On this day 250 years ago, Captain Juan Batista de Anza of the Spanish Army left the Tubac Presidio (south of Tuscon in present day Arizona) with a force of 20 soldiers, 3 priests, 11 servants, 35 mules, 65 cattle and 140 horses to establish an overland route to California from Mexico. The Spanish government was concerned about English designs to claim California and wanted an overland route to replace the difficult sea route to supply the handful of Spanish missions and settlements in California. Spain would become engaged in the war with Britain a few years later.
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On This Day In The Revolution 
One response to “On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — January 8, 1774”
If there were 5 beasts of burden (not counting the cattle) for every man, this proves the Spanish had cowboys in what is now the U.S. before we won our independence. I’ve always thought it was likely the Spanish who taught the American cowboys about cattle drives. Thanks for this tidbit of history in addition to knowing about early Spanish involvement in the war.
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