Don Joseph de Zuniga
Second Commandant of the San Diego Presidio
Dates: 1755 - 1780
- 1783 - 1785 - 1792
- 1806 - Alferez Velasquez
- References
1755
Zuniga born a criollo ( a person of pure Spanish descent),
in Cuautitlan, Mexico. (Williams Bio. 12/25/95)
1772
On Oct. 18th, Zuniga enlists as an officer trainee.
He enters service as an officer candidate in the frontier army at the age
of 17.
He enjoys the position of soldado distinguido,
which qualifies him as a nobleman, not subject to the performance of manual
labor or other less distinguished tasks (Schuetz-Miller 1994:104)
1773-1776
Zuniga is with Hugo O’Conor during the epic campaigns launched
against the Apaches in the Interior Provinces. During this period, Zuniga
provides valuable service in the transfers of the Presidios of del Norte,
Pilares, and San Carlos de Cerro Gordo. (Williams Bio. 12/25/95)
1778
Josef Comacho, a visiting naval officer, recorded of the
San Diego Presidio:
The port of San Diego is famous, very large, and
with a capacity not less than that required to hold a hundred and fifty
ships...
The presidio is located two leagues from the entrance
to the port. It has been built on a hillside that runs from east to west.
The presidio dominates the surrounding countryside. The site lies along
the banks of a river that is dry for a considerable part of the year...
The form of this presidio is a quadrangle, made up
on the western side by barracks of the troops. On the opposite side can
be found the house of the lieutenant comandante. On the north there are
three houses for the civilian population. On the south wing can be found
the guardhouse, and warehouses where various goods, such as food supplies,
and the property of the King, are guarded. These structures are equipped
with a single door and a portico.
The defenses of this presidio consist of two four-pounder
cannon. One of these guns defends the post from the open country to the
north. The other protects the southern approach. All the fortifications
have been built in adobe. They have created many gunslits where the defenders
can shoot at attackers without being exposed to enemy fire. (Williams;
Walking Tour:8)
On August 26th, Zuniga becomes alferez
(after
extensive service on the Texas frontier). Rank comes while serving
in the Third Flying Company of Nueva Vizcaya (a detached leatherjacket
soldier company) (Williams Bio. 12/25/95).
1780
On April 21st, Zuniga promoted to lieutenant.
Word of his promotion comes while he is serving at the Presidio of San
Carlos de Cerro Gordo, in the remote Big Bend Country of the lower Rio
Grande (Schultz-Miller 1994:104 - citing his service record of 1791).
1781
Zuniga leads a division of Rivera ‘s colonists from Guaymas
to Loreto and Bahia San Luis Gonzaga by sea. He then leads the column overland
via San Fernando Velicata to mission San Gabriel. Jose Velasquez is designated
guide from Velicata to San Gabriel. (Ives:215)
July
Rivera Y Moncada killed at the Colorado River in a Quechan
uprising. (Bancroft: 363-64)
September 28th
Zuniga assigned as lieutenant to command the presidio San
Diego. He holds the position for more than eleven years. During tenure
there, relations with Indians, superiors and with missionaries are cordial.
He serves as quartermaster/paymaster and is noted for his ability to keep
good accounts. (Ives: 215)
Rafael Pedro y Gil who as guarda-almacen had charge
of the accounts before Zuniga’s time gave them up on Oct. 19, 1781, and
went to San Blas under arrest to account for a deficit of $7,000. (Bancroft:
451)
Lieutenant Jose de Zuniga, who, as habilitado,
was also intrusted with the company accounts. So far as the records show
no complaint was ever made against him in either capacity, and he not only
enjoyed the entire confidence of both governor and comandante general,
but was popular with his men, and efficient in keeping the savages quiet.
(Bancroft: 451)
October
Neve Reglamento: The Annual
Allowance of the Post of San Diego shall be $13.162.50, divided as follows:
| Annual Pay of the Lieutenant |
$550.00 |
| Of the Ensign |
400.00 |
| Of the Sergeant |
262.50 |
| Of each of the 5 Corporals, $225 |
1125.00 |
| Of each of the 45 Privates, $217.50 |
10,005.00 |
| For gratuities of $10 yearly to each Private |
460.00 |
|
$12,802.50 |
| One Carpenter by the year |
180.00 |
| One Blacksmith ditto |
180.00 |
| Total: |
$13,162.50 |
1782
April
Zuniga begins construction on the Presidio chapel.
Lt. Pedro Fages writes in diary that "This Royal Presidio is in good
condition, as is the troop. They are building a little church in the center
and round about the Presidio a mud wall." Lasuen certifies he buried
a soldier "in an adobe hut, almost in ruins, and totally improper that
serves as a church in the presidio of San Diego". The Presidio company
consists of about 53 officers and men. The New comandante, Lt. Jose de
Zuniga spends part of the year laying road from harbor to presidio. (Part
III: A Chronology of Early San Diego History).
