"Miquelets" like "Almogavars" were mercenary volunteers, irregular forces, engaged in combat, banditry and looting, were common during the "segadors" (harvesters) war in 1640, recruited in the Catalonian interior mountains, Miquelets took his name by the fame of its chief "Miquelot de Prats". They defended the Austrian dynasty cause against Bourbon King Philip V, fought in defense of Barcelona in 1714 and were disbanded after the city defeat.
 |
| From Encaramado a la red |
In 1762 King Carlos III in order to get more troops for the seven years war, returned again to equip troops with people of the Catalonian mountainous regions and thus the "Companyia Franca de Voluntaris de Catalunya" was formed.
In 1763 with the Paris Treaty signing. peace came and military authorities plan to send colonial troops to reinforce the defense of Havana, but finally decided it was better to send them to New Spain to defend the border of the Apaches. Between the enrolled officers were Pere Alberni and Pere Fages.
Pere Alberni i Teixidor was born in Tortosa in January 30th, 1747. in 1762 he joined the light infantry regiment with headquarters in Barcelona, then move to join the "Compañia Franca de Voluntaris de Catalunya".
Pere Fages i Beleta was born in Guissona in 1734, he study in the new university of Cervera and in 1762 was enlisted as an ensign in the "Compañía de Voluntaris de Catalunya." The Catalan volunteers left Barcelona harbour, and sailed to Cadiz in May 1767, led by their captain Agustí Callis, among his officers were Pere Alberni and Pere Fages commanded a hundred men. They reached the port of Veracruz on the Atlantic coast of Mexico and were included in the expedition of Domingo Elizondo to San Jose de Guaymas in Sonora region.
There, they were commissioned to fight against Indian tribes in Sonora Pacific coast, from Guaymas posts, and Pitic (now Pitiquito), participated in combat against Pimas and Seri Indian tribes that refused to submit to the Spanish rule, the fiercest battles took place in Cerro Prieto, north of Guaymas.
Pimas and Seri are now tribes almost extinct, only a few hundred members, living from farming or fishing.
The Seris live in two towns in the desert coast of Sonora: Desemboque, Pitiquito municipality, and Punta Chueca, municipality of Hermosillo, and Pina tribe lives among the states of Sonora and Chihuahua in the municipality of Yecora.
After the campaign the catalan company marched to Guadalajara and Mexico City. Volunteers under the command of Pere Fages were enrolled in the expedition of Gaspar de Portola, in order to colonize the Upper California, new territory discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. Two ships made the journey from La Paz, Pere Fages got in the "San Carlos", the other ship was the "San Antonio", together left La Paz in the first months of 1769 and soon were lost at sea, They took hundred ten days to reach San Diego bay, continuing overland, the expedition arrived in Los Angeles on August 2th, and reached Santa Barbara on 19th, on September 13th, they were in San Simeon, following the Salinas River arrived at San Francisco on October 31th.
The expedition began the long road back from Los Angeles to San Diego in early in 1770. In April of these year a second expedition was undertaken by sea and land, the ship "San Antonio" went by sea and Portola, Rivera, Fages and some soldiers of "Companyia de Voluntaris de Catalunya" with other regular troops came by land.
The explorers set out from San Diego following the same route as last winter and arrived in Monterrey in late May, found the cross erected last year and reached the beach to Punta Pinos, there awaited the arrival of the "San Antonio" who came by sea.
The June 3th, 1770 Gaspar de Portola native from Os de Balaguer, Pere Fages from Guissona, and the Majorcan friars Joan Crespi and Juniper Serra, founded the city of Monterrey, Portola went back to San Diego by ship, leaving Pere Fages the command, to build the "presidio".
In 1772 the catalan volunteers company, was divided into two sections, each composed with approximately 80 men, respectively commanded by Alberni and Fages.
In California, Pere Fages and the company, took care of the missions and "presidios" of San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Gabriel and others,
Fages was appointed California Military Governor, and explored around the bay of San Francisco and San Jose river valley.
In 1774 Fages he was removed from office as a consequence of having met and discussed with Juniper Serra.
