Year... of Number 21. Testimony from the summary investigation received. from the Colonel D[o]n Domingo Cabello, Governor

Transcription

1 1 [ Cross] // Year... of Number Testimony from the summary investigation received from the Colonel D[o]n Domingo Cabello, Governor and Commandant of the Armies of the Province of Texas, its Missions, Conquests, and Frontiers, Captain of the Cavalry Company of the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Ant[oni]o de Bexa:r, and Inspector General of the Militia Corps and Presidial Troops of the said Province, by commission conferred by the Lord Commandant General of the Internal Provinces of this Kingdom of New Spain, as a result of the Review of Inspection which has occurred over the Cavalry Company of the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Ant[oni]o de Bexar9 in order to investigate the proceedings of the captain and [h]avilita:do of the said Company. From these [proceedings], there have resulted several charges against the expressed. Captain which have been formalized by separating [them] from the remainder which have been taken from the examinations which have been completed in the various parts and corresponding 1

2 poirnts to;`th,e said cornmis'sion. Transmi.t the original proceedi'ngs to th e4 Lord Comrnahdant Genera:T` i.n order that, from h'i his opinion, he may d.etermine that which is more to his superior pleasure.

3 [Cross] [I], D[o]n Domingo Cabello, Colonel of the Royal Armies, Governor and Commandant of the Armies of the Province of Texas, its Missions, Conquests, and Frontiers, Ca'ptain of the Cavalry Company of the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Ant[oni]o de Bexa.r, Inspector General of the Militia Corps and Presidial Troops of the said Province, by commission conferred by the Lord Commandant General of the Internal Provinces of this Kingdom of New Spair [am acting] inasmuch as in order to comply, wi th greater attention and exactitude, [with] the commission conferred by the Lord D[o]n Theodoro De Croix, Cav[aller]o De Croix, Brigadier General of the Royal Armies, Governor and Commandant General of the Internal Provinces of this Kingdom of New Spain, to an order to transfer the Review of Inspection of the [Rubric] Cavalry Companies of the Royal Presidios of San Antonio de- Bexar and the [ Presidio] of La Bahia del [E]sp[iri]tu Santo. [It] is an indispensable requisite to formalize a secret account in which a sufficient number of witnesses is examined, by which I [would] be

4 able to investigate the proceedings of the captains and [h]abilitados of the said Companies, arranged by that provided in Article 15 of the Instructions which the official commissioned to these inspections ought to observe. And having transferred that which corresponds to the Cavalry Company of this lv // Royal Pres[idi]o of San Antonio de Bexar and having proceeded to the formation of the expressed sumaria, I order [that] an interrogatory be formed which would be placed in continuation in order that, from it, the witnesses who are individuals from this same Company may be examined under sanctity of the oath. [This should be done] in order that, by means of their depositions, one would be knowledgeable of the conduct and good management of the captain who was from it, the Colonel Baron de Rip[p]erda and the actual jh]abilita.do, the Lieutenant D[o]:n Bernardo Fernandez as, in the same manner, for the captain who, in reality, has been ordered to this territory since the first of November of the proximate, past yea.r, and the other officials of the said Company. And in order

5 5 that this procedure have the formality which corresponds, I select and name D[o]n Josef Plazido de Monzon in order that he function as a secretary in accordance with that which has been provided in the Royal Ordi^nances. He shall affirm the proceedings to rny continuation, which was instructed relative to this matter. And in order that it be evident, I signed it in this Royal Pres[idi]o of San Ant[oni]o de Bexar, on the fifteenth of July of one thousand seven hundred seventy-nine Domingo Cabel.lo [C., 1-lv pp., in E. 7/15/ /20/1779]

6 6 Interrogator.y l[st] Question... They shall be questioned about their name, age, occupation, and the time which they have served in this Compa..n 2[nd] [Question]..[They shall be questioned] whether they have read the penalties established in the Royal Ordinances in order that the troops be informed of the [penalties] which they incur when they default in the compliance of their obligation 3[rd] [Question]..[They shall be questioned] whether they have been given their daily allowance and monthly ration, forming their contracts every four months [and] receiving in money, board, and assistance, the balances which result to them. And [they shall be questioned] whether they have been furnished the [Rubric] pledges corresponding to the bestuario, the armaments, and montura, horses, and mules which they have been needing

7 7 at the time of the review of equipment which was made for this purpose 4[th] [Question]..[They shall be questioned] whether they have been charged the regular [price] for the costs of the expressed goods in the antecedent question, which correspond to the prime rate to that which is charged in San Luis and Saltillo, where they are purchased 5[th] [Quest.ion]..[They shall be questioned] whether, when it has occureed that a soldier has held any debt as a result of the charges of his accounts, the captain has not taken the providence of investigating this.matter 6[th] [Question]..[They shall be questioned] whether the levels of service have been maintained with the regularity which [is] correspondent in order that all which a soldier accomplishes is [done] with u.nif ormi ty 7[th] [Question]..[They shall be questioned.]'whether there has been imposed upon the troops

