There are a total of 92 letters, the majority of which were written by the Marquis de la Torre and Diego Josef de Navarro (both Spanish Governors of Cuba), Bernardo de Gálvez (Spanish Governor of Louisiana), Juan Josef Eligio de la Puente (formerly the Spanish royal engineer at St. Augustine, East Florida, a migrant to Cuba in 1764), and Rafael de la Luz (designated by the Governors of Cuba as Spanish emissaries to the Florida Indians). Many of the letters written by Torre and Navarro were reports to José de Gálvez and Julián de Arriaga (Ministers of the Indies for the Spanish Crown, i.e. their superiors).
The letters are divided into three sections:
Section
1: letters written between 1771 and October 1776;
Section 2: letters written between October 1776 and August 1779;
Section 3: letters written between August 1779 and 1783.
The apparent rationale being that 1771 was the earliest letter found; October 1776 was a pivotal moment in Spanish-Uchiz relations, as a Spanish fisherman named Juan Lendian caused a controversy by murdering an Uchiz; August 1779 is the month in which Spain declared war on Great Britain, and 1783 is when the Treaty of Paris was ratified that ended that war.
Most of the letters are quite brief (one page or less). The main points discussed in the letters are:
2 July 1771: Juan Josef Eligio de la Puente to Julián de Arriaga. Puente pleads for an increase of the royal stipend for fifteen female Indians who followed the Florida Spaniards to Havana after the Seven Years’ War.
2 July 1771: de la Puente to Arriaga. Puente sends a list of the names of the aforementioned fifteen Indians and a formal explanation of his plea.
12 October 1771: Arriaga to Cuba Governor Marquis de la Torre. Arriaga notified the Governor of the King’s approval of Puente’s request.
21 October 1771: Arriaga to Governor Torre. Arriaga informs the Governor of decision to reimburse some officials 1626 pesos and six reales for expenditures related to the Uchiz Indians as a secret expense.
4 March 1773: de la Puente. Names of fourteen Uchizes who visited Havana from 14 February to 4 March 1773, list of gifts and expenditures caused.
6 March 1773: de la Puente to Governor Torre. Testimony of Uchiz Capatain Estimslayche given on 18 February 1773 of his loyalty to the Spanish King and desire to eliminate the British presence in Florida.
28 March 1773: Governor Torre to Arriaga. Message informing Arriaga of the forwarding of the two previous letters for the King’s approval.
6 May 1773 and 20 May 1773 (2 letters): Arriaga to Governor Torre. The King approves of Torre’s letters of 26 February 1773 (not included) and 28 March 1773 relating to Uchiz expenditures.
26 March 1774: de la Puente. Names of nine Uchizes who visited Havana from 8-26 March, list of gifts and expenditures caused.
1 April 1774: Unknown author (probably Governor Torre) to Arriaga. Report to the King of the contents of letter dated 26 March.
21 June 1774, 18 January 1775 and 12 February 1775 (3 letters): Arriaga to Governor Torre. The King approves of Torre’s letters of 1 April 1774, 10 November 1774 (not included) and 2 December 1774 (not included) relating to Uchiz expenditures.
16 February 1775: Rafael de la Luz. Lists of gifts and expenditures for some Talapuz Indians who visited Havana from 3-16 February 1775.
16 March 1775: de la Luz. List of gifts and expenditures for the Uchiz Cacique Escuchapé and thirty-four other Uchizes who visited to Havana from 16 February to 16 March 1775.
2 May 1775: de la Luz. Testimony of Escuchapé given on 17 February 1775 relating to conflict between Uchizes and English settlers; asks King of Spain to establish commerce with Uchizes and send Spanish troops into Florida.
10 May 1775: de la Luz. List of gifts and expenditures for two Uchizes who visited Havana from 17 March to 8 May 1775 and twenty-four Uchizes who visited from 6 April to 8 May 1775.
1 August 1775: Arriaga to Governor Torre. The King approves of Torre’s letter dated 1 Juan 1775 (not included) relating to Uchiz expenditures.
2 August 1775: de la Luz. Report of an Uchiz who came to Havana on 15 July 1775 to ask for establishment of trade and pledge loyalty to the Spanish King.
12 September 1775: de la Luz. List of gifts and exenditures for said Uchiz who visited Havana from 16 June to 16 August 1775.
28 September 1775: Unknown author (probably Governor Torre) to Arriaga. Report of visit by Uchiz emissary; author pleads to the King to accept Uchiz solicitations for the establishment of trade routes.
14 October 1775: Arriaga to Governor Torre. King’s response accepting Torre’s desire to moderate volume of gifts given to Uchizes.
7 January 1776: Governor Torre to Arriaga. Sentence against two Spaniards for the beating and hanging of an Indian.
17 January 1776: de la Luz. Testimony of Uchiz Cacique Fichacgé pledging loyalty to the King of Spain, pleading for establishment of trade routes and permission to attack English settlers.
12 February 1776: de la Luz. List of gifts and expenditures for eleven Uchizes who visited Havana from 20 January to 8 February 1776.