In 1776 Pere Fages commanded the second company, ended his mission as military governor in California, Fages was appointed commandant of the mining district of Pachuca de Soto (100 kms. north of Mexico City) state of Hidalgo , taking care to appease the protest of the miners.
The year 1778 the volunteers went to Santa Cruz de Terrenate "presidio", overlooking San Pedro Valley, near San Agustin de Tucson in Arizona, its ruins can be seen near the present town of Tombstone. In a hundred meters square, was a church and barracks for the troops, stores and houses, with a population estimated then about 300 inhabitants.
The Apaches in their expansion towards the south had moved the Pimas tribe, the war between the Spanish and Apaches had begun in 1775, the Apaches in their attacks against missions and settlements, used to practice the surprise and ambush, taking horses, weapons and ammunition.
In July 1776 the Apaches attacked the mission of St. Madeleine Church burning and killing their inhabitants, other missions such as San Xavier de Bac or San Agustin de Tucson felt threatened.
In 1777 the Spanish forces defeated the Apaches in "La Tinaja", but attacks and looting continued, reinforcements of catalan volunteers arrived with Pere Fages in front, increasing the regular defense forces under the Pedro de Allende orders.
In 1779 the company had to repel several Apaches attacks, and although the security of the area improved, the Apaches from the mountains of Arizona did not stop to loot and attack "presidios" and missions, becoming travel in the area very dangerous without armed guards. In 1780 the Apaches stolen uniforms and disguised as Spanish soldiers attacked a tribe Pima village near the Gila River.
The devil's path began in Caborca (Mexico) and ran for 450 kms. to get to the prisons in Arizona (USA), much of it flowed through the desert of Sonora, in 1781 the tribe of the Yumas cut the Colorado River path to intercept the overland route between Mexico and Arizona.
In 1782 Catalan volunteers, in order to struggle the Yuma tribe, came to Colorado River. Spanish forces restored the way and rescued some hostages that have been captured in an indian attack against the mission of Concepción, the hostages were taken to San Gabriel in Upper California.
At that time battles between Apaches and soldiers were very unequal, the war purpose was to exterminate the Indians, killing and burning their villages and crops. While the indian tribes only had rudimentary weapons bows and axes, the soldiers were protected with heavy leather jackets and had muskets and shotguns.
Ver Alberni english en un mapa más grande
The morning May first 1782, 600 Apaches surrounded the Tucson "presidio" and launched their attack against the fence but two dozen soldiers with the help of a cannon been enough to thwart the attack.
The Catalan companies captain, Agustí Callis died in 1782, and Pere Alberni took command of the first company.
In this year of 1,782 Pere Fages was appointed California's governor, leaving the troops on the border, went to San Diego to open a new route between Arizona and the coast, passing through Santa Barbara in October came to reside in Monterrey from there only with about 300 soldiers defended a territory populated by 50,000 indigenous people.
As Fages ruled Upper and Lower California, the Catalan volunteers continued the struggle against the Apaches from San Agustin de Tucson and Santa Cruz de Terrenate, Under Esteban Sola, company commander, monitored the border from the Indian attacks.
Apache attacks prevented the continued development and colonization, and caused casualties among the settlers at last the authorities decided to abandon the Santa Cruz "presidio".
Since 1785 Pedro Nata succeeded in the command Esteve Vinolas Sola, that he had also taken part in the struggles against the tribes Seri, in Pitic and Buenavista.
In war operations Catalan volunteers often fought beside the presidial troops, and leather jacket soldiers assigned to the "presidios".
In 1789, stationed in Chihuahua, held new battles with the Apaches.
In 1791 Pere Fages resigned as governor of California.
In 1763 with the Paris Treaty signing. peace came and military authorities plan to send colonial troops to reinforce the defense of Havana, but finally decided it was better to send them to New Spain to defend the border of the Apaches. Between the enrolled officers were Pere Alberni and Pere Fages.
Pere Alberni i Teixidor was born in Tortosa in January 30th, 1747. in 1762 he joined the light infantry regiment with headquarters in Barcelona, then move to join the "Compañia Franca de Voluntaris de Catalunya".