8 8 any punishment crue,l and and [sic] 2v // extraordinary to that which is provided in the Royal Ordinances 8[th] [Question]..[They shall be questioned] whether, when they had departed to the campaign or to any other function of the service whatever, they were given the provisions in order that the troops would be supplied and munitioned according to [what] is correspondent for the better success of the action 9[th] [Question]..[They shall be questioned] whether any individual of the Company has received any particular offense on the part of the captain, the [h]a.bilitado, and the other officials of it, for which they have not been satisfied by fault of a superior to whom they [were] able to direct their recourses l0[th] [Question].[They shall be questioned] whether there have been made supposed enlistments and [whether] that the officials of this Company have been

9 9 serving as any soldier. And [since] this was not done, the work of the service, which [is] correspondent, has been delegated again to the others of the Company Cabello [., 2-2v pp., in E. 7./15./ /20/1779] Command... In this Royal Pres[idi]o of San A.nt[oni]o de Bexar, on the eighteenth day of the month of July of the year one thousand seven hundred seventynine, I, the prestated Colonel, D[o]n Domingo Cabello, made known to D[o]n Josef Plazido de Monzon, the nomination which I have prepared in order that he [be] employed as a secretary according to [what] I have arranged in the expediente which is at the beginning. From having [been] notified, 3 he promised to execute it with // all legality. And he will continue executing all of the proceedings

10 10 which are necessary to the instruction. to the total conclusion of this report. In proof of this, he signed it with me Domingo Cabello Josef Plazido de Monzon. [C., 2v-3 pp., in E. 7/15/ /20/1779] [MaNo] lfstl Testimony Statement of In the Royal Pres [ idi] o of San Antonio Pedro Granados,de Bexar, on the twentieth day of the First Sergeant month of July of the year one thousand of this Company, of the age of 55 years. seven hundred seventy-nine, I. D[o]n Domingo Cabello, Colonel of the Royal Armies, Governor and Commandant of the Weapons of the Provi:nce of Texas, its Missions, Conquests, and Frontiers, Captain of the Cavalry Company of the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Antonio de Bexar, Inspector General of the Militia Corps and the Presidial Troops of the said Province by commission conferred by the Lord Commandant of the Internal Provinces

11 11 of this Kingdom of New Spain, in consequence of the antecedent measures and for the purpose of obtaining the statements which have been ordered by the [Rubric] Interrogatory which precedes, ordered Pedro Granados, First Sergeant of this Company, to appear in my presence. Having ordered him to raise [his] right hand, I asked him [whether] he would swear to God and promise to the King to tell the truth concerning the matters of which I venture to ask? He answered 3v Yes, he would swear to it In virtue of this, reading the questions of the Interrogatory one by one, he resporide To the l[st]...he said [that] he is named Pedro Grana.dos, that he is of the age of fifty-five years, and his occupation [is] that of First Sergeant of this Company. And that, he has served in it for more than forty years. To the 2[nd]...He said that he has seen read and, as sergeant, has read to the soldiers of

12 12 this Company the penalties established in the Royal Ordinances by that which the said troops have [been] advised of those [penalties] which they incur when they fail to meet the compliance of their obligation. This [reading] has been executed on several occasions, every fifteen days, and on other [occa.sions], every eight [days]. That [reading] was done, in actuality, at the time of the review of equipment and also at the caballada with respect that the sergeants and corporals keep. a small book which was distributed to them by the Lord Governor and actual Captain of this Province and Company. And. he respond.ed To the 3[rd]...He said that the soldiers of this Company have always been furnished with their daily allowance at the rate of two reales and the monthly ration of o.ne fanega of corn, one half of a head of cattle, -piloncillos, and soap. And at the end of four months, they are given their contracts, delivering them

13 13 in the proper hand. And the balance 4 4. which results to them// // after they have discounted the pledges which they were able to have received, correspondent to the bestuario, armaments, montura, horses'and mules which they had been lacking at the time of the review which had been passed over them, [is delivered] in money. All of this was supplied to them at prime cost which the said effects have maintained since the New Regulations were established. Before this [time], the Lord Baron de Ripperda, who had been captain of this Company, had charged. all of the expressed effects at other, much higher, prices in order to make provisions for the troops of this Company from his account and speculation [He was] asked again what difference there was between the prices of that time to the present [time]? He responded That, at the least, it was at one hundred to one hundred. That, for several ef-

14 14 fects, it occurred for more than that [price] which today is now given in the [^abilitacion. For example, one [Rubric] pair of shoes today is now charged at two and a half reales. And at the ;prestated time, the Lord Baron charged them at eight reales. And it continued to occur in this manner for much merchandise which he does not have present. But, however, from [this merchandise] he was given many useless and unserviceable [goods] such as, there was silk ribbon, small mirrors, pins, eye glasses, and other small articles which could not be of service to the witness. With regard to these, he was made to take them by force [He was] asked again to what sum amounted 4v the value of the // said merchandise? He responded That, with a small primer book and one reading book, which they also gave him, he would be able to calculate, in his opinion, about twenty pesos,_,..

