September 2016
Editor: Mimi Lozano ©2000-2016

Emilia Castañeda

Mexican “Repatriation” of the 1930s Apology Act
Enacted in 2005 in recognition of the forced return to Mexico of people of Mexican descent from/by the United States 
between 1929 and 1936.  An estimated 1.2 million of those forced to relocate were United States citizens.

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Mexican “Repatriation” of the 1930s Apology Act:
Commemorative Monument Placed at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes

Emilia Castañeda, now 90 years old, is recognized for her fight for the individuals who were unconstitutionally deported to Mexico during the Great Depression. She herself was a U.S. citizen who was deported in 1935. As a young woman, she returned to the United States, where she later filed a lawsuit on behalf of those who had been forced to leave California. 

She has advocated and lobbied for the story of unconstitutional deportations to be included in the K-12 state curriculum. 

Emilia Castañeda remembers the first years of her life as being a typical Depression-era childhood -- hard times leavened with simple joys in the East Los Angeles melting pot that was Boyle Heights.

She still conjures up treasured snapshots in her mind's eye: the duplex on Folsom Street that her father bought with his earnings as a bricklayer; her Japanese American girlfriends; and the elementary school on Malabar Street where she recited the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.

For Emilia Castañeda, that world ended in nightmarish fashion one day in 1935. In a campaign carried out by Los Angeles County and city authorities, in cooperation with federal immigration officials, the Castañedas and hundreds of other families of Mexican descent were loaded aboard a train and moved to Mexico -- part of a decade-long, nationwide effort to reduce unemployment and public welfare rolls by forcing more than 1 million Mexicans and Mexican Americans to leave the United States, scholars said.

La Times July 15, 2003 “Apology Sought for Latino 'Repatriation' Drive in '30s”

Ramona G. Espinoza, now 90 years old, was born in San Dimas, California on June 11, 1926. Her family lived in East Los Angeles until she was six years old when she was sent into exile by her government. 

Ramona’s mother, Felicitas Castro, had legally resided in California since April of 1922. She had baptized her three daughters at the old Mexican church in Plaza Olvera. Ramona was the oldest child of the family.

In February of 1932 Ramona’s mother was shipped to Mexico with her four American born children. The family spent a year in Sinaloa with their paternal grandfather, Anatolio Castro. 

In 1933, Ramona’s mother attempted to return to Los Angeles to join the father of her four American born children. She had been told that she could return to the United States in a year. 

When her American born children were refused re-entry into the country of their birth by the US Immigration Department in Calexico, California, the family was stranded at the border in Mexicali, Baja California where they had no relatives, no home...nothing. 

In Mexicali, Ramona was only able to complete six years of schooling and at the age of 16 she began to work in the agricultural fields of California to help feed the family. In 1943, during World War II, she was recruited to work in the canneries of Northern California.

In May of 1948, Ramona married Arturo O. Espinoza who had also been depatriated to Mexico. Arturo was born on May 12, 1924 in Buena Park, California. At the age of eight Arturo was sent to Mexico along with his family. He and his three American born siblings were refused re-entry into the United States in 1937 and were also forced to live in Mexicali, Baja California where he was raised.

In 1948, Ramona G. Espinoza, and her husband returned to California where they had four children, 11 grandchildren, five great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Ramona G. Espinoza has worked hard to make sure that this tragic injustice is not forgotten.

Ramona G. Espinoza’s Speech at the Apology Ceremony

Mi nombre es Ramona Espinoza y soy ciudadana americana. Nací en San Dimas, California en 1926. Viví con mi familia en la Calle Hammel del Este de Los Ángeles. 
Me bautizaron en la Iglesia de la Placita, la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles.  El gobierno nos mandó a Mexico en 1932 a mi mama, Felicitas Castro, a mis hermanas, Estela, Natalia y a mi hermano Anatolio.  Mi mama había imigrado a Estados Unidos en 1922 y estaba aquí legalmente.

Mi hermano está aquí y fué a la Guerra en Korea. Crecimos en Mexicali, Baja California. Solo estudié hasta el sexto grado y no aprendí a hablar bien el inglés. 

Me hubiera gustado ir a la escuela en este país donde nací para aprender bien el idioma inglés porque me ha hecho mucha falta toda mi vida.

Quiero darles las gracias al Senador Dunn, a MALDEF, a Gina Montoya y al Lic. Jesse Araujo por haberse interesado en lo que nos pasó.  Ademas quisiera que dejaran de depatriar a niños nacidos en estados unidos porque sé que han ido a sufrir y a pasar hambre como nos pasó a mis hermanitos y a mí. 

