Military Organization

Documents concern naming of officials for new presidios in Janos, San Carlos and San Buenaventura. Details discussed appointments to fill vacated posts; transportation arrangements, including delays due to travel difficulties caused by drought and deserts; replies of receipt of travel orders by officials and granting of passport. Other documents concern supplies for soldiers, need for recruiting volunteers to transfer to California, instructions to presidio habilitados (paymasters) and new regulations in effect. (J. M. Johnson, February 1989)

Correspondence is between gobernador militar Ugarte and comandante general de Croix about the 1781 military expedition of Rivera y Moncada escorting recruits and settlers from Sonora California deserters granted amnesty to families and list of places of residence of their families. Transfer of soldiers between presidios and supplies and horses for recruits for expedition. Increase in numbers for military escort requested by Rivera y Moncada. (J. M. Johnson, November 1988)

Monthly submission of diarios de novedades at Lampazos; tables listing number of people in various positions and notes

Letter from Uranga reporting Indian activities, raids near Mapimi, Guafoquilla. Diaz, Uranga discuss plans for next military campaign in those areas. For lack of water Uranga had to travel with tren. (A. Dean, March 1989)

The Apaches from Valle de la Xicarilla have been attacked by the Cumanches. They ask governor Bustamante to be baptised, villages to be founded in their territory, and to receive the protection of the Spanish armies. A junta met in Santa Fe, decide to answer positively to the petition, sending to the Valley a military contingent led by Bustamante. They emphasize the strategic advantages of this action, because this area would become a buffer against the attacks of other Indian groups (pananas, Canzeres, etc.). The group is welcomed in all the villages. There is a proposal for founding a presidio in the Valley but it is rejected. A report (ff.424-425) reviews all the presidios in this frontier, giving their locations and number of soldiers. (A. Nielsen, January 1990)

(A. Nielson, January 1990)

On the Basis of information provided by the governor of Nueva Viscaya concerning the alliance between French and Apaches, and the presence of a French army near Santa Fe, the junta de real hacienda decides to confiscate all the possessions of French people living in New Mexico without licence. It also decides to give more support to the presidios of the area. Officers from other towns (E.g., San Sebastian) report what they need in terms of supplies and soldiers to stand eventual attacks. The junta also aproved a proposal for establishing a new presidio and Apache reduction in Valle de la Xicarilla, endowing it with a strong military company because the place is continuously threatened by Comanches and Yutas, traditional enemies of that group. (A. Nielsen, January 1990)

France Allied with England and savoya has declared war on Spain. Therefore, the king orders that any French ship that tries to enter Spanish ports in the colonies should be captured. English ships are expected to attack the pacific coast from Chile to Mexico. Other preparations for the defense are also advised. In his answer, Balberde Cossio reports about a punitive expedition against the Yutas and Comanches, where the Spanish army was helped by the Apaches, and gives several details about region and the Indian groups. According to some information collected during it, the French are Allied with the Canzeres, Pananas, Texas, and other Indian groups. (A. Nielsen, January 1990)

This report reviews several financial contributions made by the real hacienda to the maintenance of presidios in Nueva Mexico. Some of them are related to the trip of Pedro Vial from New Mexico to Luisiana with the purpose of establishing the best possible route between both provinces. It is emphasized the importance of a continued support to these fortresses regarding their strategic significance. (A. Nielsen, November 1989)

Soldiers from presidio of San Antonio de Balero report about an Indian raid whereby most of the horses of the company were stolen. They were unable to stop the attack because the presidio has not enough weapons and trained soldiers. Therefore they ask the viceroy to send soldiers, equipment and horses to reinforce that military position. On the other hand, fray Hidalgo accuses the intransigent attitude of Flores (commander of the presidio) for the increase in violence. He refuses to give back to the Apaches the women and children that have been captured, even though they have sent representatives to negotiate. This situation in turn is spoiling the pacification efforts of the priests. Other letters propose to move the presidio closer to mission or to a near peninsula where there are better possibilities for agriculture. In a letter analyzing all these evidences, the marques of San Miguel de Aguayo advises the authorities to choose the latter alternative. His letter also includes an interesting discussion about the justos titulos to initiate the military conquest of the Apaches (i.e., just war, folios 46-49), followed by a plan for effecting this conquest. (A. Nielsen, November 1989)