Pere Fages i Beleta was born in Guissona in 1734, he study in the new university of Cervera and in 1762 was enlisted as an ensign in the "Compañía de Voluntaris de Catalunya." The Catalan volunteers left Barcelona harbour, and sailed to Cadiz in May 1767, led by their captain Agustí Callis, among his officers were Pere Alberni and Pere Fages commanded a hundred men. They reached the port of Veracruz on the Atlantic coast of Mexico and were included in the expedition of Domingo Elizondo to San Jose de Guaymas in Sonora region.
There, they were commissioned to fight against Indian tribes in Sonora Pacific coast, from Guaymas posts, and Pitic (now Pitiquito), participated in combat against Pimas and Seri Indian tribes that refused to submit to the Spanish rule, the fiercest battles took place in Cerro Prieto, north of Guaymas.
Pimas and Seri are now tribes almost extinct, only a few hundred members, living from farming or fishing.
The Seris live in two towns in the desert coast of Sonora: Desemboque, Pitiquito municipality, and Punta Chueca, municipality of Hermosillo, and Pina tribe lives among the states of Sonora and Chihuahua in the municipality of Yecora.
After the campaign the catalan company marched to Guadalajara and Mexico City. Volunteers under the command of Pere Fages were enrolled in the expedition of Gaspar de Portola, in order to colonize the Upper California, new territory discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. Two ships made the journey from La Paz, Pere Fages got in the "San Carlos", the other ship was the "San Antonio", together left La Paz in the first months of 1769 and soon were lost at sea, They took hundred ten days to reach San Diego bay, continuing overland, the expedition arrived in Los Angeles on August 2th, and reached Santa Barbara on 19th, on September 13th, they were in San Simeon, following the Salinas River arrived at San Francisco on October 31th.
The expedition began the long road back from Los Angeles to San Diego in early in 1770. In April of these year a second expedition was undertaken by sea and land, the ship "San Antonio" went by sea and Portola, Rivera, Fages and some soldiers of "Companyia de Voluntaris de Catalunya" with other regular troops came by land.
The explorers set out from San Diego following the same route as last winter and arrived in Monterrey in late May, found the cross erected last year and reached the beach to Punta Pinos, there awaited the arrival of the "San Antonio" who came by sea.
The June 3th, 1770 Gaspar de Portola native from Os de Balaguer, Pere Fages from Guissona, and the Majorcan friars Joan Crespi and Juniper Serra, founded the city of Monterrey, Portola went back to San Diego by ship, leaving Pere Fages the command, to build the "presidio".
In 1772 the catalan volunteers company, was divided into two sections, each composed with approximately 80 men, respectively commanded by Alberni and Fages.
In California, Pere Fages and the company, took care of the missions and "presidios" of San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Gabriel and others,
Fages was appointed California Military Governor, and explored around the bay of San Francisco and San Jose river valley.
In 1774 Fages he was removed from office as a consequence of having met and discussed with Juniper Serra.
In 1776 Pere Fages commanded the second company, ended his mission as military governor in California, Fages was appointed commandant of the mining district of Pachuca de Soto (100 kms. north of Mexico City) state of Hidalgo , taking care to appease the protest of the miners.
The year 1778 the volunteers went to Santa Cruz de Terrenate "presidio", overlooking San Pedro Valley, near San Agustin de Tucson in Arizona, its ruins can be seen near the present town of Tombstone. In a hundred meters square, was a church and barracks for the troops, stores and houses, with a population estimated then about 300 inhabitants.
The Apaches in their expansion towards the south had moved the Pimas tribe, the war between the Spanish and Apaches had begun in 1775, the Apaches in their attacks against missions and settlements, used to practice the surprise and ambush, taking horses, weapons and ammunition.
In July 1776 the Apaches attacked the mission of St. Madeleine Church burning and killing their inhabitants, other missions such as San Xavier de Bac or San Agustin de Tucson felt threatened.
In 1777 the Spanish forces defeated the Apaches in "La Tinaja", but attacks and looting continued, reinforcements of catalan volunteers arrived with Pere Fages in front, increasing the regular defense forces under the Pedro de Allende orders.
In 1779 the company had to repel several Apaches attacks, and although the security of the area improved, the Apaches from the mountains of Arizona did not stop to loot and attack "presidios" and missions, becoming travel in the area very dangerous without armed guards. In 1780 the Apaches stolen uniforms and disguised as Spanish soldiers attacked a tribe Pima village near the Gila River.