Additional Information:

1. Apology Sought for Latino 'Repatriation' Drive in '30s
http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jul/15/local/me-repatriation15

2. Senate Bill 570 SB 670, Dunn Mexican Repatriation Program of the 1930s.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/sen/sb_0651-0700/sb_670_bill_20051007_chaptered.html   

3. Apology Act: Commemorative plaque at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
http://lapca.org/content/apology-act-commemorative-plaque-la-plaza-de-cultura-y-artes 

4. Officials and Leaders Gathered for Historic Ceremony Recognizing Forced Removal of Mexican Americans During Great Depression
http://www.maldef.org/news/releases/mexican_american_repatriation_event_2012/ 

5. Los Angeles Unveils the Apology Act Monument
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZAge5WYirE 

6. Plaza to Commemorate Mass Deportations of 1930s in Wake of LA Apology
http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/02/24/31374/plaza-commemorate-mass-deportations-1930s-wake-l-a/  

7. Ceremony Marks Forced Removal of Mexican Americas During Depression
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/-Ceremony-marks-forced-removal-of-Mexican-Americans-during-Depression/36337.html

8. Highly recommended reading:  Decade of Betrayal by Francisco E. Balderrama and Raymond Rodríguez
https://www.amazon.com/Decade-Betrayal-Mexican-Repatriation-1930s/dp/0826339735

Sent by M. Guadalupe Espinoza  
mgespinoza2009@hotmail.com 

Sent by Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante  campce@gmail.com 

“CHICANO! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement,” 
the 1997 four-part PBS documentary 

Estimadas/os: For those who may be interested, my latest “Political Salsa y Más” blog, “The Cucuy is coming!” is on “Latinopia”—the link is below.

In this blog I comment on how Americans claim to love democracy but demonize those who actually practice it (i.e., belong to and/or support third parties) and turn a blind eye to Republican-Democratic efforts to thwart democracy.

As always, I urge you to check out Latinopia, a treasure trove of Art, Literature, Theater, Music, Cinema and Television, Food, History, and Sci Fi. Chicano media pioneer Jesús S.Treviño founded and operates Latinopia. Jesús documented on film and in his book “Eyewitness: A Filmmaker's Memoir of the Chicano Movement” the most important events in the Mexican American/Chicano Civil Rights Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. His collection of short stories, “Return to Arroyo Grande” (Arte Publico), was recently published.

“CHICANO! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement,” the 1997 four-part PBS documentary series that Jesús co-produced remains a classroom staple throughout the country.

Jesús has directed episodes of many popular television series, including Law and Order, Criminal Minds, ER, NYPD Blue, Crossing Jordan, The Practice, and Chicago Hope and has received dozens of national and international awards and recognitions, such as: ALMA Award for Outstanding Director of a Television Drama, and Outstanding Co-Executive Producer of Best Prime-time drama series, and (twice) Directors Guild of America award.

HERE’S THE LINK TO LATINOPIA:

http://latinopia.com/blogs/political-salsa-y-mas-with-sal-baldenegro-8-14-16-third-parties-reflect-true-democracy/

Salomón Baldenegro

STATE OF THE NATION: 9 GRAPHS:  
Student Loans | Food Stamps | Federal Debt | 
Money Printing | Health Insurance Costs | Labor Force Participation | 
Worker's Share of the Economy | Median Family Income  | Home Ownership 

 Giving Public Visibility to Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October5

Latinos in the United States live an average of three years longer than Caucasians

The Forgotten History of the Mexican-American Team That Ruled Texas HS Basketball 
In the 1940s Lanier San Antonio Basketball 
by Manuel Solis  

Coach Nemo Herrera

Sent by Mercy Bautista Olvera

HERITAGE PROJECTS

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HORSE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WILBUR-CRUCE.  
by Caroline Baldock  

MulesAssyrian600BC

PersianOxheadhorsebit

Persepolis500-470BC .

We do know from a large collection of visual evidence that the chariot horse was used in war and the ceremony around war. According to Kikkuli (1500 BCE) the horses were small and clearly not like the early European horse and the Przewalski that seem to have been an easy target for food.  According to Louise Firouz they looked like a small horse she purchased in Iran (Persia in those days).  Louise, a lifetime’s horsewoman, saw in this small horse something unusual. Fineness, a quality that suggested it was not a pony for all of its 11 hh., but a small horse.  This fitted in with bas-reliefs in Persepolis. She had stumbled on an ancient breed. She called it Equus Fossilis Persicus.  

