Archaeological and historical investigations of the Presidios of the line of 1772-1790 of Northwestern New Spain Jack S. Williams 2009 The Indian Wars of Northern New Spain 1700-1772 •Primary enemy nomadic Indians •Failure of the missions and frontier presidios in pacification •Introduction of Bourbon military reforms 1700-1772 •Development of a military approach to Indian relations •Culmination in the creation of the Royal Regulation of 1772 The reform program of 1772 •Introduction of officers experienced in continental warfare •Transformation of militia garrisons into professional regulars •The introduction of regular patrols that would cut off Native American lines of supply and communication •The creation of a chain of modern, standardized, fortified military colonies spanning North America, using a plan developed by Nicolás Lafora. •The “presidios of the line,” and the “ship of the line” concepts Geographic distribution PRESIDIOS OF THE LINE 1772-1781 1. Altar* 2. Tucson 3. Santa Cruz 4. San Bernardino 5. Janos* 6. Velarde 7. Carrizal 8. San Elizario 9. Pilares 10. La Junta* 11. San Carlos 12. San Vicente 13. La Babia 14. Agua Verde 15. Monclova Vieja 16. San Juan Bautista* 17. La Bahía* OTHER NORTHERN PRESIDIOS COVERED BY THE REGULATION 18. Bacoachi 19. Santa Fe 20. San Antonio 21. Horcasitas 22. Buenavista San Diego Monterey San Francisco Loreto Monclova Vieja 1773-1780 Located on San Rodrigo drainage near the Rio Grande The first presidio of the line built in close accordance with the Lafora masterplan built under the direct supervision of O’Conor and Ugarte Monclova Vieja 1773-1780 •Conjectural plan based on description, measurements, and aerial photographs of Willem Veltman Interior of the northwest corner Interior of the southeast corner Exterior wall junction of the southwest corner Interior of the stone circuit wall Masonry of the stone circuit wall Remnants of a limestone bastion wall Santa Rosa de Aguaverde 1773-1780 •Located near Ciudad Acuña in Muralla, Coahuila •One of the first two presidios of the line built in accordance with the Lafora masterplan •Plan based on field observations The springs at Aguaverde Mesquite forest covering the ruins of the walls Foundations/ lower portions of the circuit wall Footings of the northern bastion Eroding adobe bricks of the southern bastion San Vicente 1773-1780 •The Lafora masterplan was modified to fit a narrow ridge system overlooking the Rio Grande •Narrow appearance of the room blocks of the compound was a result of the use of a single row of rooms along the walls. •Plan based on Ivey 1984 and field observations Nineteenth-century image of the Presidio of San Vicente western bastion captain’s house easter n bastio n North room block looking east Northeastern bastion Looters’ hole with adobe bricks Modern constructions on top of the site San Carlos 1773-1782 •The remote ruins of the outpost of San Carlos represent the best preserved of the presidios of the line •Plan based on Gerald 1968 and field inspection. baluarte chapel road in road in captain’s 1985 1968 house gatehous e baluarte Panoramic view from the west north bastion chapel southwest corner A sufficient amount of wall fabric remains at San Carlos to develop a general impression of the exterior appearance of the fortress The captain’s house The Chapel The throat (interior entrance) of the northern bastion Pilares (La Princesa) 1773-1780 •Pilares had a rhomboid plan, an oversized eastern bastion, and a plazuela style captain’s house. •Plan based on Gerald 1968 and field inspection View looking across the plaza to the south Ruins of the chapel and expanding campo santo Surviving remnant of the chapel wall The captain’s house The throat of the northern bastion San Elizario 1774-1780 •Since 1968, this important site has been obliterated by a local rancher •Plan after Gerald 1968 and field inspections Carrizal 1773-1826 •This outpost was founded within an already developed town. It served as O’Conor’s northern military capital, and continued to serve as an important military base through the end of the colonial period •Plan based on field inspections and Gerald 1968 The southweastern corner of the presidio Partially exposed footings of the outer defense wall Mound representing the remains of the southern wing of the main defensive compound San Buenaventura at Velarde 1774-1778 •Gerald found little evidence that this base had been completed. •Plan after Gerald 1968 San Bernardino 1775-1779 •The outpost had an irregular northern bastion and a plazuela style captain’s house. •Plan based on Gerald 1968 and field inspections The ruins of the site have been reduced to low mounds concealed by brush View from bastion into San Bernardino Valley The captain’s house Acequia running at the base of the southern bastion Santa Cruz de Terrenate 1775-1780 Only the north wing, outer defense wall, church, and gatehouse were completed. The most extensively investigated presidio of the line. Aerial photograph showing conditions of the ruins circa 1954 Plaza de armas Nave of the chapel The captain’s house before stabilization The divider wall between the planned inner and outer rows of rooms The presidios of the line reconstructed Baluartes (bastions) One of the distinguishing features of the presidios built using the Lafora masterplan is the use of angular bastions equipped with casemates (casamatas). These structures were designed to mount small artillery pieces Some of the largest bastions were found at San Carlos. Similar structures existed with various dimensions at the other presidios. The Guardhouse entranceway Interior features upper gallery guard house zaguan upper gallery zaguan jail The captain’s house and comandancia The captain’s house served as the nerve center of the presidio. The captain’s house at San Carlos with conjectural uses of various rooms The average military family lived in simple one, or two room, homes without elaborate furnishings. Heating and some cooking was done using simple hearths and crude fireplaces. Reconstruction based on data from Santa Cruz de Terrenate. Cross-section of the defensive compound passing through a presidio residence plaza exterior The church and the chaplain’s house Each of the military bases was provided a modest church and a Franciscan chaplain. The priest was responsible for the spiritual life of the garrison. Reconstruction of Santa Cruz de Terrenate as planned The presidios of the line: an evaluation •Official claims about completeness of the presidios: the O’Conor-Croix debate •Historians’ perceptions of relative success - lines of supply, lines of communication and the misapplication of European technology Fin
