Military Campaigns

Concerns Anza's position as comandante Interino de las Armas de Sonora; Anza's service record described including attempts to pacify Comanches, Yutas, and Papagas, to sever ties of Navajoes with Apaches Gilenos, expedition against Seris and Pimas, opening up of roads and bringing settlers to California. Ugarte y Loyola recommends Anza to marques de Sonora; in letter to Florez, Ugarte y Loyola discusses Anza's salary; Florez suggests that Anza be placed in an interim position in a Sonoran compania presidial to receive capitan's salary. Decision to pay Anza the same salary as San Buenaventura's capitan's salary and provides time span in which salary owed, further discussion of Anza's salary by virrey sets it at 2400 pesos a year, as if he were paid that of Tupson's capitan. Ugarte y Loyola informs Flores that Soler will be in charge of the primera compania volante and will receive same salary as his present California salary. Mention of deaths of Anza's Father and grandfather who died at the hands of the Apaches. Letter from Garrido y Duran to Florez suggests paying Anza's widow and heir his salary from August 1787 until his death in December 1788, and approved in letters from Ugarte y Loyola and Garrido y Duran to Revilla Gigedo. (L. L. Woodward, August 1989)

Proposal from Ugarte y Loyola for position as capitan of the primera compania volante de Nueva Viscaya supporting Baldovin, lists candidates for position and service records. Position open due to promotion of Tovar; tenientes of compania listed and description of their eligibility for promotion to be considered as candidates. Rodriguez for capitancy in Tupson and other two presidios because Azuela, fronteras capitan, has died from accident; Rodriguez' service record provided. Soler selected as interim capitan of primera compania volante de Nueva Viscaya with annual salary of 2000 pesos. According to Ugarte y Loyola, service record of Soler as Ayudante inspector favorable, but has left Californias due to scandolous love affair which provided poor example to mission Indians; Ugarte y Loyola also selects Soler for interim capitancy in Tupson, and orders him to reunite with his wife. (L. L. Woodward, August 1989)

Letters from Escandon for virrey informing him about campaign he is preparing against Indians. Escandon mention that around 200 soldiers will pursue the Indians Sihuy until they are exterminated; the other Series of documents are dealing with requested permission from Boix to virrey. Boix presents virrey two medical statements from convents of San Diego and San Francisco, where the doctors conclude that the illness of Boix is una afeccion histerica hipocondriaca. Fiscal suggests virrey not give permission because those concepts are confusing, besides the law says Boix has to remain Ten years before leaving; virrey orders Arzobispo to name other doctors to determine the disease of Boix. The next two doctors give the same diagnosis. (D. Bautista, June 1990)

Information from Cornide to virrey concerning complaints against Escandon in terms of missions, military, presidios, mines, Salinas, ports of Santander and Tampico; offers some solutions; replacement of villages to more strategic points, establishing three missions to contain Indian attacks, replace missionaries and sinods, allotment of land to proper owners, organization of companias Volantes and commerce in port of Santander. (D.Bautista, may 1990)

Bauptista de Anza notifies Bucareli about defense strategies adopted in order to defend provincias de Sonora against the attacks of Indian Seris and Apaches. Lumbreras notifies Bucareli of discovery of silver mines next to presidio de San Carlos, at Sierra de San Marcial. Lumbreras suggests Bucareli to erect a new town -real de San marical- at the site. Includes a very simple map of the town to be erected. Includes a description of the site as well as the number of mines, the number of workers to be employed for the mines, and an estimation of the amount and quality of silver expected. (R. Gomez, November 1989)

Vildosola requests to Bucareli permission to retire from the military service, and to travel with his family to Spain. Bucareli concedes permission to Vildosola. Echegaray requests he be exempt from payment of media annata tax which as a governor of Sinaloa and Sonora, is expected to pay. Gutierrez garandilla describes Seris and Pima rebellion in Pueblo de mochicagua. Bentura Belena appraises Gutierrez Gradilla's campaign against Indians. Armona suggests Galvez appoint Gutierrez Gradilla as Alcalde mayor de la Jurisdiccion de la Villa del Fuerte. (R. Gomez, November 1989)

Letters concerning campaign against Seri, Pima rebels, Apaches in league; protection of missions by cavalry; some population figures for indios fixos, laborios, mulatos y Negros (f.308); mentions auxiliaries under Pineda; Cassimiro stripped of rank of teniente for misconduct. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Letters (transcribed by Hidalgo in 1804) between Munoz, Serna, Buedo reporting situation between civilians, Indians near Vieja Tamaulipa Sierra. Describes civilians killing Indians, vice versa. Milicias celebrate successful campaigns by taking ears of dead Indians, displaying them on pillory. Mention of panguay treaty with J.e. Serna, by which they help Milicia exterminate other Indians. Skirmishes summarized. Mentions shipments of powder, bullets, horses, provisions to mission at Horcasitas. Buedo reports on Panguayes, Martinez Indians at mission, praising Martinez' valor. Mention of Serna taking in two Indian orphans. Cisneros' record of travels with J.e. And J.v. Serna in region surrounding Presas del Rey. J.v. is Father of J.e. Serna. (A. Dean, July 1989)

Reports of beginning of discord among Indians (Nayares and Tobosos?), that Spanish hope to exploit. F.217 mentions Indians of San Francisco de Ocotan turning against those at Coionqui. F.224 Torre complains of shortage of guns at Guadalupe. Ff.237-238 Flores recruiting Indian archers from pueblos in Colotan, Nueva Vizcaya, sending them to Naiarit to be trained for military. F.241 is further mention of Cruz as interpreter of Cora, tecualme, Mexicana, castellana. F.242 lists number of cows, mules, pigs, axes, machetes taken in conquest of Guanimota. Mentions questioning Canarit (chief) in Cora, Mexicana, castellana, and he responding in all three. F.246 Cruz gives Aumada 20 pesos for easter, asking pardon for Indian prisoners (interesting document). (A. Dean, February 1990)

Reports of Indian activity in Nayarit. F.226 mentions that most Indians of area around Balero have been gone for last 6 months (from March). F.229 mentions ammo sent from Durango in anticipation of battle. F.230 describes battle at Coionqui on March 21. F.200 reports meeting 36 Naiares including women, children from Santissima Trinidad who were seeking refuge at Guanimota; they are given food. (A. Dean, February 1990)