This small horse would have been perfect for Charioteers, small intelligent, clearly handlable and brave. Louise considered this small horse, she now called The Caspian, to be the precursor of the Oriental horse that she felt must be the ancestor of what we know today as the hot-blooded horses.   

Now this takes me back to something Monty Roberts told me. When he acquired three mustangs from the BLM, (Bureau of Land Management) with a view to  doing join-up in the wild, he told me that he chose the one now known as Shy Boy because he had the most intelligent head. He liked him. The other two mustangs, Mustang Sally and Franco, were in fact much harder to work with and Franco was finally given to Neda de Mayo to live wild in her sanctuary not far from Lompoc. Shy Boy, became a star, going into film studios up steps onto the platform of the round pen and generally being quite happy to make films and enjoy life as a domesticated pet.

If we take into consideration what Marsha A Levine says in her paper on ‘Domestication, Breed Diversity and Early History of the Horse’, she thinks that early domestication might have come from an orphan foals being adopted by a tribe and found to be useful.  What a shame the poor abused Mammoth did not get the same treatment.  

Certainly if Roberts and Levine are right then a slightly more versatile and intelligent version of the early horse might well have crept into people hearts and tents. If this is so then we might be looking at something even more interesting, a change of diet more water, better grass might have produced a better horse and with that spontaneous change also to a more malleable and intelligent creature.  

That is how crystals form with spontaneity and also allow me to throw in Justin Morgan, the stallion who gave his name to a new breed, the Morgan Horse. In fact the Morgan horse could easily have stepped off a bas-relief from Persepolis.  

We also can see, if we use our eyes in places like the British Museum that clearly ass horses were not the same. We can see the Asses, the Onagers and the Donkeys, we can see the Nicean horses with those rounded faces described by Azzoroli as Occidental and the horses he describes as Oriental.    

If warfare caused the intense breeding programs for horseflesh, then warfare has done us justice for the intensification of chariot warfare and then followed by the development of Cavalry, via the Scythians, we should be grateful.  

The next area we should examine in tribal warfare and the development of empires; from the Hittites, the Mitanni, the Egyptian Empire the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Empire, the Median Empire, the Persian Empire, the empire of Alexander (323 BCE), the Seleucid kingdom, the Parthian Empire (AD 138) the Persian Empire, and the Roman Empire AD 362. Throughout all this comings and goings the horse was prominent. And so it is of little surprise that the horse and its usefulness was refined and developed.  Treatise written 1300 BCE show us that the knowledge of the training of  these horses was detailed.  

It may well be that during the Byzantine Empire AD 650 to roughly AD 1173 given a few weeks here and there, horses were bred and transported throughout North Africa and Europe. The net result of a nice stallion with superb conformation intelligence and courage turning up in a village somewhere near you would encourage cross breeding and the development of a hybrid, which in every respect would have been just what was needed. Also we are talking thousands upon thousands of horses. Why Napoleon lost 30,000 horses in a week during the Russia campaign when they were fed green barley.  The horse world of today knows nothing of the quality and quality of horses in the days of ancient Rome and Byzantine.  

And so arriving in Southern Spain were hybrids of quality, with many coloured coats, but of a stamp. They would have been 14 to 15 hh, just big enough to mount from the ground, tough, intelligent, brave, with great endurance and sound in wind heart and limb because Veterinary intervention was almost nil.  

They would also have had great quality from the Caspian, the Turkoman and the Akhal Tekke. They were put in ships and carted off to the New World to serve their Spanish masters there. And serve them they did, with honour.  

Now a small herd of these horses have survived almost untouched by some act of God. They are still with us today, but if funding is not found soon they will have to be dispersed and we will lose a great inheritance, the result of thousands of years of selected breeding for war. These horses are the Wilbur-Cruce, cared for now by Robin Collins. 

They are of such a quality as to be revered. I have met one of their leaders, and I have never forgotten him, his name was Francisco, and when I looked at him I knew I was staring into the past at an animal whose heritage was a legend who feet had touched every desert in the old world and who had taken part in all the battles of the ancients and is now still with us.  

Well done Robin, for these are the horses that have proved that survival of the fittest in every sense is the only way to go.  So here they are, the Wilbur- Cruce horses of the Conquest.

Caroline Baldock  
2016-08-11©

The review by Ms. Caroline Baldock should be viewed as extremely valuable and important.  Ms. Baldock is an internationally antiquarian equestrian specialist. Her background includes being a jockey. 

Genetic Time Capsule  

 Rancho del Sueno,  Cristo Spanish Stallion 

Berber Stallion

        “Once thought gone forever”      
Editor Mimi: Note the white sock  on the back leg.

