Week 4

On the other hand, when the Indians saw that we did not move, they took greater courage, and grew so bold that they came up almost to the heels of our horses to shoot their arrows. On this account I saw that it was no longer time to hesitate, and as the priests approved the action, I charged them. There was little to do, because they suddenly took to flight, part running toward the city, which was near and well fortified, and others toward the plain, wherever chance led them. Some Indians were killed, and others might have been slain if I could have allowed them to be pursued. But I saw that there would be little advantage in this, because the Indians who were outside were few, and those who had retired to the city were numerous, besides many who had remained there in the first place.

http://southwestcrossroads.org/record.php?num=59

This is an extract (translated) from Francisco Vásquez de Coronado to Don Antonio de Mendoca Governor of new Spain. Being one of the most famous explorers of the new world. Him and his company went north in search of gold and silver (as most Spanish did in the 16th century.) and was probably one of the first explorers to see Bison, if not THE first. This extract is when his company, on horseback, came into contact with a walled city of Indians (native Americans). For the Indians this was their first experience of Europeans, and like the Aztec they were seeing them strapped on horses, which gave them an illusion of a different species, and obviously they reacted in fear. The Conquistadors had no trouble rebuffing their attacks, with steal and gunpowder it was never a contest.

De Coronado killed hundreds of Natives, his roaming army dealt massive damage to the native population, and besides the fact he found many new species (including Bison). He was branded a failure by royalty in Spain as he failed to find any gold or silver. However for the plain Indians the arrival of horses that were stolen and bread, this was a mixed blessing. Horses revolutionised the way they lived, so much so that in 300 years the horse was an integral part of their culture, the Cheyenne, Apache and Comanche that De Coronado came into contact with were met again by Americans travelling west. By the time the Americans came into contact with these Indians they were fast hard hitting raiders that were dangerous for Army and travellers alike. The guns they carried however did not catch on, muzzle loading rifles were complex and not useful in the warfare used on the plains. It wasnt until easier to use and service rifles came in that they started to be used in common usage.