Sonora 1774

The First Anza Expedition

Antonio Bucareli, Viceroy of New Spain, has received an interesting proposal from the comandante of a distant outpost at the northernmost reaches of the province of Sonora. Capt. Juan Bautista de Anza believes that a land route can be found to connect Sonora to the missions of Alta California. Viceroy Bucareli has already met with Junípero Serra, president of the mission chain, and is familiar with the supply problems facing the struggling friars. Bucareli is also very aware of the need to firmly establish a Spanish presence as far north along the Pacific coast as possible to deter Russian encroachment and British territorial ambitions. The shipping of supplies from the Mexican mainland to the ports of San Diego and Monterey has proven to be dangerous and unreliable. Bucareli authorizes Anza to organize an expedition to cross the uncharted desert and negotiate the distant sierras which lie between Sonora and Alta California. Capt. Anza leaves the presidio of Tubac on January 8, 1774, hoping to find his way to Mission San Gabriel Arcángel which had been founded by Serra two years earlier.