Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate
Encyclopedia
The Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate, or Fort Terrenate, among several other names, is a former Spanish
military presidio
, or fortress, located roughly west of the town of Tombstone
, Arizona
in the United States of America.
, by the Irish
mercenary, Hugh O'Connor in 1776, for the King of Spain Charles III
. The site marked the most intact site of similar presidios that extended north from the New Spain into what would later become Arizona. The presidio would never be completed to the specifications due to the attacks
of the Apache
, administrative greed, corruption and poor moral.
The failure of the presidio was due to numerous problems like the lack of crops, raids on the horse herds, surprise attacks on the mule trains carrying supplies, and the continuous attacks by Apache directly on the fortress. These contributed to the abandonment of the garrison in 1780. The Apache successfully continued to dominate the territory for seventy-five years. In 1878, the presidio was briefly used as a post for the United States Army
but was abandoned the same year.
In 1951, Charles DiPeso, excavated the site and reported that he believed that the evidence found on site, indicated that O'Connor had located the presidio over an abandoned Sobaipuri
Indian village of Quiburi.
Many archaeologists support a counter theory that states that the structures found at the site correspond to the quarters of the soldiers and families of the presidio.
There is evidence of prehistoric Hohokam
occupation: shards scattered on the surface, and eroding out of the adobe walls of the later Spanish presidio.
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
military presidio
Presidio
A presidio is a fortified base established by the Spanish in North America between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The fortresses were built to protect against pirates, hostile native Americans and enemy colonists. Other presidios were held by Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth...
, or fortress, located roughly west of the town of Tombstone
Tombstone, Arizona
Tombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin in what was then Pima County, Arizona Territory. It was one of the last wide-open frontier boomtowns in the American Old West. From about 1877 to 1890, the town's mines produced USD $40 to $85 million...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in the United States of America.
History
The presidio was established near a river bed, known today as the San Pedro RiverSan Pedro River (Arizona)
San Pedro River is a northward-flowing stream originating about ten miles south of Sierra Vista, Arizona near Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. It is one of only two rivers which flow north from Mexico into the United States. The river flows north through Cochise County, Pima County, Graham County, and...
, by the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
mercenary, Hugh O'Connor in 1776, for the King of Spain Charles III
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
. The site marked the most intact site of similar presidios that extended north from the New Spain into what would later become Arizona. The presidio would never be completed to the specifications due to the attacks
First Battle of Terrenate
The First Battle of Terrenate in July, 1776 was a military engagement during the Spanish period of Arizona. It was fought between Spanish soldiers and Apache warriors, near the Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate in the present day southern Arizona....
of the Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
, administrative greed, corruption and poor moral.
The failure of the presidio was due to numerous problems like the lack of crops, raids on the horse herds, surprise attacks on the mule trains carrying supplies, and the continuous attacks by Apache directly on the fortress. These contributed to the abandonment of the garrison in 1780. The Apache successfully continued to dominate the territory for seventy-five years. In 1878, the presidio was briefly used as a post for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
but was abandoned the same year.
In 1951, Charles DiPeso, excavated the site and reported that he believed that the evidence found on site, indicated that O'Connor had located the presidio over an abandoned Sobaipuri
Sobaipuri
The Sobaipuri are one of many indigenous groups occupying Sonora at the time Europeans first entered the American Southwest. They were a Piman group who occupied southern Arizona and northern Sonora in the 15th-19th centuries...
Indian village of Quiburi.
Many archaeologists support a counter theory that states that the structures found at the site correspond to the quarters of the soldiers and families of the presidio.
There is evidence of prehistoric Hohokam
Hohokam
Hohokam is one of the four major prehistoric archaeological Oasisamerica traditions of what is now the American Southwest. Many local residents put the accent on the first syllable . Variant spellings in current, official usage include Hobokam, Huhugam and Huhukam...
occupation: shards scattered on the surface, and eroding out of the adobe walls of the later Spanish presidio.