017 167 263 6 Conservation Resources Lig-Free® Type I Ph 8.5, Buffered .C45 Copy 2 XLxCXMM^ 1 C- OA-iT. P» tJo^>H/VQl4#VN^ THE ALTA CALIFORNIA SUPPLY SHIPS, 1773-76 BY CHARLES E. CHAPMAN Reprint from The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, October, 19 IS Volume XIX, No. 2. Published by the Texas State Historical Association, Austin, Te) THE ALTA CALIFOEXIA SUPPLY SHIPS, 1773-76 CHARLES E. CHAPMAX Historians have been prone to regard the expeditions of 1769 to Alta California' as accomplishing permanent occupation of that region by Spain, simply because iminterrupted possession thenceforth ensued. A little reflection upon the failure of many promising attempts in previous centuries to found colonies in the Californias, or, indeed, wlierever colonization has been undertaken, might lead to a conjecture that Alta California must have had its period of uncertainty, and a study of the documents would prove the conjecture true. Climate and natural resources were not enough to keep civil- ized men alive, however well the numerous Alta California In- dians were able to subsist. Everything that the Spaniards needed had to come from Mexico, or in many cases from Spain itself. Alta California was a land without manufactured articles of any sort, from guns and powder down to nails and fish-hooks, with- out agriculture, without domestic animals, without laborers, with- out white women. All there was, was the tiny garrison of sol- diers and a few missionaries. All supplies had to come from the port of San Bias, Mexico, even food, for the colonists could not subsist on acorns and chance supplies of bear-meat. There were difficulties with the long sea-route from San Bias, especially as regards transport of animals and settlers, so that overland routes were temporarily made use of, but as regards food-supplies, goods, and effects, the San Bias supply-ships were for many years prac- tically the only reliance of Alta California, without which the province would almost certainly have been abandoned. In 1770 and again in 1772 the province was barely saved by the timely arrival of supply-ships. The same thing was to occur for the third time in 1774. It is the purpose of this article to deal only with Bucarely's- 'In this article "Alta California" will be used for the region from San Diego to San Francisco, "Baja California" for the peninsula, and "Cali- fornias" where both are meant. -Antonio Marfa Bucarely y Ursda was viceroy of New Spain from 1771 to 1779, and was one of the greatest rulers that land ever had. 185 The Alta California Supply Ships, 1773-76 activities in regard to the supplv-shiiJS from the middle of 1773 to the close of 1TT6, a period embracing the great famine of 1774, and Bncarely's measures to prevent its recurrence, in the face of a development of the province calling for increased supplies.^ In 1768 a town was founded by Jose de Galvez at the port of San Bias to serve as a base of supplies, not only for Baja Cali- fornia, but also for Alta California, which Galvez was already plan- ning to occupy. In the first years of the occupation, but one ship a year was required for Alta California. Writing to Arriaga,* June 26, 1773, of the departure of the San Carlos with provisions for San Diego and Monterey, Bucarely announced that he planned to send another ship in November, although he understood that the Californias were already well i>rovided with supplies.^ A month later, July 27, 1773, he wrote at some length of new ar- rangements that he had made for such voyages. The difficulty of navigation from the mainland to both Alta and Baja California® had caused him to seek a remedy. From reports made to him he had learned that December or the beginning of January was the best season for a voyage to Monterey, that all the year except from i\.pril to the middle of June was suitable for voyages to San Diego, and that all the year, but especially January, was favorable for voyages to I.oreto. San Bias was too hot and dam.p for storage of maize (which formed the principal part of supplies for the Californias), without exposing it to risk of damase. As crops were gathered in January, it would be best to put them aboard direct. Other effects could be gathered beforehand. Bucarely ^Materials for this article were found mainly in the Archive General de Indias at Seville, Spain. Copies of several documents in the Museo Nacional of Mexico have also been used, as also Palou, Notieriod. Writing from San Gabriel, April 10, 1774, Anza, who had just explored a route to Alta California from Sonora, told Bucarelv that he had found a shortage of rations at that mission, although accounted the richest site in Alta California. Herbs and three tortillas apiece were the daily ration of the inhabitants.