CHAPTER X.

RECONQUEST BY DON DIEGO DE VARGAS.

1692-1700.

AUTHORITIES-ENTRADA OF 1692-OCCUPATION OF SANTA FÉ-A BLOODLESS CAMPAIGN-TUPATU'S EFFORTS SUBMISSION OF THE PUEBLOS - To ACOMA, ZUNI, AND MOQUI-QUICKSILVER-RETURN TO EL PASOENTRADA OF 1693-COOL RECEPTION-BATTLE WITH THE TANOS AT SANTA FÉ-SEVENTY CAPTIVES SHOT-FOUR HUNDRED SLAVES-EVENTS OF 1694--THE MESA OF SAN ILDEFONSO FOUNDING OF LA CAÑADA— RUMORS OF TROUBLE-A FAMINE-REVOLT OF 1696-MASSACRE OF FRIARS AND SETTLERS-A NEW RECONQUEST-GOVERNOR VARGAS SUCCEEDED BY CUBERO IN 1697-A BITTER QUARREL-CHARGES OF THE CABILDO-VARGAS IN PRISON-EVENTS OF 1698-1700-THE MOQUIS -THE FRENCH-THE PECOS.

RECORDS of the reconquest, with its various entradas and complications down to the end of the century, are comparatively complete and satisfactory, containing naturally a large mass of petty though not uninteresting detail that cannot be compressed within the limits of a chapter. The new governor and captain

The printed Archivo de N. Mex. (see bibliog. note on p. 20 of this vol.) is the most complete authority; but of the MS. Archivo de Ŝta Fé, from which the former was drawn in the last century, large fragments still exist and have been consulted by me. They were also consulted, when probably less imperfect than now, but with too little care in some matters, by Davis, Span. Cong., 336 et seq., whose record ends practically with '96, and who has been followed more or less closely by Prince and other late writers. Another excellent and contemporary version, founded of course on the same doc., or Vargas' reports to Mexico, is Sigüenza y Góngora, Mercurio Volante, con la de la recuperacion de las provincias del Nuevo Mexico, conseguida por Don Diego de Vargas, etc., written by order of the viceroy Conde de Galve, and printed at Mexico 1693. It contains a brief summary, of no special value, of the discovery, conquest, and revolt of N. Mex. I have not seen the original print, but have a MS. copy in N. Mex., Doc. Hist., 581-661. Escalante, in his Carta, 123-4, brings the record, with few details, down to the end of Sept. 1692. Sigüenza, Carta al Almirante, MS., 6–7, mentions the subject. As to miscellaneous references on the reconquest, except such as I may have occa

general had been selected with special reference to the regaining of New Mexico; but on account of troubles with the Sumas and other tribes nearer El Paso, over a year passed away before Vargas could give his attention to the far north. Then so great was his impatience that he did not await the arrival of a reënforcement of fifty men from Parral assigned to this campaign by the viceroy, but leaving a note, in which he informed the conde de Galve that he preferred "antes incurrir en la nota de osado que en la de receloso," he set out from El Paso on August 21, 1692, with a force of 60 soldiers and 100 Indian auxiliaries, accompanied also by padres Francisco Corvera, Miguel Muñiz, and Cristóbal Alonso Barroso.2

The march up the valley of the Rio Grande was uneventful; all the pueblos up to Sandía, as we have seen, had been destroyed years before; and no Indians were seen. On the 9th of September the baggage was left at the Hacienda de Mejía, with a small guard under Captain Rafael Tellez; Santo Domingo and Cochití were found entirely abandoned; and at dawn on the 13th Don Diego's little army appeared before Santa Fé, surrounding the town and cutting off both the water supply and all communication with the outside. Here the Tanos of Galisteo were strongly fortified, but were apparently taken by surprise. At first they were defiant, and declared they would perish rather than yield to the invaders, or rather, that they would kill all the Spaniards, with any cowardly natives who might join their country's foes. But Vargas and the friars, while preparing "like brave men and zealous Christians for battle," also renewed their offers of pardon for past offences and their entreaties for peaceful submission; and before night sion to cite on special topics in the following pages, there is no occasion to say more than that many of the works cited in the preceding chapter on the revolt contain also brief mention of succeeding events to 1700.

2 Vargas in a letter says he started Aug. 21st, his force at Sta Fé being 40 Span. and 50 Ind.; while Sigüenza notes that 14 Span. and 50 Ind. were left with the baggage at Mejía. Davis says the force was 200 Span. and less than 100 Ind.

SANTA FÉ REOCCUPIED.

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the natives yielded without a blow. Next day they were properly lectured and formally absolved from their apostasy; children were presented for baptism; and thus Santa Fé became once more a loyal Spanish villa,3

Don Luis Tupatú, the most powerful of the rebel chieftains since the death of Pope and Catiti, presently made his appearance on horseback, clad in Spanish costume, to tender his allegiance and that of the Tehuas. He said the Pecos, Queres, Jemes, and Taos had refused to recognize his authority and might resist the Spaniards; but he offered to accompany the governor on his tour, and aid him to the best of his ability. The fifty soldiers from Parral arrived on the 21st, and joined Vargas at Galisteo. Pecos was abandoned by the inhabitants, who in five days could not be induced to return, though a few were captured, and released bearing offers of peace and pardon. Returning to Santa Fé, Vargas started for the north on the 29th, visiting all the pueblos in that direction.* The people took their dose of absolution with a good grace. Those of Taos ran away at first, but were soon induced by Tupatú to return; and they soon revealed a plot of the hostile nations to attack the Spaniards from an ambush; but also joined the governor's force in considerable numbers, as did those of other pueblos, to act as warriors or messengers of peace, as occasion might demand. Returning to Santa Fé on October 15th, Vargas wrote next day a report to the viceroy, announcing that he had "conquered for the human and divine majesties" all the pueblos for 36 leagues, baptizing nearly 1,000 children born

There is no foundation whatever for the bloody battle lasting all day, or the allied rebels gathering for the defence of Sta Fé, as narrated by Davis and Prince. There was no blood shed during all this campaign of 1692.

