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Expedición general Urrutia - by Mariano Alonso Baquer,, 1990

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 4

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

  • 1990

Language of Materials

From the Collection: Spanish.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 1 box (.45 cu. ft.)

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451