Letters
From Anza
 Juan Bautista de Anza, drawn from portrait in oil by Fray Orsi in 1774.
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Letter
from Anza, addressed to:
Most Excellent Lord Knight Commander,
Frey Don Antonio Maria Bucareli y Ursua
October 20, 1775
Most Excellent Sir
Sir
I left the Presidio of San Miguel for this one of my charge on day 29 of the month just
past, not having been able to accomplish my departure four days earlier as I had said in
my last letter to Your Excellency because of Father Friar Pedro Font having been gravely
ill, who, even though until today is quite debilitated in his health, has voluntarily
resolved to follow the expedition.
By virtue of Divine Providence, the expedition has traveled this far with complete
success, accomplishing our arrival by regular marches (and three days of rest) on the
sixteenth of this month. Notwithstanding, on the third day's march, eight of the enemy saw
us from a distance. The rear guard responded immediately to my order to fire on them. Our
train formed a circle, in the middle of which the families of the troop and other
non-combatants were placed. Alferez Don Jose Joaquin Moraga immediately sallied forthwith
the ten soldiers from the presidio of my command. In order to pursue the enemy more
vigorously, he took a larger number of soldiers to look for them, with whom he returned to
our encampment and, although he did not overtake them, they were sufficiently pursued such
that they were unable to discover the impediments with which we march.
The said expedition has come to this point with sufficient good fortune. So that that
Your Excellency will not observe any negligence in my conduct. I am including the attached
letters responses of the officers who drew up their contents to show the only resources
they could offer me. To this effect, the Presidio of San Miguel only had five, nearly
untrained militiamen that they could give me. From Santa Ana we picked up another group of
the same amount and caliber, and the Presidio of Altar could supply none.
Our Lord keep Your Excellency many years. Royal Presidio of Tubac, October 20, 1775.
Most Excellent Sir
Juan Bautista de Anza (rubric)
Source:
Garate, Donald T., Captain Juan Bautista de Anza Correspondence on Various Subjects
1775. Antepasados VIII, Los Californianos, 1995
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