Dedicating rivers and other landmarks to Spanish saints served the dual purpose of extending the rule of the crown and Christianizing the land. For Roque de Madrid and Juan de Ulibarrí it was done with a sense of deeds well done. For Antonio Valverde, one senses an underlying discomfort with anything unfamiliar.
When he met leaders of Apache bands who could confirm rumors about the French, he didn’t simply treat them as vassals owing him homage as their liege. He couldn’t overcome his awareness of their separateness as heathen pagans. They, of course, were wise enough to further their own ends by disguising their feelings and adopting the appropriate gestures.
On the second day of his journey, Bernardo Casillas surprised a small settlement. "As soon as these Apache learned of the coming of the Spaniards, they came to see the governor, who received them very kindly and gave them tobacco and something to eat. The pagans, after giving many signs of pleasure, said their enemies, the Comanche, were persecuting and killing their kinsmen and others of their nations."
The next day, Carlana arrived with representatives of the Sierra Blanca Apache. After he partook of the proffered plate of mutton, he said they were fleeing their country to get help from the Jicarilla Apache. Valverde said, he "entertained them all that he could. Then, having said good-bye, they went away greatly contented."
A day later they arrived at the Jicarilla camp only to find the leader, El Coxo, was elsewhere seeking help from the Navajo. His sons told him they were standing on the spot where the Comanche and Ute had killed sixty. Valverde remembered, he "received them with his accustomed kindness, entertained, fed them and gave them tobacco."
That afternoon, Valverde, the priest, José de Tagle Villegas, Francisco Montes Vigil, and "some soldiers" rode up stream to a settlement. The Apache "welcomed the señor governor with great rejoicing. At the same time it was observed that many women and children, a mob of heathens who heard the bustle and confusion at the arrival of the governor, fled to the hills."
Carlana returned on September 27 with 69 men prepared to find their enemies. The next day, he suggested they dispatch scouts. Valverde agreed. "After ordering them to be given chocolate and tobacco," he sent them off.
They returned two days later. "The Christian Indians tried to go where the latter were, but the governor would not allow it, but kept them alone." Carlana told them they were nearing the enemy camps. He said they should go nearer the mountains and travel by night.
Valverde wrote, "At this news all the settlers gathered around the tent of the governor. He ordered them seated and chocolate brought to them. Considerable tobacco was given to the Apaches and the interpreters, for this is the best gift that can be made to them."
Some days later, on October 7, Carlana told him the enemy had set up more than sixty tents where they were riding. He "rewarded him with meat and flour. This made him very happy."
Three days later, Valverde no longer trusted Carlana, though he didn’t say why. Perhaps he blamed the native for the rough terrain and bad weather. On October 10, he simply reported "in order better to bolster up the fidelity of the Apaches two of his nation should go with four outside Indians, two of the pueblo of Taos and two of those from the Picuríes."
The next day they began going down the Arkansas river where they met ten men from El Cuartelejo on October 14. Two days later, Valverde decided he wanted "to visit the numerous ranchería" of the group coming to meet him. When he got near, on October 18, he sent two "Indians of the Taos nation" ahead with a message saying he was coming in peace to talk. They responded they would come with another group, the Calchufines.
The unnamed representatives arrived on October 20. They asked him to delay leaving, because all their people were coming "because of his great fame." Valverde reminded the viceroy he had been instructed to "solicit by all means possible the reciprocal friendship of the Apaches of El Cuartelejo, both for the good purpose and Catholic zeal of his excellency to convert them to our faith, and to be able, by means of them, to attain knowledge of the location, designs, and movements of the French."
The next day, he, the priest, Villegras, Vigil, José de la Fuente, and "other active and retired officers" went with the Apace chiefs to see the rancherías on the other side of the river. There they saw the dogs." He added, he was "considerably surprised to behold that aggregate of heathenism and to see so many souls apart from our holy mother Church."
On October 22, he heard more concrete details about the activities of the French from a Calchufine who had been shot during an attack by the Pawnee and Jumano. The unnamed man said, "they had seized their lands, and taken them from that time on." He provided more facts about the French, which they "were told by some women of their tribe who were made captives among the French on the occasions when they had war, but who had fled and returned to their kinsmen."
Once he had the intelligence he needed, Valverde wanted to return immediately to Santa Fé. He said he couldn’t wait the arrival of more refugees who were facing a winter with no reserved food supplies. He said he would return, but had to leave because his people had nothing to eat, meaning he and his followers couldn’t live on the buffalo and corn that would sustain his audience if they were lucky enough to be left unmolested.
Notes: José de Tagle Villegas was described as Valverde’s lieutenant; from the Tagle name and his position as a confidant, one would guess he was a countryman of Valverde. Francisco Montes Vigil was a lieutenant. José de la Fuente was a royal ensign. Bernardo Casillas was an ensign. The priest was Juan del Piño who had been assigned to Pecos pueblo. Calchufine also were called the Paloma. The Pawnee were probably the Skidi band of southern Pawnee.
Valverde y Cosío, Antonio. Diary of the campaign against the Ute and Comanche, 1719, reproduced by Alfred B. Thomas in After Coronado, 1935.
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