More like the horses of the ‘Golden Era of Spain’ than exists today…  

Who would have thought we could share and enjoy the horses of early Iberia and the period of Spanish exploration still today.  

Recently, the horses at the Heritage Discovery Center’s equine division, Rancho Del Sueno, were DNA tested by Dr. Gus Cothran of Texas A&M University.  The results indicate the validity of the oral and written history of the Colonial Spanish Wilbur-Cruce Mission Horses. 

The DNA testing showed that the statement of Cruce Horses’ isolation is in fact accurate.  The results were conclusive that these horses are legitimate, purebred descendants of the “Old Spanish” breeds and the North African Barb, Asturcon, & Losino (both ancient breeds of Iberia), and likely to be more precise representations of the horses of the “Golden Era of Spain” than exist in Iberia today.   

Galindo Colonial Spanish Wilbur Cruce Stallion
Galindo demonstrates two Spanish color genetics 
1) Black chestnut   
2) Overo paint pattern popular in South American breeds...
brought from Iberia  also colored eyes (shown the pinterest photo)

“We can make inferences for the past by what we know about the breeds historically.  This shows that the Wilbur-Cruce has Spanish ancestry and that it traces directly back to at least pre - Spanish exploration times.”

~ Dr. E.G. Cothran  

Remarkably, the DNA results show the presence of ancient breeds including the Caspian, Turkoman, and Akhal-Teke.   These findings are unprecedented and exciting… essentially an equine Jurassic Park.

“It is not normal for DNA results to show these earlier types… These horses are like a ‘genetic time capsule.”

~ Dr. E.G.  Cothran

The Cruce Horses represent a population of horses that were believed to have been extinct for centuries.  They are the type of equine that many modern breeds are descended from, including the well-known Iberian breeds, the Andalusian, Pure Raza Espanol, and Lusitano.  It is also important to note that the Cruce Horses have retained the physical traits and character attributes that were most likely present in the equine species long ago during a time when horses lived and worked in close proximity to humans in daily life.  In this sense, these horses are entirely unique and fascinating, and represent an irreplaceable genetic resource for the further influence of equine breeds.   

Iberian Connection:
·         Algerian
·         Asturcon
·         Losino
·         PRE Raza
·         Andalusian
·         Lusitano
·         Moroccan Barb  

DNA also remarkably showed ancient breeds:
·         Caspian
·         Turkoman
·          Akahl Teke  

The Wilbur-Cruce also show a kinship to South American breeds such as: 
(These breeds are descended from the Wilbur-Cruce type) (same types as the WC)
·         Mangalarga Marchador
·         Mangalarga
·         Colombian Paso Fino
·         Venezuelan Criollo
·         Garrano
·         Puerto Rican Paso Fino
·         Galiceno

Explanation of the DNA findings

“Iberia was a region of old horse biodiversity, and this seems to date from early in the history of domesticated horses because unique Iberian types were added into what was brought in from original domestication sites in eastern Europe.  This diversity was brought to the New World, and was then somewhat changed in Iberia as breeding practices changed over time.  As a result, the New World horses, and especially those in North America for complicated historic reasons, are a good time capsule of these older types. The types varied in Spain, and these variations seem to have been brought here.”       ~ D.P Sponenberg, DVM. PhD

The WC horses are a composite of an Equine timeline from the early foundation breeds Caspian, Turkoman, and Ahkal Teke.  Their influence spans throughout Europe to Iberia and the development of the Iberian/Spanish types.  It is understood that early Iberian horses were classified as one of three separate types:

·         Villano/Garrano/Carthusian - Proto-Andalusian, substantial trotting and galloping horses used for war, mounted games and racing.  All colors  

·         Jinete/Jennet/Gennet  - Gaited type, small but substantial, short back, smooth riding equitation mount.  Prized for their swiftness, docility, courage, and easy gaits.  La Jinta)  

·         Gallego/Gallic/Barb  - Iberian breed, smaller, coarser type, more or less gaited, and affordable by peasantry.  Indigenous feral horse.  Later mixed with the Moors’ Barb .  Swift, agile, hardy.

(“Seeds of Change” for the Smithsonian, Dr. Deb Bennett)
 

“The Spanish traditionally did have three main divisions for horses”, quotes Sponenburg. “Iberia was indeed a locus of major horse variation, and it is that aspect that is important.  The WC horses are descendants of Iberian horses from centuries ago, before some of the more recent changes occurred there.  So, the WC horses are important as a time-capsule of genetic resource from that time period.”

