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Military Service Records 179 Document 39 Commission as Lieutenant General of the Cavalry Ancón de Fray García, November 9, 16811 Don Antonio de Otermín, governor and captain general of this kingdom, provinces, and presidio of New Mexico for His Majesty, etc. At present I am on campaign in this post called the Ancón de Fray García,2 where I halted to muster and review all the armed force, horses, and other provisions in order to form squadrons, give ammunition to the soldiers, and do the other things necessary before continuing the march which by express order of His Majesty I am making to the provinces of New Mexico for the punishment, reduction, pacification, and conquest of the traitorous, rebellious Indians, apostates of the Holy Faith.3 By virtue of and in execution of the orders I have received, I have appointed officers of war and the other commanders and captains necessary; and for the better management of everything and in order that with my authority all the matters that may offer themselves in sieges, forays, incursions, and all the other dispositions which war necessitates may be attended to, it is fitting to appoint a person as my lieutenant general of the cavalry who shall possess the requisite qualities of experience, sufficiency, merits, quality and services, [and be] capable in matters of war and zealous in the service of His Majesty. These and many other [qualities] are found in you, Maestre de Campo don Juan Domínguez de Mendoza, because you have served His Majesty in those provinces for the past forty years, beginning as ordinary soldier. On account of your merits and praiseworthy services the governor, my predecessors have employed you in the posts of alférez, captain, sargento mayor, and maestre de campo, in different campaigns, also occupying you in the office of lieutenant of the governor and captain general, not to mention other civil and military duties, commissions, and other orders which have been committed to you, of which you have given a praiseworthy account, distinguishing your person to great advantage. All this is evident from your papers, patents, and other documents, to which I refer. In view of the foregoing and because on the present occasion is important to entrust to you the matters which may arise in this conquest and active war, for the present, in the name of the king, our lord, I elect, name, and appoint you as my lieutenant general of cavalry so that you may perform 180 Part One everything pertaining to the service of God and the king with the required vigilance, issuing, transmitting, and executing without restriction all [orders] that may be necessary for the great service of both Majesties. And I order the whole army to hold, consider, esteem, and obey you as such, to observe and fulfill your orders and commands under penalties imposed by law, which you will execute on the disobedient and transgressors, for such is the royal will and mine in his royal name. For which, and in order that the secretary may make this title known, and in order that you may enjoy . . . [the privileges, etc.],4 which are due you by reason of the said office and bear the usual insignia, I order the present writing issued to you, signed by my name and sealed with the seal of my arms, and countersigned by the secretary of government and war. Given in this campaign at the Ancón de Fray García on the ninth day of the month of November of the year 1681. Don Antonio de Otermín (rubric). (Seal) By order of the governor and captain general, Francisco Xavier, secretary of government and war (rubric). The lieutenant general of cavalry mentioned in this title, don Juan Domínguez de Mendoza, served this office in the campaign which by order of His Majesty I made to the provinces of New Mexico for their reduction and the conquest of the traitorous and rebellious Indians, which lasted three months and five days. During this time the said lieutenant performed everything entrusted to him with all reputation and served with all promptness and care, executing and obeying my orders as he has done in all that has been necessary in the royal service. By virtue of this he asked for honorable discharge from the post, which I gave him with the necessary military ceremonies which I performed with my own hands. And in order that it may be evident...

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