USA > New Mexico > Historical sketches of New Mexico : from the earliest records to the American occupation > Part 16
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From here the Spaniards started on their arduous march across the desert to Zuñi, sending in advance a messenger bearing a cross and a rosary, to explain their peaceful intentions ; and when near their journey's end, were met by twelve envoys, who brought messages of good-will and welcome from the chiefs of the pueblo. Vargas found the ascent of the mesa, on which the town was situated, so sharp that it could only be made on foot ; but he was rewarded on reaching the summit by seeing the inhabitants assembled in the plaza to receive him with honor, and by no less than 294 presenting themselves for baptism. The Governor and priests were entertained by the chiefs of the pueblo in the most cordial manner, and were in every way gratified at their reception by this intelligent and powerful nation.
Vargas was desirous of extending his expedition still farther west, to the Moqui country, and even beyond, where mines of cinnabar and red ochre were said to exist. He learned, however, that the Moqui chiefs were suspicious of his intentions, and had little confidence in the friendly letter he had dispatched to them from Jemez; having been rendered distrustful by the reports
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of the same Navajoes who had similarly affected the people of Acoma. He therefore wrote a second letter, in which he stated that he had already pardoned them for their action in the rebellion, and asked them to meet him in a friendly spirit at their villages. Having allowed a little time for this message to have an effect, he started from Zuñi with sixty-three soldiers and two priests, on November 15. The first of the pueblos reached was Aguatubi, five days distant, where the Spaniards were at first met with apparent hostility ; 700 or 800 Indians, well armed, surrounding the little band, and singing their war-songs. The tact of Vargas, however, extricated him from this difficulty, as it had from many previous dangers, and the chief named . Miguel directed his people to lay aside their weapons and receive the Spaniards as brothers. It afterward appeared that when the letter of Vargas from Zuñi was received at this pueblo, word was sent to the other towns of the Moquis, Gualpi, Jongopabi, Monsonabi, and Oraybi, and a great council of the natives was held, at which a chief of Gualpi, named Antonio, was the leading spirit, and where it was determined to resist the Spanish invasion by every available means. Miguel claimed to have opposed this course of action, and urged that a friendly reception be accorded to Vargas, who had come a long distance on a mission of peace. The hostility at first manifested was attributable to the decision of that council, but afterward the more pacific policy of Miguel and his friends prevailed. Had the attitude of the Indians not been changed, it would certainly have been impossible for the Spaniards to have entered the town, as the passage was only sufficiently wide for one man to pass at a time, and it was well de- fended by fortifications. Even as it was, Vargas was continually fearful of treachery, and declined to enter the houses to eat, or even to encamp at night in the plaza ; but nothing occurred to justify his apprehensions.
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The people erected the usual cross in the center of the plaza, 122 were baptized, and Vargas acted as sponsor for two children of Miguel, whom he confirmed in his authority as Governor of the pueblo.
Leaving fifteen men in charge of the animals, the Gov- ernor with forty-five soldiers pressed on to Gualpi, the next town of the Moqui nation, where he was well re- ceived and entertained by the same Antonio whose feel- ings had been so hostile a few days before. Here and at Monsonabi and Jongopabi-in the former of which Pedro, the messenger who had been sent from Jemez, was found in the midst. of the people in the plaza, hold- ing aloft a large cross-Vargas made the usual address explanatory of his peaceful intentions toward all who respect the authority of the King and the Church, and the people were absolved and baptized; nothing un- usual occurring to vary the ceremonies. The horses of the Spaniards were now nearly broken down from fatigue, and it appearing that the mines were on the other side of the Colorado River, whose deep canon was almost impassable, Vargas determined to return to Zuñi, having also to abandon his contemplated visit to Oraybe on account of the scarcity of water on the road. At Zuñi he heard of a short route by which he could reach the Rio Grande near Socorro, and having deter- mined for some reason which is unexplained-and cer- tainly seems singular after his wonderfully successful and rapid pacification of the whole province-to march to El Paso instead of returning to Santa Fé, he availed himself of this information, and after travelling through a country covered with broken lava (malpais) and in- fested with wandering bands of Apaches, reached Socorro on the 9th of December. Soon after leaving Zuñi he passed by the Moro, now known as the "In- scription Rock," and there left a memorial, which is reproduced in Simpson's Report, plate seventy-one, and reads as follows: "Here served General Don Diego de
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Vargas in the conquest of Santa Fe and New Mexico, for the royal crown, at his own cost, 1692." From Socorro to El Paso the little army marched in a very leisurely way as compared with their previous rapid movements, arriving at the latter place on December 20th, somewhat less than four months from the time of leaving it. During the progress of this expedition nearly every pueblo of importance had been visited; from Pecos in the extreme east to Moqui in the west, 2,214 natives had been baptized, and no less than seventy- four Spanish women and children, who had been cap- tives since the beginning of the revolution, were re- leased.
