Sally Bickley is a native New Mexican currently living in Sinton, Tex. She actively writes about Sierra County's history and the many outdoor activities that are available in New Mexico. She has written articles on such topics as endurance riding with horses, winter activities at Elephant Butte Lake, and Indian detours. Her articles are currently appearing in Enchantment, Southern New Mexico Magazine, Stable Kids and SouthernNewMexico.com.
Sally has traveled extensively in the Southwest and is currently writing articles about Mormon settlements in Mexico, wastewater treatment through wetlands management and southwestern gardening.
Her hobbies include kayaking and canoeing, travel, and lifelong learning.
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In January 1598, Don Juan de Oñate set forth with an expedition to colonize the lands of New Mexico. Eighty-three wagons carried munitions, supplies and food for 400 men, some soldiers, some colonists. One hundred families, eight priests and two lay brothers accompanied them. Seven thousand head of livestock, grapevine cuttings, seeds and tools were brought to help settlers survive and establish new homes.
Measuring four miles in length, the column of migrants headed north from Santa Barbara, near Mexico City. They traveled through the Chihuahuan Desert, reaching the Rio Grande four months later. Oñate called for a rest, thanksgiving and celebration of Easter. This first thanksgiving included a dramatic presentation and a formal speech by Oñate claiming all the lands watered by the Rio Grande for Spain and King Phillip.
The caravan slowly moved up the Rio Grande, encountering some natives who pointed out a trail. At Points of Rocks, north of Las Cruces, the caravan left the river and moved onto the waterless area now known as the Jornada del Muerto. This was in May 1598, usually a very hot and dry month. They marched straight north for three days and reached a place near the river on May 25. On May 27, they reached a "distinctive mesa of black rock," possibly near San Marcial.
Residents of the Indian Pueblo, Teipana, provided the strangers with food and succor. Oñate renamed the village Socorro , which means help. As the party moved up the river, the many pueblos encountered were claimed for Spain and the Catholic Church.
Oñate established his capital at San Gabriel, across the river from the current San Juan Pueblo, north of Espanola. Two years later, the capital moved to Santa Fe.
Oñate had established the Camino Real, the Royal Road, the only line of transport and communication between New Mexico and the rest of the world. The 1,800 mile route sometimes followed native paths, sometimes crossed new territory. Caravans after 1598 followed the same route, stopping at the same parajes, or camping places.
These caravans took six months to travel from Parral, Mexico to Santa Fe or Taos, six months to rest and restock for the trip south, and another six months to return. They brought trade goods, religious articles, government communications and new colonists. The return trip took blankets, extracts from mining and whatever New Mexicans could offer to the southern provinces of Spain's colony.
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The arrival of the Spanish created profound changes in the cultures of the natives and the newcomers. Horses introduced from Spain formed the basis for the Native American herds which altered the lives of the Plains Indians, and indeed most other Native tribes. Prior to Oñate's expedition, horses had been extinct in the Americas. All of the Indian horses descended from those in caravans who ran off or were captured in raids by the native bands.
Thanks to the Camino Real, New Mexico has the oldest capital city in the United States. Our culture honors the original native ways, Spanish traditions and even some American ideas that arrived 200 years later.