The Wilbur-Cruce herd still showed individuals of all three divisions of horses from Iberia.

The Period of Spanish Exploration to the Americas

Why do the original Spanish types of horses from the period of exploration still flourished in South America?

          The peoples of South America continued to utilize the Spanish horses, for the most part, as they were.  The Spanish horses developed into types/breeds as use and environment dictated.  This preserved qualities and types of the Spanish horses brought during the period of Spanish exploration.  

          
           Spanish horses in North America lost nearly all their Spanish identity.  Infused with other types of horses brought from the East to the West, the Spanish horses helped to start new American breeds, i.e., Quarter horses, color breeds and various gaited lines for a few.  The Spanish horses captured/stolen were used by the indigenous Native American populations to transform and enhance their lifestyles forever.  Those Spanish horses who escaped/stolen or were turned loose created the great herds of Mustangs of the West.  Only for a brief time were the original   Spanish horses used to develop the El Dorado of Alta California, manage the vast cattle herds of the great Ranchos and create the legend of the Californio and Vaquero.                                                                                                       A Mustang

      
           It is amazing that the early Spanish horse of the Spanish exploration and back through European development, is still here for us to know and conserve… for our Legacy and for their Noble and indelible presence.  

For more information please contact:
Robin Collins    559 868-8681
Heritage Discovery Center/Rancho Del Sueno
40222 Millstream Lane, Madera Ca  93636

Please donate a gift of Love and Support for the preservation of these rare and endangered historic horses…

Barb/Andalusian    These are both the same horse  'Thom Cruce'  Photos are10 years apart (Grey horses almost always turn white as they age) 

HISTORICAL TIDBITS

US President Andrew Jackson fought for and passed 
the "Indian Removal Act of 1832". 

Folks,  I have read some of these posts for the first time today.  To one writer, Ralph asked, "Can you identify where, when and who committed these "millions" of murders you claim?

  LATINO AMERICAN PATRIOTS

I could never figure out how I was ever so lucky? by Paul Trejo
Nicholas Estavillo, first Hispanic history of  NYPD to reach three-star rank of Chief of Patrol


Latino soldiers,  Cebu, Phillipines, WW II

I  could never figure out how I was ever so lucky? by Paul Trejo

Mimi, that is me in the magazine photo. I found the magazine in the stash, and I will try and copy the cover and send it along. Right now I'm up to my fanny in Alligators and I'm trying to empty the swamp. My grand daughter found that article somewhere in her dad's collection. I also supervised the building of this planetarium at Foothill College, and then an Observatory with a 18 inch reflecting telescope. This was before we landed on the moon. NASA Engineers used my telescope to photograph the Lunar surface for possible landing sites. 

I changed my designator from Navy Line Officer to Ordnance Engineering Duty Officer. Then the Navy "at the convenience of the Government", arbitrarily changed my designator to Aviation Engineering Duty Officer. From that day on I was in the aviation community. I did a tour with Squadron (VR-884) the summer of 1967 in Viet Nam, as Squadron Engineering Officer. We flew supplies to the fortified stockades along the Cambodian border, and flew out wounded, While there, we flew up to Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan, to ream. Son Les was stationed there at the Communications Station ---- he was a Seaman Yeoman. The Navy took a publicity photo of us at the administration building/control tower ---- Father and Son Serving. I will attach that photo. (see above) While in the Aviation Community I commanded several  Weapons Training Units (WepTu). These were all officer units, and all had engineering degrees. The only non aviator was myself. I was the only one with surface navy and submarine experience, so we made a interesting group.

Military decoration    

Sent by Joe Sanchez     bluewall@mpinet.net 

EARLY LATINO AMERICAN PATRIOTS

Cher Jacques,

From my extensive research over several years, and considering the authors who you quote, it appears that French, Spanish and English historians each wrote a different history, and that has to be expected. They wrote from their unique perspectives and biases. As a trial lawyer and later as a judge, I learned that it is not uncommon for witnesses who all witnessed the same automobile accident to testify to different facts that each considered important. As a judge, I had to deduce the true story from disparate testimony of many witnesses. Clearly, American historians reported from their perspectives, as did French and Spanish historians. Therefore, it is not surprising that historians disagree. As I told you earlier, every fact espoused in my book is supported by a footnote stating the treatise that provided that information. Clearly, American historians have applauded my book.

It has never been my intention to belittle the contributions of France. As I say in my book, I consider myself a Francophile. I love and respect France for its vital contributions to the American Revolutionary War, together with the fact that we were allies in both World War I and World War II. Robin and I love the members of the France society, including both you and Marie Claire, and are thankful for all you do to support the SAR.