28 February 1776: de la Luz. List of gifts and expenditures for twenty-eight Uchizes who visited Havana from 13-26 February 1776.
15 March 1776: de la Luz. List of gifts and expenditures for twenty Uchizes who visited Havana from 2-14 March 1776.
11 April 1776: Governor Torre to (new) Minister of the Indies José de Gálvez. Torre informs Gálvez of relations conducted with the Uchizes over the past few years and pleads once again to establish trade with them.
1 June 1776: Unknown author (probably Governor Torre) to Arriaga. Report to the King asking for approval of Uchiz expenditures.
No date: Antonio Ramón Basque. List of items, presumably gifts for Uchiz Indians.
No date: Unknown authors to Unknown recipients (2 letters). Denial of a petition to restore the stipend for two female Indians who came to Havana from Florida because they came to Havana thirty-five years prior to Spain’s expulsion from Florida; subsequent letter is a copy of the petition.
9 October 1776: Governor Torre to José de Gálvez. Torre states that he has informed new Louisiana Governor Bernardo de Gálvez of the state of relations with the Uchizes; has received King’s permission to establish trade with Uchizes, however he cannot do so due to tensions caused by Spanish fisherman Juan Lendian’s murder of an Uchiz Indian.
26 December 1776: José de Gálvez to Governor Torre. Response to 9 October letter.
5 May 1777: de la Puente and Pedro Josef Nuñez (Interpreter). Testimony of Spanish fisherman Francisco Pelaez and Uchiz Cacique Chanillá; Pelaez testifies that he received Chanillá and his party while fishing in the Tampa Bay; Chanillá testifies that the Uchizes bear no grudges towards the Spaniards over the murder committed by Lendian, but wish to see him brought to justice.
6 May 1777: Govenor Torre to José de Gálvez. Torre informs the King that he has decided to appoint de la Puente to provide assurances of Spanish friendship to the Uchizes and give them gifts in response to the Lendian affair.
16 May 1777: de la Puente to Governor Torre. De la Puente reports on his interactions with Chanillá and his companions; they have accepted Spanish assurances that they do not condone Lendian’s actions.
16 May 1777: de la Puente. List of gifts and expenditures for de la Puente’s discussions with Chanillá.
5 June 1777: Governor Torre to José de Gávlez. Torre reports to the King contents of the letter dated 5 May 1777.
2 July 1777: de la Puente to (new) Governor of Cuba Diego Josef de Navarro. De la Puente reports of arrival of Uchiz Cacique Tibulaiche, who visited from 15 June to 1 July 1777, and was housed and received with gifts.
9 July 1777: José de Gálvez to (former) Governor Torre. The King approves of Torre’s letter dated 5 June 1777 relating to Uchiz expenditures.
17 July 1777: de la Puente. Testimony of Tibulaiche, pleading continued friendship and desiring establishment of trade.
20 July 1777: Governor Navarro to José de Gálvez. Navarro reports assuming his post of Governor and of de la Puente’s letter dated 2 July 1777.
20 July 1777: de la Puente List of gifts and expenditures for two Uchizes who visited Havana from 15 June to 1 July 1777.
22 December 1777: de la Puente. Testimony of Uchiz Cacique Tunapé of his long service and loyalty to King of Spain and reporting on British movements in East Florida.
26 December 1777: de la Puente. De la Puente summarizes Spanish-Uchiz relations (and his role in them) dating back to 1747.
12 January 1778: de la Puente. List of gifts and expenditures for twelve Uchizes who visited Havana from 12 December 1777 to 10 January 1778.
15 January 1778: Unknown author (probably Governo Navarro) to José de Gávlez. Torre reports to the King contents of the letters dated 22 December 1777 and 12 January 1778.
15 April 1778: de la Puente. List of gifts and expenditures for six Uchizes who visited Havana from 12-29 January 1778 and forty-five Uchizes who visited from 1-18 March 1778.
6 July 1778: Lt. don Juan de Villeboeuvre to Louisiana Governor Bernardo de Gálvez. Reports of British plotting to attack Spanish New Orleans using troops from various Indians nations.
8 July 1778: Capt. don Carolos Granpré to Governor Gálvez. Rumors that Indian raids on Spanish establishments were incited by the British.
31 May 1779: Brig. Gen. John Campbell (British, stationed in Pensacola) to Governor Gálvez. Campbell complains of reports that the Spanish were conducting diplomatic relations with Indian nations residing in British Florida.
2 April 1779: Governor Navarro to José de Gálvez. Navarro reports on the investigation of the Lendian affair and the search for Lendian.
22 July 1779: Governor Navarro to Francisco Ruiz del Canto. Navarro instructs Ruiz del Canto to journey up to San Marcos de Apalache for the establishment of trade with the Uchizes; he is also to acquire intelligence on the Indian nations of the region, as well as on the British positions in Florida and Georgia.
23 August 1779: Governor Gálvez to Brig. Gen. Campbell. Gálvez’s response to Campbell’s letter of 31 May 1779.
29 August 1779: José de Gálvez to Governor Navarro. Gálvez informs Navarro of the Spanish declaration of war against Britain and what the King’s plans are pertaining to Cuba and Florida.
