1786 letters concerning necessary military response to recent Indian hostilities. Sierra Gorda says he intends to punish Indians responsible for depredations. says Indians under pretense of peace continue to rob, murder and terrorize. Relates incident in which five shepherds murdered. Concerns deployment of troops to search out enemy. After long campaign hindered by rain, caught up with Apaches in Croix. Virrey responds telling Sierra Gorda to watch carefully for abuses of good faith and to use military to assure compliance with peace conditions. says they must attempt to reduce Camoteros and Tanambres. Sierra Gorda says ranches in Laredo and Revilla completely destroyed and such incidents sure to continue if precautions not taken. Suggests method to make campaigns and punishment more successful. says military organization is inefficient and suggests separation of comandancia general. Informs virrey of plans to take troops to Laredo. Virrey says he's unable to send inspector and requests relacion regarding condition of troops, uniforms, munitions, armaments and horses. Will send Gutierrez to inspect soon. Virrey disagrees with Gorda's suggestions saying the system works and reminds him to obey Ugarte's orders. Gorda informs virrey that several Indians killed in incident in Croix. As a result, Mariguanes request to stay peacefully in Llera mission. says mission in Liebana would accomodate Indians from Croix as proposed by Bucareli. Provides description of daily life in mission. Mentions grain and weekly meat rations. says these provisions not sufficient so better for those Indians to live in liberty. Virrey reminds Gorda of Galvez' instructions of 1786 and 1772 to guide his activities. says by law, funds must be obtained to maintain any group requesting peaceful hospice in mission. Gorda says difficult to follow instructions regarding proper treatment due to increased hostilities. (M. Dannemiller November 1988)