The problem is one of fairness. In our schools, if our students are exposed to American History, they are taught about Rochambeau, Lafayette, etc., but there is no mention of the contributions of Spain. I hope you will agree that the contributions of Spain should also be taught - even though we may disagree as to the degree and extent of support from Spain, hopefully we can agree that its support should be taught.

Over 200 years ago, Gen Bernardo de Galvez was a national hero in the US. Galveston, TX - the first capital of Texas - was named for him, as were Galveston County and Galveston Bay. In Louisiana, St. Bernard Parish was named for him, and they honored his wife, Felicity by naming two Parishes after her - West Feliciana Parish and East Feliciana Parish. Statutes of Galvez have been displayed in Mobile, AL, New Orleans, LA, Pensacola, FL and Washington, DC. We have SAR chapters in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida named for Galvez. The DAR likewise has numerous chapter named for him. I am convinced that Spain's involvement has been ignored by American historians because Spain was erroneously blamed for the sinking of the US Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor. Of course, we now know that the Maine exploded because of spontaneous combustion from coal gas.

You should also be aware that we have many more Hispanics living in the US now than those who are of French descent. The SAR must focus on our audience. Most lineage societies have been on the decline over the past years. We have been fortunate to recruit Hispanics into SAR. Twice the San Antonio chapter has inducted 8 members of the same family. Our chapter in Laredo, TX was formed with all 22 members being Hispanic - all descended from a grandson of Patrick Henry, who married a woman from Mexico. When I took over as President General our membership was about 29,000. Instead of declining, our membership now stands at about 34,000 last December. Part of that substantial increase may be attributed to recruiting Hispanic members. The DAR has been recruiting those descended from Spanish patriots for almost 100 years.

The NSSAR has honored France by always placing the French flag next to the US flag, whereas the Spain flag is flown with those of our other state societies. We frequently run articles about the French support in the SAR Magazine ("Return of a Hero", Bruce Wilcox, SAR Magazine, Spring 2013, Vol. 107, No. 4, pp. 21-23). The fact that we ocassionally run articles about the support received from Holland, Sweden and Spain, should in no way indicate that we minimize France's contributions.

What cannot be ignored by historians today is that Galvez removed the British from both the Mississippi River Valley and the Gulf Coast. His victories resulted in the defanging of the British, and quashing any thoughts they may have had about a second front from the west or the south. The capture of 55 British ships, including 8 warships in and of itself, is enough to sing Spain's praises.

I hope that we can disagree, without being disagreeable.

Fraternally,

Ed Butler
SARPG0910@aol.com 
http://www.galvezbook.com  


Galvez / Spain - Our Forgotten Ally in the American Revolutionary War: A Concise Summary of Spain's Assistance. So far, the book has won five awards: 
1) The Texas Connection To The American Revolution presented the "Best American History Book about the American Revolutionary War in 2014;
2) Readers' Review gave it its "5 Star Award;" 
3) The Sons of the Republic of Texas presented its "Presidio La Bahia Award; "
4) Texas Hill Country Chapter of Colonial Dames - "Best History Book in 2015." 
5) International Latino Book Award for Best History Book in 2016

More information on the book, go to www.galvezbook.com  

11/02/2016 Presentación del cómic Bernardo de Gálvez en Madrid

September 1779 

by Joe Perez 
jperez329@satx.rr.com

       Prior to formally declaring war on England on June 21, 1779, Spain had already been providing great amounts of aid to the American Colonists. “Secured by Gálvez, the Mississippi River served as a veritable lifeline to American forces, and the amount of men, money, supplies, and correspondence that moved up and down it were considerably greater than most people realize”¹  The declaration of war meant that it was time for Gálvez to initiate his Gulf Coast Campaign.

The British had been reinforcing their fortifications on the southwestern part of their American territory at Manchac, Baton Rouge and Natchez while considering the option of attacking New Orleans .  Even though Spain ’s declaration of war did not reach Gálvez until August, he had anticipated it and already began recruiting forces under the pretext of defending New Orleans .  With a brilliant understanding of how to motivate his troops, Gálvez kept news of the declaration of war a secret, waiting to use that information at the precise moment to gain its full effect.