15 15 To the 4[th]...He said that since the Regulations for this territory [were established], he knows and it appears to him that all of the effects which the troops obtain at the [hl a'p.ilitacion are at prime cost to that which they cost in San Luis and in El Saltillo where those [effects] which are very equitable are purchased. and with which the troops are very content To the 5[th]...He said [that] he knew that, as such during the time of the Lord Baron as in the present [time], if any debt had been incurred by a soldier as a result of his balances of accounts, it had been satisfied without there having remained any debt To the 6[th]...He said that the service which these troops of this Company have rendered has always been with the regularity which [is] correspondent even in consideration of the small amount of its

16 16 funds, in regard to the many occu.rrences which have taken place. For this [reason], on many instances, he has not been able to change the d.etacbxnents of the ca.balla:da. and the Fortress of the Cibolo at the opportune times since it has been necessary to maintain them [there] for a long time To the 7[th]...He said that he remembers that on two occasions the Lord /^ //I Baron de Ripperd6.. had punished Juan Josef Sanchez, a soldier who is [at] present from the Gente de Cuera, for having fled from the Caballada and coming to this Pres[s.di]o. He kept him in the guardhouse for about one hour with a number of capes and animal skins over him. And on another occasion, he held. the soldier Juan Chirino, who is also from the Gente de Cuera, enclosed in the caballada for about six to eight days from the morning until twelve o'clock of the day. He [does] not have present

17 17 the crime which was the [cause] for the said punishment To the 8[th]...He said that whenever,the troops have had to depart on any duty or function, they have been well munitioned and supplied with the provisions which [are] correspondent To the 9[th]...He said [that] it does not appear to him [that] there is any individual of this Company who was aggrieved on the part of the officials who were mentioned- To the 10[th]..He said that he has never seen that, in this Company, [any] supposed enlistment has been made or [that any] soldier, who has served, [been] reenlisted. By that [reason], nothing has [Rubric] come to pass concerning that which the question contains. That, this is what he has had to declare concerning that which he has been questioned. And having read himself this, his statement, he said [that] it was well written

18 18 and that he does not have to add nor 5v to remove anything // whatever from that which he has declared under charge of the oath which has the date on which it was affirmed and ratified. And he signed it with me and the expressed secretary Cabello Pedro Granados Josef Plazido de Monzon [C., 3-5v pp., in E. 7/15/ /20/1779] [M.N.] 2[nd] Testimony Declaration of In the Royal Pres[idilo of San Ant[oni]o Man[ue]1 de de Bexar, on the twenty-first day of Urrutia, Secondthe month of July of the year one thou- Sergeant of sand seven hundred seventy-nine, I, this Company, the prestated Governor, in consequence of the age of of the commission which I am exercising, 46 years. ordered Manuel de Urrutia, second sergeant of this Company, to appear in my

19 19 presence. From whom, having him raise [his] right hand, I received his oath as the Royal Ordinances provide. [I] asked him [whether] he would swear to.god and promise to the King to tell the truth concerning the matters of which I venture to ask? He responded Yes, he would swear to it In virtue of this, he read the questions of the Interrogatory one by one To the l[st]...he said [that] he is named. Manuel de Urrutia, sergeant of the second class of this Company, that he is of the age of forty-six years, and [that] his occu.pation [is] that of what he has stated. And that it has [been] about twenty-seven years that he has been serving in this expressed Company To the 2[nd]...He said that, as sergeant that he is 6 6. and [as] corporal which he was // // of this Company, he has seen read and has read to the troops of it the penalties

20 20 established in the Royal Ordinances. That [reading] was practiced during the time of which the Lord Baron de Ripperda was captain each month or two months according to the number of people who were gathered in this Pres[idi]o. That [reading] is done at present every eight days as such in this Pres[idi]o as in the caballada with regard that each official, sergeant, and corporal possess a small book which contains the said penalties To the 3[rd]...He said that he knows and it is apparent to him [that] the troops of this Company have been supplied with their daily allowance at the rate of two rreales and the monthly ration which is composed of one fanega of corn, a half a head of cattle, with the -piloncillo, and soap which they need for their subsis- [Rubric] tence with all the other pledges for bestu.a.rio, montura, horses, and mules which they need. And [this] is derived from the reviews which take place over

21 21 them. And at the end of four months, their contracts were made for them, paying their balances in merchandise and supplies To the 4[th]...He said that he knows and it is evident to him that the prices at which the effects, Vahich are supplied from the [h]abilita,cion, are charged are at prime cost to those which they cost in El Saltillo and San Luis where they are purchased. no doubt. Of this [rate], there is In regard to that which these accounts clarify, all of this has. 6v [been] practiced // since the establishment of the New Regulations. That [practice] was not in effect during the previous time in which the Lord Baron de Ripperda and D[o]n Luis Mencha.ca managed the Company. At this time, the goods came to them at much more than one hundred to one hundred, which [is] how much they [are] received now today [He was] asked whether during the time of the mentioned Lord Baron, [had] he

22 22 received any goods from those which he did not want nor needed He responded That since he was a corporal of the squadron and having gone to Rio Grande to deliver several pliegos, when he returned from the said mission, his wife told him [that] the Lord Baron had delivered one portion of ribbon, alu.cema, rosemary, one sickle, one cobre, and other articles which he does not have present to him. That, they would hardly be able to serve any purpose. All of this amounted from twenty-six to twentyseven ppsos [He was] asked if he knew whether all the other individuals of the Company were forced to take the referred effects He responded That he does know [that] several other various effects, which he does not have present, were distributed to several [individuals], more [to some individuals] and less to others

