Spain Engaged the British Elsewhere
During the American Revolutionary War, Spain also engaged the British in other places around the world. There were battles in the Philippines, Galapagos, Juan Fernandez Islands, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Minorca and Gibraltar.
THE TEXAS CONNECTION
It is well known that an army travels on its stomach. A well fed army is a good army. During the period 1779-1782, somewhere between 9,000 and 15,000 head of cattle were provided to Galvez' army by ranchers living along the San Antonio River between San Antonio and Goliad. In addition, this area sent several hundred head of horses and many bulls to perpetuate the herds. These herds of cattle and horses were driven from Texas to Louisiana by soldiers, militiamen, Indians, and vaqueros from San Antonio de Bexar, La Bahia (Goliad) and El Fuerte del Cibolo (a fort no longer standing, in what is now Karnes County). Some of these men stayed and fought with Galvez' army.
THE PRESIDIO, MISSIONS, PUEBLAS AND RANCHEROS OF SOUTH TEXAS
The area of our primary concern was called Nueva Espana (New Spain). It was divided into five provinces: La Provincia de Nuevo Mexico (New Mexico), which included Santa Fe, the capital of which was El Paso; La Provincia de Nueva Vizcaya (New Biscay, the capitol of which was Chihuahua, and which included the Big Bend area of present day Texas; La Provincia de Nueva Estremadura (Coahuila - which included Laredo, and north west along the Rio Grande to the Big Bend; and La Provincia de Nuevo Santander (New Santander); and the last, La Provincia de Texas o Las Nuevas Filipinas (The Province of Texas or The New Philippines), extended from the Nueces River on the south and west to the Red River on the north and east; and from the Gulf Coast on the south to the "Arctic snows" on the north.
Although described as a large chunk of present day U.S. and Canada, the hostile Indians limited the land actually occupied by the Spanish, to present day Texas and Louisiana. The attention of this article will be directed to the Province of Texas.
Spain followed a very rigid order of settlement in New Spain. In each settlement there were four pillars: the presidio, the missions, the pueblos, and the rancheros. San Antonio de Bexar became the capitol in 1773. At that time it contained five active missions, a pueblo and a presidio.
1. The presidio, like a fort, is where the soldiers were garrisoned. On a typical day at the presidio of San Antonio, which normally had a roster of between 81-106 men; 25% of the men were on duty at the presidio; 25% were guarding the horse herd; while another 1/4 were out looking for Indians. Of the remainder, about 20 were stationed at El Fuente del Cibolo, to guard the ranchers; while between 4-7 were assigned guard duty for the mail and payroll.
2. The missions, with a small settlement of Indians and those who worked the rancheros owned and operated by the mission. San Antonio had five missions, all of which were built along the banks of the San Antonio River. They are listed in the order of their respective location along the river:
a) The Alamo. Construction began in 1724. It was nearest to the presidio and near the governor's mansion.
b) Mission Conception was originally built in East Texas in 1716. It was moved to San Antonio in 1731. It boasts Moorish archways and intricately carved stone.
c) Mission San Jose was founded in 1720, and is famous for it's stone rose window. There was a wheat mill on the mission grounds. It is the only mission that has been fully restored, and is still operated as a Franciscan parish church..
d) Mission San Juan. It also was founded in East Texas. This 1716 church was also moved to San Antonio in 1731. It is known for it's distinctive bell towers and a laminated, carved altar. Pataguilla, was a ranch run by the Indians of this mission.
e) Mission Espada is the oldest of the five. Founded in 1690 in East Texas, it was the third of these missions to be moved to San Antonio in 1731. This mission owned and operated Las Cabras Ranch, which was later owned by Manuel Barrera. The foundation walls, a granary, a two story convent, workshops and Indian apartments are still standing. There is now a small museum featuring ranching traditions.
3. The pueblos or villas are where the remaining settlers and Indians lived. All men, including Indians, over 16 years of age, were part of the militia. They provided their own horse, saddle, weapon and ammunition. They were called up as the need arose, primarily to fend off attacks by raiding Indians. The main town was San Antonio. Other place names in the area were:
-- Las Islitas was a settlement of Canary Islanders who lived near "Sheep Crossing", on the present road to Elmendorf.
