PRESIDIOS OF THE BIG BEND AREA 

LOS PRESIDIOS DEL AREA DE BIG BEND 
Division of History 

Southwest Cultu tat Resources Ccnrer 

Southw~crt Region 

National Park Set\-ice 

Department of the l ntcrior 

As the nation's principal conjervation agency, thc Deparlmcnt of the Intericlr has babic 

responsibilities LO protect and cnnrcrve our land and water, energy and minerall;, fish and 

wildlife, parks and recreation areas, and 10 ensure (he uise use uf all these resources. The 

Department also has major resFonsibilily for American Indian rejcr vation communi I it5 and 

for the people who live in island tcrritoric5 under U. S. administration. 

Thr cover design is crom thc "Regldmcnto para la gu~rnicion de la Hahafla, castil~os, !' fuertus 

de 

Reaulations 

su jurisdicion," 

for Northern 

1719, 

Kew 

as rcproducrd 

Saain, 1724-172q, 

on page 

Thornas 

24 of 

H. 

PI 

Naylor and Charles W. Polzcr. 5.J. 

(Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1988). 
PRESIDIOS OF THE BIG BEND AREA 

by 

James E. Ivey 

Translation by Carlos Chavez 

LOS PRESIDIOS DEL AREA DE BIG BEND 

Par 

James E. Ivey 

Traduccion por Carlos Chavez 

Southwest Cultural Resources Center Professional Paper Number 31 

Division of History 

Southwest Cultural Resources Center 

National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Santa Fe, New Mexico 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii 

Introduction 

Prefacio . . . . . . . . . . 

Chapter 1 

Capitulol ......................................................... 

Chapter 2 

Capitulo 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Chapter 3 

Capitulo 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Chapter 4 

Capitulo4 ................................................................ 11 

Bibliography ............................................................... 15 

Notes .................................................................... 17 
This report is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Rex Gerald, without whom this and many other research 

projects could not have been carried out. 

Thanks, Rex. 
Introduction 

Today historians, anthropologists, and the National Park Service look with increased interest at the 

historical background of the Big Bend National Park area. Part of this interest results from the 

development of the historic resources of traditionally "natural" parks such as Big Bend. Preparations 

for a major celebration of the 500th anniversary of the European discovery of the New World in 1992 

have contributed additional interest. As part of this celebration, scholars propose an international 

appraisal of the effects of Columbus's landing. The appraisal would include studies of the history of 

New Spain, such as historical and archeological research dealing with specific sites of international 

significance. Among the sites being considered for such research are two in northern Mexico on the 

south side of the Rio Grande River near Big Bend National Park. They are the ruins of two military 

posts constructed during the later years of the Spanish Empire, the presidios of San Vicente and San 

Carlos. 

In 1772 the Spanish government constructed the two presidios as part of a new alignment of frontier 

defenses. The new line of presidios extended from the California coast to the Gulf of Mexico. It 

housed troops moved from forts closed down by the realignment. This shift in the defenses resulted 

from a debate within the government over frontier policy for New Spain and strongly affected 

subsequent events, including future relationships with the new nation of the United States. 

Although San Carlos and San Vicente presidios were not exceptional parts of the new frontier when they 

were established, time has immensely increased their significance. Because of changing frontier 

management policies, they were abandoned after ten years and have been virtually undisturbed since 

that time. As a result, they contain an almost untouched archeological record of the daily activities and 

culture of the late-eighteenth-century frontier presidio. This information, if combined with the extensive 

military and historical records of the period, would produce an unequaled picture of the operation and 

life of these presidios. Because of this, they are of unique interest in terms of both historic and 

archeological potential. 

This significance and the increasing threat to their survival through damage from weather and vandalism 

prompted action by the National Park Service. In January, 1984, Jerry Rogers, the Associate Director 

for Cultural Resources, set in motion a preliminary investigation of the sites of presidios San Vicente 

and San car1os.l The goals of the investigation included: 1) to determine the archeological research 

potential of the two sites; 2) to ensure that a good plan of each presidio was available; and 3) to make 

an initial evaluation of the potential of the two sites as interpretive features of international interest. 

Previous Research 

Some archeological investigations had already been conducted at the presidios. In 1953 Charlie Steen 

and Hal Broderick located the site of San Vicente and prepared a rough plan of the walls. In 1%1 and 

1969, Dr. Rex Gerald of the University of Texas at El Paso visited both presidios, made artifact 

collections, and took further measurements. In 1968 Dr. Gerald published a study of the presidios and 

included a plan of Presidio San ~arlos.~ In 1983 Dr. Joseph Sanchez, of the Southwest Regional Office 

of the National Park Service, conducted archival research in Spain for the purpose of adding to the 

historical documentation of parks with Spanish Colonial themes. The material he found during this 

research contained information on the defenses of northern New Spain, including presidios San Carlos 

and San Vicente. 
Prefacio 

Hoy en dia, 10s historiadores, antropblogos, y el Servicio de Parques Nacionales ven con un creciente interCs 

a 10s antecedentes histbricos del hrea del Parque Nacional Big Bend. Parte de este interts es el resultado del 

desarrollo de 10s recursos histbricos de parques tradicionales "naturales" como Big Bend. Los preparativos para 

una celebracibn mayor del quingentksimo aniversario del descubrimiento europeo del nuevo mundo en 1992, 

ha aportado un inter& adicional. Como parte de esta celebracibn, algunos hombres de letras han propuesto 

una evaluacibn internacional sobre 10s efectos del desembarque de Colbn. La evaluacibn incluiria estudios 

de la historia de la Nueva Espaiia, tal como la investigacibn historica y argueolbgica que trataria de locales 

especificos de importancia internacional. Entre 10s sitios que esthn considerando para dicha investigacibn hay 

dos en el norte de Mexico, a1 lado del sur del Rio Grande cerca del Parque Nacional Big Bend. Son 10s 

vestigios de dos fuertes militares construidos durante 10s hltimos aiios del Imperio Espaiiol, 10s presidios de 

San Vicente y San Carlos. 

En 1772, el gobierno espaiiol construyb 10s dos presidios como parte de una nueva alineacibn de defensas 

fronterizas. La nueva linea de presidios se extendia desde la costa de California hasta el Golfo de MCxico. 

Alojaba tropas removidas de fuertes clausurados con motivo de la nueva alineacibn. Este desplazamiento de 

defensas fue el resultado de una discusibn gubernamental sobre la politica de linderos para la Nueva Espaiia 

afectando fuertemente a eventos subsequientes, inclusive futuras relaciones con la nueva nacibn de 10s Estados 

Unidos. 

Aunque 10s presidios de San Carlos y San Vicente no eran partes excepcionales de la nueva frontera cuando se 

establecieron, la andada del tiempo ha aumentado su importancia inmensamente. Debido a 10s cambios de 

politica del manejo fronterizo, estos quedaron abandonados desputs de diez aiios y se han mantenido 

virtualmente inalterados desde entonces. Como resultado, contienen un registro arqueolbgico casi sin 

perturbacibn de las actividades diarias y cultura de 10s presidios fronterizos de 10s fines del siglo XVIII. Esta 

informacibn, si se combina con 10s extensos registros militares e histbricos de la tpoca, produciaria un retrato 

sin iqual de la operacibn y vida de estos presidios. Por esto es que son de un interts Gnico en terminos del 

potencial histbrico y arqueolbgico. 

Esta significacibn y la creciente amenaza a su supervivencia por 10s efectos de la naturaleza y el vandalismo, 

incitb acci6n por parte del Senicio de Parques Nacionales. En enero de 1984, el Director Asociado de 

Recursos Culturales, el Sr. Jerry Rogers, pus0 en marcha investigacibn preliminar de 10s sitios presidiales San 

Vicente y San ~ar1os.l Las finalidades de la investigacibn comprendian: 1) establecer el potencial del estudio 

arqueolbgico de 10s dos sitios; 2) asegurar que hubiera un buen plan disponible de cada presidio; y 3) hacer una 

evaluacibn inicial del potencial de 10s sitios como figuras interpretativas de interts internacional. 

Estudios Anteriores 

Ya se habian realizado algunas investigaciones arqueolbgicas en 10s presidios. En 1953, Charlie Steen y Hal 

Broderick localizaron el sitio de San Vicente y prepararon un plano primitivo de 10s muros. En 1961 y 1969, 

el Dr. Rex Gerald, de la Universidad de Texas en El Paso visit6 a 10s dos presidios, hizo colecciones de 

artefactos, y tom6 mhs medidas. En 1968, el Dr. Gerald public6 un estudio de 10s presidios en cual se incluy6 

un debujo del Presidio San ~arlos.' En 1968, el Dr. Joseph Shnchez, de la Oficina del Sudoeste del Servicio 

de Parques Nacionales condujo estudios de archivo en Espaiia con el propbsito de agregarle a la documentacibn 

histbrica de parques con temas coloniales espaiiolas. La materia que encontrb durante este estudio contuvo 

informacibn sobre las defensas del norte de la Nueva Espaiia incluyendo 10s presidios San Carlos y San Vicente. 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Introduction vii 

Methodoloey 

The scarcity of published information limited preliminary research on the two presidial sites. Dr. 

Gerald's descriptions of the history, condition, and archeological context of San Carlos and San Vicente 

were effectively all that was available. In March, 1984, the author visited Dr. Gerald at the University 

of Texas at El Paso and was generously permitted to Xerox pages from Gerald's field journal, which 

described the visits to San Vicente in 1961 and 1969.~ Dr. Gerald had collected representative artifacts 

at San Vicente and San Carlos and photographed the standing portions of wall. He made these 

photographs and artifacts available for study. Additionally, Dr. Gerald supplied the author with a copy 

of the Steen-Broderick sketch plan of Presidio San Vicente. 

The examination of the site of Presidio San Vicente began on March 29, 1984, and lasted two weeks. 

A survey team mapped the presidio using a Brunton compass and a metric tape. They cleaned the tops 

of the walls at selected points with a brush and trowel, removing the crust of silt and gravel obscuring 

the wall lines and brick patterns. Areas that had been disturbed by treasure hunters or by the 

construction of houses in the ruined rooms of the bastions were cleaned, and cross-sections of walls 

were examined. 

The survey team also measured the locations of major modern features such as road lines, house 

locations, and corrals and sheds. The author plotted the measurements on a field map and checked this 

against the ruins and standing structures to confirm the accuracy of the angles and distances. When the 

field map was satisfactory, it was redrafted. The final version is included in this report. 

On March 31, the author visited Presidio San Carlos to compare Dr. Gerald's map and the visible ruins 

and to record any changes to the site since the map was made. He found Dr. Gerald's map to be quite 

acceptable for planning purposes. It was redrafted to the same scale as the San Vicente map, and 

details such as the new road line were added. 

Acknowledgements 

George Cattenack of the Western Archeological and Conservation Center generously searched his files 

without success for a copy of the plan of San Vicente made in 1953 by National Park Service 

archeologist Charlie Steen and Hal rode rick.^ At Big Bend National Park, Superintendent Gil Lusk, 

Assistant Superintendent Ernesto Ortega, and Cultural Resource Specialist Vidal Davila made 

arrangements for the survey of the sites and offered considerable information about the condition and 

recent history of the two presidios. 

Michael Estrada of the staff of Big Bend National Park served on the survey crew throughout the 

mapping project. Much of the time, in fact, he was the only person on the crew. Without his cheerful 

help the job would have taken much longer with a poorer result. Tom Alex, National Park Service 

Resource Management Archeologist, assisted at critical times with his Brunton compass and later 

photographed the sites from the air to give invaluable confirmation of the plan drawings. Historian 

Arthur Gomez, who was in the park for other reasons entirely, worked with the crew on several very 

long days. Art also supplied a number of documents and translations which added greatly to the 

historical background section of the report. Gregorio Brito, who had lived on the site since about 1930, 

was of great help in recalling the changes to Presidio San Vicente during the past frfty years and 

pointing out details of wall trace and areas of colonial trash the author might never have noticed. Dr. 

Joseph Sanchez generously shared his knowledge of the background history of the Spanish northern 

frontier and offered sound editorial advice. Dr. Bernard Fontana of the University of Arizona shared 

his extensive knowledge of INAH. Chief Anthropologist Douglas Scovill and Senior Anthropologist 
vii Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Prefacio 

Metodologia 

La escasez de informacibn editada restringib el estudio preliminar de 10s dos sitios presidiales. La descripcibn 

del Dr. Gerald sobre la historia, condicibn, y context0 arqueolbgico de San Carlos y San Vicente efectivamente 

fueron lo iinico disponible. En marzo de 1984, el autor hizo una visita con el Dr. Gerald en la Universidad de 

Texas en El Paso y se le permitib generosamente xerografiar piginas del diario de campo del Dr. Gerald que 

describian las visitas a San Vicente en 1961 y 1969.~ El Dr. Gerald habia reunido artefactos representatives 

en San Vicente y San Carlos y tambien habia sacado fotografias de partes de muro enhiesto. El puso estas 

fotografias y 10s artefactos disponibles para el estudio. Ademls, el Dr. Gerald proporcionb a1 autor una copia 

del esquema del Presidio San Vicente hecho por Steen y Broderick. 

La inspeccibn del sitio del Presidio San Vicente se empezb el 29 de marzo de 1984, y durb dos semanas. Un 

equipo de agrimensores trazaron un mapa del presidio usando una briijula Brunton y una cinta mCtrica. 

Limpiaron las partes superiores de 10s muros en puntos escogidos con escobilla y trulla, removiendo la capa 

exterior de sediment0 de lodo y grava que obscurecian las lineas del muro y el contorno del ladrillo. Las 

Breas que habian sido molestados por busca tesoros o por la construccibn de casas en 10s cuartos arruinados 

de 10s bastiones se limpiaron y se examinaron secciones transversales de 10s muros. 

