Pedro de Nava papers relating to Pedro Vial

1792-1794

Pedro de Nava was commander general of the Provincias Internas, the northern frontier of the Spanish colonies in America. The collection consists of original incoming letters and copies of Nava’s outgoing letters relating to explorer Pedro Vial’s efforts, 1792-1793, to find a route from Santa Fe to what is now St. Louis, Missouri (San Luis de los Ylinueces, or Saint Louis of the Illinois, in Spanish Louisiana), as directed by Fernando de la Concha, governor of New Mexico. Pedro Vial (d. 1814) was a French frontiersman who had earlier explored Southwestern routes for the Spanish government. Concha informs Nava of the journey, enclosing his attested copies of instructions given to Vial, which is acknowledged by Nava. Correspondence between Nava and the Count of Revillagigedo (1740-1799) the Viceroy of New Spain in Mexico, concern the status of Vial’s journey in the company of two other men, his past work, and the possibility of other travels. The papers contain two copies of Vial’s journal. There is a secretarial copy dated 1793 March 27 (15 p.) of Vial’s journal of events from 1792 May 21 to October 7 including his captivity with the Canses (Kaw) indians, as forwarded to Nava by Revillagigedo. A journal (32 p.) spanning 1792 May 21 to 1793 November 16, possibly signed by Vial himself, includes his return journey from Saint Louis to Santa Fe. Entries record distances traveled, routes, encampments, and encounters with Native Americans and others. Also present are two letters concerning Vial written by Zenon Trudeau, commander at Saint Louis, as copied by Concha. A letter from Revillagigedo to Nava dated 1794 January 29 acknowledges receipt of a copy of Vial’s journal covering his entire journey. In Spanish.