-- Paso de Maldonado was probably named for the Maldonado family. It was located near present Graytown.
-- Los Chayopines, near present day Floresville, was a ranch owned by Francisco Flores de Abrego.
-- Fuerte del Santa Cruz de Cibilo. Don Andres Hernandez built the headquarters for his ranch, San Bartolo, nearby.
-- Ojos de Santa Cruz "Holy Cross Springs", now Sutherland Springs.
-- La Bahia (Goliad),which had two missions: Espiritu Santo and Rosario. These two missions had the largest herds of cattle and largest pastures of all the ranches.
-- Nogales "walnuts", which later became Walnut Springs; now, Seguin.
4. The ranchos, where longhorn cattle were raised included the following:.
-- de la Garza (on Leon Creek & the San Antonio River).
-- Delgado (on Leon Creek).
-- Navarro (on Leon Creek).
-- Ruiz (on Leon Creek).
-- Perez (on Leon Creek).
-- San Lucas (on the Medina River) [owned by Domingo Costelo].
-- Perez (on Leon Creek).
-- Laguna de las Animas "Lagoon of the Spirits" (on the San Antonio River) [owned by Manuel Delgado; then the Zambranos.
-- El Atascoso (on the Atascosa River) [owned by Mission San Jose].
-- Montes de Oca (on the Salado Creek & San Antonio River).
-- de la Garza - north (on the east side of the San Antonio River).
-- Gertrudis Rodriguez (on the Salado Creek).
-- Rancho de las Hermanas (on the Salado Creek) [owned by Courbier-Duran heirs].
-- Gortari (between the San Antonio River & Cibolo Creek).
-- Monjaras (between the San Antonio River & Cibolo Creek).
-- Seguin (on the San Antonio River).
-- Las Cayopines [Francisco Flores de Abrego] (on the San Antonio River).
-- San Yidefonso de Chayopin [owned by Joseph Ygnacio de la Pena].
-- Nuestra Senora del Chayopin [in 1791 owned by Dona Manuela Montes, widow of Juan de Arocha].
-- Paso de las Mujeres (on the San Antonio River) [owned by the Ignacio Calvillo heirs].
-- Las Cabras (on the San Antonio River).
-- Rivas (on Leon Creek).
-- La Mora "Mulberry Ranch" (on the San Antonio River)[owned by the Mission San Antonio de Valero]. Manual Diaz was a vaquero on this ranch in 1789.
-- de la Garza - south (on the west side of the San Antonio River).
-- Senor San Jose (on the San Antonio River) [owned by Carlos Martinez, who was killed by Indians in 1815].
-- Rancho de Capitan Piscina (on the San Antonio River) [the La Bahia captain].
-- Pasture lands of Rosario (between the Aransas & San Antonio Rivers).
-- San Rafael (on the San Antonio River in present day Wilson County) [owned by heirs of Simon & Juan de Arocha].
-- San Rafael de los Varais [owned in 1791 by Luis Antonio Menchaca].
-- San Francisco (on the San Antonio River to Marcelina Creek) [owned by Luis Antonio Menchaca].
-- Pataguilla (on the San Antonio River) [owned by the mission Indians].
-- San Bartolo (Between the San Antonio River & Cibolo Creek).
-- San Bartolome del Cerrito (west bank of the Cibolo Creek) [owned by Andres Hernandez, and wife, Juana de Ollos; but leased to 8 users].
-- Rodriguez (on the Cibolo Creek).
-- El Paistle (on the Cibolo Creek) [owned by Sebastian Monjaras in 1770's; then by the Balmacedas family].
-- Tarin (on the Cibolo Creek ).
-- Flores (on the Cibolo Creek).
-- San Vicente de las Mulas (on the Cibolo Creek) [owned by Vicente Alvarez Travieso & his sons, Tomas & Francisco].
