Spain's Arizona Patriots in Its 1779-1783 War

W SPAINS A RIZ ONA PA TRIOTS J • in its 1779-1783 WARwith ENGLAND During the AMERICAN Revolutuion ThirdStudy of t he SPANISH B ORDERLA NDS 6y Granvil~ W. andN. C. Hough ~~~i~!~~¸~i ~i~,~'~,~'~~'~-~,:~- ~.'~, ~ ~~.i~ !~ :,~.x~: ~S..~I~. :~ ~-~;'~,-~. ~,,~ ~!.~,~~~-~'~'~ ~'~: . Illl ........ " ..... !'~ ~,~'] ." ' . ,~i' v- ,.:~, : ,r~,~ !,1.. i ~1' • ." ~' ' i;? ~ .~;",:I ..... :"" ii; '~.~;.',',~" ,.', i': • V,' ~ .',(;.,,,I ! © Copyright 1999 ,,'~ ;~: ~.~:! [t~::"~ "~, I i by i~',~"::,~I~,!t'.':'~t Granville W. and N.C. Hough 3438 Bahia blanca West, Aprt B Laguna Hills, CA 92653-2830 k ,/ Published by: SHHAR PRESS Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research P.O. Box 490 Midway City, CA 92655-0490 http://mcmbers.aol.com/shhar SHHARPres~aol.com (714) $94-8161 ~I,'.~: Online newsletter: http://www.somosprimos.com ~" I -'[!, ::' I ~ """ ~';I,I~Y, .4 ~ "~, . "~ ! ;..~. '~/,,~e~:.~.=~ ........ =,, ;,~ ~c,z;YA':~-~A:~.-"':-'~'.-~,,-~ -~- ...... .:~ .:-,. ~. ,. .... ~ .................. PREFACE In 1996, the authors became aware that neither the NSDAR (National Society for the Daughters of the American Revolution) nor the NSSAR (National Society for the Sons of the American Revolution) would accept descendants of Spanish citizens of California who had donated funds to defray expenses ,-4 the 1779-1783 war with England. As the patriots being turned down as suitable ancestors were also soldiers,the obvious question became: "Why base your membership application on a money contribution when the ancestor soldier had put his life at stake?" This led to a study of how the Spanish Army and Navy had worked during the war to defeat the English and thereby support the fledgling English colonies in their War for Independence. After a year of study, the results were presented to the NSSAR; and that organization in March, 1998, began accepting descendants of Spanish soldiers who had served in California. The acceptance is based simply on service'during the u~ne period of 1779-1783 while Spain was at war with England. We had not by March, 1998, studied the organization of the Spanish Army in the Spanish Borderlands from Texas through California. We now know how the forces were -i! deployed and used in an effortto unify the frontier and counter the influence of English or any other fore;~a forces. We know that Crders going to California also went to Texas, New Mexico, Sonora, and all the othe:-~aordcrprovinces of Northern New Spain. In fact, the whole frontier and bordering provinces had been united in 1776 into a military command under a Commandante-General who reported directly to the King (or at least to his ministers). The Northwestern realm, with its unidentified border with England, was a continuing concern to the highest Spanish authorities,particularly to Josd de G~vez, i Minister of the Interior. During 1776 while the English Colonies were declaring Independence, he, Teorganized the military structure of the Provincias Intemas; hc authorized his nephew, Governor Bernardo de G~Ivez of Louisiana, to begin clandestine help to the English Colonies; and he supervised the Anza Expedition to settleSan ,q Francisco Bay. He visualized that he cotdd regain the Floridas, lost to Britain earlier; uni~ the whole northwestern frontier from the Mississippi River to the Pacific; and counter the British wherever they appeared. Indeed, G~lvez' aims were partly accomplished. He did establish California and wipe out any historic English claims from the time of Sir Francis Drake. He did recover Florida. He made progress unifying the northern outposts, but there were not enough resources to do what he visualized. Indian tribes who were already on the vast land could not be incorporated into the Spanish way of life fast enough. Events in Europe intervened and took higher priority.. So, in due course of time, the land from the Mississippi River to the Pacific became American rather than Spanish. "i.. l However, ~ve still have the Americans ot Spamsh descent who fought to move the frontier forward to counter the British. They helped the English Colonies to become the United States of America. They held land in trust for future expansion of the United States. Both the NSDAR and NSSAR accept descendants of soldiers and sailors who served under Governor Bemardo de G~lvez. Th~ NSSAR accepts descendants of soldiers iii "~'~i" " nL~rL~ I!i!'i:I " . ._.• • '~4w ~_1 ]11 ~-; ..................... , 12'..!--:",./ ;.:'~'i.'"" I ' .,.+ ,,,v ," .~,~:! L.+,,I.=..I,+ .; ,..1{,.~,~.;, and sailors who served in California. It has also accepted descendants of soldiers who had served in Texas and descendants of Texas cattlemen who drove cattle to Louisiana to ,','i'~: ! k~t ~',o C ,~" support Governor Bemardo de G~ilvez in his campaigns. Why not a~cept other Borderlands soldiers who served the same King, received the same orders, and fought and died trying to carry out the common strategy? That became our question. ~\~'~.?