El equipo de agrimensores tambikn midieron 10s locales de principales figuras modernas tal como lineas de 

caminos, ubicacibn de casas, corrales y cobertizos. El autor marc6 las medidas en un mapa de campafia y las 

verifici, con las ruinas y las estructuras enhiestas para confirmar la exactitud de 10s Bngulos y las distancias. 

Cuando el mapa de campaiia quedb a la satisfaccibn, se volvib a delinear. La versibn va incluida en este 

informe. 

El 31 de marzo, el autor visit6 el Presidio San Carlos para comparar el mapa del Dr. Gerald con 10s visibles 

vestigios, y para registrar cualquier cambio a1 sitio desde que se trazb el mapa. El mapa del Dr. Gerald se 

declarb aceptable para propbsitos de pleaneamiento. Se volvib a delinear a la misma escala del de San Vicente 

y se le agregaron detalles tales como la linea nueva de caminos. 

Reconocimentos 

George Cattenack del Centro Argueolbgico y Conservacibn del Oeste generosamente busco en sus archivos, 

sin Cxito, una copia del plan de San Vicente hecho en 1953 por Charlie Steen y Hal Broderick, argueblogos del 

Servicio de Parques ~acionales.~ En el Parque Nacional Big Bend, el Superintendente Gil Lus, el Asistente de 

Superintendente Ernesto Ortega, y el Especialista en Recursos Culturales, Vidal Dhvila, hicieron arreglos para 

una agrimensura de 10s sitios ofreciendo considerable informacibn sobre la condicibn e historia reciente de 10s 

dos presidios. 

Michael Estrada del personal del Parque Nacional Big Bend, prestb servicio con el equipo de agrimensura 

durante todo proyecto de la trazada del mapa. En realidad casi en la mayoria del tiempo fue Cl la Cnica 

persona del equipo. Sin su alentadora ayuda el proyecto se hubiera tardado mBs, con resultados inferiores. 

Tom Alex, Arqueblogo del Manejo de Recursos del Servicio de Parques Nacionales prestb su ayuda en 

momentos crlticos con su briijula Brunton y m6s tarde sac6 fotografias aCreas de 10s sitios para dar 

invaluable confirmacibn de 10s dibujos del plan. El historiador Arthur Gbmez, que se encontraba en el parque 

enteramente por otras razones, trabajb con el equipo por varios largos dias. Art tambiCn suplib una cantidad 

de documentos y traducciones, que aumentaron inmensamente la seccibn del antecedente histbrico del informe. 

Gregorio Brito, quien habia vivido en el sitio desde alrededor de 1930, fue una gran ayuda con recordar 10s 

cambios a1 Presidio San Vicente durante 10s Cltimas cincuenta aiios y en sefialar detalles del indicio de muros 

y Areas de basura colonial de 10s cuales el autor quizh no se hubiera dado cuenta. El Dr. Joseph Shnchez 

generosamente compartib su conocimiento del antecedente histbrico de la frontera del norte espaiiola y prestb 

firme consejo de redaccibn. El Dr. Bernard Fontana de la Universidad de Arizona comparti6 su extenso 

conocimiento de INAH. El Principal Antropblogo Douglas Scovill y el Antropblogo Mayor Muriel Crespi de 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Introduction viii 

helpful ideas during the final editing of the report. Their suggestions added significantly to the 

recommendations and interpretation discussions. 

Finally, the author makes a special acknowledgement to Melody Webb, Chief, Division of History of the 

Southwest Region. Most of the organization and clarity of this report is a direct result of her unyielding 

demands for improvement and her constant support. 

Thanks to all of you. 

Postscript: Since the completion of this report in 1984, a number of changes have occurred. Melody 

Webb has gone on to become superintendent of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Historian 

Arthur Gomez is now Doctor Arthur Gomez. The present regional historian, Neil Mangum, and Jim 

Carrico, the present superintendent of Big Bend National Park, resurrected this report and found 

solutions to the final problems preventing its publication. Because of increased interest in Mexico, the 

report is being published in both English and Spanish. An initial translation of this material by Dora 

Guerra, Archivist in Special Collections, the Library of the University of Texas at San Antonio, was of 

great help. The final translation into Spanish is by Carlos Chavez, Retired, Division of Cultural Affairs, 

Charnizal National Memorial, National Park Service. 
5?iii Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Prefacio 

la oficina en Washington del Servicio de Parques Nacionales suplib critica constructiva y conceptos 6tiles 

durante la redaccibn del informe. Sus sugerencias aumentaron significativamente a las recomendaciones y a las 

discusiones de interpretacibn. 

Finalmente, el autor hace un reconocimiento especial a Melody Webb, Jefe de la Divisibn de Historia, de la 

Regibn del Sudoeste. La mayor parte de la organizacibn y claridad de este informe es el resultado direct0 de 

su firme exigencia por el mejoramiento y su apoyo constante. 

Gracias a todos ustedes. 

Postdata: Han ocurrido various cambios desde que se terminb este informe in 1984. Melody Webb ascendib 

a1 puesto de superintendente del Parque Histbrico Nacional Lyndon B. Johnson. El historiador Arthur Gbmez 

recibib su doctorado. Neil Mangum, el actual historiador regional, y Jim Carrico, actual supertindente del 

Parque Nacional Big Bend, resucitaron este informe y resolvieron 10s problemas finales que obstaculizaban su 

publicaci6n. Por el receciente interCs en MCxico, el informe se publicarh en ing1C.s y espafiol. La traduccion 

inicial a1 Espafiol de este informe por Dora Guerra, dirigente del departamento de Special Collections en The 

University of Texas at San Antonio Library fuC de mucha ayuda. La traduccibn final a1 Espafiol es de Carlos 

Chhvez, Jubilado, Divisibn de Asuntos Culturales, Chamizal National Memorial, del Servicio de Parques 

Nacionales. 
Chapter 1 

Historical Overview 

By the 1750s and 1760s, the Spanish Government became aware that the organization of the northern 

frontier of New Spain was inadequate. Because of increased Indian raids, military inefficiency, and 

outmoded presidial location and design, conditions on the frontier had been deteriorating since the first 

decades of the 1700s.~ 

In 1765 the King of Spain requested Field Marshall Cayetano Maria Pignatelli Rubi Corbera y Saint 

Clement, the MarquCs de Rubi, to go to New Spain and conduct an inspection of the northern frontier 

presidios with an eye towards improving the defensive system. As a result of the inspection, Rubi made 

a number of recommendations for the reorganization of the frontier. These included suggested changes 

in the locations of the presidios and in the regulations governing their construction and management.6 

The Spanish government accepted Rubi's recommendations and used them as the basis of the 

Reelamento C Instrucci6n (Regulations and Instructions) of 1772, which established a major reform of 

military .regulations, a new lime of defensive presidios along the north, and a uniform plan for these 

presidios.7 Among other things, the Reglamento resulted in the abandonment of the presidios of San 

Sabh in Texas and Cerro Gordo in southern Chihuahua and the establishment of new forts on the Rio 

Grande for their garrisons.8 

Hugo 07Conor was appointed Commander-Inspector of the military forces of the new frontier and given 

the task oE establishing the system. On December 22, 1772, he selected the site of San Carlos for the 

new presidio to contain the Cerro Gordo troops. On December 30, 07Conor chose the site of the new 

location for the San Sabh garrison near the ford called San Vicente on the Rio ~rande? 

In May, 1773, O'Conor returned to these sites with military engineers who certified them as acceptable 

for presidial locations. They stated that the hill near the ford of San Vicente selected for the San Sabi 

company was the only hill in the area high enough and near enough to the river to serve as a presidial 

site. The engineers found enough pastureland in the river floodplain to serve the needs of the presidio, 

but felt that the countryside was lacking in supplies of wood and suitable areas for subsistence farming 

by the troops. However, since there was no other place for some distance where the presidio could be 

located, they accepted the site.'' 

The engineers judged the site selected for the troops of Cerro Gordo to be quite acceptable. It was on 

a flat and roomy hilltop above the permanent stream of San Carlos, about six miles from the Rio 

Grande. The area had abundant pastureland and farmland and a good supply of timber.'' 

Soon thereafter troops occupied the sites. 07Conor gave possession of the San Carlos site to the 

commander of the troops from Cerro Gordo on November 3, 1773.'' The site of San Vicente was 

occupied about the same time, but the exact date is not known.13 The troops set up temporary 

quarters in tents and began work on the permanent buildings. 

Construction progressed quickly. By April 1774, the garrisons had gathered building materials at San 

Carlos and had begun to plant the fields. At San Vicente, seven barrack rooms had been completed, 

the foundations of the main wall built, and one of the bastions was under constr~ction.~' 
Capitulo 1 

Historia 

Para la dkcada de 1750 y 1760, el gobierno espaiiol se dib cuenta de que la organizacibn del lidero de la 

Nueva Espaiia estaba inadecuada. Debido a 10s crecientes ataques inesperados de 10s indios, la ineptitud militar, 

y 10s anticuados locales presidiales y deseiio, las condiciones en la frontera estaban en el deterioro desde las 

primeras dkcadas de 10s 1700s.~ 

En 1765, el rey de Espaiia le pidib a1 Mariscal de Campo Cayetano Maria Pignatelli Rubi Corbera y Saint 

Clement, MarquCs de Rubi, que fuera a la Nueva Espaiia y dirigiera una inspeccibn de 10s presidios 

fronterizos del norte, con miras a1 mejoramiento del sistema de defensa. Como resultado de la inspeccibn, 

Rubi ofrecib varias recomendaciones para la reorganizacibn de la frontera. Entre Cstos, se incluyeron 

sugerencias para cambios de colocaciones de las presidios y 10s reglamentos que controlaban su construccibn 

y manejo. 6 

El gobierno espaiiol aceptb las recomendaciones de Rubi y las utilib como base para el Reelamento e 

Instruccibn de 1772, que establecib una nueva reforma de reglamentos militares, una nueva linea de presidios 

defensivos por el norte, y un plan uniforme para estos presidios? Entre otras cosas, el Reglamento produjo 

como resultado el abandon0 de 10s presidios de San SabP en Texas y Cerro Gordo en la parte austral de 

Chihuahua y el establecimiento de nuevos fuertes en el Rio Grande para sus guarniciones.8 

Hugo O'Conor fue nombrado Comandante-Inspector de las fuerzas militares de la nueva frontera dandosele el 

cargo de establecer el sistema. El 22 de deciembre de 1772, 61 escogib el sitio de San Carlos para el nuevo 

presidio para contener las tropas de Cerro Gordo. El 30 de diciembre, O'Conor escogib el sitio del nuevo local 

para la guarnicibn de San SabP cerca del vado lllamado San Vicente en el Rio ~rande? 

El mayo de 1773, O'Conor regresb a estos sitios con ingenieros militares 10s que 10s certificron como aceptables 

para la colocacibn de presidios. Manifestaron que el cerro cerca del vado de San Vicente seleccionado para 

la compaiiia San SabB era el unico cerro en el hrea de suficiente altura bastante cerca del rio para ser htil 

como sitio presidial. Los ingenieros encontraron bastantes tierras de pasto en el terreno aluvial del rio para 

las exigencias del presidio, per0 sentfan que la campiiia carecf a de abastecimientos de leiia y Areas adecuadas 

para subsistencias agricolas de las tropas. No obstante, como no habia otro lugar por mucha distancia donde 

se podria colocar el presidio, aceptaron el sitio.1° 

Los ingenieros juzgaron muy aceptable el sitio escogido para las tropas de Cerro Gordo. Estaba en una plana 

y espaciosa cumbre de colina encima del arroyo de San Carlos, como a seis millas del Rio Grande. El Brea 

tenia tierras de pasto y tierras para el cultivo en abundancia como tambikn un buen surtido de madera." 

Poco despuCs, las tropas ocuparon 10s sitios. O'Conor le dib posesibn del sitio de San Carlos a1 comandante 

de las tropas de Cerro Gordo el 3 de noviembre de 1773.12 El sito de San Vicente fue ocupado como a1 mismo 

tiempo, per0 no se sabe la fecha exacta.13 Las tropas se alojaron provisionalmente en tiendas de capaiia y 

empezaron el trabajo en 10s edificios permanentes. 

El progreso de la construccibn fue rhpido. Para abril de 1774, la guarnicibn habia reunido materiales de 

construccibn en San Carlos y habian empezado a sembrar 10s terrenos. En San Vicente, se habian terminado 

siete cuartos de cuartel, se edificaron 10s cimientos del muro principal, y uno de 10s bastiones quedb bajo 

constr~ccibn.'~ 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 1 2 

By 1775 the garrisons had probably completed construction of the two presidios. They quickly 

established their new routine of military duties and their daily lives within the walls. 

