Presidios

Fray Hidalgo takes testimony of fray Gonzalez concerning Apache peace negotiations and his dispute with capitan Flores. Fray Gonzalez emphasizes poor state of presidio, including lack of supplies, arms, horses, trained men, and notes widespread illness among presidial soldiers throughout Texas. For these reasons, he believed it necessary to deal with Apaches diplomatically. Capitan Flores deposition also included. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Roster of officers, soldiers of Texas presidio. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Junta de guerra concerning French in Texas. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Diary of Leon's expedition to Bahia del Espiritu Santo from Coahuila. Accompanied by French prisoner with many contacts among Indians, Spaniards- encounter gathering of Indians of 5 naciones - Hapes, Jumenes, xiabu, Mescales, y otra- living in casilla cuvierta de Cueros de cibola- who hang heads of enemies from poles in front of their dwellings; note petroglyphs; journey thru great stretches of Mesquite, Nopales so thick at times they have to dismount; describe Flora, fauna, especially trees, commenting on great numbers, good quality of native walnuts, and buffalo; hear of 4 French traders operating among Indians, trading knives, tobacco for buffalo hides which they transported on dogs; lose over 100 horses in stampede, of which all but 36 recovered; reach French settlement and find it destroyed by Indians- books, bones, broken arcabuces scattered thru wreckage, explore Rio San Marcos; told by Indians that French community at Espiritu Santo suffered epidemic of smallpox (viruelas) which killed more than 100, then were tricked by Indians who came from far away under pretext of desire to trade and killed French in their homes; encounter Texas Indians, some of whom accompany Spaniards back to Coahuila presidio. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Resumen of items needed in the real presidio de Santa Fe. Theniente Joseph Maldonado is to obtain them in Villa de Chihuahua. (P. Hayes) (1977)

Documents concerning appointment of Francisco de Mendizaval y Gastaneta as teniente of Conchos presidio. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Documents concerning complaints Cerrogordo soldiers concerning their teniente, Andres Vidal. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Letter from capitan Antonio Becerra Nieto telling the governor of the arrival of 143 Apaches at the presidio of Janos, asking to settle there. (T. Barnes) (1977)

Testimony various Nueva Vizcaya residents military leaders concerning whether or not Mapimi presidio should be maintained. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Virrey marques de Casafuerte orders gobernador Carvajal to send 50 presidial soldiers from Nueva Vizcaya to Coaguila to punish Indians raiding that province Carvajal convenes junta de Guerra, where the Indian enemies each presidio has to contend with are described, and manpower shortages noted. The junta tells the virrey the Nueva Vizcaya presidios are undermanned and have no soldiers to spare. Carvajal then asks Alcalde mayores of Inde, Nazas and Santiago Papasquiaro jurisdictiones if they can send men, and they also reply negatively. Carvajal estimates 70,000 Indians in Sonora alone, many of them hostile. Corodeguachi noted as residence of Sonora's compania volante. Carvajal also mentions that blame for Saltillo raid affixed to Cocoyome, Acoclame, Coaguileno Indians deported by gobernador Alday. Excellent description frontier military problems. (T. Sheridan) (1977)