The probable object of Vargas in proceeding to El Paso was to arrange for the immigration into New Mexico of a sufficient number of families to colonize it permanently, in accordance with the report which he made to the Viceroy soon after his arrival at Santa Fé. At all events, he proceeded to devote himself to the work of collecting a large number of families for that purpose ; the refugees from New Mexico, who had not yet set out on the return to their old home, being used as a nucleus. Much more time was thus occupied than had at first been expected, so that it was not until the 11th of October, 1693, that the company was ready to commence its march. The whole number, including both colonists and escort, reached 1,500 persons, and they carried with them over 3,000 horses and mules. Each family had been supplied with a certain amount of money, generally from $10 to $40, to purchase sup- plies ; over £42,000 having been furnished to Vargas by the vice-regal authorities for that purpose. Don Juan Paes Hurtado, who was afterwards Governor of New Mexico at various times between 1704 and 1735, was appointed to take charge of the immigration. This unwieldy company, consisting largely of women and children, slowly proceeded up the valley, suffering much
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from lack of sufficient supplies, and from the scarcity of water in certain parts of their route. It is said that at least thirty persons perished from these causes, and from exposure to the cold, to which they were unaccustomed.
Vargas had hoped to find the Pueblo Indians in the same pacific and hospitable frame of mind in which he had left them, but such was far from the case. No sooner had the Spaniards left the country the year be- fore than the Governor's interpreter, Pedro de Tapia, began circulating a report that the moderation of Vargas was all assumed, and that he intended to return some day and order the execution of all the leading men who had taken part in the revolution. This idea spread rapidly, and soon to a great extent undid the good re- sults of the Governor's conciliatory policy. When the natives heard that he was again approaching, they feared that it was with a view to carry into effect the threatened punishment, and a great council was held at Santa Fé, at which the majority determined to resist his advance, and began making preparations to arm all of the natives for that purpose. Vargas learned of this condition of affairs from scouts whom he had sent out in advance, and in consequence marched with great cau- tion. It turned out, however, that in many of the pueblos there was a division of opinion on the subject, which prevented the prompt action that might have been fatal to the Spaniards, and greatly facilitated their march. The pueblos of Santa Ana, Zia, and Cochití gave evidence of a friendly disposition and on the 1st of December, at Santo Domingo, Vargas met the Gov- ernors of Tesuque, San Lazaro, and San Yldefonso, to- gether with Don Luis, whom he had appointed to the chief government the year before, and contradicted the re- port of the interpreter in such a convincing manner as to renew their confidence, and Luis went on a mission to Santa Fé to procure provisions and endeavor to induce the inhabitants to allow the Spaniards to enter. On
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the evening of the 11th, Vargas, who had encamped at the Ranch of Roque Madrid, five miles south-west of the town, was met by a deputation including the Governors of Santa Fé and Tesuque, who expressed the best of feel- ing, and in token of friendship brought a quantity of tortillas. They said that the story of the Interpreter had done much harm, but that the older men and women had never believed it.
