with several military companies. Diary of activities done in Aguaverde (chart shows civil, military and religious personnel in presidio, also shows number of sick people). Diary of military operation in Monclova. Series of testimonies given by witnesses of confrontation with Indians. (M. Marroquin, March 1989)

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)

Pie de lista de revista of segunda compania volante de Cavalleria de Nuevo Santander including diarios, lists of invalids, destinos, and need for military chaplain, more horses and mules; diarios include accounts of Indian raids on livestock, thus the shortage, and the troops cutting palmido para tejar el quartel; otherwise information is sparse except for statistical information (diarios found in ff. 285-6 and 298-303). (D. J. McClelland, September 1988)

San Maxent reviews primera compania volante de Nuevo Santander, including diarios, deudas, military service records and Estados de fuerza; diarios not too substantive, ff. 180 and 165; military service records ff. 181-190; women mentioned in terms of officers' marital status and little else. (D. J. McClelland, September 1988)