23 23 To the 5[th] He said that it is evident that whenever any soldier had incurred any debt 7 7 as a result of his contracts, he was informed [of it] and did satisfy it And. he res'ponded. To the 6[th] He said [that] the service which [is] correspondent to each soldier has [been] made by him. But that, on several occasions, due to the lack of troops, it ha's not been possible to relieve the detachments of the Fortress and the caballada at the specified time. For this as such, they have been maintained at them more than that [duration] which is correspondent to them. This defect is not caused on the part of the officials of the Company. It is [caused], however, by the shortage of troops as has been stated To the 7Lth]...He said that the Lord Baron de Ripperda, being Governor of this Province, punished the soldier Juan Chirino, who is now

24 24 from the Tropa de Cuera. He held him in the caballada for eight days from morning until the noon, enclosed as 'punishment for having found him asleep in a room of the sentry. And that he also knows that the soldier Juan Josef Sanchez [was] punished for having come to this Pres[idi]o from the caballa..da. He had placed on him, at the top, a number of capes and.ani.mal skins. By this method, he kept him at the guardhouse for about one hour To the 8[th]...He said tha,.t,concerning that which [is] in regard to the munitions correspondent to the soldier, they have usually been according to [what is] correspondent. And that, concerning that which per- 7v tains to the provisions // on the excursions which''have taken place, they have also obtained those [provisions which were] sufficient with one exception on one occasion so urgent that it had been impossible to have more time than that of.mounting a horse. But

25 25 that they did not perish because of this, since they were maintained on fruit and meat from the mountain To the g[th]...he said [that] he does not know [whether] any soldier from his Company has a grievance with his officials or has received the slightest offense from them To the 10[th]..He said [that] he does not know nor is it evident that there has occurred in his Company that which the question contains. In respect to having answered all which he does know about all those [questions] which were presented to him [for] completion, it is what he has to declare concerning that which he has been interrogated. And having read this, his declaration, he said [that] it was well written and that he has nothing to add nor to remove from that which he has declared under charge of the oath which has the date on which it was affirmed and ratified. And he

26 26 signed it with me and the expressed secretary Cabello Manuel de Urrutia Josef Plazido de Nlonzon [ C., 5v-7v pp., in E. 7/15/ /20/1779] [M N.] 3Ld1 Testimony Declaration of In the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Antonio Domingo Pe'rez, de Bexar, on the twenty-second day of First Corporal the month of July of the year one thouof this Com- sand seven hundred seventy-nine, 8 I, the 8 pany, of the mentioned Governor,// // for the efage of 39 fect of the commission which I am exeryears. cising, ordered Domingo Peres, First Corporal of the Squadron of this Company, to appear in my presence. From whom, making him raise, [his] right hand, I received his oath according to [what] the Royal Ordinances provide. [I] asked him [whether] he would swear to God and

27 27 promise to the King to tell the truth concerning the matters of which I venture to ask? He responded, yes, he would swear to it In this consequence, he read the questions of the Interrogatory one by one He respo.nded To the l[st]...he said [that] he is named Domingo Perez, and that he is of the age of thirty-nine years, and his occupation [is] that of First Corporal de Cuera of this Company. And that he has been serving in it about twenty-three years To the 2[nd]...He said [that] it is evident to him [that] they have [been] read the penal- [Rubric] ties established in the Royal Ordinances. That [reading] was done heretofore each month. But afterwards, when a small book on the Ordinances was given to the officials, sergeants, and corporals, they were read to them here in this

28 28 Pres[idi]o as in the caballada every eight days To the 3[rd]...He said that he knows and it is evident to him that since the New Regulations [were established] for this territory, the troops of the said Company have been furnished with two reales daily, the ration of one faneea of corn, a half head of cattle, four reales for 8v // Piloncillos, and another four [reales for soap. All the pledges for bestuario,.mon^tura., and the remainder which they needed [were] supplied to them monthly. Their contracts [were] adjusted at the end. of four months. On this occasion, their balances were paid in effective mo:ney To the 4[th]...He said that he knows that the prices at which the effects, which were furnished from the [h.]a.bilitacion, were charged are at the prime rate [to] what was purchased in San Luis and Saltillo. Concerning this, he is well informed

29 29 since he had been with the [h]abilitado on one occasion and :had.seen the said effects purchased. All of this has been practiced since the New Regulations [were established] for this territory [He was] asked whether during the time of the Lord Baron de Ripperda, who was captain of this Company, was not this same condition practiced? He responded That, since the New Regulations were established, this [condition] has [been] practiced with the expressed conformity. But that, previously, when the said Lord managed the [h]abilitacion of this Company, it was very different since various effects which neither served them nor [which] they requested were distributed to all the soldiers of the said Company, as happened to the witness. For example, without having 9 9 needed them, they gave him // // alucema,.rosemary, pins, one sickle, one padlock, small books for reading,

30 one reading book for children, silk ribbons, awls, some stockings of wool all gathered together in one of the contracts which they made for them. All of this was capable of having amounted to about twenty pesos. They were not able to have recourse to oppose it. He therefore declares it as such by having stated it. He wanted. to place them in the stockade until the necessity of receiving the said effects has [been] determined To the 5[th]...He said that it is evident of that whenever any debt had been incurred as a result of the contract of accounts, the measure had been taken so that the soldier remained compensated for it And he respo.nded To the 6[th]...He said that the service has always been rendered so that grievance has resulted [Rubric] to no one soldier with the exception of that on several occasions, du.e to the lack of troops, they have been maintained in the detachments of the

