|
Finding Aid of the Narratives and Handbook Pertaining to 18th Century New Mexico
Presidios, 1765-1990 (bulk 1765-1795)
The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for Southwest Research Email: cswrref@unm.edu
URL: http://www.unm.edu/~cswrref/
©2000 The University of New Mexico
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title |
Narratives and Handbook Pertaining to 18th Century New Mexico Presidios
|
|
Dates (Inclusive) |
1765-1990 (bulk 1765-1795) |
|
Creator |
University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research
|
|
Abstract |
This collection is comprised of narratives written by Spanish military explorers in the 1700s, as well as a handbook based upon the aforementioned explorations for the presidios of what is now New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and parts of northern Mexico. |
|
Collection Number |
MSS 658 BC |
|
Size |
1 box (.45 cu. ft.)
|
|
Repository |
University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research. |
|
Language |
Spanish. |
To govern the territories of New Spain, Spain established the provincias internas -- political
jurisdictions under military government in which military leadership was equal in power to the
Viceroy of New Spain. Spain's rule over these provinces, however, was threatened by Native
American tribes -- in particular, the Apaches -- whose skill in warfare surpassed the Spaniards'.
The acquisition of horses and firearms by Native American tribes increased the threat they posed
to Spanish domination. Because New Spain covered such a vast area, Spain was unable to send
adequate numbers of military troops, and instead, established numerous military garrisons or
presidios throughout this territory.
To measure the efficacy of these presidios and to determine if they were located in the most
strategic spots, the Marquís de Rubí (the Marquis of Rubí), accompanied by Nicolás de Lafora
(also known as de la Fora), Joseph (also known as José) Ramón de Urrutia y de las Casas, and
Juan María Antonio Rivera (also known as Ribera) traveled to New Spain. Although one source
identifies Nicolás Lafora as the soldier in charge of documenting the expedition, the records
housed in this collection were written and signed by Juan María Antonio Rivera. Rivera's journal
of the 1766-1768 inspection tour (as well as a journal of another expedition he undertook in 1765)
sheds light upon the political, economic, and environmental conditions of this region at the time.
The Marquís de Rubí's tour resulted in the publication of a handbook for the proper
operation of the presidios in 1772. This handbook delineated the assorted functions and duties of
the presidios and established basic rules regarding salary, uniforms, etc. The Marquís de Rubí also
proposed suggested moves for certain presidios, but many of these recommendations were not
carried out.
The narratives in this collection are copies of diaries kept by Spanish explorers in the 1700s, as
they traveled through what is now New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas, and parts of northern
Mexico. The original documents are housed in Madrid, Spain, in the Biblioteca Central Militar of
the Servicio Histórico Militar.
The narratives include descriptions of the ecological environment, the conditions of roads, the
ethnic groups encountered, political relations between Spaniards and Native American groups, and
the status of the provinces and presidios along the way. Danger posed to Spanish settlers by the
Apaches, Comanches, Hopi, and Utes is discussed in the narrative by Nicolás de Lafora. The
"Expedición de Rivera" details two expeditions undertaken by Juan María Antonio Rivera in
search of silver. He details environmental conditions along the route now known as the Old
Spanish Trail, and includes population statistics for specific New Mexico pueblos. The
"Expedición General Urrutia," by Mariano Alonso Baquer provides an account of the expedition
of the Marquís de Rubí into New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas, addressing various operational
aspects of the presidios. "Viaje a los presidios Internos de la América septentrional" written by
Juan María Antonia Rivera provides detailed descriptions of peoples and places in what is now the
southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
The collection also contains four maps depicting the territories occupied by assorted Native
American groups and Spaniards. All materials are in Spanish.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Narratives and Handbook Pertaining to 18th Century New Mexico Presidios (MSS 658), Center for
Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries.
Catholic Church Report regarding New Mexico Missions, 1794.
Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico University Libraries.