On the 16th the Spanish army marched into Santa Fé, bearing the same banner which had been carried by Oñate when he entered the city just a century before. The occasion was one of much pomp and ceremony. The inhabitants were assembled in the plaza, the men on one side and the women on the other; the soldiers opened ranks to allow the priests to pass through, the latter, in gorgeous vestments, saying the Te Deum and chanting the Litany ; and the Governor then delivered an address. When all was concluded the troops and immigrants were marched to the hill immediately north of the city, where a camp was prepared, and where they remained until Christmas day ; the Taños Indians being left in possession of the Palace, and the other natives, of the houses in the town. The weather meanwhile became very cold ; men sent out for timber to repair the church of San Miguel were unable to work on account of the severity of the season, and the priests and the council asked permission to occupy houses in the city, instead of remaining in the camp. Vargas therefore directed the Taños Indians to vacate the Palace and return to their pueblos on the Galisteo ; but this created a great com- motion, and on the 24th of December, at a council held by them, it was determined not to allow the Spaniards to enter the city. When Vargas heard of this, he prepared to make an assault, but waited for one day, in hopes that better counsels would prevail among the Pueblos. On the 26th, however, a fierce battle was waged during the whole day. The defenses were strong and the place
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could only be taken by scaling the walls. The Indians fought vigorously with bows and arrows, and used boil- ing water to prevent an attack close to the walls. In the afternoon re-inforcements from other pueblos appeared, and only after successive cavalry charges were driven back. At night both sides, exhausted, were glad to have the conflict cease. But the Indians had suf- fered heavily ; ninety of their number were killed, and they were discouraged at the retreat of their allies. The next morning, therefore, no opposition was made to the entry of the Spaniards, and formal possession of the city was taken by the Governor. Four hundred women and children who were captured, were divided among the Spanish families in practical slavery. Seventy warriors were executed, and their property, consisting principally of corn and beans, confiscated.
While the capture of the capital was a great blow to the hostile Pueblos, yet they did not yet despair of suc- cess. They camped on the surrounding hills, and at- tacked any parties who dared to go beyond the walls. The Spaniards were practically kept in a state of siege, ana what added to their difficulties as spring advanced, was the scarcity of provisions. This annoying and dangerous condition of things continued until Vargas determined to take the field and punish the Indians for their hostility. Starting therefore from Santa Fé in the beginning of March (1694), he marched directly to San Yldefonso, the high mesa north of which was the rendezvous of the northern Pueblos during periods of war. A terrible snow-storm forced him to seek shelter in the houses of the pueblo; but after three days he made an attack on the stronghold, when however the steepness of the ascent gave the defenders such an ad- vantage that the Spaniards had to retire. A few days afterwards he made a second attack, from both sides of the mesa at once, but was again unsuccessful; and then in turn the Indians attacked his force in the night-time,
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at the pueblo, but the positions now being reversed, they were compelled to retire. In all three conflicts the In- dian loss far exceeded that of the Spaniards, but the position on the mesa being practically impregnable while defended by such large numbers as now occupied it, Vargas finally concluded, on March 19th, to withdraw to Santa Fé, having been successful in one great object of his expedition, that of obtaining cattle and pro- visions.
He had scarcely reached the capital, when a deputa- tion arrived from the friendly pueblos of Zia and Santa Ana, asking for assistance, as they were threatened with attack. Vargas persuaded them that the best assurance of safety was to defeat their enemies in the field, and was consequently joined by a considerable body of allies, with whom he again marched his little army to San Yldefonso, and this time, after an obstinate fight, suc- ceeded in gaining the heights, dispersing the Indians, and taking possession of the camp, with over 300 prison- ers, mostly women and children, and 900 sheep, besides horses and mules. The sheep were turned over to the Indian allies, thirteen warriors who were taken were shot, and Vargas refused to give up the women and children until the leader of the natives, named Zepe, and his principal officers, were surrendered to him. Various skirmishes ensued, in which about half of the prisoners escaped, and then Vargas was obliged to hasten back to Santa Fé by news of an attack on that town, leaving Captain Roque Madrid in command of a de- tachment left at San Yldefonso.