31 31 Fortress of Cibolo and [at] the caballa.da [for] more time than the usual. They were not able.to relieve [them] since, more or less, it is for the antecedent reason, without 'placing this [reason] on the fault of the captain and the officials of the Compa.ny To the 7[th]...He said [that] he has seen the soldiers Juan Chirino, Josef Maria Hernandez, and. Miguel Guerra held among four stakes. 9v They [were] held to these less // [than] eight days from the morning until noon, staked by order of the Lord Baron de Ripperda for having abandoned the detachment at the caballada and [having] come to this Presidio. And Juan Josef Sanchez was held burdened by capes and with one pair of irons in the guardhouse of this Pres[idi]o for the same reason To the 8[th]...He said that usually when the troops have made any departure or [any] function outside the Pres[idi]o, they have

32 32 been supplied with provisions, with the exception of one occasion which necessitated urgency and promptness in.making the departure. There was no more time given than to mount a horse. And for that in regard to the munitions, the troops have always been supplied even without departing to campaign To the 9[th] He said [that] he does not know where there is [to be] found any soldier from his Company with any grievance against the officials who are mentioned in the question To the 10[th] He said that he knows and it is evident [that] in this Company there has not been practiced any of the thi.ngs which the question contains with respect to that no other item has taken precedence over that which he has left declared, with regard to [this] being what he has had to declare concerning that which he has been // // questioned. And having read this, his statement, he said

33 33 [that] it was well written, without having to add nor to remove anything of that which he has declared since it is the truth under charge of the oath which has the date on which it [was] affirmed and ratified. And he signedit with me and the expressed secretary Cabello Domingo Perez Josef Plazido de Monzon [ C., 7v-10 pp., in E. 7/15/ /20/1779] [M.N. ] 4[thl Testimony Declaration of In the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Ant[oni]o Andres del Balle, First Corporal of the Corps of the Light de Bexar, on the twenty-third day of the month of July of the year one thousand seven hundred seventy-nine, I, the inentioned Governor, ordered Andres del Valle, First Corporal of the Squadron Troops of this of the Corps of Light Troops of this

34 34 Company, of Company, to appear before me in order the age of 38 to execute the commission which I am years. practicing. [When] he placed himself in.my presence, I received his oath, making him raise [his] right hand according to [what] the Royal Ordinances provide. And I asked him [whether] he would swear to God and promise the King to tell the truth concerning the matters of which I venture to ask? He answered yes, he would swea,r to it In this consequence, he read the questions of the Interrogatory one by one He responded To the l[st]...he said [that] he is named Andre's del Valle and that he is of the age of thirty-eight years. And his occupation [is] that of First Corporal of the Corps of the Light Troops of this Company in ljv which // he has served. in this territory for twelve years To the 2[nd]...He said [that] he has read to the troops of this Company the Royal Ordinances here

35 35 in this Presidio as [well] as to the detachment at the garrison at the Cfbolo. And in particular, [he has read them] for one year in this territory [during the time] when a small book was given to the officials, sergeants, and corporals. From this [book], they were to read every eight days in the caballada, the garrison'at the Cibolo, and. [at] this Presidio. From this [reading], the troops of the said Company [should] find themselves well instructed concerning the penalties which they incur at all times when they fail in the compliance of their obligation To the 3[rd]...He said that since the New Regulations for this territory [were established], the troops of this Company have been furnished with two reales daily, one fanega of corn, a half a head of cattle, piloncillos, and soap, and all the other pledges for bestuario and montura, horses, and mules which a soldier needs. And he found, by chance, fewer [provisions]

36 36 during the time of the review of equipment. book. All of this is noted in his small And at the [end] of four months, they adjusted his contract for him, and he was given, in his hand, the balance which resulted to him To the 4[th]...He said (that) he knows and it is evident that the prices at which the effects which were furnished from the [hlabilitacion were cha.rged are at a prime rate to those which were charged in S[a]n Luis and Saltillo. He has experience in this by having gone with the [hja.bilitad.o on two occasions when he had passed to the said areas to obtain the provisions for the Company. All of this has [been] practiced since the New Regulations for this territory [were established] [He was] asked about the way these matters were comprehended during the antecedent ti.mes He responded That, when the Lord. Baron de Ripperda

37 37 was captain of this Company, he charged them according to [what] he wanted, giving them merchandise and goods which they neither sought nor [which] served them. For example, even though he gave them cloth for capes, jackets, and breeches, [and] linen for shirts and sheets, at the same time, he made them take other [goods]. He declares, as it happened, that these [goods] were alucema, rosemary, silk ribbons, eye glasses, one small notebook, one reading book for children, one sickle, pins, one small mirror, one or two awls, and other small articles of which he does not remember. And only he realizes [Rubric] that he misspent most of them since they were not able to serve him And [he was] asked to what amount in ^sos e the value of the merchandise and effects, which were not able to serve him, amounted He responded that he is not able to declare a sum in a fixed amount at which they were chargea

