1779 Comanche Campaign
Diary of Governor Juan Bautista de Anza
This is the diary of Lieutenant Colonel Juan Baustista de Anza of his expedition (August 15 to September 10, 1779), beginning at Santa Fe, circling north to the front range of the Great Plains near present-day Rye, Colorado, and returning to Santa Fe. The diary chronicles the military campaign made by Anza, 800 men and close to 2500 horses to find and destroy Cuchanec Comanche Chief Cuerno Verde (Green Horn), and establish peace between the Spaniards and the warring Comanches and Utes. Lieutenant Colonel Anza led the military campaign, and signed the diary as such. The purpose of the diary was to make an official report to Comandante Teodoro de Croix, Commander General of the Provincias Internas, and ultimately the King of Spain, Charles III. This edition is based upon a translation from the original Spanish by Edgar Bledsoe, and edited by Ronald E. Kessler and Donald T. Garate.
Juan Bautista de Anza
Portrait commissioned for museum exhibits at Tumacacori
National Park, Arizona, 1935 (National Park)
| 15 Aug 1779 | Anza leaves Santa Fe with 600 men, headed north into Comanche country in search of Cuerno Verde |
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Anza reviews the troops and picks up the presidial caballada at "el bosque de San Juan de los Caballeros." He sends two spies ahead to reconnoiter. |
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Camped at Río de los Conejos, Anza is joined by 200 Yutas and Apaches and the spies sent out on the 16th return. |
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Anza begins night marches across present-day San Luis Valley under a full moon |
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After traveling all night, Anza camps at a ciénega that he names San Luis in honor of today (August 25th), feast day of San Luis, Rey de Francia. Because of this, the present valley still retains the name "San Luis." The expedition is camped near where the Yutas killed 12 Comanches on July 18. |
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Advance spies are traveling ahead of the expedition at all times |
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Anza resumes day marches; camps near present-day Ponche Springs, Colorado |
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Anza crosses the Arkansas River for the time |
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Crossing present-day South Park, Colorado, the expedition kills 50 buffalo |
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Anza enters the front range and attacks Cuerno Verde's camp. Learning that the Comanche Chief had gone to Taos, Anza immediately turns south in pursuit of him. |
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Anza again crosses the Arkansas River and the advance spies give the notice that Cuerno Verde's party has been seen coming north. The encounter between the two forces comes at sundown |
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Anza's contingent encounters Cuerno Verde, forces him into a swamp and kills him, his son and four other chiefs. Anza marches five leagues south that afternoon and camps at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. |
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Anza passes through the mountains in a snowstorm |
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The last of the Yutas leave the expedition |
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The expedition arrives in Taos |
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Anza arrives back in Santa Fe |