In 1777, San Carlos and San Vicente each contained 57 men. These were forty soldiers, two & or 

corporals, one sergeant, ten Indian scouts and four officers including a chaplain. At Presidio San Carlos, 

the officers were Captain Manuel de Villaverde, Lieutenant Manuel Carcaba, and Alferez 

(Sublieutenant) Juan Esteban Villalobos. The chaplain was Jose Ignacio Basterrechea. At San Vicente 

were Captain Francisco Martinez, Lieutenant Alexo de la Garza, and Alferez Josef Antonio Perez, with 

chaplain Jose Mariano ~1cala.l' Each of the forty soldiers at each presidio received one barracks 

room for himself and any family accompanying him. The standard equipment carried by a presidial 

soldier included leather armor, a shield, a musket with case, two pistols, a sword and an eight-foot 

lance.16 

The Indian scouts also lived within the presidio barracks with their families. They received three reales 

a day for their services, and carried a pistol, shield, lance, and bow and arrows. One of their number 

served as their corporal. Little is known about these scouts. The Redamento does not define how they 

entered the army, their term of enlistment, or their duties. Some of the regular presidial troops were 

also Indian, and many others were of mixed blood. In 1773 the presidial garrisons of Nueva Viscaya, 

including San Carlos and San Vicente, were 24.2 percent white, 58.9 percent mixed blood, and 16.9 

percent 1ndian.17 Each presidio maintained 352 horses as the mounts and remounts for the troops 

and 51 mules for the transportation of gear and supplies. Stables of adobe built outside the fort housed 

these animals.'* 

The area of jurisdiction for each presidio was clearly defined. Presidio San Carlos patrolled the fifty 

miles to Presidio San Vicente and back, while San Vicente covered the area to Presidio San Antonio 

Bucareli de La Bahia, the next presidio about the same distance to the east.19 This route was to be 

patrolled daily. Approximately 20 men conducted the patrol. Other duties of the soldiers included 

guarding the horse herd, escorting supply and merchant convoys and dispatch rides, and maintaining and 

guarding the presidio.20 

The life of a presidial soldier was a hard one. One historian has reported that the soldier "often 

endured the most inclement weather, suffered intensely from hunger, thirst, and lack of sleep, and was 

ill equipped for the service he had to render. Quite often he had to put up with tattered apparel, 

damaged weapons, and worn out horses. He seemed always to be on duty and with the little time he 

had with his family or for instruction in religion, reading, writing, or even the military arts, his lot 

seemed worse and more barbarous in some respects than that of the Indian against whom he repeatedly 

risked his life."" 

The presidios of San Carlos and San Vicente faced greater economic problems than the others of the 

new alignment. They were located at the end of the long presidial supply line, and the local climate 

made it difficult to grow subsistence crops nearby. By 1778, as a result of their continuing supply 

problems and poor performance in controlling hosti1.e Indian movements, the new Commander-General 

Teodoro de Croix, began to doubt the usefulness of the entire line of presidios established in l772.'! 

Croix began a reappraisal of the relationship between the presidios and local civilian settlement^.^^ 

He evolved a new policy where the presidios would aid in the repopulation of abandoned frontier areas 

by helping to encourage civil settlements near each presidial 10cation.~~ 

In 1780 Commander-General Croix officially proposed the new resettlement policy. Because of the poor 

farming potential of the areas around San Carlos and San Vicente and the distance to centers of supply, 

he determined that they were not appropriate for settlement. As a result, the two presidios were to be 

deactivated. The King approved Croix's plan in February 1782. Croix then removed the troops of San 
2 Los Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Capitulo 1 

Para 1775 las guarniciones probablemente habi an terminado 10s trabajos de construccibn de 10s dos presidios. 

Rhpidamente establecieron sus nuevas rutinas de deberes militares y sus vidas cotidianas dentro de 10s muros. 

En 1777, San Carlos y San Vicente contaban con 57 hombres cada uno. Estos eran cuarenta soldados, ~OS cabos, 

un sargento, diez exploradores indios, y cuatro oficiales incluyendo un capellin. En el Presidio San Carlos, 10s 

oficiales eran el Capithn Manuel de Villaverde, el Teniente Manuel Carcaba, y el Sub-teniente Juan Esteban 

Villalobos. El capellin era Jose Ignacio Basterrechea. En San Vicente, eran el Capitln Francisco Martinez, 

el Teniente Alexo de la Garza, y el Alferez JosC Antonio PCrez, con el capellin JosC Mariano Alca~h.'~ Cada 

uno de 10s cuarenta soldados en cada presidio recibia un aposento de cuartel para Cl y cualquier familia que 

lo acompaiiara. El equipo regular que cargaba el soldado presidial consistia en una coraza de cuero, un 

escudo, mosquete con funda, dos pistolas, una espada y una lanza de ocho pies.16 

Los exploradores indios tambikn vivian dentro de os cuarteles presidiales con sus familias. Recibfan tres 

reales al dia por servicios, y cargaban una pistola, esudo, lama, y arc0 y flechas. Uno de ellos prestaba servicio 

como su cabo. Poco se sabe de estos exploradores. El Reelamento no explica como se incorporaron a1 ejCrcito, 

la duracibn del reclutamiento, o sus obligaciones. Algunos de 10s soldados presidiales tambikn eran indios, y 

muchos otros eran de sangre mixta. En 1773, las guarniciones presidiales de la Nueva Viscaya, incluyendo San 

Carlos y San Vicente, eran el 24.2 por ciento blancos, el 58.9 de sangre mixta, y el 16.9 indios.17 Cada presidio 

mantenia 352 caballos de montar y de relevo para las tropas, 51 mulas para el transporte de equipo y 

provisiones. Los establos de adobe fuera del fuerte eran el alberque de estas bestias.18 

El Cea de jurisdiccibn para cada presidio estaba bien definida. El Presidio San Carlos patrullaba 1as cincuenta 

millas al Presidio San Vicente y vuelta, mientras que San Vicente cubria el hrea al Presidio San Antonio 

Bucareli de La Bahia, el prbximo presidio como a la misma distancia hacia el este.19 Esta ruta habia de 

vigilarse diariamente, y eran approximldamente 20 hombres 10s que integraban la patrulla. Otros deberes de 

10s soldados incluian la proteccibn de las mandas de caballos, acompaiiar 10s convoys de provisiones y 

mercantiles, despachar paseos a caballo y custodiar el presidio.20 

La vida del soldado presidial era cruel. Un historiador ha informado que el soldado con frecuencia aguantb 

tiempos rigurosos, sufrib intensamente el hambre y la sed, las desveladas, y estaba mal equipado para prestar 

el servicio que le correspondia. Muy a menudo tuvo que tolerar ropa rota, armas daiiada, y caballos cansados. 

Parecia que siempre estaba de servicio, y con el poquito tiempo que le quedaba para estar con su familia, o 

para la instruccibn en religibn, lectura, escribir, o las artes militares, su suerte paracia estar peor y mk cruel 

en algunos casos que la del indio contra de quen repetidamente arriesgaba su vida.?' 

Los presidios de San Carlos y San Vicente enfrentaban problems econbmicos mhs grandes que 10s otros del 

nuevo alineamiento. Estaban colocados al extremo de la larga via de abastecimiento, y el ciima local les hacia 

dificil producir cosechas para la subsistencia por ahi cerca. Para 1778, como resultado de 10s continuos 

problemas de abastecimiento, y deficiente ejecucibn del control de 10s movimientos de indios hostiles, el nuevo 

comandante-general Teodoro de Croix empezb a poner en tela de jucio la utilidad de la entera linea de 

presidios establecidos en 1772.~~ Croix empezb a reevaluar la relacibn entre 10s presidios y 10s poblados civiles 

10cales.~ El desarrollb una nueva politica donde 10s presidios ayudarian en la repoblacibn de hreas 

fronterizas abandonadas apoyando el hnimo para poblaciones civiles cerca de cada local presidial. 24 

En 1780, el comandante-general Croix propuso la nueva politica de repoblacibn. El decidib que las Ceas 

alrededor de San Carlos y San Vicente no estaban apropiadas para poblarse debido a la inadecuada 

potencialidad para la agricultura, asf como su distancia a 10s centros de abastecimiento. Como resultado, 10s 

dos presidios deberian desactivarse. El rey aprobb el plan de Croix en febrero de 1782. En seguida, Croix 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 1 3 

Carlos and San Vicente, leaving a caretaker garrison of ten men at each to maintain the buildings 

against future need^.^ The two sites were probably completely abandoned within a few years. 

A full garrison occupied the two presidios for no more than eight years and a caretaker garrison for 

perhaps another two years, to about 1784. After their abandonment, military expeditions may have 

occasionally used the presidios as temporary housing.26 

The new frontier policies of 1772 created San Carlos and San Vicente presidios. When those policies 

changed a few years later the presidios were abandoned. During their short occupation, however, they 

helped defend the northern frontier of New Spain. The events that happened at San Carlos and San 

Vicente, the men who served there, and the lives they and their families led were typical of the events, 

men, and lives of any presidio on the new frontier. 
3 Los Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Capitdo 1 

removii, las topas de San Carlos y San Vicente, dejando una arnicibn celadora de diez hombres en cada sitio 

para mantenimiento de edifcios en caso exigencias futurasePEs probable que 10s sitios quedar6n totalmente 

abandonados dentro de pocos aiios. 

Una guarnicibn ocupb 10s dos presidios por no mAs de ocho afios y una guarnicibn celadoro por quiz5 otros 

dos afios, como hasta 1784. Des uts de su abandono, expediciones militares pudieron haber usado 10s presidios JJ' como alojamiento provisional.- 

La nueva politica de fronteras crib 10s presidios de San Carlos y San Vicente. Cuando esas politicas 

cambiaron algunos afios despds, 10s presidios quedaron abandonados. Durante su corta ocupacibn, no 

obstante, ayudaron en la defensa de la frontera del norte de la Nueva Espaiia. Los eventos ocurridos en San 

Carlos y San Vicente, 10s hombres que prestaron servicio ahi, y su mod0 de vivir asi como el de sus familias, 

eran caracteristicos de 10s eventos, hombres, y las vidas de cualquier presidio en la nueva frontera. 
Chapter 2 

Description of the Presidio Sites 

San Vicente 

The site of Presidio San Vicente lies approximately one mile from the Rio Grande and perhaps one 

hundred meters (about three hundred and thirty feet) from the edge of the flood plain of the river. 

Here the river flows towards the northeast, and an unnamed broad wash enters the Rio Grande valley 

from the southeast at right angles. The site stands on top of a gravel mesa at the east corner of the 

intersection of the two drainages. San Vicente Mesa is the major elevation to the west on the Mexican 

side of the river, the Chisos Mountains to the northwest on the American side, and the Sierras del 

Carmen to the east, again on the Mexican side. The gravel mesa top rises perhaps twenty meters (about 

sixty-five feet) above the Rio Grande floodplain. 

The surrounding land is sparsely inhabited. The village of San Vicente straggles from San Vicente ford 

towards the southwest along about three miles of dirt road to the presidio site. The village has perhaps 

twenty-five to thirty adobe houses huddled in three groups of about ten each. No more than one 

hundred and fifty people live in the area. They make a marginal living from subsistence farming and 

small herding. The nearest town on the Mexican side of the river is Boquillas, not much larger than 

San Vicente but somewhat more prosperous because of American tourism. 

Access to the presidio site is difficult. The road crosses the river along a shifting gravel bar that usually 

has three to five feet of water across it. Only horses and high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicles can 

cross with security. The road from the crossing to the presidio site is very rough and difficult to select 

in the maze of roads connecting the various portions of the village of San Vicente. In wet weather the 

road becomes deep mud and is virtually impassable. 

The history of the occupation of the area is poorly known. One component of the town of San Vicente 

existed on the American side of the river during the early decades of the twentieth century, and ruins 

of this component are still visible within Big Bend National Park. Scattered ruins on the Mexican side 

along the mesa edges and the river valley indicate other occupation areas used at various times since 

about 1890 or 1900. At least one civilian family is known to have lived in the immediate area of 

Presidio San Vicente in the 1700s.~~ Further historical research and archeological surveying would 

undoubtedly locate this house and reveal others from the eighteenth century. There may have been no 

permanent settlements in the area through most of the nineteenth century. 

Recent occupation has not seriously disturbed the site of the presidio. In the 1920s and 1930s new 

settlers in the area rebuilt and reroofed some of the more substantial ruins of the presidio for houses. 

In the 1940s or 1950s one local resident built a small tienda, or store, just outside the presidio walls to 

the northwest. This store was abandoned by 1961, when Dr. Rex Gerald made his first visit to the site, 

and in ruins by 1969 and his second visit. Now only the concrete floor and adobe foundations can be 

seen. Today the house of Tiburcio Brito stands on the northwest wall of the presidio. Brito has built 

a iaca128 shed near the north corner of the enclosing wall and a cylindrical water tank of concrete and 

fieldstone on the southwestern bastion. Two dirt roads cross the presidio and see moderate use by cars 

and pickups. The roads join just southeast of the presidio and continue to the rest of Mexico. 
Capitulo 2 

Descripcibn de 10s Sitios Presidiales 

San Vicente 

El sitio del Presidio San Vicente queda aproximadamente una milla del Rio Grande y quid cien metros (corno 

trescientos treinta pies) de la orilla del terreno de aluvibn del rio. Agui, el rio corre hacia el noreste, y un 

aluvibn ancho sin nombre entra al valle del Rio Grande del sureste en hngulo recto. El sitio esth sobre una 

meseta de cascajo en la esquina oriental del curce de 10s dos desagiies. La Meseta San Vicente es la elevaci6n 

principal hacia el poniente a1 lado mexicano del ri o, las Montaiias Chisos al noroeste al lado americano, y la 

Sierra del Carmen a1 oriente, tambikn a1 lado mexicano. La cima de la meseta de cascajo esth como a una 

altura de veinte metros (corno sesentiseis pies) sobre el terreno aluvial del Rio Grande. 

El terreno circundante esth escasamente poblado. La aldea de San Vicente se dispersa del vado San Vicente 

hacia el sudoeste por aproximadamente tres millas de camino de tierra a1 sitio del presidio. El pueblo tiene 

quiz& veinticinco a treinta casas de adobe apifiadas en tres grupos de a diez en cada uno. No mb de ciento 

cincuenta personas viven en el kea. Sacan una vida marginal subsistencial agricola y poco ganado. El pueblo 

rnhs cercano al lado mexicano del rio es Boquillas, no rnhs grande que San Vicente per0 poco rnhs pr6spero 

debido al turismo americano. 

La entrada a1 presidio es dificil. El camino atraviesa el rio por un bajio movedizo que casi siempre tiene de 

tres a cinco pies de agua transversalmente. Solamente 10s caballos o vehiculos de traccibn doble y de alto 

despejo pueden cruzar con seguridad. El camino desde el cruce a1 sitio del presidio esth muy escabroso y dificil 

para seleccionar entre la confusibn de caminos que conectan las varias partes del pueblo de San Vicente. En 

tiempo lluvioso el camino se hace lodoso y virtualmente intransitable. 