Planting-time had now come, and both Indians and Spaniards ceased hostilities for a space to attend to agri- culture, the lands around Santa Fé being apportioned among the soldiers for this purpose. Early in April the Governor visited Cochit to endeavor toí arrange that the people of the adjacent pueblos, at Santo Domingo, San Felipe, etc., should re-inhabit their old villages and
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plant their land, in which he was fairly successful, although his escort suffered somewhat from a night at- tack unexpectedly made on them while there. Nor did the Indians at all give up hopes of repossessing the capital, but made assaults on it from time to time, es- pecially when the Governor was away and the garrison weakened; two of these attacks being on April 19th and May 25th, respectively. They also returned to their stronghold at the mesa of San Yldefonso, and successive attempts of Vargas to dislodge them in May were un- successful. In the middle of June he again marched from Santa Fé to the mesa, but finding that the enemy's force was largely made up of Taos and Picuris Indians, he concluded to proceed directly to those pueblos in order to inflict chastisement. Both towns were found deserted, the inhabitants having fled to the mountains. Vargas commanded the people of Taos to return to their homes within a certain limited period, and ne- gotiations proceeded for some time between the Gov- ernor of Pecos, acting for the Spaniards, and Pacheco, the Governor of Taos ; but the Indians failing to return, the pueblo was given up to pillage by the soldiers on July 5th, and a considerable amount of corn secured. As a large body of the enemy had collected in the mountains to attack him on his march back to Santa Fé, Vargas returned through the country of the Utes, who were friendly with the Spaniards. The route led him to cross the Rio Grande near the Colorado, north of Taos, and then march to the Ojo Caliente River, and down that stream and the Chama to the junction of the latter with the Rio Grande. At San Yldefonso he found so many Indians that he did not attack the mesa, but proceeded direct to Santa Fé, arriving on July 14th, after having marched 120 leagues in seventeen days.
The river having fallen now, so as to make its cross- ing easy, the Governor without any delay started on an- other expedition to the west, to punish the Indians
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of Jemez for their attacks on the pueblos of Santa Ana and Zia, and to obtain corn for the people of Santa Fé. After crossing the Rio Grande, Vargas was joined by a large number of Indian allies, and with them marched rapidly to Jemez, where the old pueblo was found aban . doned, the people having moved to the top of an adja- cent hill, where they were building a new town. Here a fierce battle took place, the Spaniards with their allies assaulting the place, and the Jemez Indians defending it with great obstinacy. At length however they were overcome, nearly 100 being killed, and 370 women and children captured. While here the Governor nad a special search made for the burial-place of the priest, Juan de Jesus, who had been killed, as previously re- lated, at the opening of the rebellion ; and after some difficulty his remains were found and conveyed to Santa Fé, where they were re-interred in the parish church with much ceremony on the 11th of August, exactly fourteen years after his martyrdom at Jemez. Socn after this, peace was made with the remaining Indians of Jemez, the prisoners restored, and the pueblo rebuilt. This may be considered as the end of the general and organized opposition to Spanish rule by the Pueblos, included in the period of the great rebellion, although some individual towns were not entirely reduced to sub- mission until a short time later.
In 1696 a severe famine afflicted the territory, and especially the Spanish towns, being caused, as was alleged, by the cupidity of Governor Vargas, who re- tained for his own use a large proportion of the corn sent from Mexico for the support of the colonists ; and the Indians of fourteen Pueblos took advantage of the occasion again to rise and endeavor to expel their rulers. A desolating war ensued, which resulted in the destruc- tion or abandonment of many of the pueblos, and the death of at least 2,000 Indians, mostly from sickness and exposure. Others left their old homes and joined
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the wandering tribes of the plains, rather than submi to Spanish civil and ecclesiastical rule ; so that the re- sult was a great diminution in the pueblo population and the number of their villages. The Spaniards, meanwhile, constantly increased in population, and the working in the mines, which had been so prolific a cause of suffering and discontent, not being renewed, the in- centive as well as the provocation to rebellion, to a large extent, ceased ; and the end of the seventeenth century saw the country entirely at rest.
CHAPTER XV.
THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
T HE eighteenth century was for New Mexico a season of comparative quiet. The Pueblo Indians, demor- alized by divisions, and tired of revolts which never proved permanently successful, made no trouble during the entire period. With the wild tribes, however, there were almost continual hostilities. They made annual forays upon the more exposed settlements, carrying off the corn and vegetables, which were the results of a year of labor; or the cattle and sheep, which formed the principal property of the people. They frequently attacked the smaller villages-and sometimes, when in force, the larger ones; and many of the towns to-day contain the ruins of the forts and torreons built for defense at such times.