May 20th
Garrison list shows the following:
-
Lt. Jose de Zuniga, commander, age: 29
-
Alfz. Jose Velasquez age: 64
-
Sgt. Guillermo Carrillo age: 49
-
Crp. Juan Estevan Rocha age: 46
-
Ignacio Rafael Alvarado age: 37
-
Francisco Acebedo age: 34
-
Jose Ma. Verdugo age: 31
-
Juan Ma. Olivera Age 32
Roughly 46% of the 52-man garrison are married at this time.
Turnover in the garrison is slowing. From March 1775 to May 1782, only
8 men remained in the San Diego Company. Between 1782 and 1790, 29 out
of the company are still serving at San Diego. After the Yuma massacre
presidial life settles down to a routine succession of guard-mounts, garrison
duty at the missions, occasional mail runs and once in a while an exploration
into the back country around Cuyamaca, Santa Isabel, Lake Elsinore, or
even part of Baja. (Mason, Fall 78 Jnl San Diego History: 414).
December
Sergeant Guillermo Carrillo dies (Bancroft:452)
1783
May
Alferez Velasquez given orders by Zuniga to reconnoiter the
country east of San Diego to locate a possible southern route to the Colorado
River as suggested by Lasuen. (Ives:169)
(middle of the year)
Another passion of Zuniga’s life is the Presidio chapel.
In the middle of 1783, he writes his mother, speaking of his work on a
"beautiful
church." During the construction on this building, he claims to have
served as carpenter, mason, and as a painter. This building is in service
by the end of the same year. His attention to detail on the project is
extremely unusual. For example, the supplies he ordered for the new church
included wild flower seeds, probably intended for use in the landscaping
of the surrounding area. (Williams Bio. 12/25/95)
Zuniga writes his mother that in the course of the past
year he directed the completion of a beautiful church at the presidio,
himself working as a mason, carpenter, and painter. (He wrote that hopefully
God would see that though he'd done things that were evil, he was now zealous
in doing things that were good). A statue of the Immaculate Conception
(now at Mission San Luis Rey) is ordered for the chapel. Serra
visits the presidio for the last time; he confirms 125 persons in the presidio
chapel. San Diego has 54 officers and men this year. (Part III: A Chronology
of Early San Diego History).
The chapel contained one of California's most
beautiful statues. On the altar stood Mary of the Immaculate Conception,
a figure carved in wood, four feet six inches tall, a crown on her head,
long auburn hair, golden stars on her gracefully draped tunic and at her
feet a crescent moon shaped base.
High above Mary, on separate wall brackets were Archangels
Gabriel, Miguel and Rafael, carved in wood, each about three feet tall,
dressed in ancient military uniform, long jacket, draped skirt, bare knees.
The earliest reference to the chapel comes from a
letter of an early comandante, Lieutenant Jose de Zuniga, when he writes
to his mother in Mexico City, addressing her as "Esteemed dear little mother
and Madam." A beautiful church, he told her, had been commenced at the
presidio under his charge and there had been provided a statue of the Immaculate
Conception. He goes on to say that he himself personally labored as a mason
and as a carpenter and had paneled the whole with his own hands. He sent
her fifty dollars as a present for herself and his señor Father,
and ten dollars to be used to purchase carmine, vermillion and other painting
materials he needed. Should she have Dramas to spare, even though they
were old ones, could she send them, although he had little time to read,
and there was a request for garden and flower seeds.
(Don Ignacio Martinez: 35)
Aug. 22nd
Zuniga ‘s hijo espurio, Josef Antonio, is baptized
at San Juan Capistrano.
The son is the result of an affair with Teresa Morillo,
wife of enlisted man, Manuel Nieto. Nieto is a member of Zuniga’s own command.
Both Teresa and Manuel Nieto departed for an assignment at San Gabriel
Mission by August of the next year. (Williams Bio. 12/25/95)
1784
Don Jose Zuniga receives membership in the third order of
Franciscans (Williams Bio. 12/25/95). Serra dies at Carmel.
Ignacio Alvarado is appointed sergeant from among the
corporals. The presidial force under these officers was by the regulation
to be 5 corporals and 46 soldiers, and the ranks never lacked more than
three of being full. Six men were constantly on duty at each of the 3 missions
of the district, San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, and San Gabriel; while
4 served at the pueblo of Angeles, thus leaving a sergeant, 2 corporals,
and about 25 men to garrison the fort, care for the horses and a small
herd of cattle, and to carry the mails, which latter duty was the hardest
connected with presidio service in time of peace. There were a carpenter
and blacksmith constantly employed, besides a few servants, mostly natives.
