Concerns various biographical aspects of Barrios; including; accusations of misconduct, arrest, punishments, reassignment as captain of San Buenaventura; his journey to frontier from Guadalajara; his dissatisfaction with command; his request for return to central New Spain. Documents also shed light on use of dragoons as Police force; travel customs of Noble ladies; financing and pay of dragoons; dispute over chain of command; accomplishments of Barrios Father as governor of Coahuila and Texas; Indian attacks on frontier and retirement. (J. Williams, may 1987)

In response to request by viceroy, Barreyro (aid to Rivera) provides informe on Nueva Vizcaya; notes earlier letter of Jesuits (ff 135-154); description of inhabited places & natives; deployment of royal and hostile forces; undeniable reasons why presidio garrisons should each be reduced to 24 men; explanation of why Jesuit missionaries are resisting new regulation; notes on Jesuit and Franciscan establishments; lists Jesuits and their nationalities; reflects on how province can be maintained in peace; various missionized natives; hispanic settlements; some statistical information on population; mission church construction; general mission progress; instruction in Spanish; stresses peace of region; notes convoy escorts; many details on tactics (including night attacks); limited military insights of missionaries; Tarahumara labor for Spaniards; operations of Huydobno; Barreyro defends Rivera and regulation, stressing that they have been unfairly criticized. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Herrera comments on Rivera's inspection and new regulation of presidios (1729); notes his long service in region; effects of presidio garrison reductions; importance of presidio forces for regional security; abuse of soldier's being assigned duty as private labor force of commanders rather than as royal military troops. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Rivera defends regulation of 1729 against accusations of Jesuit missionaries of Tarahumara Alta (See ff. 134-255); includes comments on utility of smaller garrisons; nature of war fought there; limited escort services; his inspection of Nayari and other frontier regions; comments on recent attacks in Nueva Vizcaya and at other places in provinces; explains duty of 6 presidio forces stationed in province; questions ability of Jesuits to understand situation; reflects on progress of missionization; describes routes of highway patrols; Inspections of Retana; battle at quagisole; reflects on campaigns dating back to 1650; praises Tarahumaras; notes their construction of fine churches; summary of 1729 events in Sonora; comments on arms and equipment, state of supply; explains convoy system; cites need to be frugal with king's limited resources; emphasizes demilitarized character of Texas frontier; notes use of canary islanders in Texas. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Concerns Jesuit missionaries' strong arguments against new regulation of presidios with various explanations on why it is in error; notes on weakness of Rivera inspection; character of settlement system; problem of banditry that is destroying provincial commerce; wants increase in road patrols; problems of civil government; crosses of dead along highways; expenses of defense; distractions of visiting officials to area; advocates increase in presidial strength; reflects on character of Indian wars, missionization and enemy; comments on opinions of capitan-inspector Retanas; use of la Mal yerva; current quiet of Indians; system used to govern Indians; abuses of Indian labor (and consequences of fugitivism and banditry); tactical limitations of mounted troops in Sierra; contrasts of european and new world military theaters; retarded social and economic character of region; virrey acknowledges receipt of letter. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Gallardo reflects on nature of Indian wars and present crisis of Nueva Vizcaya; comments on return of Yaquis from Valle de San Buenaventura; reorganization or re-activation of various presidios on Camino real to Chihuahua city; deployment of militia and presidial forces; proposals and comments of Mendoza, Tamaron and Carta; reviews arguments made by those authors; describes frontier military life in harsh terms; problems inherent in military administration; threat of banditry, measures that need to be taken to bring it under control; Indian attacks; places inhabited; dispersal of settlements is major defense problem; areas actually protected by various presidios; possible expenses of reforms; comments on Tamaron's infantry proposal as absurd, claiming they are producto de un celo Santo, y de un concepto in greso Por informes de personas poco instruida en la guerra de los indios; demonstrates Tamaron's calculations in error; describes in detail arms and