Through this century the Comanches were the most troublesome of these tribes; an almost constant warfare continuing between them and the Spaniards. While it consisted mainly of sudden incursions and unexpected attacks, after the manner of most Indian warfare, yet at times there were important battles between the Spanish troops and New Mexican volunteers on the one side and the united bands of Indians on the other. Such were the action at Green Horn, near the middle of the cent- ury, and that of El Rito Don Carlos in 1783. The most important and decisive of these battles was that fought at a place called Rabbit Ear two years later. The Comanches had just swept through part of the valley in the Rio Abajo, and made an attack on the town of Tomé, one of the most important in Valencia County, from which they had carried off a number of animals and a
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quantity of goods, and made prisoners of two sisters of the Pino family, besides killing a number of citizens. Great indignation and excitement prevailed; and the territorial troops and volunteers quickly gathered to the number of 250, and under Lieutenant Guerrero, started in pursuit of the Indians. The latter were found hav- ing a grand council, accompanied by a war-dance around the scalps which they had taken as trophies of their success. They were immediately attacked, and a des- perate battle ensued for the space of three hours; when the Indians were forced to retreat, losing a large num- ber in killed and wounded, and all their booty and ani- mals, including their own horses. The prisoners were rescued amid the rejoicing of their old friends and neigh- bors. The Comanches, however, rallied after a short time, and in turn attacked the Mexicans, recovering most of their horses, and forcing the troops to retreat. They lost so many men, however, in these two battles, that they soon after agreed to a peace, and were not troublesome for a considerable time thereafter.
During this century a long succession of Governors ruled in New Mexico, usually with the title of Governor and Captain-General ; with sometimes special additions. There is in most cases no record of the time of appoint- ment, so that the dates of their official terms have had to be obtained from various documents executed by their authority and found among the archives at Santa Fé. In 1862 a list was prepared for the report of the Surveyor-General, John A. Clark, by the veteran Chief Clerk, David J. Miller, and from that and some other information of more recent date the succession can now be presenteti with substantial accuracy. Going back for a moment to the time of Vargas, we find that in 1695 charges were presented against him by the civil authori- ties of Santa Fé, and the regiment stationed there, for peculation in using government funds and property for his own purposes.
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GASPAR DE SANDOVAL ZERDA SILVA Y MENDOZA. - This cavalier was probably appointed Governor pending the investigation, as he appears as such in 1695 and again in 1722. In 1697 Vargas was formally removed from office, and was succeeded by-
PEDRO RODRIGUEZ CUBERO .- His rule continued until 1703, when Vargas was restored to power as Military Commandant of the Province, from which it would ap- pear that he must have been acquitted of the charges against him.
THE DUKE OF ALBUQUERQUE appears to have governed at certain times between 1703 and 1710. The town of Albuquerque is named after him.
JUAN PAEZ HURTADO was Lieutenant-Governor in 1704; commissioned by the Marquis de la Peñuela, the Viceroy, as Governor and Captain-General in 1712; and as Inspector-General in 1716. He was again Lieutenant- Governor in 1735, and in 1736 went on an expedition to the western country, as the following sentence on In- scription Rock near Zuñi proves : "On the 14th day of July, of the year 1736, Gen. Juan Paez Hurtado, Inspector, passed by this place, and in his company Corporal Joseph Armenta, Antonio Sandoval Martinez, Alonzo Barela, Marcos Duran, Francisco Barela, Luis Pacheco, Antonio de Salas, Roque Gomas. "
FRANCISCO CUERBO Y VALDEZ, Governor ad interim in 1705, 1706, and 1707 .- He was "Knight of the Order of Santiago, official judge, royal treasurer, factor of the royal domain, treasurer of the city of Guadalajara, etc."
JOSÉ CHACON MEDINA SALAZAR Y VILLASEÑOR, Marquis of Peñuela, Governor from 1708 to 1712 .- It was under his administration that the rebuilding of the church of San Miguel in Santa Fé, which had been destroyed in the Pueblo rebellion, was completed ; as appears from the carved viga, on which the inscription is as follows : " El Señor Marquez de la Peñuela hizo esta fabrica ; el Alferes Real Don Agustin Flores Vergara su criado. Año
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