La historia de la ocupacibn del Area se conoce muy poco. Un componente del pueblo de San Vicente existia 

al lado americano del rio durante las tempranas dCcadas del siglo veinte, y 10s vestigios de este componente 

aGn esthn visibles en el Parque Nacional Big Bend. Los vestigios desparramados a1 lado mexicano a lo largo 

de la orilla de la meseta y el valle del rio, indican otras Areas de ocupacibn usadas en diferentes tiempos como 

desde 1890 o 1900. Se sabe que cuando menos una familia civil vivib en el kea cercana del Presidio San 

Vicente en la dCcada de 1700.~' Mhs amplio estudio hist6rico y agrimensuras arqueolbgicas sin duda 

localizarfan esta casa y.descubririan otras del siglo dieciocho. El kea pudo haber estado despoblada durante 

la mayor parte del siglo diecinueve. 

La reciente ocupacibn no ha molestado seriamente el sitio del presidio. En las dkcadas de 1920 y 1930, nuevos 

pobladores en el kea reconstruyeron e instalaron nuevos techos en algunos de 10s rnhs sblidos vestigios del 

presidio para viviendas. En la dicada de 1940 y 1950, un residente local construy6 una tienda chica, 

precisamente afuera de 10s muros del presidio al noroeste. Esta tienda qued6 abandonada para 1961, cuando 

el Dr. Rex Gerald hizo su primera visita a1 sitio, y para la segunda visita, hecha en 1969, ya estaba en ruina. 

Ahora, solo el pizo de concreto y cimientos de adobe se pueden ver. Hoy en dia, la casa de Tiburcio Brito 

queda en el muro del noroeste del presidio. Brito construy6 un jacal cerca de la esquina del norte de la pared 

que la cerca y un tanque de agua cilindrico de concreto y piedra en el baluarte a1 sudoeste. Dos caminos de 

tierra cruzan el presidio con uso moderado de coches y camionetas. Los caminos se juntan precisamente a1 

sureste del presidio y continuan para el resto de MCxico. 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 2 

The ruins of the presidio were not impressive to the survey crew at first glance. The walls had slumped 

and collapsed until they looked like the rest of the mesa top. After careful examination, however, the 

crew began to recognize the outlines of the walls and were amazed at how much of the structure of the 

Presidio remained. 

Because of the lack of a contour map of the site, the crew could make only an estimate of the surviving 

wall heights and floor areas. In general, the mounds of collapsed and dissolved adobe wall stood to a 

height of a little more than one meter (about three feet) above the general ground level of the mesa 

top. It is assumed that the surface of construction of the presidio, the ground surface at the time it was 

built, was at or slightly below the present general ground level. The tops of the remaining walls were 

at the surfaces of the wall mouqds. This indicated that over most of the site the wall survived to heights 

of more than a meter (about three feet) above the original floors. In most areas the floors were still 

well-protected under a blanket of fallen and dissolved wall. 

The main walls of the presidio followed a diamond-shaped plan. The north and south walls ran 

approximately east and west, and the east and west walls ran about 30' east of geographic north. The 

presidio measured about one hundred and twenty-five meters (about four hundred and ten feet) across 

along the walls, and about one hundred and fifty meters (about four hundred and ninety-two feet) across 

the longest diagonal. All the buildings were apparently constructed of adobe. In a few areas the adobe 

walls stood on rough stone foundations, but most of the walls have no clear evidence of stone 

foundations visible. 

Most of the presidios established by the Reglamento of 1772 were square or rectangular in shape. 

Presidio San Vicente was apparently laid out in a diamond as the only way to make it fit within the flat 

area of the site selected for it, and was built at the edge of steep slopes on the south, west, and north 

sides. This location and shape seems somewhat odd when the area to the east of the presidio was easily 

large enough to accommodate a square presidio of the same size. The actual reasons behind the 

selection of the site are presently unknown, although it may have had to do with a need for direct visual 

surveillance of the river valley from the presidio. This would not have been possible farther east. 

The presidio had several major structural features. On the east wall near the southeast corner, a 

rectangular structure extended into the plaza of the presidio. It was about thirty-two meters (about one 

hundred and five feet) east-west and 22 meters (about seventy-two feet) north-south, with a central 

patio. This was probably the Casa del Ca~itan, or Headquarters building and Commanding Officer's 

residence. 

Two bastions extended out from the main walls at the northeast and southwest corners. The 

southwestern bastion was square in plan, with the exterior faces about twenty-six meters (about eightyfive feet) long. The flanking faces, those that looked down the main walls of the presidio, were about 

thirteen meters (about forty-three feet) long. The northeastern bastion also had twenty-six meter 

exterior faces, but the flanking faces were about sixteen meters (about fifty-three feet) long. This and 

differing angles between the flanking faces and the main walls gave the northeastern bastion a diamondshaped plan. 

Barracks buildings stood against the main wall on the east, south, and west. Continuous rooms also 

apparently lined the bastions, although the field examination did not completely trace these rooms. 

Massive platforms of earth apparently stood in the corners of the bastions. These were probably cannon 

platforms. The north wall may have had rooms along its western thirty-five meters (about one hundred 

and fifteen feet), but apparently had no rooms east of the church. The large depression west of the 

church was apparently present at the time the presidio was built, and had a drainage to the north 

through the wall. A mound of stone on the wall line at the mouth of the drainage indicates that the wall 
5 Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Capitulo 2 

Las ruinas del presidio no impresionaron a1 equipo de agrimensura a primera vista. Los muros se habian 

hundido y caido hasta que parecian como la cima de la meseta. DespuCs de una meticulosa inspecci611, no 

obstante, el equipo empez6 a reconocer el contorno de 10s muros y quedaron asombrados de que tanto habia 

quedado de la estructura del Presidio. 

Debido a la falta de un plano topogrhfico del sitio, el equipo pudo hacer solamente estamaciones de la altura 

del muro sobreviviente y las keas de 10s pizos. En general, 10s monticulos del muro de adobe disuelto y 

caido, quedaban a una altura de poco mk de un metro (corno tres pies) sobre el nivel general de la tierra de 

la cima de la meseta. Se supone que la superficie de construcci6n del presidio, la superficie del terreno en el 

tiempo que se construyb, estaba al actual nivel general de la tierra o quiz6 poco m6s debajo. La parte superior 

de 10s muros restantes estaban a la altura de la superficie de 10s montones de muros. Esto quizo decir que por 

la mayor parte del sitio, el muro sobrevivi6 a alturas de mBs de un metro (corno tres pies) encimh de 10s pizos 

originales. En casi todas las Ceas 10s pizos estaban todavia bien protegidos debajo de un manto de muro 

disuelto y caido. 

Los muros principales del presidio seguian un plan romboide. Los muros del norte y sur, corrian del oriente 

y poniente, y 10s muros en el oriente y poniente corrian como 30° a1 este del norte geogrBfico. El presidio 

media como ciento veinticinco metros (cuatro ceientos diez pies) transversalmente a lo largo do 10s muros, y 

como ciento cincuenta metros (corno cuatrocientos noventa y dos pies) a travks del mbs largo diagonal. 

Aparentemente todos 10s edificios fueron construidos de adobe. En unas pocas Breas 10s muros de adobe 

estaban sobre cimientos de piedra Bspera, per0 la mayor parte de 10s muros no presentan clara evidencia de 

tener cimientos de piedra a la vista. 

Casi todos 10s presidios establecidos por el Reelamento de 1772 eran cuadrados o rectangulares en forma. El 

Presidio San Vicente aparentemente fue puesto en forma romboide, la 6nica manera de hacerlo caber dentro 

del kea plan del sitio escogido para ponerlo, y fue construido a la orilla de incliiaciones precipitosas en 10s 

costados del sur, poniente y norte. Este local y la forma parecen poco raros ya que el kea a1 este del presidio 

era facilmente de suficiente tamaiio para acomodar un presidio cuadrado y del mismo tamaiio. Actualmente 

se desconocen las razones detrBs de esta selecci6n del sitio, aunque pudo haber tenido que ver con la necesidad 

de la vigilancia visual directa del valle del ri o desde el presidio. Esto no podri a haber sido posible mPs a1 este. 

El presidio tenia muchas figuras estructurales mayores. En el muro del este cerca de la esquina en el sureste, 

una estructura rectangular se extendia para adentro de la plaza del presidio. Era de como treinta y dos metros 

(corno ciento cinco pies) oriente-poniente y veintidos metros (corno setentidos pies) norte-sur, con un patio 

central. Esta probablemente fue la Casa del CapitBn o el edificio del Cuartel General y la residencia del Oficial 

Comandante. 

Dos bastiones se extendian desde 10s muros principales en las esquinas del noreste y el sudoeste. El basti6n 

del sudoeste era cuadrado de plan, con las fachadas esteriores como de veintiseis metros (corno ochenta y cinco 

pies) de largo. Las fachadas flanqueantes, las que hacian cara con 10s muros principales del presidio, eran como 

de trece metros (corno cuarenta y tres pies) de lago. El basti6n a1 noreste tambiCn tenia fachadas exteriores 

de veintiseis metros, per0 Ias fachadas flanqueantes eran como de dieciseis metros (corno cincuenta y tres pies) 

de largo. Este y 10s hgulos diferentes entre las fachadas flanqueantes y 10s muros principales de daban a1 

basti6n del noreste un plan romboide. 

Las piezas de 10s cuarteles estaban pr6ximas al muro principal a1 este, sur y oeste. Aparentemente habia 

aposentos alineados, aunque la inspeccibn no 10s traz6. Parece que habia unas plataformas de tierra en las 

esquinas de 10s bastiones, y probablemente eran plataformas para caiiones. El muro al norte pudo haber tenido 

apocentos a lo largo de sus treinticinco metros (como ciento y quince pies), per0 parace que no 10s tuvo al este 

de la iglesia. La hondonada al oeste de la iglesia aparentement existia en el tiempo cuando se construy6 el 

presidio, y tenia un desagiie al norte a travCs del muro. Un monticulo de piedra sobre la linea del muro 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 2 6 

may have had a stone arch at this point through which runoff water would have flowed. What appears 

to have been stone buttressing was visible on some exterior corners of the presidial complex, as 

indicated on the plan. 

Entrances into the presidio were not easily identiftable. The main gate could have been in the west wall 

opposite the Casa del Capitan, or through the east wall into the Casa. The principal trash-dump for 

the presidio, usually beside the main gate, was in the small, deep ravine at the southeast corner. The 

survey revealed no traces of walls closing the gap around this ravine, but aerial photographs taken by 

Tom Alex, Resource Management Archeologist at Big Bend National Park, indicate that a wall may 

have run from the southwest corner of the Casa del Capitan to a point near the southeastern angle of 

the outer presidio wall.29 

Most of the disturbances to the site were not as serious as they looked. The worst damage was some 

loss of walls and floors along the south wall, as can be seen on the map, and some erosion of the 

southwest bastion. The erosion of the bastion may not be serious, but must be nearing the level of the 

bastion floors. Along the west wall, some small washes across the wall line cut into the ruin, but wall 

structure continues across the deepest parts of these washes. The fill on the inside of the wall line here 

showed the usual characteristics of collapsed adobe wall, indicating that the floor surfaces were probably 

still buried and undamaged. 

The greatest damage to the ruins of the presidio occurred about 1978, when a bulldozer destroyed the 

presidial church, portions of which survived to approximately two and a half meters (about eight feet) 

above the mounds of the north wall. The site of the church is presently a large rectangular pit cut about 

two meters (about 6 112 feet) into the mesa top. Apparently no traces of the church survived this event, 

including burials beneath the floor. However, some portions of wall might remain in one corner or 

another of the pit. 

The northeast bastion has suffered the most from treasure-hunters and house construction. Local 

legend has it that a gold or silver smelting operation was once located in this bastion. This has 

prompted the excavation of three large holes: one at the northeast corner of the bastion itself, destroying 

the intersection of the outside walls, one just south of this, and one on the south wall of the bastion. 

Each of these was about three meters (about ten feet) across and perhaps one to two meters (about 

three to 6 112 feet) deep. The total area of structural disturbance was small, and little real damage has 

been done to the buried bastion structure. Inez Brito dug out and converted a portion of the 

southwestern room of this bastion to a house in ca. 1930. Brito abandoned the house in ca. 1950. 

Treasure hunters have further disturbed the area, and today it is a rectangular pit about one and a half 

meters (about five feet) deep with an adobe wall along the east side. The adobe wall stands one and 

a half meters high above the floor of the pit, and is part of the original presidial construction. Gregorio 

Brito converted the northwest room of the bastion to a house in ca. 1930. Gregorio still lives in the area 

and assisted the survey crew with the work of measuring the site and working out the details of the plan. 

This ruin has a scattering of modern trash, ceramics, and glass, and a number of structural posts still 

survive. Near the southeast corner of the presidio, in the ruins of the Casa del Capitan, Juan Gamboa 

built a house in ca. 1930. Today it is a rectangle of stone foundation with some stone rubble around 

it. Other treasure hunting pits did little damage. Several small pits are found along the east wall near 

the bastion, but most of these missed walls. 

Disturbance of the site continues today. Cars and trucks cross the walls on the present roads, horses 

and people walk along the wall mounds, children play in the dirt of the ruins and dig holes, and treasure 

hunters occasionally dig pits. None of this disturbance is particularly severe, however, and is causing 

only a slight increase over the natural rate of decay of the site. The greatest potential damage could 
6 Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Capitulo 2 

en la desembocadura indica de que el muro pudo haber tenido un arc0 de piedra en este punto por donde se 

derramaba el agua. Estl visible lo que parece haber sido contrafuerte de piedra en algunas esquinas del 

conjunto presidial segn el plan. 

