Presidios (Construction)

Details of Principal concerns and needs for California establishments. Detailed information on climate, agricultural conditions, pasturing livestock, geographical measurements and features of terrain, arable lands, irrigation, social and safety measures for settlers/recruits, food and other supplies for population, horses and mules. Other documents list family relationships and Vital statistics of colonists requesting land tenure rights, lists of types and numbers of cargo animals for missions, planned distribution of & place purchased of these & smaller domestic food/clothing animals. Description of geography, Flora and potential for irrigation of rivers in region. Founding and contruction of presidio San Joseph (Guadalupe). (J. M. Johnson, January 1989)

Discussion of detachment of troops made up of troops from Adaes and Orcoquiza due to fear of return of enemy nations. Viceroy orders movement of presidio to Orcoquiza, 2 padres and soldiers remain in Orcoquiza. Desire to repopulate Ranchos, but distance between Ranchos makes defence difficult, suggestion to plant Ranchos with vecinos together under protection of detachment. Rebuilding of Cuerpo de Guardia, houses, prison. Excesses committed by Indians in Bahia and environs under Thobar thus need of troops from Orcoquiza, Adaes, San Sabas, and friendly Indians to punish barbaros. Plea for Ripperda to keep harmony with thobarand's other captains. Soldiers involved in Bahia road building, protecting entrances, Ranchos. Reports of death of Indians and soldiers. Complaints of Indian spying in missions, lack of troops, and horse and oxen theft. Fort establishment. Desire for missionization of coastal Indians. Report of Mal de Lengua disease. Viceroy (?) Discusses defence of province in case of declaration of war with English. (L. L. Woodward, March 1988)

Document summarizing procedures of erecting new presidios and missions in Chihuahua. And an index of a group of documents sent to Venegas, the documents themselves are not photographed in this volume. (T. Kahana, December 1988)

Bucareli request information from O'Conor on new presidios and Indian wars; he provides a detailed report with particular information on eastern frontier; includes notes on hostile Indian groups; war customs of enemy; estimates of group size; mail service; problems of communication; Penal code for presidial criminals; formation of new militias; presidios construction; proposed presidial transfers; notes on Texas Indian groups of particular importance in regard to intertribal relations on south plains. (J. Williams, April 1987)

A very detailed informe on present military strength and capability of new presidios transferred as a result of reglamento of 1772; includes details on weapons; constructions at new sites; commanders and officers at posts; geography of region; explorations of O'Conor; and many related details of historical merit. This document has been published in Spanish (Flores and almada) and in translation in English (moore and beene 1961). (J. Williams, April 1987)

Ansa's second expedition to Monterey; notes; foundation of mission in San Francisco; explorations of Garces; possible commerce of Yumas with Hopis; feasibility of routes connecting Sonora to California and New Mexico to Sonora; difficulty of trail; crossing Colorado at Yuma with balsas, Canoa o Barco; relation of Yuma to other California Indians; descriptions of parts of route; of Tucson area; available pasturage; possible new presidio locations; possible effects on Apache wars; call for Yuma mission; negotiations with Palma; reports in Tucson and among Yumas of closeness of New Mexico and possible route westward to Sonora and California; proposal to guard roads with troop of dragoons; new presidio constructions; and other aspects of implementing royal regulation of 1772. (J. Williams, April 1987)

Concerns O'Conor's recent inspection of Sonora presidios; preparation for next general campaign; relocation of presidios; new presidial construction projects; and troop movements. (J. Williams, April 1987)

Concerns progress and present condition of presidios of Monclova and Aquaverde in Coahuila; notes include; comments on excessive costs; shortcomings of 4000 pesos allocated for construction of new presidios of line; expediance of changing from stone to Adobe as a building material at these two presidios; many references to an instructive paper on presidial construction produced by unidentified engineers; numbers of workman available; notes absurdity of plan of engineers that called for curtain walls 200 Varas on a Side; foundations 2.5 Varas thick and exclusive use of stone in construction of new fortresses of line. (J. Williams, April 1987).

O'Conor diary includes detailed notes on: specific engagements; livestock recovered; enemy killed and captured; progress at new presidio sites; tropa veterana in expeditions; supply problems; orders given to field-force commanders; Indian settlements encountered; structures and fields discovered; Indian material culture; vegetation; terrain; daily activity of force; and use of scouts. O'Conor also provides tables of troop composition in campaign and lists of plunder recovered. Includes curious references to an Apache rancheria with a pequeno baluarte de adove, en el ojo de San Luis. (J. Williams, April 1987)

Concerns O'Conor's general campaign and implementation of new regulation of presidios (1772); includes notes on troop movements; troop Inspections; harvest of auxiliary Indians effect on campaigns; detailed assignments for troops in expedition; organization of presidios of line; presidio constructions; manpower shortages in construction; nature of Indian warfare; proposed routes of expeditionary forces; aid of Opatas in Sonoran presidio constructions. (J. Williams, April 1987)