-- San Lorenzo de las Mulas (on the Cibolo Creek) [owned by Maria Robaina de Betancourt, widow of Lorenzo de Armas].
-- Leal (on the Cibolo Creek).
-- Guerra (on the Cibolo Creek).
-- Los Corralitos (on the Cibolo Creek) [in 1761 deeded to Mission Espiritu Santo by Don Bernabe Carvajal].
-- Pasture lands of Espiritu Santo (north east of the Cibolo Creek).
-- Palo Quemado ( on the Ecleto Creek, east of the Cibilo Creek) [owned by Lorenzo de Armas, second husband of Maria Robaina de Betancourt].
-- San Antonio del Cibolo [owned by the Granado de Armas family].
-- Burnt Wood Ranch [owned by the Granado de Armas family].
-- San Jose de los Alamos {owned by Leonora Delgado, widow of Juan Jose Flores].
-- Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria de las Calaveras [owned by Macario Sambrano; by 1791, partly owned by Salvador Rodriguez].
-- Santa Cruz de la Laja [owned by Diego Yrineo Rodriguez].
-- San Cristobal de Espanta Perros [operated by Manual Delgado].
-- San Antonio del Cibolo (on the Cibolo Creek) [owned br Maria Robaina de Betancourt, widow of Lorenzo de Armas].
-- San Miguel de Amoladeras (on the Cibolo Creek) [operated by Miguel Guerra].
-- Senor San Jose (San Antonio River) [owned in 1791 by Carlos Martinez].
-- Rancho del Diesmero [rented from Mission Rosario by Juan Barrera].
Small ranch owners near San Antonio, whose ranches had no distinctive names included: Joseph Martin del la Garza; Juachin de la Garza; Miguel Gortari; Herrera family; Leal family; Micheli family; Navarro family; Juan Ignacio Perez; Luis Perez; Juan Manuel Perez; Francisco Xavier Rodriguez; and Juan Manuel Ruiz.
Antonio Gil Ybarbo, Lt. Governor of the Texas Province, owned a ranch at Lobanillo, near Nacogdoches, which also supplied cattle to Galvez.
TEXAS WAS PRIME CATTLE COUNTRY
In the Texas census of 1783, there were 1,248 men, women and children living in the presidio and adjacent San Antonio de Bexar area. Another 554 lived in the missions. The total population of Texas in 1783 was 2,819. This census labeled each resident by name, age group, sex, and heritage. The heritage categories included Spaniard, Frenchmen, mestizo, mulatto, lobo (Indian and mulatto cross), coyote (Indian and mestizo cross), Indian and slave. The San Antonio population included immigrants from the Canary Islands, who began immigrating in 1731. Six of the 23 towns in New Spain between the Nueces River and Laredo were on the San Antonio River.
The prime cattle raising areas of Texas in those days were in a rough diamond shaped area with San Antonio in the north; Brownsville in the south; Laredo on the west; and Old Indianola in the east. The nucleus of the best land was between San Antonio and Goliad, along the San Antonio, Cibolo and Guadalupe Rivers.
The ranchers who sold beef to Galvez and the drovers were all patriots. Additionally, all the men who were members of the Spanish army and the local militia during the time in question, qualify as patriots within the definition of the Sons of the American Revolution. In addition to their service in the army and/or the militia, each Texan male over 18 most likely made a financial contribution to the war, as requested by Carlos, III in August 1781. Each Spanish male over 18 was expected to donate 2 pesos, while Indians and those of mixed blood were asked to donate 1 peso. Collections continued until 1784, when news of the peace treaty finally arrived. No contributor lists survive, but there are census records.
The king's declaration of war included a request for public prayer directed to all priests and church officials. The priests complied, praying both in Spanish and in the local Indian dialects on a regular basis. Thus, each of the mission priests and the church hierarchy in New Spain were also patriots.
Because of hostile Indians, the cattle were driven to New Orleans by way of Nacogdoches. The militia leader there was on Antonio Gil Ybarbo, who held the title of Lt. Governor. Cattle from his ranch were added to the herd driven to Galvez. From there the herds went through Nachitoches and Opelousas to New Orleans.