Las entradas a 10s presidios no se identificaban facilmente. El port6n principal pudo haber estado en el muro 

a1 oeste enfrente de la Casa del Capith, o a travks del muro del este para adentro de la casa. El depbsito 

principal de basura para el presidio, casi siempre pr6ximo al port611 mayor, estaba en la pequefia barranca 

profunda en la esquina del sudeste. La inspecci6n no revel6 trazas de muros que circunvalaran la barranca, 

per0 las fotografias akreas tomadas por Tom Alex, el Arque6logo del Manejo de Recursos, del Parque 

Nacional Big Bend, indican que un muro pudo haberse extendido desde la esquina sudoeste de la Casa del 

Capithn hasta un punto cerca del hngulo del sudoeste del muro exterior del presidio.29 

La mayor parte de 10s disturbios a1 sitio no fueron tan serios como habian parecido. El peor daiio fueron 

algunas perdidas de muros y suelos por el muro del sur, como se puede ver en el mapa, y poca erosibn del 

bastibn del sudoeste. La erosion del bastion puede ir acercandose a1 nivel de 10s suelos del bastibn. A lo largo 

del muro del oeste, hay algunos esteros pequeiios a treves del muro que penetran a1 vestigio, per0 la estructura 

del muro sique a traves de las partes mis profundas de estos esteros. El terraplkn por dentro de la linea del 

muro aqui, mostr6 caracteristicas usuales de mwo de adobe derrumbado, indicaciones que las superficies de 

10s suelos probablemente acn estaban enterradas sin perturbacibn. 

Los daiios mls grandes a 10s vestigios del presidio ocurrieron como en 1978, cuando un tractor nivelador 

destruy6 la iglesia del presidio, porciones de las cuales sobrevivieron hasta aproximadamente dos metros y medio 

(corno ocho pies) encima de montones del muro del norte. El sitio de la iglesia es actualmente un hoyo grande 

rectangular cavado como dos metros (corno pie y medio) a la cima de la meseta. Parece que no hubo trazas 

de la iglesia que sobrevivieran este evento, incluyendo entierros debajo de 10s pizos. No obstante, puede haber 

algunas partes del muro que quedan en una u otra esquina del hoyo. 

El basti6n del noreste es el que ha sufrido mk por parte de 10s busca tesoros y la construcci6n de viviendas. 

Los relatos locales dicen que habia una fundici6n de oro y plata localizada en este basti6n. Esto ha incitado 

la excavaci6n de tres pozos grandes: uno en la esquina a1 noreste del mismo bastibn, destruyendo el cruce de 

10s muros exteriores, uno precisamente a1 sur de kste, y uno en el muro a1 sur del basti6n. Cada uno estaba 

como a tres metros (corno diez pies) a travks y quizh uno a dos metros (corno de tres a seis pies y rnedio) de 

profundidad. El Brea total de perturbaciones estructurales era pequeiio, y muy poco daiio verdadero se le ha 

hecho a la estructura enterrada. Inex Brito excav6 y transform0 una parte del aposento a1 sudoeste del basti6n 

en una vivienda cerca de 1930, y la abandon6 como en 1950. Los busca tesoros le han causado mk disturbios 

a1 hrea, y hoy en dia es un pozo rectangular como de un metro y medio (corno cinco pies) de profundidad con 

un muro de adobe por el costado del este. El muro de adobe esth un metro y medio encima del suelo del pozo, 

y es pate de la consrucci6n original del presidio. Gregorio Brito convirtib el aposento del noroeste del basti6n 

en una vivienda cerca de 1930. Todavia vive Gregorio en el Brea, y prest6 ayuda a1 equipo de agrimensores 

con el trabajo de medir el sitio, y resolviendo detalles del plan. El vestigio tiene desparramientos de basura 

moderna, cerhica, y vidrio, y una cantidad de postes estructurales aCn perduran. Juan Gamboa construy6 una 

vivienda como en 1930, cerca de la esquina del sudeste del presidio, en 10s vestigios de la Casa del Capithn. 

Hoy es un cimiento de piedra y manpuesto de piedra bruta alrededor. Otros pozos de 10s busca tesoros hicieron 

poco dafio. Varios pozos pequefios se encuentran a lo largo del muro del este cerca del bastibn, per0 la mayor 

parte no llegaron a 10s muros. 

Hoy en dia 10s disturbios al sitio siguen continuamente. Los coches y caminoes cruzan 10s muros sobre 10s 

caminos actuales, y caballos y gente caminan a lo largo de 10s monticulos del muro, 10s niiios juegan en la tierra 

de 10s vestigios haciendo hoyos, y 10s busca tesoros han cavado pozos. Nada de este disturbio ha sido 

particularmente grave no obstante, y ha estado causando solo un pequeiio aumento sobre el ritmo natural de 

deterioro. del sitio. El daiio potencial mb grande podria venir del creciente inter& en el sitio por parte de 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 2 7 

come from an increased interest in the site on the part of treasure hunters, and any sign of more 

attention being paid to the site by government people or other authority figures could easily cause such 

an increase. It is possible that this survey and mapping visit to the site could itself trigger more digging. 

Attempts were made to explain to all the local authorities and any "casual" visitors to the site while the 

survey was in progress why the investigation was being made. A large portion of the Brito family 

watched the survey, offered reminiscences of how the ruins had looked in the past, and even held the 

other end of the tape. They apparently came to believe in the reasons for the work. Others may not 

have been so understanding. 

San Carlos 

Presidio San Carlos is more remote than San Vicente. The site is approximately six miles west of the 

Rio Grande up the San Carlos River, and perhaps one hundred and fifty meters (about five hundred 

feet) south of the San Carlos River on the edge of the canyon. The ruins stand on a broad mesa which 

is surrounded by mountains on the west and south, and drops down to the Rio Grande valley on the 

north and east. To the northeast one looks down Santa Helena Canyon from the back side, the opposite 

of the view usually seen from Big Bend National Park. The Chisos Mountains, and especially Mount 

Emory, rise above Santa Helena Ridge. The presidio is about twenty-five meters (about eighty feet) 

above the flood plain of the San Carlos River. 

Most of the people who live in the area are in the town of San Carlos, about five miles west of the 

presidio. Outside of the town there are some seasonal houses, associated with the irrigated fields along 

the bottom of San Carlos Canyon near the presidio, but apparently no permanent dwellings. The town 

of San Carlos has a population of perhaps two thousand people, and appears to be relatively prosperous. 

The residents make their living by farming the floodplains of the several tributaries of the San Carlos. 

American visitors have greater difficulty reaching the ruins of Presidio San Carlos than they do going 

to Presidio San Vicente. The Rio Grande is forded at the American town of Lajitas. There are two 

possible crossing points, one just above the town and one about one mile down-river. Both have about 

three to five feet of water, and require high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is about 13 miles to 

the town of San Carlos from the crossing, and most of the route is a very rough gravel road over steep 

hills. The road is not well marked and a map is essential. From San Carlos to the ruins of the presidio 

the visitor follows a good gravel road eastward for about five miles along the San Carlos River valley. 

Use of the area near Presidio San Carlos has been more continuous than at Presidio San Vicente. 

Scattered ruins along and within San Carlos Canyon indicate that there has been some occupation of 

the area since at least the middle nineteenth century, and very likely from the time of establishment of 

the presidio in the 1770s. As with Presidio San Vicente, only historical research and a detailed 

archeological survey would confirm this supposition. 

Disturbance to the site of the presidio is far less pronounced than at San Vicente. The walls of the 

presidio stand higher, and crosswalls indicating individual rooms can easily be identified. Treasurehunters have' dug some pits principally in the northern bastion, but these have not done any extensive 

harm. The major damage to the site has been caused by recent road work. The old road passed just 

east of the presidia1 ruins, but the new gravel road crosses the ruins from east to west. It would appear 

that the construction of the road across the ruins was intentional, because although the ground in the 

area is virtually level, the new road curves noticeably northwestward from the old road alignment 

through the ruins, and then curves back to the old alignment again. 
7 Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Capitulo 2 

10s busca tesoros, y cualquier seiia de que se le esth poniendo rnhs atencibn al sitio por parte de gente de 

gobierno u otras figuras autoritativas muy bien podrian causar tal aumento. Es posible que esta visita de 

estudio y traza de mapa al sitio pudiera facilmente provocar mbs excavaciones. Se intent6 explicarles a las 

autoridades locales y a cud quier visitante "casual" d sitio mientras se hacia el estudio, el porquC de la 

investigacibn. Un gran parte de la familia de Brito miraba al estudio ofreciendo memorias de como se habian 

visto 10s vestigios en tiempos pasados, y hasta detuvo el otro extremo de la cinta. Parece que llegaron a confiar 

en las razones para el trabajo. A lo mejor, otros no tuvieron tanta fe. 

San Carlos 

El Presidio San Carlos esth rnhs remoto que San Vicente. El sitio esth a aproximadamente seis millas al oeste 

del Rio Grande aguas arriva del Rio San Carlos, y quid ciento cincuenta metros (corno quinientos pies) a1 

sur del Rio de San Carlos a la orilla de la barranca. Los vestigios esthn en una amplia meseta que esth 

rodeada de montaiias al poniente y sur, y cae al valle del Rio Grande a1 norte y al este. A1 noreste uno mira 

hacia la Barranca Santa Helena de la parte posterior, lo contrario a lo que se ve desde el Parque Nacional Big 

Bend. Las Montaiias Chisos, y especialmente el Monte Emory, se alzan por encima de Cordillera de Santa 

Helena. El presidio esth como a veinticinco metros (ochenta pies) por encima del terreno aluvial del Rio San 

Carlos. 

Casi toda la gente que vive en el hrea esthn en el pueblo de San Carlos, como a cinco millas a1 poniente del 

presidio. Afuera del pueblo hay algunas viviendas estacionales, asociadas con el regadf o de campos cultivados 

por el fondo de la Barranca San Carlos cerca del presidio, per0 aparentemente sin haber viviendas permanentes. 

El pueblo de San Carlos tiene una poblacibn de quizh dos mil personas, y parece estar relativamente pr6spero. 

Los residentes se ganan la vida cultivando el terreno aluvial de 10s varios tributarios del Rio San Carlos. 

Los visitantes americanos tienen rnhs dificultad para llegar a 10s vestigios del Presidio San Carlos, que lo que 

tienen llendo al Presidio San Vicente. El Rio Grande tiene vados en el pueblo americano Lajitas. Hay does 

posibles puntos de cruce, uno precisamente rnhs arriba del pueblo, y uno como una milla aguas abajo. Los dos 

tienen como tres a cinco pies de agua, y requieren vehiculos de alto despejo y transmisibn en las cuatro ruedas. 

Hay como 13 millas al pueblo San Carlos desde el cruce, y casi toda la ruta es un camino rnuy escabroso de 

cascajo por colinas precipitosas. El camino no esth bien marcado, siendo un mapa rnuy esencial. Desde San 

Carlos a 10s vestigios del presidio el visitante sigue un buen camino de casajo hacia a1 este, hasta cinco a lo largo 

del valle del Rio San Carlos. 

El uso del kea cerca del Presidio San Carlos ha sido mh continuo que en el Presidio San Vicente. Vestigios 

desparramados a lo largo de, y dentro la Barranca San Carlos dan indicaciones que ha habido alguna ocupaci6n 

del hrea desde cuando menos a mediados del siglo diecinueve, y rnuy probable desde la &poca del 

establicimiento del presidio en 10s 1770s. Como en el caso del Presidio San Vicente, solo una investigacibn 

histbrica y un estudio arqueolbgico detallado confirmarian esta suposici6n. 

Los disturbios al sitio del presidio esthn mucho menos pronunciados que en San Vicente. Los muros del 

presidio se alzan mk alto, paredes transversales indicando aposentos individuales se pueden identificar. Los 

busca tesoros han cavado algunos pozos principalmente en el bastibn del norte, per0 estos no han hecho ningCn 

daiio extensivo. El perjuicio mayor al sitio lo han hecho 10s trabajos recientes de caminos. El camino viejo 

pasaba precisamente al este de 10s vestigios presidiales, per0 el camino nuevo de cascajo atraviesa 10s vestigios 

de oriente a poniente. A todas luces la construcci6n del camino a trav6s de 10s vestigios fue intentional, porque 

aunque el terreno en el hrea esth virtualmente parejo, el camino se curva perceptiblemente hacia el noroeste 

desde el alineamiento de camino viejo, a trav6s de 10s vestigios, y luego se encorva otra vez a1 viejo alineamiento. 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 2 8 

The presidio is almost square, with sides ranging in length from 126 112 meters (415 feet) to 131 meters 

(430 feet). It is oriented so that geographic north passes along the diagonal. There are two diamondshaped bastions, one on the north corner and one on the south. Each bastion has massive earthen 

platforms in the angles, probably for cannon positions. The ruins of the Casa del Capitan are on the 

northeast wall, and the Chapel is on the northwest wall. The walls of the Chapel stand to an average 

height of about five meters (about sixteen feet). The main entrance gateway is in the southwest wall, 

and centers on the entranceway into the Casa del Capitan. There was a secondary entrance at the west 

corner, producing a plan in this area similar to the northern corner of San Vicente. In fact, the plan 

of San Carlos is very similar in most aspects to that of San Vicente, except that the San Vicente plan 

has been rotated about 45" and distorted into a diamond shape. 

A group of small structures stood about one hundred and twenty meters (about four hundred feet) 

outside the walls of San Carlos beside the original road that would have lead to the main gateway. The 

outlines of several structures can be generally recognized, and ceramics scattered throughout the area 

indicate that the buildings were in use at about the same time as the presidio. Dr. Gerald suggests that 

these may have been the house for the family of one of the presidial soldiers. 