38 38 ` To the 5[th]...He said that whenever any debt had been liv incurred // to [any] soldier, he did satisfy it with the exception of Juan Maria de la.. Zerda, a soldier who is presently from the Corps. He was indebted [for] one hundred pesos. And at the occasion when he was at this Pres[idi]o, the Lord Commandant General made his corresponding recourse. And it appears [that], he has not paid [for] them To the 6[th]...He said [that] the service has [been].made without detriment to any soldier of the Company with the exception of several occasions when, due to the lack of troops, the [soldiers] were maintained in the caballada and [at] the garrison of Cibolo [for] some time more than that which was usual. All [was caused] by not having troops with which to relieve the And he responde To the 7[th]...He said [t:hat] Juan Josef Sanchez [has been] punished, covering him with capes;

39 39 and Juan Maria de la Cerda [was punished] with [a cover] of skins [during] a period of eight days. And Miguel Guerra [and] Josef Maria Hernandez [were also punished]. All of [these] soldiers from this Company were staked in the caballada with the exception of the time during which they completed their quarter of service. This punishment was imposed u:pon the.m for having come to this Pres[idi]o from the detachment to which they were assigned. All of this was executed by order of the Lord Baron de Rip[p]erda, [since] he was captain of this Company To the 8[th]...He said that he has seen that the troops were usually munitioned.// // And when they departed on any excursion, they were furnished with the necessary provisions unless the departure had been [made] so urgently and quickly that there had. not been given time [in order] to be able to [be] supplied To the 9[th]...He said [that] he does not know of any

40 40 soldier from his Company who has a grievance against the officials of it, with the exception of Ju.an Maria de la Cerda, as he has declared in the fifth question To the l0[th]..he said [that] he has never seen [whether] there has been incurred in this Company that which the question contains. And [since] he had nothing else to declare concerning that which he has been questioned, he read this, his declaration, and said [tha,t] it was [Rubric] well written. He has no [other] matter whatever to add nor to remove from that which he has declared since it is the truth under charge of the oath which has the date on which it was aff.irmed. and ratified. And he signed it with me and the expressed secretary Cabello Andres del Valle Josef Plazido de Monzo'n pp., in E. 7/15/ /20/1779]

41 41 [M.N.] Royal [I] have seen that [which was] repeated Pres[idi]o of by the antecedent witness in response San Ant[onijo to the fifth question of his declaration. de Be*xar, July 24[th] of [bracket] Decree. [I hereby] am ordering Juan Ma.ria de la Cerda to appear before me in order that from obta.ining his correspondent statement, moreover, the citation which the said witness has made of the mentioned Juan Maria de la Cerda may be completed Cabello 12v ^ // Josef Plazido de Monzon [., 12-12v pp., in E. 7/15/177q-11/20,/1779] [M.N.] 5(thl Testimony Declaration In the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Ant[oni]o of Juan Maria de Bexar, on the twenty-seventh of July de la Cerda, soldier from the Corps de of the year one thousand seven hundred seventy-nine, I, the mentioned Governor, in continuation of the commission which

42 42 CiiPra of this I am exercising, and in order to com- Company, of plete the citation which the First Corthe age of poral, Andres del Valle,.makes in the 29 years. fifth question of his declaration about Juan Maria de la. Cerda, soldier of this proper Company, commanded him to appear in my presence. And [I] received his oath, making him raise [his] right hand according to [that which] the Royal Ordinances provide. And [I] asked him [whether] he would swear to God and promise to the King to tell the truth concerning the matters of which I venture to ask? He responded, yes, he would swear to it In this consequence, he read the questions of the Interrogatory one by one He respondect,, To the l[st]...he said [that] he is named Juan Maria de la Cerda, that he is of the age of twenty-nine years, and that he is a soldier from the Corps de Cuera of this Company. He has served in this [Com-

43 43 pany] in this territory for eleven years To the 2 nd..he said [that] he has read to the troops of this Company, and in particular, [has read] for one year in this territory [the Royal Ordinances] with the.motive [that] the officials, sergeants, and corporals have a small notebook from that which they may read them. By this [notebook] these troops [would be] in structed // // in the compliance of their obligation To the 3[rd]...He said that since the New Regulations for this territory [were established], the troops of this Company have been furnished with two reales daily and, as a. monthly ration, [with] one faneea of corn, a half a head of cattle, piloncillos, soap, and all the other pledges for the bestuario, montura, horses, and mules which they need according to the reviews of equipment [which] are passed over them weekly. And at the end. of four

44 44 months, his contract was adjusted for him, delivering to him in money all of the balance which results from them To the 4[th] He said that he knows and it is evident that since the Regulations for this territory [were established], all of the pledges for begtuario and montura which a soldier obtains from the [h]abilitacion, were carried at a prime rate [to] those which depart [as] taken [Rubric] from S[a]n Luis and El Saltillo. And that before the said establishment, they were charged at the prices [at] which the Captain Baron de Ripperda wanted to carry them. [He] also gave them various effects which did not serve them nor [which] were necessary as it has happened to that, which he declares as they occurred, alucema., rosemary, silk, ribbons of every quality, six awls, one carriage riding board, two papers of pins, two small mirrors, and several other small articles which he does not remember. All of which that it seems