Apache Indians--History Arizona--History Comanche Indians--History Hopi Indians--History Mexico--Description and travel Mexico--History--Spanish colony, 1540-1810 Military bases--Mexico Military bases--Southwest, New Military bases--Spain--Colonies New Mexico--Ethnic relations New Mexico--History, Military Provincias Internas (New Spain) Rubi Expedition, Tex., 1766-1768 Southwest, New--Description and travel Southwest, New--History, Military Spain--History, Military Texas--Description and travel Texas--History, Military Ute Indians--History
|
|
| Description |
Container |
Informe sobre la situación y defensa de las provincias internas -- Nicolás de Lafora
(88 leaves)
This document describes provinces with regard to population (in some cases broken down by
ethnic group, including assorted Native American tribes, Spanish, Mestizo or Genizaro, and
Mulatto), Spanish townships contained therein, state of security, dangers confronted by those in Spanish townships, Native American settlements therein, and, in some cases, agricultural or
economic activities practiced. In this same document, Presidios are described with regard to the number of soldiers and officers staffing each, the salaries of these officers, the annual cost of maintenance of the presidio, and the exact geographic location of each one. The presidios described include the Presidio de Buena Vista, Presidio de San Miguel de
Orcasitas, Presidio de Santa Gertrudis del Altar, Presidio de San Ignacio de Tubac, Presidio de
Terrenate or San Phelipe de Jesus Guevavi, and the Presidio Coro de Guachi or Fronteras of the
Province of Sonora. The presidios in the province of Nueva Vizcaya are the Presidio de Tanos,
Presidio de San Juan Bautista del Rio Grande, Presidio de San Buenaventura, Presidio
Guejuquilla, Presidio del Pasage, Presidio de Cerro Gordo, and the Presidio de la Junta de los
Rios. Of special interest to scholars of New Mexican 18th century history are the descriptions
available for the presidios of the Province of Nuevo México: Presidio del Paso del Rio de el Norte
and the Presidio de Santa Fe. The Province of la Nueva México is described as being surrounded by "infinities of Barbarous
Nations" and, thus, in constant danger from Native American groups such as the Comanches,
Apaches, Hopis, and Utes. The Presidio of Santa Fe is described as "indispensable" and integral to
the maintenance of that province's population, as well as being important in the realm of
commerce -- especially that of weavings, wines, liquor, pelts (of otter, beaver, and ermine), among
others. The presidios of the Province of Cuaguila (now Coahuila) include the Presidio de la
Moncloba, otherwise known as the Presidio de Coaguila, the Presidio de Santa Rosa María de
Sacramento, and the Presidio de San Saba. The province of the Nuevo Reyno de Philipinas
contained the Presidio de San Antonio de Bear, the Presidio de la Bahía del Espíritu Santo, the
Presidio de los Adaes, and the Presidio del Orcoquizac. The presidio described from the Province
of El Nuevo Reyno de León is the Presidio de Monterrey. In the Province of Naiarit, otherwise
known as the Nuevo Reyno de Toledo, the explorers visited the Presidio del Tonati, otherwise
known as the Presidio de Nayarit. This narrative reflects the dominant attitudes surrounding the danger Native American groups
posed to Spanish settlers at the time. Among the documents one can find references to the
military's goal of exterminating entire Native American groups. The ethnic group most feared by
the Spaniards was the Apache. The explorers write of Native American warfare in seeming awe.
The author of the first document notes the importance of knowing how to distinguish one's
enemies and of being familiar with their form of fighting, the advantages of their weapons, and the
diversity of their customs. In spite of the frequent use of the word "barbarians" in connection to
Native Americans, the Spanish narrators acknowledge that their enemies are not incompetent, as
many Europeans believe, and are so skilled in warfare that they pose a considerable threat to the
Spanish soldiers.. |
|
Expedición de Rivera-1765
(135 leaves)
This document is comprised of narratives from two expeditions undertaken from 1765 to 1767
by Juan María Antonio Rivera in search of silver along the route which, over a half-century later,
became known as the Old Spanish Trail. Rivera's account contains detailed environmental
information (regarding the fauna along the route as well as the conditions of roads), the ethnic
groups populating the region through which he passes, as well as population statistics, including
those for specific pueblos in New Mexico. Population records are arranged by ethnicity of
inhabitants. Numbers of families as well as numbers of individuals per ethnic group per place are
detailed. According to his records, in 1765, there were 2,580 Spaniards in the province of New
Mexico and nearly 10,000 members of sixteen identified ethnic groups or pueblos (Tewa,
Genizaro, Tiwa, Abiquiu, Picuris, Taos, Pecos, Tanos, Zunis, Acomas, Moquinos, Keres, Jemez,
Sumas, Pinos, and Indians of El Paso). |
|
Mapa geográfica del govierno de la Nueva Granada ó Nuevo México con las provincias de Narajo y Moqui - Don Juan López-1795
Four maps depicting the territories occupied by assorted Native American groups and
Spaniards. |
|
Expedición general Urrutia - by Mariano Alonso Baquer, 1990
A printed account of the expedition of the Marquís de Rubí through what is now New
Mexico, Arizona, and Texas provides a summary of the historical background of this visit to the
various presidios in New Spain in the mid-eighteenth century. The handbook resulting from this
visit (also included in this collection) outlines the guidelines by which the presidios should operate.
It addresses a variety of aspects of the presidios, including the salaries of officers, the number of
military personnel (by rank) to be kept in each presidio, instructions regarding uniforms, arms, the
rationing of gunpowder, and cavalry equipment, the functions of each office, and specific
regulations regarding the treatment of "Enemy Indians." These rules, in many cases contradictory
to the recommendations made in the expedition diaries, prohibit cruelty toward Native Americans,
yet instruct presidio personnel to "maintain a lively and incessant war" against these (especially the
Apaches), and, "when possible, attack them in their own settlements and lands." The abuse of
Native American prisoners, however, is punishable by death. These instructions for warfare are
made, as is usually the case in Spanish colonial history, under the rubric of serving the goal of
conversion and education of Native Americans. |
|
Reglamento e instrucción para los presidios. 1990 reproduction of a 1772 Edition.
|
|
Viaje a los presidios internos de la América septentrional -- Marquís de Rubí, Nicolás de Lafora, José de Urrutia, Part I.
(276 leaves)
This includes parts of the narrative in folder 2. This document, written by Juan María Antonio Rivera from 1766-1767 reflects the Marquís
de Rubí's visit to the various presidios as the official inspector. It provides detailed descriptions of
places and peoples in what is now the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. |
|
Viaje a los presidios internos de la América septentrional -- Marquís de Rubí, Nicolás de Lafora, José de Urrutia, Part II.
(276 leaves)
This includes parts of the narrative in folder 2. |
|
|