(Bancroft: 452)
1785,
December 1st
Zuniga certifies death of his 2nd in command, Alferez
Velasquez (Ives: 203)
1786
Alferez position vacant at San Diego. ( Bancroft: 452)
1787,
February 9th
Sergeant Pablo Grijalva of the San Francisco company is made
alferez
or sub-lieutenant, and sent down to take the place. Grijalva had come from
Sonora with Anza’s San Francisco colony in 1776. (Bancroft: 452)
1789
125 men, women and children are living at the presidio. (Part
III: A Chronology of Early San Diego History).
1790
The population of the district in 1790, not including Indians,
is 220. The reglamento gave San Diego $13,000 per year; but the average
annual expense as shown by the company accounts is about $16,000. The average
pay rolls are $12,000; Mexico memorias, $8,000; and San Blas, $3,500. Between
$400 and $500 are retained from soldiers’ pay each year for the fondo
de retencion (pay for each soldier which was held back to be paid on
discharge. This was $50 until 1797 when it was raised to $100 to be made
up in 4 annual retentions).
1792,
May 19th
Zuniga promoted to captain and assigned to presidio of Tuscon
as commander. He is obliged to wait the
arrival of his successor who assumes the offices of comandante
and habilitado on the 19th of October 1793. (Bancroft: 645)
1793,
Oct. 19th
Lieutenant Antonio Grajera, of the Espana dragoon regiment
replaces Zuniga as comandante of the presidio. Though
15 years a soldier Grajera had seen no active service, but he was an able
and faithful man, and performs his official duties to the satisfaction
of all during a term of six years in California. He has no family, and
it is not long before his liaisons with women of the presidio gave rise
to scandal. His excessive use of intoxicating liquors finally affects his
mind, and breaks his constitution. He gives up office temporarily in August
1799, and never resumes it. (Bancroft: 646)
1793,
November 27th to December 9th
Vancouver expedition notes the new comandante’s house opposite
the main gate. This is an indication that this structure has been completed
during Zuniga’s administration. (Williams Bio. 12/25/95) Vancouver
writes about a visit and encounter with outgoing Commandant Zuniga, recently
promoted Capt. and transferred. He writes,
"The port of San Diego seemed to be the least
of the Spanish establishments with which we were acquainted. It is irregularly
built, on very uneven ground.... the situation of it is dreary and lonesome,
in the midst of a barren uncultivated country...."
Archibald Menzies, the expedition’s naturalist, writes that
"We were conducted to the Commandant’s house which
is on the upper side of the area facing the gate....on the whole a much
neater dwelling than any we saw at the Northern Settlements, but the soldiers’
barracks which are arranged contiguous to the wall, round the square were
wretched hovels. The church is in the middle of one side of the square
and though but small is neatly finished and kept exceedingly clean and
in good order, but the Presidio in general we conceived much inferior in
point of situation regularity and cleanliness to that of Sta. Barbara...."
He describes it as
"guarded only by 3 guns mounted on carriages
before the entrance."
Gov. Arrillaga writes the viceroy that the presidio
"is in ruins, because of the bad quality of
wood used in roofing the abutting structures. The warehouse, the church
and the officers’ quarters are in good condition"
Presidio company is 59 strong. 5 soldiers reportedly guard
the presidio, 3 guard the horses, 3 guard the cattle, 27 are escorts in
5 missions, 1 is guard in town, 11 are on other duties, and 9 are exempt
from service. (Part III: A Chronology of Early San Diego History).
1794
Zuniga after detached duty in Monterey, arrives in Tuscon
(Ives:215)
1795
In April and May Zuniga leads an expedition from Tuscon
to Zuni and back. (Ives: 215)
1796
Ignacio, second son of Zuniga born in Tuscon.
1806
On Jan, 31, 1806, Governor Arrillaga notified Ygnacio Martinez
de la Vega that he was to proceed to San Diego to take charge of the habilitacion.
In
December, . Don Ignacio had gone to San Diego to be present at the taking
of inventory of articles belonging to the San Diego Company, as customary
when one habilitado replaces another. Martinez was confirmed as Alferez
and habilitado and in Feb. traveled south with his wife and children.
At the narrow entrance to the Bay of San Diego stood
Fort Guijarros with its eight brass nine-pounders and supply of ball, manned
by a small artillery unit under a sergeant. For the construction of the
fort, the supply ships had brought from the pine and redwood forests of
Monterey, 1400 planks 21 feet long, 300 roof rafters, 60 beams and about
300 pieces of other cuts. Supply ships before they left on their return
voyage to San Blas, regularly were pressed into service as lumber carriers
between Monterey and San Diego and Santa Barbara, sometimes San Francisco.