'S. Cristóbal, S. Lázaro, Tesuque, Nambé, Cuyammique (?), Jacona, Pujuaque, S. Ildefonso, Sta Clara, S. Juan, Picuríes, and Taos are named. A fragment of the original MS., Vargas, Reconquista de N. Mex., 118–34, ia the Arch. Sta Fé, records this northern tour, and on following pages later developments are recorded. As a rule I shall not refer to these original fragments unless they contain something not in the printed version.

in rebellion. To hold the province for the king he must have 100 soldiers and 50 families; and he recommended the sending of convict mechanics from Mexican jails to serve as teachers and search for metals 5

Next Pecos submitted on the 17th; but Galisteo and San Marcos were found deserted. The people of Cochití, San Felipe, and San Marcos were found together, and persuaded on the 20th to reoccupy their pueblos. Those of Cia and Santa Ana had built a new pueblo on the Cerro Colorado four leagues from the old Cia; and those of Jemes and Santo Domingo, with a few Apaches, were in another three leagues from the old Jemes. All submitted after some slight hostile demonstrations on the part of the Jemes. Cold weather and snow had now become troublesome; and on the 27th, from the Hacienda de Mejía, Vargas despatched for El Paso his artillery, disabled horses, Indian auxiliaries, ten settlers, and a party of rescued captives, with an escort of soldiers. A junta voted to postpone the completion of the campaign to another year, but the leader refused his assent.

Marching on the 30th the army of 89 men reached Acoma on November 3d. The people were ready for defence, slow to believe they would be pardoned,

5

Vargas' letter of Oct. 16, 1892, in Arch. N. Mex., 129; also in Arch. Sta Fe. The gov. is about to start to conquer the remaining pueblos and to look after the quicksilver mine. The messenger bearing the letter reached Mex. Nov. 21st, and next day there was a great celebration of the victory, the cathedral being illuminated by the viceroy's order. Robles, Diario, 117; Zamacois, Hist. Mej., v. 468; Sigüenza, Merc. Vol., MS., 631. Davis says that 500 families were demanded.

6S. Marcos was 3 1. from Galisteo.

Acc. to Arch. N. Mex., 132, there were 43 of these captives. In the Arch. Sta Fé it is stated that they numbered 17 males and 40 females. Sigüenza gives the number as 66 at this time, but in all 77. They were persons- mostly half-breed or Ind. servants, and including no Span. except a few women, with the children they had borne in captivity-that had been held by the rebels since 1680. Davis gives a list of some of the women and children, 28 in all, whom he calls prisoners, but cannot understand for what offence.

8 Route from Hac. de Mejía: Isleta 5 1.; Rio Puerco (perhaps the earliest mention of this name in Arch. Sta Fé, Ms.); the Laguna and Arroyo de S. Felipe are named between the Puerco and El Pozo) 7 I.; El Pozo 11 1.; Acoma 11.; R. Nacimiento or Cubero 5 l.; Ojo del Nacimiento 3 1.; El Morro 14 l.; Ojito de Zuñi 6 1.; Mesa de Galisteo 4 1. (Zuñi). Sigüenza calls the cliff Caquima.

AT ZUNI AND MOQUI.

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and fearful of being killed for past offences; they wished Vargas to pass on to Zuñi, and give them time for deliberation; but finally they yielded to persuasion, and the governor, padres, and fifteen men were admitted to the peñol summit, where the ceremonies of submission were performed, and 87 children baptized on the 4th. At Zuñi the inhabitants were found to have left their old pueblo and built a new one on a lofty mesa." Here the Apaches made a dash, and drove off a band of the Spaniards' cattle; but Zuni was restored to loyalty and faith on the 11th, about 300 children being baptized. Here the sacred vessels and all the property of the martyr missionaries had been carefully preserved, and in one room were found candles burning on a kind of altar, this being the only pueblo that for the past twelve years had shown the slightest respect for Christianity.

Finally, having left a guard at Zuñi, Vargas went on to the Moqui towns, arriving at Aguatuvi on the 19th. 10 The Moquis, having been advised by the Navajos not to trust the Spaniards, came out in hostile attitude 700 or 800 strong, but the chief Miguel was well disposed, his people required but little persuasion, and the invaders were ceremoniously welcomed on the 20th. Miguel said the other pueblos were hostile, yet they all submitted without resistance except Oraibe, which was not visited. These people had a kind of metallic substance, which was said to come from a Cerro Colorado across the great river. The indications seemed to point to a quicksilver mine, and specimens were brought away for the viceroy.

This may throw some doubt on the antiquity of the ruins known as Old Zuñi. On the Morro, or Inscription Rock, is inscribed: 'Here was Gen. D. Diego de Vargas, who conquered for our Holy Faith and for the royal crown all New Mexico at his own cost in the year 1692. Copied in Simpson's Jour., pl. 71; but S.'s translation is inaccurate, and that of Domenech, Deserts, i. 416, is still more so.

Route: Zuñi, Flia Hinin, to a waterless monte, 6 1., 15th; Aguage del Entretenimiento, 6 1., 16th; Chupaderos, 9 1., 17th; Magdalena (only in MS.), 18th; S. Bernardo de Aguatuvi, 10 1., 19th; S. Bernardino Gualpi, 22d; S. Buen. de Mossaquavi (or Moxionavi), 22d; S. Bernabé Jongopavi (or Xommapavi), 23d.