Dr. Gerald found two other groups of eighteenth century ruins in the area. One was a house ruin and 

cemetery about 100 m to the southwest on the edge of the canyon. The second was a house or 

watchtower ruin about eighty meters (about two hundred and sixty feet) to the northwest associated with 

a trail down the canyonside to a spring-fed stream. All these structures were apparently occupied in 

the late Eighteenth century, but some of these houses may have been built after the abandonment of 

the presidios.30 

The pattern of trash dumping in and around the presidio is significant. Trash contemporary with the 

occupation of the presidio was dumped outside the west corner entrance and in a depression about 

seventy-five meters outside the main gateway at the east side of the road to the southwestern entrance. 

The presidial troops dumped some trash outside the east corner, perhaps by throwing it over the wall. 

These are the normal dumping patterns of an operating presidio, with little or no trash being deposited 

on the interior. 

At odds with this normal pattern is a major concentration of trash found in and around the north 

bastion. Recent treasure pits here reveal that a large amount of trash was dumped within the bastion 

itself. Included are potsherds which imply that this trash was a little later than that from the normal 

trash pattern. The slightly later date, and the use of the bastion--a major defensive feature of the fort-- 

as a simple trash dump, both indicate that this material was left by people living in the presidio after 

its abandonment. 

The dumping of trash within the northern bastion at San Carlos probably dated from the caretaker 

period, with some additions by travellers and squatters over later years. Similar dumping probably 

occurred at San Vicente, but the principal dump area here was into the deep gully next to the Casa del 

Capitan. Such a convenient disposal method probably was continued in use, with the result that the 

military occupation dump is under the later material. 

Similarities between San Vicente and San Carlos 

The similarities in plan between San Vicente and San Carlos are striking. San Vicente is essentially a 

distorted version of San Carlos. Both have the same length and width, measuring along the walls, and 

the Casa del Cavitan is about the same size in each. The exterior faces of the bastions at San Carlos 

average thirty-three meters (one hundred and eight feet) as compared to San Vicente's twenty-six meters 

(eighty-five feet), but the flanking faces of the San Vicente bastions average about fourteen meters 
8 Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Capitulo 2 

El presidio es casi cuadrado, con costados que varian de ciento veintiseis metros y media (415 pies) a ciento 

treinta y un metros (430 pies) de longitud. Esth orientado a mod0 de que el norte ge~gr~co pase a lo largo 

del diagonal. Hay dos bastiones romboides, uno en la esquina a1 norte y el otro en el sur. Cada bastibn tiene 

plataformas terrizas macizas en 10s hgulos, probablemente para las posiciones de caiiones. Los vestigios del 

Capith esth en el muro del noreste, y la capilla esth en el muro del noroeste. Las paredes de la capilla se 

alzan a un promedio de cinco metros (corno dieciseis pies) de altura. La entrada principal esta en el muro del 

sudoeste y se centra sobre la entrada a la Casa del Capithn. Hubo una entrada secundaria en la esquina al 

poniente que pruduce un plan en esta hrea semejante a la de la esquina al norte de San Vicente. En realidad, 

el plan de San Carlos es muy semejante en la mayoria de 10s aspectos al de San Vicente, con la excepcibn de 

que el plan ha sido turnado como 45' y torcido a un romboide. 

Hubo un grupo de estrucuras pequeiias como a ciento viente metros (corno cuatro cientos pies) afuera de 10s 

muros de San Carlos a un lado del camino original el que hubiera dado a la entrada principal. Las trazas de 

varias estructuras se pueden reconocer generalmente, y la cerhica desparramada por todo el Area indica que 

10s edificios estaban en uso a1 mismo tiempo que el presidio. El Dr. Gerald hizo la sugerencia de que estos 

pudieron haber sido la vivienda para la familia de un soldado presidial. 

El Dr. Gerald encontrb otros dos grupos de vestigios del siglo dieciocho en el Area. Uno era vestigio de 

vivienda y cementerio como a cien metros al sudoeste en la orilla de la barranca. El segundo fue un vestigio 

de casa o atalaya a ochenta metros (corno dos cientos sesenta pies) al noroeste asociado con un sender0 a1 lado 

del cafibn a una corriente alimentada por un manantial. Todas estas estructuras aparentemente fueron 

ocupadas a fines del siglo dieciocho, per0 algunas de estas viviendas pudieron haber sido construi das despuCs 

del abandon0 de 10s presidios.30 

La forma en que se deshacia de la basura dentro del presidio o sus alrededores tambiCn es importante. La 

basura contemporaria de la ocupacion del presidio se descargaba afuera de la entrada en la esquina a1 oeste 

y en un hoyo como a 75 metros afuera de la entrada principal a1 lado este del camino que daba a la entrada a1 

sudoeste. Las topas presidiales vaciaban alguna basura afuera de la esquina del este, quiza tirhndola al otro lado 

del muro. Estas son las formas normales de descargar basura de un presidio en funcionamiento, con poco o 

nada de basura depositada en el interior. 

En desacuerdo con esta forma normal esth una mayor concentracibn de basura que se encuentra adentro y 

alrededor del bastibn del norte. Los recientes fosos agui nos revelan que una gran cantidad de basura se 

habia vaciado dentro el mismo bastibn. Se incluyen residuos de cerhmica que dan a entender que esta basura 

fue de poco mb tarde que la de la forma normal de basura. Esta fecha de poco mb tarde, y el uso del 

bastibn--un aspect0 defensivo del fuerte--como un simple basurero, indican que este material lo dejaron las 

gentes que vivian en el presidio despds de su abondono. 

La vaciadura de basura dentro del bastibn del norte en San Carlos probablemente se remonta a la Cpoca de 

10s celadores, con algunas adiciones por parte de viajeros y ocupantes ilegales durante 10s aiios de mas tarde. 

Es probable una semejante vaciadura ocurrib en San Vicente, per0 el Area principal de vaciadura agui fue a1 

profundo barranco prbximo a la Casa del Capithn. Es probable que este mod0 de eliminacibn, tan conveniente, 

lo siguieron usando, con el resultado de que el basurero de la ocupacibn militar esth debajo de material de mhs 

tarde. 

Semeianzas entre San Vicente v San Carlos 

Las semejanzas de plan entre San Vicente y San Carlos son impresionantes. San Vicente es esencialmente una 

versibn falseada de San Carlos. Los dos son lo mismo de anchura y longitud, midiendo a lo largo de 10s muros, 

y la Casa del Ca~ithn es de las mismas medidas en cada lado. Las fachadas de 10s bastiones en San Carlos 

tienen un promedio de treinta y tres metros (ciento ocho pies) comparhndolos con 10s veintiseis metros 

(ochenticinco pies) de San Vicente, per0 las fachadas flanqueantes de 10s bastiones de San Vicente tienen un 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 2 9 

(forty-six feet) as compared to San Carlos's eleven meters (thirty-six feet). The bastions at both 

presidios have massive earthen platforms in their corners, probably for cannon. Actual wall length at 

San Vicente was about twenty meters (sixty-six feet) longer on each side than at San Carlos, but the 

total length of wall with barracks was perhaps sixty-five meters (two hundred and thirteen feet) less, 

because of the sections of wall with no apparent barracks. The width of the barracks was about five 

meters (16.4 feet) at San Vicente as compared to seven (twenty-three feet) at San Carlos. The church 

at San Vicente was smaller than at San Carlos, seventeen meters (fifty-six feet) by six meters (twenty 

feet) compared to twenty-two meters (seventy-two feet) by nine meters (29 112 feet). 

Other details of similarity are also of interest. Gerald found stone foundation beneath some sections 

of adobe wall at San Carlos, similar to sections at San vicenteP1 Some main exterior wall corners 

at both presidios have stone reinforcing or buttressing. Of greatest interest was the survival into this 

century of the probable church walls, to heights of nearly three meters (ten feet) at both presidios. 

Since the church walls appear to have been no more substantial than the other presidial walls, this 

survival argues that the churches were kept in good repair for some time after the abandonment of the 

remainder of the presidial complexes. This is evidence for some civilian occupation of the area in the 

eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. 
9 Presidios del Area de Big Bend: Capitulo 2 

promedio de catorce metros (cuarentiseis pies) comparhdolos con 10s once metros (treintiseis pies) de San 

Carlos. Los bastiones de 10s presidios tienen plataformas terrizas macivas en sus esquinas, probablemente para 

10s caiiones. La longitud read del muro en San Vicente es de como veinte metros (sesentiseis pies) m6s largo 

en cada lado que en San Carlos, per0 la longitud total de muro con cuarteles fue de quizi sesenticinco metros 

(dos cientos trece pies) menos, debido a las secciones de muro sin aparentes cuarteles. La anchura de 10s 

cuarteles era de como cinco metros (16.4 pies) en San Vicente comparhdola con la de siete metros (veintitres 

pies) en San Carlos. La iglesia en San Vicente era mhs chica que en San Carlos, diecisiete metros (cincuenta 

y seis pies) por seis metros (veinte pies) comparhdola con veintidos metros (setenta y dos pies) por nueve 

metros (viente nueve pies y media). 

Otros detalles de semejanza tambikn son de interks. Gerald encontr6 cimientos de piedra debajo de algunas 

secciones de muro de adobe en San Carlos, semejantes a las secciones en San ~icente.~~ Algunas esquinas-de 

paredes exteriores principales en 10s dos presidios tienen armaz6n de piedra. De m6s grande interks fue la 

supe~vencia hasta este siglo de 10s probables muros de la iglesia, hasta alturas de casi tres metros (diez pies) 

en 10s dos presidios. Como 10s muros de la iglesis parecen haber estado no m6s solidos que 10s otros muros 

presidiales, esta supervivencia sostiene de que las iglesias las mantuvieron en buenas condiciones por un tiempo 

despuks del abandon0 del resto de 10s conjuntos presidiales. Esto es evidencia para alguna ocupaci6n civil del 

kea en 10s siglos dieciocho y diecinueve. 
Chapter 3 

Significance of the Presidios 

The government of New Spain settled the northern areas of Mexico through the use of missions, civil 

settlements, and presidios. Successful development of a given area required all three institutions. The 

Spanish effort to expand and protect settlement in the American Southwest produced a defensive line 

of presidios from California to the Gulf of Mexico. The two presidios included in this study formed part 

of that lime. 

The recommendations of the Marquks de Rubi in 1768 resulted in the construction of San Vicente and 

San Carlos presidios. Unrest among Native Americans along the frontier and among Hispanics born 

in the New World, both reacting to what they considered the oppressive attitudes of the European-based 

government, had produced volatile conditions along the northern borderlands. Rubi's recommendations 

for major changes in the political and military structure established a more defensive and centrally 

controlled posture along the northern frontier. The new presidios directly affected the relationship 

between the governments of New Spain and the United States and contributed to the political and 

military conflict of the early nineteenth century which led to United States expansion into the American 

Southwest. 

Time and human activity have damaged or destroyed the majority of the presidios built as a result of 

the Regulations of 1772. Because Governor-General Hugo O'Conor placed them in an almost 

uninhabitable area of the frontier, San Vicente and San Carlos have survived virtually undisturbed, 

beyond the loss of the roofs and upper walls. Such minimal disturbance makes the two presidios 

extremely important as archeological sites. They probably contain the best available archeological record 

of the engineering methods, the architecture, and the economics of typical frontier presidios after 1772. 

The daily life of the presidia1 soldier and his family would be recorded here, too. 

Very few presidios have been excavated, and no complete historical and archeological study of a presidio 

has been carried out. The investigation of these two presidios would produce historical and cultural 

information of unequalled importance for the understanding of military life in the late Colonial period. 
Capitulo 3 

La Importancia de Los Presidios 

El gobierno de la Nueva Espaiia colonizb las Ceas del norte de Mexico por medio de misiones, poblaciones 

civiles y presidios. Eran necesarias las tres instituciones para el desarrollo exitoso de ciertas Ceas. El esfuerzo 

espaiiol para expandir y proteger 10s poblados en el sudoeste americano produjo una li nea defensiva para 10s 

presidios desde California hasta el Golfo de MCxico. Los dos presidios que se incluyeron en este estudio 

formaron parte de esa linea. 

Las recomendaciones del Marquks de Rubi en 1768 resultaron en la construccibn de San Vicente y San Carlos. 

Se produjeron condiciones explosivas a causa de las inquietudes entre 10s nativo americanos a lo largo de la 

frontera, asi como entre 10s hispanos nacidos en el Nuevo Mundo, reaccionando 10s dos grupos a lo que 

consideraban attitudes opresivas par parte del gobierno con sede en Europa. Las recomendaciones de Rubi 

para cambios mayores en la estructura poll tica y militar establecieron una postura mhs defensiva y centralmente 

controlada a lo largo de la frontera del norte. Los nuevos presidios afectaron directamente a las relaciones entre 

10s gobiernos de la Nueva Espaiia y 10s Estados Unidos, y contribuyeron al conflict0 politico y militar del 

principio del siglo diecinueve que dio a la expansibn Estadounidense hacia el Sudoeste Americana. 

La andada del tiempo y la actividad humana han daiiado o destruido la mayoria de 10s presidios construidos 

como resultado de 10s Reglamentos de 1772. San Vicente y San Carlos han sobrevivido virtualmente inalterados, 

ademh de la perdida de techos y muros superiores. Por estas alteraciones mi nimas, 10s dos presidios se han 

hecho extremadamente importantes como sitios arqueolbgicos. Es probable que contengan el mejor registro 

arqueol6gico de 10s mbtodos de ingenieria, arquitectura, y economia de 10s tipicos presidios fronterizos 

despuCs de 1772. La vida cotidiana del soldado presidia1 y su familia debia ser registrada aqui tambibn. 