^" Anza was himself in great need of provisions, but was able to get little at San Gabriel. ^^ Pie therefore sent to San Diego and procured a supply, the Santiago being still at that port.^* Other references might be given to show equally bad conditions as regards food supply at other missions less well favored by nature than was San Gabriel.^^ Nor was want in Alta California solely a matter of food. This appears, for example, in letters of Father Lasuen of San Gabriel to Fran- ciscans at the college of San Fernando. Lasuen had hoped to return there, but was resigned to staying in Alta California, if required to do so. He begged to be relieved, however, from the great hardship that he was suffering for lack of wearing apparel, which had already reached the point of indecency. His clothes had been in continuous use for more than five years. He had mended them until they no longer admitted of it, besides which he no longer had materials for sewino:.-" In another letter of >'Palou, Vida, 153. "■■A. G. de I., 104-6-15. '■Palou, Noticias, III. 158, says that an animal was killed to provide Anza with meat, hut that the mission could give him nothing else. "Valdes, Declaration, June 14, 1174. A. G. de I., 104-6-15; Anza. Diary, April 6, to May 27, 1774, A. G. de I., 104-G-15. '"Eg. Palou, Vida, 158; ^^oticias. III, 148; correspondence and diaries of Anza, Dfaz, and Garces of the Anza expedition. ="Lasucn to the Father Superior of San Fernando. April 23. 1774. Mu?. Kac, Doc. rel. mis. Cal., v. II. 189 The Alia California Supply Ships, 1773-76 the same date, April 23, 1774, Lasuen repeated the story of hi.s needs. Perhaps it was on that account, he said, that the Indians cared for him so much, on the principle that like attracts like, for he resembled them much in scantiness of wardrobe.-^ Writ- ing a genera] letter to his brethren of San Fernando, Ma}' 2, 1774, Lasuen said that Fathers Garces and Diaz of the Anza expedition had given him clothing, which would cover his nudity for several months ; the former gave him a thin flannel undergarment and cowl, and the latter a tunic and pair of sandals. ^- Two letters from Kivera^^ to Bucarely, June 16, 1774, show a lack of military equipment and other necessaries at the presidios. In one of these letters he wrote that the forces at San Diego were in need of thirty shot-guns, twenty small swords, twenty knives, two cases of powder, one case of balls, one case of munitions, and two packs of tobacco. Monterey required twenty small swords, twenty knives, two cases of balls, one case of munitions, two of powder, and thirty shot-guns. He wanted the shot-guns examined before they were sent, to make sure that they w'ere good.-* In the other letter he complained that things forwarded from San Bias were not suited to the needs of the colony. Articles askecl for were not sent, leaving them entirely lacking in some things that they needed, and for which they had no other recourse, as for example, clothing. They sent no corduroy, which the sol- diers liked to use because of its durability; they had not sent a cake of soap ; nor a handful of tol)acco. There was great need for shot-guns and small swords. Some soldiers entirely lacked arms; others had the gun but not the sword, and vice versa.^^ Eivera's petitions were considered in conection with authoriza- tion of a second Anza expedition, and Lasuen's were a matter between him and his college. The general scarcity, however, especially in food supplies, was met by the arrival of the Santiago. followed a little later by the Principe. Thenceforth, Alta Calir "Lasugn to Pangua, April 23, 1774. Ibid. "Lasuen to Franciscans of San Fernando, May 2, 1774. Ibid. ^Rivera succeeded Fages in 1773 as civil and military ruler of Alta California. -*In Testimonio . . . sobre la segunda expedicion . . . qe. por tierra ha de hacer . . . Anza. A. G. de I., 104-6-16. "In Ibid. The SouiJticestern Historical Quarterly 190 fornia did not again suffer in that respect.-" Her relief had come not only from Bucarely's foresiglit in sending the well-filled San- tiago and the Principe, in the face of favorable reports as to the situation in Alta Califomia, but also because Bucarely never al- lowed a relapse, once he got actual information of the state of affairs there. On this point we may revert again to Bucarely's correspondence. As already noted, Bucarely learned from Anza of the scarcity of provisions in Alta California. Writing to Arriaga, August 27, 1774, he opined that the cargoes of the Santiago and Principe would relieve the immediate need. He realized that the question of supplies- was one of considerable importance, as the ports of Alta California might serve to shelter and assist boats engaged in northward exploration. It would be of great advantage to the royal treasury if the inhabitants might be given the means of sus- taining themselves by their own industry. Hijosa, the commis- sary at San Bias, had been ordered repeatedly to gather provisions for their aid. To this end he was then repairing two boats, which were to sail within a short time, one after the other.