Gálvez feared that if he delayed attacking the British, they would have time to amass a sizeable army and attack New Orleans first.  He made plans to hit the nearest British outposts first so as not to leave New Orleans vulnerable as he went further into British territory.  Prior to leading his troops out of New Orleans , Gálvez made an important public announcement to its citizens.  Using his oratory skills, he announced that he had been appointed Governor of Louisiana which, until then, he had served in an acting capacity.  He announced that even though the city was experiencing difficult times due to damages from a recent hurricane, and even though England planned to attack their vulnerable city, as their Governor, he vowed to protect their province and give the last drop of his blood, if necessary, to do so.  He asked the crowd rhetorically, “What do you say?  Shall I take the oath of office of Governor?  Shall I swear to defend Louisiana ?”²  The citizens of New Orleans were so moved that they erupted in cheers “after having promised me to sacrifice their lives in service of the King”³.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, he led his small 667-man army out of New Orleans on August 27^th.  His troops consisted of “170 veteran soldiers, 330 recruits newly arrived from Mexico and the Canary Islands, 20 carabineers, 60 militiamen 80 free blacks and mulattoes, and 7 American volunteers”⁴ including New Orleans merchant Oliver Pollock who was an Agent of the Continental Congress, aide-de-camp to Gálvez as well as a valuable financier during the American Revolution.  Gálvez left some militiamen under the command of Lt. Colonel Pedro Piernas to protect New Orleans .

While Gálvez led his troops by land, Lieutenant Juan álvarez commanded a small fleet of four vessels up the Mississippi River .  Gálvez marched his men nearly eighty miles in eleven days and recruited more militiamen along the way, increasing his troop number to 1,427 fighting men.  On September 6^th, they came within sight of Fort Bute , the British fortification at Manchac.  This is when Gálvez made the announcement to his men that Spain had, in fact, declared war on England .  On the eve of their first battle and motivated with the knowledge that they were suddenly at war against an enemy that wanted to attack their beloved province, the troops of Gálvez were filled with courage and a desire to follow their commander in defense of Louisiana.

On the following day, September 7^th, the troops of Gálvez took Fort Bute easily and without much defense from the British, who had sent most of the soldiers to Baton Rouge , deciding that Manchac could not be defended well anyway.  One British soldier was killed and there was no loss of lives for the Spanish.  This was not a major battle, however, it was important for Gálvez’ troops, which consisted mostly of militia, as it proved that they could fight and win.  The battle filled the troops with courage and motivation to continue. 

After resting for a few days, with his first battle during the American Revolution behind him, Gálvez moved his troops out on a march to Baton Rouge .  He sent an advance party under Carlos Grand Pré to establish a camp between Baton Rouge and Natchez in order to disrupt any communication between the two British forts.  The British only had a few weeks to build up the fort at Baton Rouge but they did an excellent job.  High walls protected the fort, which was surrounded by an eighteen foot wide ditch that was nine feet deep.  The British fort was commanded by Colonel Dickson and defended by eighteen cannons and nearly six hundred troops.  Taking this fort would not be easy.  Colonel Dickson must have felt assured of his ability to defend any attack.  However, Dickson never had such a brilliant adversary like Bernardo de Gálvez.

In a marvelous display of tactical genius, Gálvez used the terrain and a diversionary maneuver to get the better of his well-fortified enemy.  On one side of the fort was a grove of trees which gave Gálvez an idea.  He sent several of his troops into the grove to chop down trees and construct some cover.  He ordered these troops to fire upon the fort and make sure to get the attention of the British, which they certainly did.  Colonel Dickson ordered his cannons to keep bombarding the Spanish troops throughout the night and not allow them to establish a good foothold.  The British were kept occupied by these Spanish troops all night long and when the light of morning came, Colonel Dickson realized that he had been outmaneuvered by Gálvez.  While the British cannons were concentrated on the Spanish soldiers in the grove all night, Gálvez had the rest of his army establishing cannon placements on the opposite side of the fort and well within range of both cannons and muskets.  Dickson quickly had his troops open fire on the newly discovered Spanish front but it was too little too late.  The entrenched cannons fired upon the fort in a relentless barrage.  “Colonel Dickson wrote that early in the morning of September 21, the Spanish heavy artillery began firing, and after an incessant fire on both sides for more than three hours, I found myself obliged to yield to the great superiority of his artillery, and to surrender the redoubt to his Excellency Don Bernardo de Gálvez, who commanded the troops of his Catholic Majesty”.⁵  Two British officers emerged from the fortress gates under the white flag of surrender and ready to propose a truce.

Gálvez agreed to accept the surrender of the fort at Baton Rouge , however, he had greater demands than that.  In the terms of capitulation, Gálvez also called for the surrender of Fort Panmure at Natchez .  Colonel Dickson was in no position to negotiate and agreed to these terms.  This move cleared the lower Mississippi River of any British presence.  With the American Revolution in full force, Gálvez captured three British forts in a single month.  September 1779 was a tremendously successful month in the war for American independence.