~:i"~:..'~ k ~ ,.;W~!-( Our first two books covered Califo*mia. This third book covers Arizona, or at i,~;,~ii~'~i ~''~'~ i,' # ,~!,~I)..' '"~;'" : ~!': & least the southern third of the state. This land was part of Pimeria Alta in the Province of ',~,~,...~,k'.d~?, :-~ Sonora. It does not have a separate history as does New Mexico and Texas. Records are fewer and more scattered. Actually, Pimeria Alta remained in Mexico until it was divided by the Gadsden Purchase into a Sonoran part and an Arizona part. Sonora had , ' been very closely associated with California for a few years, and there was great hope that it would become a roadway to that area. Many Pimeria Alta families have close blood ties with families who settled Northern!: California. However, any hopes for an overland route from Sonora to California were cut in 1781 when the Yumas rebelled and t i '.~'~"q'~ a -~'~'.~3 rejected Spanish culture. Pimeria Alta became a forlorn frontier area ravaged by frequent Apache attacks. A few frontier soldiers and settlers hung on, and this book is their story. ,, ~....~,,,~ ,.. q ,,..,~, q'.,,:;~.~] i, .....~," |."~'~'~'~ ,.~ .,~ ,C'.~-~ . ,.:.~,~. -~-'.":~; !'. ;~i,~'~,'~ ,:':; :,,'I:':,,',:] r ~:, ~' =-I,,:, ,, "1 0 iv SPAIN'S ARIZONA PATRIOTS DURING ITS 1779 - 1783 WAR WITH ENGLAND - DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Contents • t Preface ................................................................................................ iii 1. Why Patriotic Organizations Should Accept Descendants of Spanish/Mexican Soldiers Who Served in the Spanish Borderlands During the American Revolution .................. 1 2. The Spanish F~e.rderlands During the Era of Spain's 1779-1783 War with England ..... 9 A. Presidios ................................................................................... 9 B. Provincias Intemas ..................................................................... 12 C. Missions ................................................................................. 14 D. Pueblos and Ranchos .................................................................. 17 ). The Arizona/Sonora Time Line and Activities .............................................. 20 A. Anza Expeditions, 1774-75 ........................................................... 20 B. Tucson Presidio Established, 1775-76 ............................................... 20 C. Terrenate Presidio in Arizona, 1775-80 ............................................. 20 D. Spain Declares War on England, June 1779 ................. .. ...................... 20 E. The Yuma Mission Settlements, 1779-81 .......................................... 21 F. War with Seri I~.dians, 1780-81 ....................................................... 21 G. Requests for Donations, 1780 ........................................................ 21 ill !/ H. Moqui Expedition, 1780 .............................................................. 21 It,, ' ~ : ": I. Trade Rdutcs for New Mexico, 1780-81 ............................................. 21 J. Rivera's Expeditions, 1781 ............................................................. 22 K. Yuma Massacre, 1781 .................................................................. 22 L. Yuma Campaign, 1781 ................................................................. 22 M. Tucson Presidio Fight, 1782 .......................................................... 22 N. Yuma Campaign, 1782 ................................................................. 22 O. ApaChe Attacks, 1779-1784 ........................................................... 22 P. End of War with England, 1784 ............................... :. ...................... 23 .. •., .[,. ,'.) Q. Navajo-Apaghe Relationships, 1780-83 ............................................. 23 R. Apache Campaign, 1784 ............................................................... 23 S. Tubac Presidio Re-established, 1783-85 ........................................... 23 4. Yuma Participants ............................................................................... 24 5. Exploring Trade Routes for New Mexico .................................................... 30 6. Arizona Contributions to the War Fund ...................................................... 34 It 7. Settlers and Land Owners ..................................................................... 36 .,, .~t C. ~ | i . ~•' .i . '- ~." . i i i!! ;~2W~ ".~.,'~,.~ • ~-~,b-~ ~, ~::)., "~* -,~'-~- ": ,:,.• -'. -'., "..'.-. ~.." ~, ," , . : .. - . ..-: .-'.'~ . ~.••, ",~.7 .'~.,- ):,.,- ~ -~," .... ,~.,.~,,:(~: :~.-'- *,~; ?. ".~:~o~,~..~,,~,-~:,~.'6,):~

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