Muy pocos presidios han sido excavados, y no se ha heco ningiin estudio completo de historia o arqueologia 

de un presidio. La investigaci6n de estos dos presidios produciria informacibn histbrica y cultural de 

importancia sin igual para la comprensibn de la vida militar a fmes de la Cpoca colonial. 
Chapter 4 

Recommendations 

Archeoloeical and Historical Research 

To conduct an investigation of the presidios of San Carlos and San Vicente, the Park Service should 

assemble a research team of historians, architects, and historical archeologists. This team should carry 

out all the research and interpretation dealing with the sites. Such a multidisciplined team working on 

the project from beginning to end would produce far more information than could be gained from a 

series of separate research projects. All the personnel involved in a single research project would know 

most of the details of what was being found and would include consideration of it in their ongoing work. 

At the same time each could suggest new ideas or approaches which another discipline might not have 

thought of. This would result in a more creative and comprehensive research project. Moreover, the 

final report would be an integration of all available information, rather than a series of separate, possibly 

conflicting reports with no synthesis or clear conclusions. 

The team should conduct an initial period of detailed historical and ethnohistorical research before any 

archeology is done. Historical research would involve examination of records in the principal collections 

in Mexico City and probably into local archives in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. 

The need for additional research in archives in Spain is very likely. 

Ethnohistorical studies should be conducted at the same time, since both historical and ethnohistorical 

research will utilize much of the same documentary material. Such topics as military lifeways, 

interaction with local Indian groups, the effects of the presidios on intergroup relationships among 

Indians, and land use and settlement patterns, if any, around the presidios might be studied. 

The team would use the results of historical and ethnohistorical research to prepare a research design 

for archeology. During excavations the same research results would aid in the understanding and 

interpretation of structural and cultural features in the ground. Testing would probably raise several 

unanticipated historical and ethnohistorical questions, so that provisions for follow-up research should 

be made. 

It is strongly recommended that a cultural anthropological study of the modern village of San Vicente 

be made prior to any onsite activity. The effects of the work and an increased flow of visitors from both 

sides of the border on the local economy should be anticipated and steps taken to minimize adverse 

effects. Such planning is not possible without a cultural analysis of the village. No such study is 

suggested for San Carlos because the development of the nearby presidio is unlikely to have adverse 

effects. At San Vicente, however, the enclosure of the site would require the removal of some local 

citizens and a change in the route of the principal road to the interior. These impacts could result in 

some ill feeling. In addition, the villagers of San Vicente would be exposed to a much higher visitor 

flow than they presently experience, and this would have strong effects on the life and culture of the 

village. Whether these effects were positive or negative would depend on the preparations made in 

advance and the rate of visitation. Such a disruption of the lives of these people should be very carefully 

considered before it is begun. 

The research team should conduct archeological investigations following the rule of maximum 

information returned for least disturbance to the site. Remote sensing procedures would be used first. 

These include a detailed aerial photographic recording of the sites at low-light angles and with infrared 
Capitulo 4 

Recomendaciones 

Investieacibn Araueolbgica e Histbrica 

Para realizar un estudio de 10s presidios de San Vicente y San Carlos, la Administracibn de Parques debe reunir 

un equipo de investigacibn compuesto de historiadores, arquitectos, y arqueblogos histbricos 10s que deben 

llevar a cab0 el estudio e interpretacibn de dichos sitios. Tal equipo interdisciplinario laborando en el proyecto 

de principio a fm, produciria mk information que la que se podria lograr de una serie de proyectos de 

investigacibn por separado, pues el personal comprometido en un solo esfuerzo de estudio estaria al tanto de 

casi todos 10s detalles de lo que se iba encontrando incluyendo tomhndolo en cuenta en su trabajo en desarrollo. 

A la vez, cada quien podria sugerir nuevos conceptos o planteamientos, mismos que no habrian sido 

considerados por otras disciplinas. El resultado serf a un proyecto de investigacibn mk amplio y productivo. 

Adembs, el informe fmal seria la integracibn de todos 10s datos disponibles, en vez de una serie de informes 

separados, qukd hasta en conflicto, sin sintesis ni claras decisiones. 

Los colaboradores deben dirigir un period0 inicial de estudio histbrico y etnohistbrico detallado antes de que 

se hagan trabajos de arqueologia. Ese estudio histbrico trataria de la inspeccibn de registros en las principales 

colecciones en la Ciudad de MCxico, y probablemente en 10s arhivos locales en el norte de MCxico y en el 

sudoeste de Estados Unidos. Es muy probable tambib que se requiera investigacibn adicional de 10s archivos 

en Espafia. 

Los estudios etnohistbricos deben realizarse a la misma vez, ya que tanto el estudio histbico como el 

etnohistbrico utilizarhn mucho del mismo material documental. Se pueden estudiar temas sobre la vida del 

militar, interaccibn con grupos de indios locales, 10s efectos de 10s presidios sobre relaciones entre esos grupos, 

asi como el us de 10s terrenos y normas de asentamientos, si 10s hubo, alrededor de 10s presidios. 

El conjunto usaria 10s resultados del estudio histbrico y etnohistbrico con el propbsito de preparar un disefio 

de estudio para la arqueologia. Durante las excavaciones 10s mismos resultados de estudio ayudarian en la 

omprensibn e interpretacibn de 10s aspectos estructurales y culturales en la tierra. La puesta de todo esto a 

prueba probablemente plantearia problemas histbicos y etnohistbicos no anticipados, por lo tanto deben 

tomarse medidas para el estudio de continuacibn. . 

Se recomienda enkrgicamente la realizacibn de un estudio cultural antropolbgico del pueblo actual de San 

Vicente antes de iniciar ninguna actividad en 10s recintos presidiales. Los efectos de las labores y un crecido 

flujo de visitantes de ambos lados de la frontera sobre la economia vecinal deben anticiparse tomando las 

medidas necesarias para reducir efectos desfavorables. No es posible tal planificacibn sin un afialisis cultural 

del pueblo, y no se recomienda tal estudio para San Carlos porque el desarrollo del presidio prbximo no se 

espera que tenga efectos desfavorables. No obstante en San Vicente, el cercamiento del recinto requeriria el 

traslado de algunos ciudadanos locales y el cambio de la ruta del camino principal hacia al interior. Estos 

impactos pudieran resultar en sentimientos heridos. Adembs, 10s aldeanos de San Vicente se encontrarian 

expuestos a un flujo de turistas mbs alto que el que experimentan en la actualidad, lo que causaria efectos 

marcados en la vida cotidiana y cultural del pueblo. De que estos efectos sean positivos o negativos dependeria 

de la preparacibn hecha de ante mano y el ritmo de visitacibn. Tal interrupcibn de las vidas de estas gentes 

se debe tomar en cuenta antes de empezar. 

El grupo investigador debe realizar investigaciones arqueolbgicas obedeciendo la regla de mhxima informacibn 

con el minimo disturbio sobre el recinto. Se usarian procedimientos de sensores remotos al principio, mismos 

que comprendan una grabacibn fot~gr~ca aCrea detallada de 10s sitios en bngulos de luz baja y con pelicula 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 4 12 

film. A large-scale topographic map would be made of each site and the surrounding region, with 

contour intervals of fifteen centimeters (about six inches) in the area of the presidio itself and thirty 

centimeters (about one foot) elsewhere. A complete magnetometer survey should also be made after 

clearing modern metal debris from the sites. At the same time, an intensive surface survey of the region 

around each presidio should be carried out. All structural sites, roads, and field traces should be plotted 

on the topographic maps. 

The team should test selected areas of the presidios and their associated sites by excavation only after 

full evaluation of the historical research and remote sensing mapping has been completed and only if 

the team believes it necessary. Testing should be conducted to answer specific questions about the plan, 

structure, or cultural content of the sites that can be answered in no other way. For example, the team 

could place units to determine whether a given spot was the location of the main gateway, and if so, how 

it was built, used, and changed through time. The random uncovering of large areas of the site without 

specific goals to be accomplished by this work would be wasteful of time and destructive to irreplaceable 

archeological resources. 

Any excavation plan should, therefore, have a clearly defined, comprehensive research design. Test 

excavations should look not only for details of plan or construction method and historic events, but also 

for cultural information about the lifeways of the military and nonmilitary occupants of the presidios. 

Such detailed studies as the analysis of pollen, animal bone, and human feces should be included in the 

research design. Even with clear research goals, excavations that opened major areas of the sites should 

be avoided. Permanently uncovering large sections of walls and floors made of adobe would lead to 

certain loss of the exposed fabric. In addition, the maintenance of the exposed structures would be 

prohibitively expensive. 

If the team elected to conduct large-area excavations, they should leave major areas of each site 

unexcavated. Such a method would reduce the cost and length of time of the excavations and would 

considerably lessen the problems and expense of stabilization and maintenance. It would also be 

particularly instructive to visitors who would be able to make a direct visual comparison between the 

site as it was before excavation and as it appeared after excavation. This would permit the interpretation 

of the sites as ongoing archeological studies. Visitors rarely get the opportunity to contrast the before 

and after conditions of a given structure or area. 

Stabilization of the sites after any large-area excavation would be an especially difficult problem. 

Because delicate walls and floor surfaces would be exposed to the weather by the archeology, 

stabilization would have to begin immediately after excavation. Provisions for the drainage of individual 

rooms and areas of the sites would also have to be planned and installed as part of the excavation 

procedure. The maintenance of the stabilized adobe would probably require the application of 

continuous labor and money. It could require constant recapping of walls with modern adobes, as is 

done at Pecos and Fort Union National Monuments. Regardless of the technique used, however, the 

eventual loss of exposed adobe walls and floors to time and the elements is certain. A good 

compromise between the need to excavate large areas to retrieve information and the need to protect 

the site from weather and vandalism lies in the use of backfilling. All but selected interpretive areas 

must be refilled after investigation, allowing the retrieval of data from the site while minimizing 

maintenance and loss of historic fabric. 

Visitor Potential 

The sites of San Vicente and San Carlos are very difficult to reach. This would reduce the potential 

visitor traffic to a low level. Perhaps the best arrangement would be guided tours in a park vehicle or 

on horseback, with some provision for permits and maps to be issued to visitors with the appropriate 
Presidios del Area de Big Bend: CapItulo 4 

infrarroja. Se haria un mapa topogrhfico de gran escala de cada sitio y de la regibn circundante, con distancias 

verticales de quince centimetros (corno seis pulgadas) en el kea del presidio mismo, y treinta centimetros 

(corno seis pulgadas) en el Area del presidio mismo, y treinta centimetros (corno un pie) en otras partes. Debe 

hacerse tambiCn una inspeccibn magnetombtrica despuCs de remover escombros de metal modern0 de 10s 

recintos. TambiCn, a la misma vez debe realiirse una inspeccibn concentrada de la superficie de la regibn 

alrededor de cada presidio. Todo emplazamiento estructural, caminos y seiiales de campo deben ser marcados 

en mapas topogrhficos. 

El equipo debe probar Areas escogidas de 10s presidios y sus sitios asociados por medio de excavaciones, per0 

no antes de una completa evaluacibn del estudio histbrico o de que la trazada sensoria remota se haya llevado 

a cab0 y siempre y cuando lo crean necesario 10s investigadores. Las pruebas deben hacerse con el propbsito 

de contestar preguntas especificas sobre el plan, estructura, o el contenido cultural de 10s locales que no se 

puedan contestar de otra manera. Por ejemplo, el equipo podria colocar unidades para determinar si un dado 

sitio era el local del medio de acceso, y si lo fue, como se construyb, como se usb, y como fue cambiado con 

10s aiios. El descubrimiento al azar de grandes Areas del local sin fines especificos a realizarse por medio de 

esta labor seria derrocha de tiempo y destruyente de recursos arqueolbgicos irremplazables. 

Asi es que cualquier plan de excavacibn deberia tener un disefio de estudio amplio claramente definido. Las 

excavaciones de prueba deben buscar no solo detalles de plan y construccibn y eventos histbricos sin6 

informacibn cultural sobre la vida cotidiana de militares y residentes de 10s presidios no militares. El plan de 

investigacibn debe incluir tales estudios detallados como el anidisis del polen, hueso de animal, y la materia fecal 

humana. Ah con claras finalidades de investigacibn, se deben evitar excavaciones que abrieron keas 

principales de 10s locales. La destapadura permanente de grandes partes de muros y pisos hechos de adobe, 

resultaria en una segura pCrdida de la fhbrica en descubierto. Ademhs, el mantenimiento de las estructuras 

expuestas seria costoso hasta en grado prohibitivo. 

Si el equipo optara por dirigir excavaciones en espacios grandes, deberian dejarse keas principales de cada 

local sin excavar. Tal medio reduciria el costo y el lapso del tiempo de las excavaciones reduciendo tambiCn 

considerablemente 10s problemas y el gasto de estabilizacibn y mantenimiento. Seria tambikn particularmente 

educativo para 10s visitantes 10s que podrian hacer una directa comparacibn visual entre el local antes de la 

excavacibn y como se vib despuCs de la excavacibn. Esto haria conveniente la interpretacibn como estudio 

arqueolbgico continuo. Los visitantes rara ves tienen la oportunidad de contrastar las condiciones del "antes 

y el despuCsV de una cierta estructura o Area. 

La estabilizacihn de sitios despuks de una excavacibn en grandes hreas seria particularmente un problema 

deficil, ya que 10s delicados muros y la superficie de 10s suelos estarian expuestos a la interperie por la 

arqueologf a, la establizacibn tendria que empezar imediatamente despuCs de la excavacibn. Se deben tomar 

medidas para el desagiie de piezas y keas particulars de 10s sitios, instalhdolos como parte del procedimiento 

de excavacibn. El mantenimiento del adobe estabilizado probablemente necesitari a trabajo y dinero continuo. 

Podria tambiCn requerir el recubrimiento constante de 10s muros con adobe nuevo tal y como se hace en 10s 

monumentos nacionales de Pecos y Fort Union. No obstante, sin considear las tCcnicas que se usarian, esth 

segura la pCrdida subsequiente de 10s muros y suelos de adobe descubiertos con la andada del tiempo y las 

fuerzas de la naturaleza. Una buena concesibn entre la necesidad de excavar grandes keas para desenterrar 

informacibn y la necesidad de proteger el sitio del tiempo y vandalism0 estriba en volver a llenar la excavacibn. 