The devil's path began in Caborca (Mexico) and ran for 450 kms. to get to the prisons in Arizona (USA), much of it flowed through the desert of Sonora, in 1781 the tribe of the Yumas cut the Colorado River path to intercept the overland route between Mexico and Arizona.
In 1782 Catalan volunteers, in order to struggle the Yuma tribe, came to Colorado River. Spanish forces restored the way and rescued some hostages that have been captured in an indian attack against the mission of Concepción, the hostages were taken to San Gabriel in Upper California.
At that time battles between Apaches and soldiers were very unequal, the war purpose was to exterminate the Indians, killing and burning their villages and crops. While the indian tribes only had rudimentary weapons bows and axes, the soldiers were protected with heavy leather jackets and had muskets and shotguns.
Ver Alberni english en un mapa más grande
The morning May first 1782, 600 Apaches surrounded the Tucson "presidio" and launched their attack against the fence but two dozen soldiers with the help of a cannon been enough to thwart the attack.
The Catalan companies captain, Agustí Callis died in 1782, and Pere Alberni took command of the first company.
In this year of 1,782 Pere Fages was appointed California's governor, leaving the troops on the border, went to San Diego to open a new route between Arizona and the coast, passing through Santa Barbara in October came to reside in Monterrey from there only with about 300 soldiers defended a territory populated by 50,000 indigenous people.
As Fages ruled Upper and Lower California, the Catalan volunteers continued the struggle against the Apaches from San Agustin de Tucson and Santa Cruz de Terrenate, Under Esteban Sola, company commander, monitored the border from the Indian attacks.
Apache attacks prevented the continued development and colonization, and caused casualties among the settlers at last the authorities decided to abandon the Santa Cruz "presidio".
Since 1785 Pedro Nata succeeded in the command Esteve Vinolas Sola, that he had also taken part in the struggles against the tribes Seri, in Pitic and Buenavista.
In war operations Catalan volunteers often fought beside the presidial troops, and leather jacket soldiers assigned to the "presidios".
In 1789, stationed in Chihuahua, held new battles with the Apaches.
In 1791 Pere Fages resigned as governor of California.
 |
| From Encaramado a la red |
The first company under Pere Alberni orders was assigned to San Blas a shipyard in the Pacific Coast, where the sea expeditions went to California, Oregon, northwestern Canada and Alaska.
Received orders to leave for the west coast to the issuance of Eliza, the expedition departed in 1790 but Alberni was arrested during the trip as consequence to required appropriate clothing and pay for their soldiers.
The fleet was composed for three ships, the "San Carlos" commanded by the catalan Salvador Fidalgo Lopegarcia, "Princesa Real" commanded by Manuel Quimper , and "Concepcion" led by Francisco de Eliza the expedition chief. They sailed to San Lorenzo de Nootka (now Port Alberni in Vancouver Island), and built Fort Sant Miquel where they stayed the winters of 1791 and 1792.
They installed a defense gun battery, Alberni befriended Machine, the Haida Tribe chief, who inhabited those lands. In his spare time Alberni performed a small dictionary of the tribe Haida language.
Salvador Fidalgo was born in Seu d'Urgell, accompanied by eleven men, were assigned to set up a defensive position in Nuñez Gaona now Neah Bay in the Juan de Fuca, strait then named "Estrecho de Aguilar" .
With the issuance of Fidalgo, Catalan volunteers arrived Alaska explored Sitka and Kodiak Island, founding the cities of Valdes and Cordova, at last planted a large cross in Orca Inlet.
On his return from Canada in 1793 Pere Alberni was appointed as head of San Juan de Ulua fort.
In 1796 he was appointed garrisons chief guardian of Monterrey, San Francisco and San Diego.
At the end of the eighteenth century many of the Catalans had died or had retired and were replaced by soldiers from other regions
Pere Fages retired in Mexico, died in 1796.
Pere Alberni died in California on 11 March 1802 and was succeeded in command by Josep Font.
Early, in the new XIX century the remains of the Catalan volunteer companies ceased to exist, absorbed by other units.
0 comentarios:
Post a Comment