First Battle of Terrenate
| First Battle of Terrenate | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Apache-Mexico Wars | |||||||
 Fort Santa Cruz de Terrenate in southern Arizona. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spain
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Apache | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Francisco Tovar †
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unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~56 | unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 30 killed | unknown | ||||||
The First Battle of Terrenate on July 7, 1776 was a military engagement during the Spanish period of Arizona. It was fought between Spanish soldiers and Apache warriors, near the Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate in the present day southern Arizona.
The site for El Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate, near the middle of the San Pedro River, was chosen on August 22, 1775 by Colonel Hugo O'Conor (born in Ireland) who was in charge of relocating Spanish fortifications on the Sonoran frontier. The spot was on a bluff overlooking the San Pedro River, which provided natural fortifications on three sides.
The walls were built in the shape of a large square, with one triangular bastion at a corner to protect the presidio's two front walls and a main gate protected by a two-story guardhouse. Several adobe-walled structures and jacals were also constructed to house the families of the garrison soldiers, along with a small barracks, an officer's quarters, a chapel and a plaza. The area had pasturage, wood and water.
The garrison consisted of the commander, Captain Francisco Tovar and fifty-six soldados de cuera ("leather jackets"). Artillery had not yet arrived at the isolated post, which was still under construction at the time of battle. The fighting men were armed with pistols, muskets, bows, swords, adargas (leather shields), and lances.
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