^^ A month later Bucarely was able to say that Alta California's extreme need had been successfully met. The provisions of the Santiago had reached x\lta California in time to relieve the suf- ferings of the missions, but they would not have done so, had it not been for the successful voyage of the Principe, which reached Monterey June 8, three days before the Santiago sailed. These provisions and the fertility of the soil combined would thence- forth ensure permanence of the colonies and lead to further con- quests. Such conqucf^ts would be easy because of the docility of the Indians, if there were provisions enougli to furnish them, for in that lay their attraction to vassalage and knowledge of the faith. Rivera and Serra-^ reported that all were content. The Principe got back to San Bias on August 30. Bucarely liad ac- quiesced in repairs proposed by Hijosa. tending to protect provi- sions from water, because he realized the importance of sending supplies to Alta California, not only for its own subsistence, but ^''Palou, Vida, 158-59. "A. G. de I., 104-6-15. "Junfpero Serra was Father-President of tlie Alta California missions. 191 The Alia California Supply Ships, 1773-76 as stores for Perez, in case of accident. He had therefore sug- gested to Hijosa that he repair another ship and send the two with provisions in the coming January.-^ Buearely's plans matured, so that by February 1, 1775, the Principe left San Bias with provisions for San Diego. Because of severity of storms it took seventy days to make the voyage, whereas the return occupied but thirteen, May 9 to 22. Quiros, the commander, reported that he saw the Indians of a whole vil- lage who had come to San Diego to ask for baptism, but it was denied them because there were not provisions enough to sustain all. It was believed, however, that the crops would be sufficient for their maintenance despite the sca.nt rainfall at San Diego, thus permitting of Christian instruction. ^° The San Carlos under Manrique had tried to leave with the Principe, being destined for ]\Tonterey with provisions, but ran aground in the port of San Bias itself. After getting her free, the officials of San Bias wished to unload, in order to see what damage the boat had suffered, which would hold back the voyage until j\Iarch. Bucarely ordered that it be reladen with provisions for the families who were to go with Anza to found a settlement at San Francisco, and that the rest be left for the Santiago, in case there should be room for them in addition to those to be carried for its own crew in the new voyage of discovery that it was al^out to make. On February 24, 1775, the date of his letter to Arriaga, Bucarely had not yet heard whether such an arrangement was possible. ^^ The San Carlos was in fact delayed until March 16, 1775, but on that day set sail, accompanied by the Santiago and Sonora, which were to make further explorations of the far northwest. This time, the voyage of the San Carlos was a success, for it delivered the provisions con- signed to Monterey, was employed in exploration of San Francisco Bay, and at length returned to San Blas.^- In 1776 new problems began to arise in connection with the ^"A. G. de I., 104-6-17. ^"Bucarely to Arriaga, June 26, 1775. A. G. de I., 104-6-16. "A. G. de I., 104-6-16. This letter states that the Principe had left on January 31. In Bucarely to Arriaga, June 26, 1775, A. G. de I., 104-6-16, it is given as February 1. Bancroft, Cal., I, 241, says that the San Antonio or Principe left San Bias on March 16. This is an error. "-Bucarely to Arriaga, Nov. 26, 1775. A. G. de .1, Estado, And. Mex., 1, Doc. 19. The Souihicesteni Historical Quarterly 193 supply-ships, as a result of the increased needs of Alta California. The 8a7i Carlos and Principe had sailed on March 10, wrote Bucarely on the 27th, fully laden with provisions. Yet, some of the supplies needed at the missions and presidios had had to be left behind. Another boat was needed.^-'' The problem was accentuated by receipt of orders for a fresh series of northwestward exploring voyages.^* In reply August 27, 1776, Bucarely stated his belief that such a voyage would be impossible before December, 1777. The Santiago was the only serviceable boat then at San Bias, the San Carlos, Principe, Con- cepcion, and Sonora being absent on provision voyages, the two former to Alta, and the two latter to Baja California. Also, a boat was necessarv^ for Areche, the viceroy's fiscal, who had been appointed visitaclor to Peru. Alta California had developed to such an extent that the Santiago was needed as an additional sup- ply-ship. The two boats then in use had been obliged to leave behind many effects for which the missionaries were clamoring. Heceta and Bodega were eager to make the new expedition, but the first thing to do was to hold what had already been occupied.