CURRENT DESCENDANTS OF SPANISH PATRIOTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP IN PATRIOTIC LINEAGE SOCIETIES
An exhaustive list of known soldiers garrisoned in Texas; the priests and citizens of the pueblos; the ranchers who sold the cattle and vaqueros who drove the cattle to Louisiana; the mission Indians, including those who served as scouts and interpreters, and other patriots of the American Revolution are contained in Spain's Texas Patriots in its 1779-1783 War with England During the American Revolution by Granville W. and N.C. Hough, which also contains the names of many of their wives.
Names of many of these patriots are also found in The Texas Connection With The American Revolution, by Robert H. Thonhoff, Eakin Press, Burnett, TX, 1981), including the names and positions of the "Cavalry Company of the Royal Presidio of La Bahia del Espiritu Santo".
It should be noted that at the present time the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) accepts descendants of King Carlos, III; General Bernardo Galvez and members of his army in Louisiana, which are referred to as "Louisiana Patriots". Those who served as early as 1776 are accepted by the DAR based on Spain's covert support of the colonists. They also accept the descendants of those ranchers who provided cattle to Gen. Galvez' army.
To date however, it is not believed that the DAR has accepted as patriots, those members of the Spanish army and/or militia who served during the period after Spain's declaration of war; those non military colonists who answered King Carlos' call for contributions; or those who served as drovers on the cattle drive to Louisiana. Perhaps no one has applied for membership in the DAR using one of these men as their patriot. Mr. Hough's comprehensive studies of the Spanish involvement in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico have been donated to the libraries of both the DAR and the SAR.
It is certain that many of these early Spanish patriot's descendants still reside in Texas. Hopefully many of them will take the time to apply for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution4 and the Daughters of the American Revolution. It will be up to the membership chairman of each chapter to encourage this group of descendants to apply for membership.
Descendants of Spanish Royalty Are Eligible For Membership in Patriotic Organizations
The descendants of Carlos, III, King of Spain, during the American Revolution, are eligible for membership in patriotic lineage organizations. His Royal Highness, Juan Carlos I, current King of Spain, was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in 2000. His cousin, His Highness, Don Francisco Enrique de Borbon y Escasny, Duke of Seville, was inducted into the SAR in May 2001.
SUMMARY OF SPAIN'S ASSISTANCE TO THE COLONISTS
Galvez and his troops were successful in their attempt to remove England from the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Their actions prevented the British from creating a second front with the American colonists, and removed the British soldiers involved from the war with the colonists. Spain's military attacks in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere actually caused England to divert ships and men which could have been used against the colonists. It left the Mississippi (and the Ohio) River open as a vital life line to the colonists. Spain also provided both directly (through Galvez and the dummy corporation) and indirectly (through the French) loans, gifts and much needed supplies.
Spain's entry into the War came at a time that was highly critical for the colonists, who were trying to fight the strongest nation in Europe almost barehanded. In 1778, the center of gravity of the war had been transferred from the North to the South and there the fortunes of war were not exactly favoring the colonists. That year the English took Savannah and Charleston, as well as other towns, causing severe setbacks for the American forces which had lost some 5,000 men.
It was then that the British hastened to implement their plans for the capture of New Orleans. There is little doubt that their success would have given them permanent command of the Mississippi Basin, from Canada to the Gulf. This would have been tragic for the colonists. With the British already controlling all the east coast, Canada and Florida, and the Bahamas, their possession of the Mississippi River valley would have strangled the rebellion to death.
Spain's declaration of war on England forced the British to fight on several fronts at the same time, having to oppose the combined Franco-Spanish fleet of 90 vessels which was laying siege to Gibraltar, and (which) had even threatened to invade England itself. In this way, they tied up a sizeable percentage of the British fleet from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean, making it impossible for England to effect a blockade on the American Coast, and so facilitating the operation of an ever-growing fleet of American and foreign privateers.
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