45 45 to him amounted to about twenty-seven 13v // esos [He was] asked about the balance or the charge he contracted with the Baron de Ripperda concerning which he mentioned to the Lord Commandant General when he was in this Presidio He responded That, concerning the one hundred nineteen - eos of balance which he made the first year, the payment [should] have [been] made in reales. This amount was not paid. For this reason, he made his recourses [He was] asked., concerning the contract, about which year the said balance [was] ma dp He responded That, according to [what] appears to him, the contract was [made] in the year one thousand seven hundred seventyf du To the 5[th]...He said that since the New Regulations for this territory [were established],

46 46 whenever any debt had been incurred in the accounts, it had been paid by them To the 6[th]...He said [that] the service has [been] ma.de with no grievance to any soldier of the Company. However, even though, on several occasions, they spent more time than the usual in the detachments of the caballada and the garrison at the Cibolo, it [had] consisted in that being [caused] by the lack of troops. And [since] these [troops] have [been] employed in various other duties and excursions, they have not been able to relieve the said detachments. That [failure] has not consisted in any fault or defect of the Captain or the officials of this Company A nd he responded To the 7[th]...He said that he saw the soldiers Miguel Guerra and Josef Maria. Hernandez staked by order of the Lord Baron de Ripperda, [since] he was Captain of this Company.

47 47 Each one [was staked] more than eight days from the morning until noon. And to Juan Josef Sanchez, he had him cloaked. And about him he declares [that] he held him concealed one day. And [since] he suffocated so much, he did not continue the punishment. He had been one of the first to have come to this Pres[idi]o from the caballada. And concerning this, he declares [that] he has given censures to the other soldiers of his same Company. He does not know currently whether this [punishment] had occurred.to any others To the 8[th]...He said that, in regard to the munitions, the soldiers of his Company have always [Rubric] been [well munitioned]. And they have also [been] well provisioned when they had departed to any campaign or function. But that, on several occasions, the necessity was such that they had [time o:nly] to mount the horses without [being] able to [be] provisioned ;

48 48 To the 9[th] He said [that] he does not know of any soldier in his Company to whom that which the question contains in.cludes To the 10[th], He said [that] it appears to him [that] in his Company no supposed enlistments have been made nor either [has] any [one] of the officials of the said Company 14v served for that which// the question contains [since] it has not taken place. Having responded what he has known of those [matters] which have been made towards him concerning all [the questions] since it was what he has had to declare concerning that which he has been interrogated and having read this, his statement, he said [that] it was well written. And that he has nothing to add nor to remove from that which he has declared under charge of the oath which has the date on which it was affirmed and ratified. And [since] he did not know [how] to write, he made a sign of the cross. And he affirmed it with the expressed secretary Cabella

49 49 [Cross] Josef Plazido de Monzon [., 12v-l4v pp., in E. 7/15/ ,/20/1779] Royal In consequence of that which the soldier Pres[idi]o of Juan Ma.ria de la Cerda reiterated in the San Ant[oni]o fourth question of the antecedent decde Bexar, July the 28[th] of laration, bring the principal book of the accounts of this Company, pertaining to the years one thousand seven hundred seventy-three and of one thousand [bracket] Decree. seven hundred seventy-four to my presence. From that [book], it will be known whether the one hundred nineteen pesos which he demands have been paid to this soldier with respeet to that which his proper charge should be evident in the said book Cabell ^ Josef Plazido de Monzo [C., p. l4v in E. 7/15/ /20/1779]

50 50 [M.N.] Royal [I] have [been] presented [with] the Pres[idi]o of principal book in which the accounts San Ant[oni]o of all the individuals of the. [Co.m de Bexar, pany] pertaining // to the years July the 29[th] of of 1773 and of 1774 were placed before me by the Lieutenant [h1abilitad.o of this Company. There was found the ac- [bracket] Writ. count corresponding to the soldier Juan Maria de la Cerda in whose presence I recognized it by finding it on the 'pa,ges ^ On and 117: of the said book. In this [book], this soldier has an asset of 119 'esos, 3 1/2 g,[rano]s which is declared. However, in continuance of the same account, he [was] paid his remaining balance at the end of December of And having made the corresponding charges, he re - mains in debt as far as the present time [for] 26 p,[eso] s and 5 rr[eale] s. Under these circumstances, he has been in-

51 51 formed of it, and [he has] satisfied [it]. He assured [me that] he has not made any other such [debt] by his Captain, the Baron de Ripperda, nor by the [jaj abilitado, who, at that time, was the Lieutenant D[o]n Cristobal de Cordoba. With that [statement], the interposed demand of the prestated soldier Juan Maria de la Cerda is declared as invalid. From these incidences, the Baron de Ripperda' becomes responsible for not having satisfied. this debt at the proper time and for the poor manner of compiling the said accounts since they were not in that manner and style [in] which they should have [been]. Because of this, it has taken the greatest effort to [have been] able to unravel the aforementioned debt. In order that all of that which [would] be evident, I establish [this] as a writ Cabello Josef Plazido de Monzon [C., l4v-15 pp., in E. 7/15/ /20/1779]