The supply ship that came in summer or early autumn anchored
about a mile inside the entrance to the Bay of San Diego and landed supplies
on a beach that was smooth, of hard sand, without rocks or stones. From
there in a cart or on mules the supplies were carried to the presidio about
four miles away.
Two features of the presidio were unique -- the comandante’s
house was located in the center of the plaza, so elevated that it overlooked
the presidio, the bay and sea and Mission San Diego in the valley. The
other unusual feature was the cemetery, next to the chapel, within the
walls of the presidio, because of the Dieguinos Indians in the area.
Commandant of the San Diego Presidio was Don Manuel Rodriguez,
38, a bachelor, who had been in California for 12 years. He was considered
an intelligent man and competent officer, although Captain Richard J. Cleveland
found him to be a disagreeable man, perhaps because Rodriguez could not
be tempted neither to take part in illegal trade to his own advantage nor
permit others.
Commandant Rodriquez notified the governor that Don Ignacio
had arrived and assumed the position of habilitado. As habilitado
he
had to work "with pen most of the day and night". Don Ignacio
had charge of ordering and dispensing supplies, handle complaints, keep
the general company accounts of debits and credits, and similar accounts
for each officer and soldier. At the end of the year officers, the company
sergeant and a selected number of soldiers would audit these accounts.
For his services he would receive a commission of 2% from each officer’s
and soldier’s account.
He would also administer the pension funds, a percentage
of the pay of each officer and soldier. From each officer’s pay was an
additional deduction for a widow and orphans. When a woman married an officer
who was 60 years of age or over, she could not collect his pension.
The habilitado also was postmaster for which he
received a percentage of gross receipts, and in addition managed the money
collected from tobacco sales, which were considerable, since the biggest
revenue at the presidios came from the sale of tobacco.
When Don Ignacio was in Santa Barbara, in one year the
net revenue from tobacco was $2000, from the sale of 5345 paper cigars
and 25,331 cigarettes. Each retired soldier was entitled each month to
$1.50 worth of cigarettes.
Tobacco, which the Spanish first saw in the West Indies,
became a monopoly in New Spain. Special permission was required to plant
it in Mexico, the cultivators obliged to sell to the Royal Farm at a fixed
price. The Royal Manufactory of Queretaro, Mexico, employed 3000, including
1900 women. One month in 1803 they manufactured 2,654,820 small chests
of cigarettes and 289,799 chests of cigars. (Don Ignacio Martinez: 31-39)
1804-1806
Zuniga is commander at Tuscon
Zuniga later serves at Arizpe, ending his career as a
lieutenant colonel and Adjutant Inspector of Presidios.
(Williams Bio. 12/25/95)
Alferez Jose Velasquez (Ives:202-207)
1783,
December
Captain Nicolas Soler, Adjutant inspector of the presidios
of California, in preparing Alferez Velasquez service record, recommends
that he be retired because of age and indecision. Velasquez is second in
command at San Diego under Zuniga. Velasquez had served in the cavalry
company of the presidio of Loreto for almost 30 years, and at San Diego
for a little over 3 years.
Velasquez is the diarist of the expedition to the Colorado
delta expedition. This expedition is organized by Fages in 1785 to reopen
the trail to Sonora after the Yuma massacre. Velasquez is second in command
of the expedition. After his return from the Colorado delta, he resumes
regular duties at the presidio of San Diego. This includes the normal camp
routine of drilling soldiers, maintaining the presidio in a state of military
readiness, and supervising the guard at the mission. A major concern of
Velasquez is the apprehension of army deserters and runaway mission neophytes.
There is no record of the number of searches for deserters and runaway
Indians, but desertion is a serious and continuing problem in California
at this time.
1785,
October/November
In October of 1785 Velasquez suffers an injury to his hand.
In late October he leads a party of soldiers northward from San Diego in
pursuit of a deserter. By the time the troop reaches San Gabriel, his hand
has become badly infected and he is hospitalized. His condition worsens
and he dies Nov. 2, 1785 at the age of 68 years. On December 1, 1785, Jose
de Zuniga certifies that Alferez Jose Velasquez died on the 2nd of Nov.
in the mission San Gabriel.
Jose Velasquez, Saga of a Borderland Soldier,
Ronald Ives, 1984
Additional References:
Dobyns, Henry. F. Spanish Colonial Tuscon.
Tuscon. University of Arizona Press. 1976
Holterman, Jack. "Jose Zuniga, "The Kiva,
Vol. 22 No. 1. November 1956.
Hammond, G. P. "The Zuniga Journal, Tuscon to Santa Fe: Opening of
a Spanish Trade Route,
1788-1795, New Mexico Historical Review. Vol. VI, No. 1, January
1931.
McCarty, Kieran, OFM. Desert Documentary. Tuscon: Arizona
Historical Society, 1976.