Military Salaries

Correspondence from Mariscal de Campo to Croix concerning 'visitas' to various towns and business attended to therein, such as collection of taxes; several brief letters stating that visita had gone well, no details included; others concerning how Mariscal dealt with murder of Indian; regarding treatment of Indians at certain missions, importance of spiritual training, conversion to and marriage of Indians according to Christian faith, 'repartimiento' of clothing among Indians; concerning Mariscal's organization of compania volante and associated squadrons, appeals for financing from real hacienda, nomination of suitable officers, relacion indicating structure, salaries, 'destinos' of compania once officially formed; regarding visitas to all squadrons of province, requests for adjustments to captains' salaries; discussing problems incurred in navigating certain rivers due to winds, tidal shifts, effects on local economy, Mariscal incorporates information on issue collected from 'peritos'; concerning granting of permission to foreign vessels to dock at ports; regarding discovery of new passages in old mines, statement of ownership and description of deposits. (L. Kerr, October 1988)

Monthly revistas of squadrons of compania de Caballeria del Seno Mexicano, listing sargentos and Soldados present; signed statements of justicias and others that troops occupy assigned villages; correspondence confirming receipt of revistas; signed statements of frays and soldiers declaring that monthly soldiers' salaries paid and received. (L. Kerr, September 1988)

Includes signed statements of mission priests certifying payment of salaries to soldiers; signed statements of soldiers certifying receipt of salaries; resumen de Cuenta, itemizing salaries, money spent on equipment, housing, etc. (L. Kerr, September 1988)

Series of documents dealing with Ugalde's military campaigns against Mescaleros, Comanches, Lipanes, and Lipiyanes in Coahuila. Discussion of Ugalde's arrival to Coahuila and his survey of the area in preparation for his campaign; he is informed of combats with Comanches, and there is a good description of the military tactics employed by the Indians; there is also reference to trade between soldiers and Comanches after battle. Ugalde sends detailed diary of his campaigns to viceroy. Lists number of soldiers employed, as well as the number and types of weapons used in the expedition; clothing of Indian auxiliaries are described, as well as amount and type of food required by soldiers and Indian auxiliaries; there is good discussion of the mass given before departure of troops, as well as the use of an effigy of the virgin of Guadalupe in order to receive divine assistance. Ugalde also informs of problems associated with lack of water and death of many horses. He gives a good description of the area referring to the many rivers, lakes, aguajes, and mountains encountered in his path. Includes summary of all Indians that were killed, injured, and taken captives, and of all tribes that sought peace. He complains many Mescaleros fled to presidio del norte where they were given refuge, and that this diminishes to some extent, all the gains made in the campaign. In other letters the viceroy approves of Ugalde's actions and requests more cooperation between Ugarte and Ugalde. (J. Tapia, October, 1987)

Repetitive Series of letters from gobernadores of Nuevo Santander concerning routine administrative and military affairs. Includes documents concerning naming of Gonzalez Santianes to replace Ruvio as gobernador of Nuevo Santander. Should be given fabrica de iglesias and enforcement of payment of Diezmos, greater efforts towards converting Indians, need to treat Indians kindly and only punish in fair proportion to crimes committed. Includes repetitous Series of reports of horse theft by Indians against towns in Sierra Tamaulipas. Also includes tables of troop strength and troop salaries for various guarniciones in Sierra Tamaulipas. (A. Tukey, July 1989)

Letters concerning: description of vegetation, terrain where Indian groups live, general location within province, livelihood in that region, hostilities committed by group, whether or not group is lazy or active, good or bad, observation that peripheral towns and haciendas attacked more frequently; second letter regarding need for and assignment of soldiers to serve as 'escoltas' at several haciendas, due to attacks from 'indios apostatas y gentiles', salaries and rations for soldiers discussed, as well as how the assignments will strengthen plan to pacify and Christianize all Indians of Nuevo Leon within 8 to 10 years. (L. Kerr, November 1988)

Letters concerning: cabo who deserted, where last seen; request that virrey fulfill 'recombencia de pago;' discovery of new mines, including silver and metals, establishment of operational infrastructure, discussion of production level, quantity of minerals remaining in established mines; payment of military salaries 'en dinero,' per decreto; how to manage Indians settled at missions, whether or not land given them is cultivatable; 'librettas,' 'revista de inspeccion' of esquadra de dragones. (L. Kerr, November 1988)

Correspondence concerning: index of letters included; discovery of new mines, metals, silver, flooding of various mines, damages incurred; lack of arms and soldiers along frontera, effect upon countering of Indian attacks, tranquility of Chichimecas, many of whom had converted; debate over sending soldiers to missions to ensure la quietud y custodia of the Indians; reviews by Ussel y Guimbarda of military conditions and salaries, military relations with Indians, mining. (L. Kerr, November 1988)

Various letters of correspondence of Vidal de Lorca and Echeagaray in years of 1772-1773. Index of documents (f.163) petition of widow to governador for pension from her deceased Husband's salary; letter granting Echeagaray responsibility of soldiers in Monterrey; letters discussing need for reconstruction of mine in real de Vallecillo; letter to procurador general of Monterrey concerning restitution of hacienda which is located in Indian village. Letters also include transportation of cloth (lienzos pintados) from las Islas Filipinas; military tables (149) with clear data on military rolls, salaries, occupations, equipment. (J. Acheson, oct, 1988)

Correspondence with Echagaray in 1772 concerning the rightful salary owed to widow of deceased officer. Letters also concern tax exemptions granted to individuals that normally pay with buying of hacienda. Mentions christianization of Apaches. Mentions importance of documentation of troops. Letter thanking Echegaray for protection. Apache hostility persists mentioned as well. (J. Acheson, October 1988)