52 52 [M.N.] 6fth1 Testimony Declaration In the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Ant[oni]o 15v of Ant[oni]o de Bexar, on the thirtieth day // Gonzales, of the month of July of the year of one soldier from thousand seven hundred seventy-nine, I, the Corps de the prestated. Governor, in order to con- Cuera of this tinue the commission which I am exer- Company, of the age of cising, commanded Ant[oni]o Gonzales, soldier from the Troops de Cuera of this 48 years. Company, to appear before me. From whom, in my presence, I received his oath according to [what] the Royal Ordinances provide. [I] made him raise [his] right hand and asked [him whether] he would swear to God and promise to the King to tell the truth concerning the matters of which I venture to ask? To which he responded-- Yes, he would swear to it In virtue of this, he read the questions of the Interrogatory one by one He responded To the l[st]...he said [that] he is named Ant[oni]o

53 53 Gonzales, that he is of the age of fortyeight years, his occupation being that of a soldier in the Corps de Cuera of this Company. He has been serving in that [Company] in this territory for sixteen years. To the 2[nd,] He said that the Royal Ordinances have been read every eight days for only one year in this territory as such in the caballada as in the Pres[idi]o. With that [reading], the soldiers were instructed in the compliance of their obligation; primarily [instructed were] the recruits who have been enlisted. Concerning this. [reading], there has been evidence of those [Ordinances] which have been read to them Tothe 3[rd] He said that since the New Regulations for this territory [were established], // // the troops of this Company have been furnished with two reales daily, one faneea of corn, a half a head of cattle, piloncillos, and soap,

54 54 as a monthly ration. They [were] furnished all the pledges which they have needed until accounts are adjusted every four months. At that time, the balance which results to them is satisfied To the 4[th] He said that since the establishment of the New Regulations for this'territory, the goods which the soldiers receive from the [hl a,bilitacion are charged at the prime rate to those which are charged in San,Luis and El Saltillo [Rubric] [He was] asked whether, before the New Regulations [were established], were they not given the goods, which they obtained, within the same terms [in] which [they have been received] at the present [time] He res'pond..ecl That it was very different because, during the two years before the said establishment during which the Lord Baron de Ripperda, as captain, was in this Company, he administered his ac-

55 55 count. He charged twenty *esos for one shirt with ruffles, another twenty -esos for one pair of common pistols, seventeen and a half p esos for one car bine of the same quality. These [goods] were evident to the witness by having them charged to his account. Also, as when he was with a group of soldiers on the outskirts of Camargo with Father Asisclos who went in search of Indians. 16 v for his Mission of San Antonio, // when he returned, he was told by his captain [that] he had obtained two horses from one remo.nta which had been sold. And that, as such, he should go to the caballada in search of them. And the witness having proceeded, he discovered [that the horses] had fled. And moreover, concerning that which he states, the payment for them should not be [charged] to his account. They were charged to his account at twelve pesos [for] each one. Since it [had] occurred [at] the time during which the captain, as such, paid in merchandise,

56 56 the prices were double to that which they [were] valued in effective rr[eale]s. He made him receive in two adjustments, which at that time were made for him, ribbons of silk, of pita, and of cotton; alucema; rosemary; one small mirror; one lock for a door; pins; one primer book for children; and one reading book for children; some eye glasses; and one, empty, unserviceable box. All of this proceeded in the accounts which they made for him concerning that which he declares before the New Regulations [were established]. But, in other [adjustments] which they returned to make for hi.m after the said Regulations [were] established, they again gave him goods of the same nature which the Lord Baron [had] obtained from those which came from the account of Don Angel Martos since various soldiers and citizens owed him for these. He divided those [goods] among the troops of this Company, discounting their value in effective money. And [since]

57 he made // // a complaint [when] he received them, [Ripperda] punished him [by] keeping him in the caballada [for] six months with a cuera placed [upon him] continuously. At that time, [Ripperda] did not want to furnish him [with] any pledge in order to clotho^ himself To the 5[th]...He said [that] he has not seen occurring there that which the question i.ncludes To the 6[th]...He said [that] he has not seen [whether] there has been made any irregularity in the levels of the service To the 7[th]...He said that he has seen the soldiers Josef Maria Herna.ndez and Miguel Guerra [when] they were held staked in the caballada, each one for about eight days. Juan Josef Sanchez [was] burdened with capes in the guard-house. He does not know the reason for their punishments

58 58 To the 8[th]...He said [that] he has seen the troops of this Company always well munitioned. And they were also supplied, with provisions when they departed for the campaign with the exception of several [Ru.bric] instances which were made with such urgency that they hardly had time [in which] to mount a horse To the 9[th]...He said [that] he has not seen nor does he know whether any soldier of his Company is capable of holding [any] other complaints than [those] which have been rendered against the Baron de Ripperda during the time which he was captain of this Company. There are none 17v [against] // any other official of it To the 10[th]..He said [that] he has not seen, during all of the time which he has had to serve in this Company, that which the question includes. For this [reason], he has responded to all the [questions]

59 59 which they have put to him. He has declared all of this concerning that which he has [been] questioned. And having read this, his statement, he said [that] it was well written and that he has nothing whatever to add nor to remove from that which he has declared under charge of the oath which has the date on which it was affirmed and ratified. And since he did not know [how] to write, he made a sign of the cross, and he affirmed it with the expressed secretary Cabello [Cross] Josef Plazido de Monzon [ C., 15-17v pp., in E. 7/15./ /20/1779] [M.N.] 7fth1 Testimony Declaration of In the Royal Pres[idi]o of San Ant[oni]o Fran[cis]do de de Bexar, on the thirty-first [day] of