Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer
Encyclopedia
Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer was founded on January 7, 1781 by Father Francisco Garcés to protect the Anza Trail
where it forded the Colorado River
.
The settlement, located about ten miles northeast of Yuma Crossing, was not part of the California mission chain, but was administered as a part of the Arizona missions. The Mission site and nearby pueblo was inadequately supported, and Spanish
colonists seized the best lands, destroyed the Indians
' crops, and generally ignored the rights of the local natives.
In retaliation, the Quechan
(Yuma) Indians and their allies attacked and destroyed the installation and the neighboring Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción
during a three-day period, from July 17–19, 1781. Some 50 Spaniards, including Father Garcés (along with three other friars and Captain Fernando Rivera y Moncada
) were killed, and the women and children taken captive. The natives' victory closed this crossing and seriously crippled future communications between Las Californias
and New Spain
-Mexico
.
Today, only a historical marker identifies the site. The marker is on Imperial County Road 524, 0.2 mi W of intersection of Levee and Mehring Roads, 4.4 mi NE of Bard, California
.
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
thumb|325px|MAP: [[Juan Bautista de Anza]] National Historic Trail routes in [[Arizona]] and [[California]].The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is a National Park Service unit in the United States National Historic Trail and National Millennium Trail programs...
where it forded the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
.
The settlement, located about ten miles northeast of Yuma Crossing, was not part of the California mission chain, but was administered as a part of the Arizona missions. The Mission site and nearby pueblo was inadequately supported, and Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colonists seized the best lands, destroyed the Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
' crops, and generally ignored the rights of the local natives.
In retaliation, the Quechan
Quechan
The Quechan are a Native American tribe who live on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation on the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California just north of the border with Mexico...
(Yuma) Indians and their allies attacked and destroyed the installation and the neighboring Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción
Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción
Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción was founded in October, 1780, by Father Francisco Garcés. The settlement was not part of the California mission chain, but was administered as a part of the Arizona missions...
during a three-day period, from July 17–19, 1781. Some 50 Spaniards, including Father Garcés (along with three other friars and Captain Fernando Rivera y Moncada
Fernando Rivera y Moncada
Fernando Javier Rivera y Moncada was a soldier from New Spain who served in the Baja California peninsula and upper Las Californias, participating in several early overland explorations. Fernando Rivera y Moncada served as a Spanish Miilitary Governor from 1774-1777. -Biography:Rivera was born...
) were killed, and the women and children taken captive. The natives' victory closed this crossing and seriously crippled future communications between Las Californias
Las Californias
The Californias, or in — - was the name given by the Spanish to their northwestern territory of New Spain, comprising the present day states of Baja California and Baja California Sur on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico; and the present day U.S. state of California in the United States of...
and New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
-Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Today, only a historical marker identifies the site. The marker is on Imperial County Road 524, 0.2 mi W of intersection of Levee and Mehring Roads, 4.4 mi NE of Bard, California
Bard, California
Bard is an unincorporated community in Imperial County, California, United States. It lies at an elevation of 138 feet .The first post office at Bard opened in 1910 and closed in 1933. The post office was re-established in 1937. Bard's ZIP Code is 92222. The name honors Thomas R. Bard, a promoter...
.