equipment (Cueras, sables, escopetas), nature of war (unsuited to infantry), advantages of lightly equipped enemy warriors; describes why guns are Inferior to bows and arrows; many details on battle tactics; enemy's lack of formations in battle; stresses war is unconventional struggle de duender; draws comparisons with war in north Africa; praises frontier soldiers; notes present threat of French; notes French weapons trade on south plains; refers to various legal codes; contrasts northern New Spain with other areas being subjected to colonization; emphasizes many shortcomings of New Spain venture; notes use of canary islanders in Texas; lack of plans used in establishing many important settlements; use of Tlaxcaltecans as settlers; many interesting biblical and historical allusions; emphasizes that Spain does not have resources to erect barrier like great Wall of China. Gallardo notes information he is presenting here is based in part on inspection of Nueva Vizcaya, Sinaloa, Sonora of ca. 1750. Document is of great historic merit to any who are interested in later Rubi/Lafora expedition and regulation of 1772. Many of Gallardo's fresh insights have been echoed by later historians such as Thomas and moorhead. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Report concerning retiring governor Mendoza's reflections on Indian wars fought in Nueva Vizcaya; includes comments on presidio deployment; Indian depredations at Chihuahua city and elsewhere; need for permanent guard at that city; great dangers of bandits who threaten supply and bullion convoys; convoys to Nueva Mexico and Sonora; relative weakness of presidial locations; strengthes and weaknesses of each presidio; calls for supplemental forces composed of thirty auxiliary Tarahumara archers for each post; value of auxiliaries as spies in broken terrain; relative cost of financing auxiliary forces; progress of missions in province; customs of mission Indians; describes education of mission Indians; schools; their virtues, livestock and crops. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Concerns condition of presidios of Nueva Vizcaya; notes visit of bishop to various places; provincial depopulation; geography; livestock; vegetation; daily life of soldiers; detachments of los Alamos and Mapimi; private armed forces and civil militia; distances between presidios; troop strengths, arms and equipment and fiscal administration. Bishop urges that frontier cavalry be converted into infantry to increase number of fighting men available and advocates formation of new presidios. Tamaron's reflections on war provide many important insights into presidial defense casting special light on pre-1772 reglamento period. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Expediente, accompanied by cover sheet, concerning Indian relations between Spaniards and friendly Indian groups, in spite of minor incidents quickly corrected by Indians; report of military campaign from Santa Fe to El Paso; treatment of Apache prisoners; alliance between Spaniards and Comanches against Apaches; presence of two Panana Indians in Ecueracapa's company; orders from Ugarte to Concha to send all Apache prisoners to Chihuahua, and Concha's responses to these orders; mention of Apaches' use of all people, regardless of age or sex, for fighting. Ff. 257-259 are detailed tables of accounts of money and supplies given to Comanches, Yutas, Navajos, and other friendly groups of Indians from April 1786-September 1787. Supplies, tobacco, military supplies for Indian auxiliaries, gifts to Indian leaders, shoes, and hats. Mention of gift of 500 horses and 30 mules to Indian auxiliaries. Ff. 261-276 is another Series of very detailed tables of accounts, including purchase of previously mentioned horses, allocation of 200 carbines, also for Indian auxiliaries, and tables relating distribution of these carbines and related supplies; ff. 267-27 is an account of all money spent for Indians in 1787. Tables are followed by Series of correspondence between various officials concerning funds for these expenses for 1789-1790. Includes a table (f. 284) of company strengths of regular military and Indian auxiliaries throughout Nueva Mexico, June 1788, and a list of specific items needed for Indians, June 1788. (W. Copas, may 1988)

Copy of testimonios from juntas de guerra re: puntos de conferencia and response to puntos. Detailed background information about numbers of Indians, location, livelihood, intertribal alliances and kinship, sources and types of weapons, etc. Suggestions for best course of action in subduing Apache groups, gaining alliances with naciones del norte. Warning that any alliance with Lipanes against Indians del norte would be harmful; previous peace with Lipanes has been deceptive. Discussion of troops necessary to protect frontiers and strategy for deployment. (D. Uhlman, July 1988)