Military Tactics

Cancio reports on state of affairs and activities at Santa Rosa presidio. Discusses problems with weapons and their inadequacy in battle, problems with enlistments and quality of soldiers, and charges against Rabago made by Alderete. Uniform and weapon supply list of items requested from Mexico (f.130). Cancio provides detailed report on review he made of conditions of troops, weapons, fighting ability, number of horses, uniforms and other supplies (ff. 131-132). In other letters reports on number of soldiers from presidio assigned to nearby places and missions, and notes difficulty in getting reports to viceroy due to distance. Ff. 138-139 contains letters from Cancio about his trip to Santa Rosa written at real de Charcas and Saltillo. Discusses condition of roads, Weather, and number of days until he reaches destination. Some notes from on his trip, his reports back on situation at presidio, and Indian activities in area of presidio. Letter by Cancio to viceroy from Mexico on September 18, 1761, mentions letter from February about his orders to go to presidio. (S. Fiederlein, 3-3-87)

Discourse concerning procurement, shipment of Cannon to presidios of Nueva Vizcaya. Contains documents regarding size, methods of care and operation of small Cannon (Pedreros). (J. H. Ochs, March 1988)

Diary of events between March 8 and March 30, 1799 concerning theft of horses by Comanche raiders, and subsequent punitive expedition mounted by tercera compania de cavelleria volante de Nuebo Santander, under command of capt. Diaz de Bustamante. Company included six Lipan Indians and forty-six Spaniards. See also precis' for Vol. 12, F. 385-600 and 458-464 for related documentation. (J. Carpenter, December 1986)

Extensive documents pertaining to Indian depredations, punitive expeditions and taking of Indian prisoners. Included are documents concerning transfer of Comanche prisoners of war to Mexico City, accompanied by Lipan peace emissaries, and detailing need for interpreters, military expenditures, and manifests of goods and services provided to Indians while in transit. In addition, military needs and goals for preservation of peace in Provincias Internas and state of relations with Comanche, Lipan and Mescalero Apaches are discussed. Specific a three week diary of capt. Bustamante's punitive expedition against Comanche horse thieves in Vicinity of Laredo; (f.458-464), a single document by Pedro de Nava which summarizes in detail state of Spanish-Indian relations, providing fairly rich ethnographic data. (J. Carpenter, December 1986)

Documents relating to request by Californias gobernador for issuance of flags to presidios along maritime shores to aid ships. Issuance of flags also recommended by comandante of San Blas fleet. Description of materials and design of flags. (A. Dell'acqua, may 1988)

Mayorga relates situation of war with English in vando including description of battles, plans for spring campaign, condition of Spanish and English Naval forces and casualties suffered at Gibraltar. Considerable description. (D. J. McClelland, June 1988)

2 Indian women prisoners asked Series of 16 questions concerning rebels. Answers- 1) favorite rebel refuge Cajon de los mopales; 2) Cerro Prieto composed of 4 canyons; necessary to use ladders to get in and out; 3) Seritaca reputed dead of wounds; 4) never resided at Aquimuricuta; 5) rebels built defensive Trincheras in Nopalera and la Palma; 6) Seris, Suaquis have no captives, only Piatos; 7) never saw rebel loot; 8) rebel warriors number 400 sin entrar los muchachones y viejos-more than 200 Piatos, 60 Suaquis, all busy making arrows; 9) rebels observe Spanish movements from high hills, especially above Cajon de Tituit; 10) boyjatore seriously wounded; 11) Suaquis in Cerro Prieto; 12) few rebel horses left- most eaten; 13) Suaquis they lived with afraid to surrender; rest they don't know about porque no Vivian Todos Juntos ni Se comunicaban; 14) all rebels knew of arrival of troops at Guaymas; 15) know nothing of Chepillo; 16) Suaquis only in Cerro Prieto. (T. Sheridan) (1980)

Elizondo notes that mounted Seris attacked expedition's horse- herd at Guaymas. Discusses arrival of various detachments of his expedition. Admits that european tactics, military dress inadequate for Sonoran guerrilla warefare. (T. Sheridan) (1980)