26 September 1779: Ruiz del Canto. Ruiz del Canto reports on his successful mission to San Marcos de Apalache to establish trade with the Uchizes (ordered by Gov. Navarro in 22 July 1779 letter).
30 September 1779: de la Puente. List of gifts and expenditures utilized on Ruiz del Canto’s mission. (accompanies 26 September 1779 letter).
3 October 1779: José de Gálvez to Governor Navarro. The King approves of Navarro’s commissioning of Ruiz del Canto in 22 July 1779 letter.
16 December 1779: Governor Navarro to Ruiz del Canto. Navarro sends Ruiz del Canto on another mission to Uchiz towns and villages.
22 December 1779: Governor Navarro to José de Gálvez. Navarro sends copy of 16 December 1779 letter for King’s approval.
2 January 1780: Brig. Gen. Campbell to Col. of Waldeck Regiment (serving British in Pensacola). Intercepted instruction for a British offensive.
10 January 1780: José de Gálvez to Governor Navarro. The King approves of Ruiz del Canto’s execution of mission (as reported in 26 September 1779 letter).
14 February 1780: Ruiz del Canto. Ruiz del Canto reports on his successful mission (assigned by Gov. Navarro in 16 December 1779 letter).
15 February 1780: Testimony from British Prisoner of War Robert Holms (excerpt). Holms informs interrogators that the military and civil authorities in Pensacola have refused to arm Indians for use in battle.
18 February 1780: Governor Navarro to Governor Gálvez. Discussion of supplication of Cuban troops to Gálvez for invasion of Pensacola; report on Ruiz del Canto’s mission.
19 February 1780: de la Puente. List of gifts and expenditures utilized on Ruiz del Canto’s mission (accompanies 14 February 1780 letter).
9 April 1780: Brig. Gen. Campbell to Governor Gálvez. Campbell complains of Spanish-allied Indians’ attacks on British civilians.
5 May 1780: Governor Gálvez to Governor Navarro. Response to Navarro’s letter of 18 February 1780.
15 June 1780: P. Juzan to Unknown recipient (probably Gov. Gálvez). Report from a spy amongst British-allied French inhabitants and Indians of Mobile.
1 August 1780: Governor Navarro to José de Gávlez. Discussion of military strategy for invasion of Pensacola.
7 September 1780: Gen. José de Ezpeleta to Governor Navarro. Report of attack made by British-allied Choctaw on Spanish troops.
15 October 1780: Juan Miguel Calvo to Unknown recipient. Testimony of Tamasle Cacique Ynculaiche, reporting on movements of various Floridian Indian nations.
1 December 1780: Governor Gálvez to Governor Navarro. Report on status of war against British on the Mississippi and Southeastern fronts.
16 January 1781: Pedro Piernas to Governor Navarro. Report British counter-attack on Mobile, utilizing Choctaw Indians.
16 January 1781: Gen. Ezpeleta to Governor Navarro. Reports of lowered morale amongst British-allied Indians.
18 January 1781: Piernas to Governor Navarro. Reports of Spaniards repelling British counter-attack in Mobile.
28 January 1781: de la Puente. List of gifts and expenditures for nine Uchizes who visited Havana from 14 October 1780 to 24 January 1781.
2 March 1781: Governor Navarro to Unknown Recipient (probably José de Gálvez). Navarro reports contents of 28 January 1781 letter for King’s approval.
19 April 1781: Governor Gálvez to British West Florida Governor Peter Chester. Complains of British-allied Indians attacking civilians.
24 April 1781: Governor Gálvez to Governor Navarro. Reports of a conflict between Spanish troops and British-allied Indians outside of Pensacola.
3 May 1781: de la Puente. List of gifts and expenditures caused by five Uchizes who visited Havana from 20 March to 27 April 1781.
23 May 1781: Governor Navarro to José de Gávlez. Navarro reports contents of 3 May 1781 letter for King’s approval.
25 May and 27 May 1781 (2 letters): Brig. Gen. Campbell to Governor Gálvez. Response to Gálvez’s accusation that the British were inciting Indians to attack Spanish troops during a truce.
30 October 1781: José de Gálvez appoints Col. Gilberto Antonio de Maxent Lt. Gov. of Louisiana and West Florida (now under de facto Spanish control); he also places Maxent in charge of establish permanent commerce with Indian Nations in Louisiana and the Floridas.
18 March 1782: José de Gálvez reports contents of 30 October 1781 order to Gov. Gálvez.
18 March 1782: José de Gávlez to the Intendant of (the Royal Estate in) Louisiana. Gálvez gives instructions for the establishment of a permanent fund from which all gifts and expenditures relating to the Southeastern Indian Nations are to come, to be administered by Lt. Gov. Maxent.
25 February 1783: José de Gálvez to Governor Gálvez. Gálvez reports receipt of news that the Uchizes have release all prisoners which they made in Mobile during the war.
7 July 1783: Governor Gálvez to José de Gálvez. Gov. Gálvez agrees to all stipulations of the order contained in the 18 March 1782 letter.