References:

¹ Robert H. Thonhoff, The Texas Connection With The American Revolution, (Eakin Press, Burnet, Texas, 1981), p.27

² John Walton Caughey, Bernardo de Gálvez in Louisiana 1776-1783, (Pelican Publishing Company, 1991), p.153

³ Charles Robert Churchill, Bernardo de Gálvez, Services To The American Revolution, (Self published through the Louisiana Society Sons of the American Revolution, March 4, 1925), p.441

⁴ Thonhoff , Texas Connection, p.28

⁵ Thomas E. Chávez, Spain And The Independence of the United States , An Intrinsic Gift, ( University of New Mexico Press , Albuquerque , NM , 2002), p.171

Spanish SURNAMES

Genealogía de la Familia Michel, 
Aportación a la Lucha Cristera en Defensa de la Fe 
por Parte de Algunos de sus Miembros y Otras Familias de Jalisco
por Alfredo I. Peña Pérez  
penaperezplazola@hotmail.com

DNA

A study of prehistoric DNA has challenged the established theory 
of how people first reached the Americas.

By New Scientist staff and Press Association

Dr. Refugio I. Rochin-Rodriguez, I am much into DNA and ancestry - have been for years. 

Family History and DNA data Integrates Jose-Maria Merino's Soul with Peace 

Tech & Science
MEXICO IS HOME TO DNA THAT'S A WORLD APART, STUDY SHOWS
by Karla Zabludovsky,  6/12/14 

MEXICO, HEALTH AND SCIENCE
Mexicans from different regions of the country are as genetically different as Europeans are from Asians, researchers have found.

Think local. 
Scientists have mapped the genetic relationships between Mexico’s indigenous groups 
and discovered a stunning amount of diversity.
A. Moreno-Estrada et al., Science (2014)

People from Mexico show stunning amount of genetic diversity
By Lizzie Wade Jun. 12, 2014  

The genetic impact of aztec imperialism:
 Ancient mitochondrial DNA evidence from Xaltocan, Mexico
Research Article

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

To your knowledge, is there anyone that I could send the pages (2) that could maybe decipher What is written. I took them to the local  Oregon State college Spanish department about two years ago. I assumed that teachers are accustomed to reading different hand writings, and would more easily be able to translate them.  Strangely, after a couple of conversations, I never heard from them. I have been able to translate portions of the document, but not conclusive enough to give me a decent narration of the whole. My brother and I are wiling to compensate who ever does it. 

The Chronicling America website of the Library of Congress 
wonderful source for digitized historical newspapers. Library of Congress

by Kimberly Powell
http://genealogy.about.com/od/newspapers/a/chronicling-america.htm

EDUCATION

What Does It Mean To Be Bilingual? by Marion Maurin 

What goes on in the brain of a bilingual person, and what are the effects of being raised in two languages? In this video and article, different perceptions of what it means to be bilingual are discussed..

https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/the-bilingual-brain 

Leslie Hiatt’s fifth-graders are no strangers to politics.
The Fifth-Graders Who Put Mexican Repatriation Back Into History Books

Sent by Mercy Bautista Olvera

Welcome to the La Red Latina WWW Network

Editor Mimi:  I did not know that La Red Latina also included articles, I thought it was a discussion group,(which is always quite lively.) Do check it out.  

De la Leyenda Negra por Jose Crespo

Sobre la leyenda negra, esa pesada losa asumida e interiorizada por muchos compatriotas, he de decir que se basa en dos principios, uno de ellos es el silencio y la ocultación, y otro la reinvención o atribución de hechos, o descubrimientos, sumada a la negación de cualquier aspecto positivo de la Hispanidad. Y de esos dos aspectos quiero tratar.

Jose Crespo rio_grande@telefonica.net

  Andy Rooney

Sharing words of wisdom....smiles! 



Written by Andy Rooney, a man who had 
the gift of saying so much with so few words. 
Rooney used to be on 60 Minutes TV show.

I've learned.... 

Sent by:    alfonso2r@yahoo.com

CULTURE

2016 International Latino Book Awards Ceremony

"The Largest Awards in the USA Celebrating Achievements in Latino Literature"

September 8th, 2016

September 8th, 2016

Reception @5pm  -  Awards & Entertainment @6pm

Dominguez Ballroom

Cal State University - Dominguez Hills Campus

There is a Wide range of sponsorship opportunities, 
each filled with multi-media activities for promoting your product or service. 

BOOKS & PRINT MEDIA