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Military Service Records 171 Document 35 Commission as Lieutenant Captain General in Campaign Santa Fe, October 28, 16781 Don Antonio de Otermín, governor and captain general of the kingdom and provinces of New Mexico for His Majesty, etc. I have created a detachment and active army of fifty soldiers [to serve as] mounted harquebusiers, and four hundred Christian Indians [armed] with bows and arrows, both of which were enlisted to accompany me to inflict punishment and just war on the infidel enemy Indians, the Apache nation of the mountain ranges of the west.2 In order to restrain their insolence, their crimes and atrocities have been punished in the general destruction inflicted upon them by my order, which resulted in the death of some of them and the capture of others. Nevertheless, adding crimes, they lay in ambush at the Peñol de San Esteban de Acoma where they destroyed some sowing, killed an Indian, and attempted to destroy the said pueblo and stronghold. They have committed other ravages in other jurisdictions, atrociously killing the settled Indians on the roads and trails; and their audacity and shamelessness have extended so far that they carried off seven animals from this villa, there being nothing safe from the said enemies. All these crimes demand severe punishment , and for this reason, seeking the greatest services of God, our Lord, and of His Majesty, I arranged to go forth in person to execute the necessary reprisals; but I am ill in bed and the time appointed for the said enrollment is drawing near. Therefore, in order that so important a thing may be carried into effect, it is fitting to appoint a person in my place as my lieutenant captain general in campaign with all plenary authority to march from the plaza de armas of the pueblo of Zía in good order and military discipline to the said mountain ranges of the west of Casa Fuerte Navajo, peñoles, and other places which may seem necessary to him, attacking the said enemies with great destruction and burning all their grain supply which may be found. Because you, Maestre de Campo don Juan Domínguez de Mendoza, are well qualified for the said purpose and because I am satisfied that you will act with resolution and determination, maintaining good relations among the people who follow you so that, united and content, they may better employ themselves in the services of both Majesties; and in order that you may execute and arrange all that is necessary as if I were present, I give you as sufficient power and authority as is required by law and is necessary. And I 172 Part One order the other military commanders, retired [commanders], and encomenderos , and the Christian natives to hold, consider, esteem, and obey you as such my lieutenant captain general in campaign, and to observe, fulfill, and execute the orders which you may give them in the service of His Majesty under penalties imposed by law, for such is the will of His Majesty and mine in his royal name. You will carry out in its entirety the instruction which is given you with this, because for all of it and in order that you may bear the usual insignia and enjoy the honors, favors, privileges, and liberties which are due to you, signed by my name and sealed with the seal of my arms, and countersigned by the secretary of government and war.3 Issued in the Villa of Santa Fe on the twenty-eighth day of the month of October of the year 1678. (Seal) Don Antonio de Otermín (rubric). By the order of his lordship, Francisco Xavier, secretary of government and war (rubric). In the Villa of Santa Fe of New Mexico on the twenty-sixth day of the month of November of the year 1678, before don Antonio de Otermín, governor and captain general of this kingdom for His Majesty, this title was presented by the person mentioned in it, who asked for his honorable discharge and certification that he had served during the time the campaign lasted and fulfilled and executed the orders he received. His lordship states that the aforesaid is a very honorable soldier, valorous, and deserving that His Majesty honor him for having executed and fulfilled what he was ordered to do. He burned and destroyed more than 250 fanegas of maize, and it is public knowledge that he captured the wives and children of the...

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