Indian (Depredations)

Concern expressed by Moreno that housing expensive and food short as it is eaten by horses; Mendinueta recommends seed be made available at low price so soldiers do not desert; Wall of cavalry quarters in ruins, soldiers uncomfortable, horses damaged; discussion of (high) price of corn in region; price for corn gone from four to nine pesos per carga because of lack of rain; desertions continue as troops unhappy; soldier in Hospital incurring costs; haciendas asked for grain; baker stops making bread for regimento for lack of wheat; 25,000 pesos already given over from real Caxa of Durango; request that either horses be moved out to pastures away from the city, or 500 fanegas of corn be made available so corn is left for people in city; request for virrey to support Coronel in forcing Hacendados to keep prices low; testimony of Hacendados concerning their (lack of) grain; argument between Moreno and virrey concerning establishment of blame for shortages; certification that corn once selling for 4 pesos per carga now selling for 12 to 15 pesos per carga; lack of housing seen as resulting from increased number of shops; request for 12,000 to 14,000 pesos from real hacienda; Hacendado records the augmentation of 50 on his ranch because of lack of rain in other areas; bishop points out danger of leaving horses on haciendas outside city because of wild Indians; regimento is packed up for Querataro; royal decree that regimento retreat from Durango; regimento withdrawn from Durango for lack of grain; very repetitive; many copies. (p. Coyle November 1989)

Extensive Series devoted to filling vacancies, due to retirement and death, in the companias and presidios of the Provincias Internas. All candidates are described fully; service records included for highest ranking officials, including descriptions of conflict with Indian groups, recovery of prisoners and stolen livestock. Marques de Sonora behind the push to fill vacancies. Desertors (cavalry and infantry). Previous sequence resumes. Roll ends abruptly at ff. 552 continua en Vol. 157 en el rollo 15. (M. Longo, November 1989)

Reconnaissance of frontier Punta de lampsazos where Apaches raiding concluded (for purpose of posting squads of compania presidaria). Describes boundaries and Manning of patrol areas. Account of raid on San Miguel. Military rolls-payrolls April 1782, compania presidaria, Punta de Lampazos and Monterrey include dates of service, duty station, promotions, vacancies, leaves, infractions, deaths. (J. Higgins, February 1989)

Detailed description of the depredations done by the indios Nortenos in San Geronimo and San Phelipe el Real, the description includes number of persons killed and wounded and horses and mules killed or stolen. Contributions made by each man present in cabildo abierto in San Phelipe are given, and tactics used for fighting Indians. (T. Kahana, October 1988)

Gallardo reflects on nature of Indian wars and present crisis of Nueva Vizcaya; comments on return of Yaquis from Valle de San Buenaventura; reorganization or re-activation of various presidios on Camino real to Chihuahua city; deployment of militia and presidial forces; proposals and comments of Mendoza, Tamaron and Carta; reviews arguments made by those authors; describes frontier military life in harsh terms; problems inherent in military administration; threat of banditry, measures that need to be taken to bring it under control; Indian attacks; places inhabited; dispersal of settlements is major defense problem; areas actually protected by various presidios; possible expenses of reforms; comments on Tamaron's infantry proposal as absurd, claiming they are producto de un celo Santo, y de un concepto in greso Por informes de personas poco instruida en la guerra de los indios; demonstrates Tamaron's calculations in error; describes in detail arms and equipment (Cueras, sables, escopetas), nature of war (unsuited to infantry), advantages of lightly equipped enemy warriors; describes why guns are Inferior to bows and arrows; many details on battle tactics; enemy's lack of formations in battle; stresses war is unconventional struggle de duender; draws comparisons with war in north Africa; praises frontier soldiers; notes present threat of French; notes French weapons trade on south plains; refers to various legal codes; contrasts northern New Spain with other areas being subjected to colonization; emphasizes many shortcomings of New Spain venture; notes use of canary islanders in Texas; lack of plans used in establishing many important settlements; use of Tlaxcaltecans as settlers; many interesting biblical and historical allusions; emphasizes that Spain does not have resources to erect barrier like great Wall of China. Gallardo notes information he is presenting here is based in part on inspection of Nueva Vizcaya, Sinaloa, Sonora of ca. 1750. Document is of great historic merit to any who are interested in later Rubi/Lafora expedition and regulation of 1772. Many of Gallardo's fresh insights have been echoed by later historians such as Thomas and moorhead. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Indians attack 3 Ranchos near Naro, that have been abandoned. Indians killed 2 Spaniards and 2 friendly Indians near Rosalia. Sibubapas killed 5 people in Cangrejos. Apaches raid Terrenate killing 2 soldiers, 1 Vecino, and taking 8 horses. Seris killed 2 people, took cattle in Opodepe. Anza attacked them killing several, recovering 32 cows. Indians killed people in Tuchiqui and Ures. Discussion of Alvarado's letter dealing with proper administration of taxes from Sinaloa and Sonora. (J. Tapia, July, 1987).