^** A month later, Bucarely again referred to the uncertain status of the proposed voyages for 1777. He had arranged for calling a junta at San Bias to determine what boats were to be used for supplying Alta California and carrying Areche to Lima. He sug- gested that two new frigates be built at Guayaquil.^® The junta concluded that voyages of exploration should be postponed for a year. At least two boats were needed on such voyages, it held, but it was impossible to get them, because of the necessity of getting Areche to Lima and supplies to Alta California.^^ Some indication of the increased needs of Alta California ap- pears in a Bucarely letter of Xovember 26. A settlement had been made at San Francisco with the recruits and their families ^'A. G. de I., 104-6-17. ^Galvez to Bucarely, May 20, 177G, A. G. de I.. Estado, Aud. Mex., 1, Doc. 22. Gi'ilvez had succeeded Arriaga upon the death of the latter in Januarj-. ^=*A. G. de I., 104-6-18. ^''Bucarely to GAlvez, Sept. 20, 1770 A. G. de I., 104-0-17. "A. G. de I., 104-0-18. Enclosed in a letter of Arteaga to Galvez. Nov. 23, 1776. 193 The Alia CUdiforina Siippli/ Ships, 1773-76 brought from Sonora l)y Anza.^* Tv,'enty-five more soldiers had been sent to Alta California in consequence of an Indian out- break at San Diego, and a few sailors had been left b}- the Prin- cipe. The province might thus be considered to have advanced and become better guarded, but this had also made necessary the shipment of increased stores of supplies, until such time as the soil should provide enough to. relieve the royal treasury. Rivera had failed to pay attention to agricultural development of the province; otherwise, there might have been crops enough to sus- tain the settlers.'"^ Meanwhile, the boat shortage had been cleared up by the chance arrival at Acapulco of the merchant ship Fenix, coming from Guayaquil. Areche could go to Peru in that, wrote Bucarely on December 27, as also a naval officer to solicit a frigate there for use in the projected exploration. This expedition had been sus- pended, however, until 1778, as scarcity of boats Avas still a factor. Bucarely then recounted various measures by which he planned to hasten supplies to Alta California. But for the arrival of the Fenix, it would liave been difficult to send enough. As mat- ters Avere, the Santiago could replace the smialler San Carlos and with the aid of the Principe could perhaps carry all the provi- sions required If it seemed necessary, however, Bucarely would also send the San Carlos, so that the province might be less em- b'arrassed in 1778 when the exploring voyages were to take place. At all events, it was more important to supply Alta California than to make the explorations. *° On the same day Bucarely announced the return of the San Carlos from San Francisco. .It brought news that the new set- tlement was making excellent progress, but Bucarely was not going to take any chance of a decline. He was seeking a surgeon, carpenter, mason, and smith, in Mexico for that settlement, and was sending to San Bias by forced marches a quantity of cloth- ing, tools, and other utensils for San Francisco, agricultural tools being especially abundant. Having heard that there was a scarcity of provisions at San Francisco, he had ordered the Santiago to ■■'Wnza brought tliirty sokliers destined to remain. These and their families aggregated 246 persons. ^°A. G. de I.. 104-6-18. ^»A. G. de I., 104-6-18. The SoutJiv^estern Historical Quarterly 194 sail direct for that port, without previous stop at San Diego or Monterey.*^ It is not proposed to pursue this matter here. Enough has been said, it is believed, to show the great importance of the sup- ply-ships in this period of Alta California's history, and also the great credit that is due to Bucarely for his management of what was by no means an easy task. Some recognition of this fact seems to have been accorded him in a document which otherwise deprived him of power. By a ro5''al instruction of August 22, 1776, Galvez instituted the new government of the comandancia general of the frontier provinces, including' the Californias. The viceroy was to continue to supervise the sending of supply-ships.*^ Perhaps it was well for Alta California that this was so, for the comandancia general was not a glittering success in other respects. "A. G. de I., 104-6-18. ^A. G. de I., 103-3-13, Exped. 5, 1776.