Se deben rellenar todas las hreas despuCs de la investigation ~ermitiendo el desenterro de datos del sitio 

mientras que se reduce a1 minimo el mantenimiento y la perdida de la fabrica historica. 

Potencial de Visitacibn 

Es dificil la llegada a 10s sitios de San Vicente y San Carlos. Esto reduciria la potencialidad visitante a un nivel 

bajo. Tal vez la mejor disposici6n serian recorridos dirigidos en un vehiculo del parque o a caballo con alguna 

medida para expedir permisos y mapas a 10s visitantes con transportaci6n apropiada. Con la falta de personal 
Presidios of the Big Bend Area: Chapter 4 13 

transportation. In the absence of permanent staff on each site, their protection from vandalism would 

be a major problem. The sites, including nearby house ruins, should be enclosed by a fence. Probably 

the best arrangement would be for visitors to have access to the sites only in the presence of an official 

interpreter, similar to the system presently in use at Canyon de Chelley or Navajo National Monuments. 

The rough terrain and the problems associated with travel in the area should be pointed out to the 

visitor, so that awareness of the difficulties handled daily by presidial soldiers and the modern citizens 

of the area would be part of the visitor's experience. 

A~~roaches to Interpretation 

The Natural Environment: Following the long-standing "natural park orientation of Big Bend, Man 

against Environment is an obvious theme. The visitor would not only see the natural environment of 

the area around the presidios, but would see how people deal with this environment today at the villages 

of San Vicente and San Carlos, and how they dealt with it in the 1770s at the presidios. As a corollary, 

Man Environment could be a theme, whereby the visitor may see how the interaction of human 

behavior and the environment produces changes in each. If land use and settlement patterns could be 

determined from the research, they should be included in the interpretation of this theme. 

The Spanish and the Indians: The purpose of the presidios was defense, principally against Indians. 

This theme--the long struggle between Spanish forces and the Native Americans of the north--should 

receive a strong presentation. A "good-guyhad-guy" approach does not properly present the historical 

reality. All persons who visit the sites, including the descendants of these same Native Americans, 

should leave with a clear appreciation of the nature of the conflict. This would require an honest and 

balanced presentation of the Indian opposition as well as the offensive and defensive purposes of the 

presidio. 

Presidial Life: The presidial soldier is almost unknown to the average American and probably to the 

average Mexican. Even among historians and archeologists of the Southwest he has received little 

attention. A strong depiction of daily life in a presidio--based on historical, ethnohistorical, and 

archeological research--would be of primary importance among the themes presented at the sites. 

Other themes are also of potential interest, providing research finds enough information to present 

them. For example, are any of the local settlers descendants of presidial soldiers or of the Indians they 

fought against? What was the contribution of the presidio system to local settlement, if any? Was the 

realignment of the frontier presidios carried out in 1772 a success or a failure? Other topics would 

suggest themselves as research progressed. 

Government Liaison 

An interpretive site established at Presidio San Vicente and Presidio San Carlos through international 

cooperation offers numerous potential benefits to the United States and Mexico. Among them are the 

promotion of understanding and sympathy between the citizens of the two nations and an increased 

appreciation in both peoples for the life and work, hopes and fears, successes and failures of those who 

came before them. These two benefits alone are of inestimable worth. The presidio sites easily have 

the potential to convey such experiences to their visitors; all that remains is to make that potential into 

a reality. 
13 Presidios del Area de Big Bend: CapItulo 4 

permanente en cada sitio, su proteccibn contra el vandalismo seria un problema mayor. Los sitios, inclusive 

10s vestigios cercanos de las casas, deben estar cercados. Probablemente el mejor arreglo seria que 10s 

visitantes tuvieran acceso a1 local solo en la presencia de un interprete oficial, semejante al sistema usado 

actualmente en Canyon de Chelley o el Monumento Nacional Navajo. El terreno escabroso y 10s problemas del 

transporte en el hrea se le debe hacer saber al visitante para que enterindose de las dificultades que 

enfrentaron 10s soldados presidiales a diario y 10s habitantes actuales del hrea, sea parte de la experiencia del 

visitante. 

Acercamiento a la Intervretacibn 

El Medio Ambiente Natural: Siguiendo la duradera orientacibn "parque natural" de Big Ben, El Hombre Contra 

El Medio Ambiente es un tema obvio. El visitante no solo podria ver el ambiente natural del hrea alrededor 

de 10s presidios sin6 que podria ver como el pueblo tiene que habCrselas con el medio ambiente en las aldeas 

de San Vicente y San Carlos, y tambiCn como lo enfrentaban en 10s presidios en la dCcada de 1770. Como 

consecuencia natural, El Hombre y El Medio Ambiente, podria ser un tema por medio del cud el visitante 

veria como la interaccibn del funcionamiento humano y el medio ambiente produce cambios en cada uno. Si 

de la investigacibn se pudieran establecer ejemplos del uso de tieras y asentamiento, deberian incluirse en la 

interpretacibn del tema. 

Los Espaiioles y Los Indios: El propbsito de 10s presidios era la defensa, principalmente contra 10s indios. Este 

tema--la lucha de largos aiios entre fuerzas espaiiolas y 10s indigenas del norte--debe recibir una buena 

presentacibn. La propuesta del "hombre buenothombre malo" no presenta la realidad hist6rica propiamente. 

Todas las personas que visitan 10s sitios, inclusive 10s descendientes de estos mismos nativos americanos, deben 

partir con una clara critica de la naturaleza del conflicto. Esto requeriria una sincera y mesurada presentacibn 

de la oposicibn indigena asi como 10s propbitos defensivos y ofensivos del presidio. 

La Vida Presidial: La vida del soldado presidial es casi desconocida por parte del americano comhn y 

probablement tambiCn del mexicano comh. Este soldado ha recibido muy poca atencibn hasta entre 10s 

historiadores y arqueblogos. Seria de suma importancia entre 10s temas que se presentan en 10s sitios, una 

fuerte representacibn de la vida cotidiana en un presidio--basada en la investigacibn histbrica, etnohistbrica y 

arqueolbgica. 

Hay tambiCn otros temas de inter& potencial, con tal que la investigacibn encuentre suficiente informacibn 

para presentarlos. Por ejemplo, t Son algunos pobladores locales descendientes de soldados presidiales o de 

10s indios con quen pelearon? LQue fue la aportacibn por parte del sistema presidial a1 poblado local, si la 

hubo? tFue Cxito o fracas0 la realinacibn de 10s presidios fronterizos realizados en 1772? Oros tbpicos 

vendrian a la mente seen el progreso de la investigacibn. 

Coordinacibn Gubernamental 

Un local interpretativo establecido en el presidio de San Vicente y en el presidio de San Carlos por medio de 

cooperacibn international, ofrece beneficios potenciales para Estados Unidos y MCxico. Entre estos hay la 

promocibn del entendimiento y la armoni a entre 10s ciudadanos de 10s dos paises y un creciente aprecio por 

parte de 10s dos pueblos por la vida y trabajo, las esperanzas y ansiedades, Cxitos y fracasos de aguellos que 10s 

precedieron. Estos dos beneficios solos son de un valor inestimable. Los sitios presidiales muy fhcil tienen el 

potencial para impartir tal experiencia a sus visitantes; y todo lo que resta es hacer ese potencial una realidad. 
Bibliography 

Manuscripts 

Alex, Tom. Aerial Photographs; September and November, 1984. 

Gerald, Rex. Field Journal. 1961. Sketch map in Journal, p. 53, taken from C. R. Steen and Hal 

Broderick 1953 ms. Notes on sketch map by R. E. Gerald 1961; additional notes added by 

Gerald September 10, 1969. 

Medina, Don Roque de, and Don Eugenio Fernandes to Don Hugo O'Conor, May 14,1773. Archivo 

General de Indies, Sevilla, 104-6-15, p. 3-4. Dunn transcripts, Barker Archives, the University 

of Texas at Austin. 

O'Conor, Hugo, "Lista de 10s Officiales," April 17,1777, and "Estado que manefiesta la fuerza efectiva," 

July 22, 1777. Old Spanish Missions Historical Research Library Microfdms, roll 33, Archivo 

Franciscano, Departmento de Manuscriptos de la Biblioteca Nacional de Mexico, frames 20-28, 

Our Lady of the Lake University Library, San Antonio, Texas. 

Rogers, Jerry, Associate Director, Cultural Resources, National Park Service, to Robert Kerr, Regional 

Director, Southwest Region, National Park Service. "San Vicente (1773-1781) Archeological 

Site," January 12, 1984. 

Printed Materials 

Brinckerhoff, Sidney B. and Odie B. Faulk. Lancers for the King: A Studv of the Frontier Military 

System of Northern New Spain. With a Translation of the Roval Regulations of 1772. Phoenix: 

Arizona Historical Foundation, 1965. 

Garcia, Luis Navarro. Don Jose de Galvez v la Comandancia General de las Provincias Internas del 

Norte de Nueva Espaiia. Sevilla: Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos de Sevilla, 1964. 

Gerald, Rex. Spanish Presidios of the Late Eighteenth Century in Northern New Spain. Museum of 

New Mexico Research Records, No. 7. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1968. 

Gbmez, Arthur R. A Most Sinrmlar Countr~: A History of Occupation in the Bie Bend. Provo: 

Scholarly publications, 1991. 

Moorhead, Max L. The Presidio. Bastion of the Spanish Borderlands. Norman: University of 

Oklahoma Press, 1975. 

-. The Apache Frontier: Jacobo Ugarte and Spanish-Indian Relations in Northern New Spain, 

1769-1791. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1968. 

O'Conor, Hugo. Informe de Hugo de O'Conor Sobre el Estado de las Provincias Internas del Norte, 

1771-76. Mexico: Editorial Cultura, 1952. 
NOTES 

1. Associate Director, Cultural Resources Jerry Rogers to Regional Director, Southwest Region Robert 

Kerr, "San Vicente (1773-1781) Archeological Site," January 12, 1984. 

2. Rex Gerald, Suanish Presidios of the Late Eighteenth Centurv in Northern New S~ain, Museum of 

New Mexico Research Records, No. 7 (Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1968). 

3. Rex Gerald, Field Journal, page 52, April 29 and 30, 1961. Sketch map in Journal. p. 53, taken from 

C. R. Steen and Hal Broderick 1953 ms. Notes on sketch map by R. E. Gerald 1961; additional notes 

added by Gerald September 10, 1969. 

4. A copy of the plan was eventually located in the files of the Southwest Regional Office. 

5. Max L. Moorhead, The Presidio. Bastion of the S~anish Borderlands (Norman: University of 

Oklahoma Press, 1975), pp. 48-54. 

6. Ibid., pp. 56-63. 

7. A translation of the Regulations is available in Sidney B. Brinckerhoff and Odie B. Faulk, Lancers 

for the King: A Studv of the Frontier Militarv Svstem of Northern New Spain, With a Translation of 

the Roval Regulations - of 1772, (Phoenix: Arizona Historical Foundation, 1965); see also Moorhead, 

The Presidio, pp. 64-68. 

8. Gerald, Spanish Presidios, pp. 7-8, 37, 39. 

9. Luis Navarro Garcia, Don Jose de Galvez v la Comandancia General de las Provincias Internas del 

Norte de Nueva Espaiia, (Sevilla: Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos de Sevilla, 1964), p. 221. 

10. Don Roque de Medina and Don Eugenio Fernandes to Don Hugo O'Conor, May 14, 1773. 

Included in Don Hugo O'conor to Viceroy Antonio Bucareli y Ursua, June 26, 1773, "Diario de 

Operaciones, April 24 - May 9,1773." Archivo General de Indies. Guadalajara 514. Typescript in Dunn 

transcripts, Archives, Eugene Barker Library, the University of Texas at Austin. 

11. Ibid., p. 9. 

12. Garcia, Comandancia General, p. 233. 

13. Moorhead and Gerald think that the occupation occurred in the summer of 1773. Moorhead, 

The Presidio, p. 70; Gerald, Spanish Presidios, p. 39. 

14. Garcia, Comandancia General, p. 235. 

15. Hugo O'Conor, Lista de 10s Officiales, April 17,1777, and Estado aue manefiesta la fuerza efectiva, 

July 22, 1777, in Old Spanish Missions Historical Research Library Microfilms, roll 33, Archivo 

Franciscano, Departmento de Manuscriptos de la Biblioteca Nacional de Mexico, frames 20-28, Our 

Lady of the Lake University Library, San Antonio, Texas. 

16. Moorhead, The Presidio, pp. 189-191. 

17. Ibid., pp. 182-183, Brinckerhoff and Faulk, Lancers, p. 44. 
18. Moorhead, The Presidios, pp. 192-193. 

19. Hugo O'Conor, Informe de Hugo de O'Conor Sobre el Estado de las Provincias Internas del Norte, 

1771-76, (Mexico: Editorial Cultura, 1952), p. 85. 

20. Moorhead, The Presidio, pp. 196-197. 

21. Ibid., p. 198. 

22. Garcia, Comandancia General, p. 306. 

23. Moorhead, The Presidio, p. 76. 

24. Garcia, Comandancia General, p. 306. 

25. Ibid., pp. 353, 358. 

26. Max L. Moorhead, The A~ache Frontier: Jacobo Ugarte and S~anish-Indian Relations in Northern 

New Spain. 1769-1791 (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1968), p. 215. 

27. This was the Caballero de 10s Olivos family, which had a residence near San Vicente presidio until 

they moved to Mexico City just before 1777. Moorhead, The Presidio, p. 200. 

28. Jacai construction consists of vertical posts set into a trench and then coated with adobe. 

29. Tom Alex, Aerial Photographs, September and November, 1984. 

30. Gerald, Spanish Presidios, p. 38. 

31. Ibid.