Anza Diary
1779 Comanche
Campaign

Anza Comanche Campaign, 1779





Impact on Western Movement

3rd. Friday. I had all the immediately surrounding country checked, and since nothing new was encountered, I ordered the troop to get ready to march out, which we did at seven. As we started our march there were few enemies in evidence who cared to pass by the place where we had opened the way through the aforementioned big bog, but to their number was added a larger group, and so I remained with the first and second columns in the rear guard and ordered the third column to serve as the vanguard so that all could continue the march prepared for what might come. The first two climbed some medium sized hills that right and left we had to cross for a distance of half a league. As we entered them about 40 of the enemy approached to almost within rifle range and started firing theirs, and I recognized from his pennants and insignias the famous Chief Cuerno Verde who, with a superior and arrogant air over his own, spurred his horse vigorously, and his haughty and arrogant manner caused me to resolve to deprive him of his life. In order to carry out that resolution I sent the vanguard to the edge of the hills where they discovered the formation, there with 200 foot soldiers to engage them in battle, with the cavalry and supply following up in support, to the end that this force should press the enemy sorely should they be able catch them in a semi-encirclement which I hoped to form with the columns of the rear guard, but if not, for the cavalry to drive them into the bog, since it was imperative that the most important ones, the ones in the barbarous Chief's party should die in it, since from the first we had caused him to flee and to lose his right wing. To accomplish one or the other I tried to tire the horses of the rebels as much as possible, since on their freshness depended their ability to either attack or retreat successfully. I had everyone except our Indian auxiliaries to simulate a rapid retreat, and when my idea was about to have the desired effect the Chief caught on to the ruse and ordered all of his people to withdraw, and when this was noted the second part of the plan was put into effect and we succeeded in cutting Cuerno Verde off from the main body of his people, and those following him were caught in my trap, and having no other recourse they dismounted and went into the swamp, and using their horses as a breastwork they put up a bizarre but glorious defense in which nevertheless Cuerno Verde and his first-born son and heir to the command perished along with four of his most famous chiefs, a medicine man who had declared him immortal and ten others, as many as would fit into the place where he had barricaded himself. Many more would have died, but I preferred that many should escape so that for many years to come it would be remembered as the cruel scourge of this kingdom against him who had exterminated many villages, killed hundreds and taken many prisoners who were later sacrificed in cold blood, bringing guilt upon his entire tribe, whom he forced to take up arms against the Spaniards, the hatred of whom dominated him after his father was killed by our arms and he took over the command and the power. I infer that his death was caused by his own reckless arrogance and his scorn for our people, the result of his many victories over them due to the disorders that are always present in war. Most of his people who had been hit the evening before feared that which had not been hidden from his eyes, since a lost rifle belonging to one of our Indian auxiliaries appeared in his hands. But in spite of knowing that our Indians had rifles he had the temerity to attack 600 well disciplined men with just the 50 men of his personal guard. It can only be ascribed to the bragging, boasting, presumptuous disposition of that barbarian, which he manifested to the very last in various ways, disdaining even to load his own rifle, which three times was done for him by someone else, while he in the meantime used his lance. All our people tell me that his death will be mourned with great feeling, but I believe that feeling will not exceed the pleasure it has given our people, who have suffered no greater misfortune than a slight bullet wound to one soldier, and who have recovered five rifles of a make that abounds among those infidels from the enemy dead. In spite of the fact that I remained in this place by the grace of the advocacy of the suffering Holy Mary until half past ten to see whether any of the barbarians would return, I saw nothing but the dust and smoke of their retreat, the latter of which was visible at a distance of 12 leagues , from which I infer that it was made by those we defeated the previous evening. At the mentioned hour, after our people had dedicated the victory to our King and super chief who commands us, I started the march to the south. Due to favorable terrain we made 5 leagues before arriving at the first water, an arroyo of the Sangre de Cristo , where we stopped for the night.