Author: Barry Schwoerer
Private Salvador CARRIAGA

Salvador CARRIAGA was born in Loreto, Baja California about 1760. He enlisted in the Spanish Colonial Army and was posted to Presidio San Diego not too long after Father Junipero Sera founded Mission San Diego de Alcala. Private Carriaga was in a group of soldiers known as Soldado de Cuera, so named because they wore a vest of multi layered deer skin as a type of body armor. Soldado de Cuera were mounted soldiers, or cavalry, considered by many observers of the time as the best mounted soldiers then in existence. Soldado de Cuera’s were heavily armed for their day. They carried a hooked lance, a sword, two pistols, a long firearm and a two-layer rawhide shield. Each soldier was issued up to six horses and a donkey plus the horse gear or tack for the stable of horses.

The duties of the soldiers were many. In fact one Soldado described the duties as more numerous than God’s fallen angels. The soldiers guarded the Missions, Presidios, and ports, responded to threats, carried messages between military garrisons, escorted supply caravans, conducted patrols of their assigned territories, cared for their horses and gear, and performed many other duties. Private Carriaga was eventually detailed to the military garrison at Mission San Juan Capistrano where he met and married a native American from the Juañeno band of Indians at Rancheria Tobna, a few miles southwest of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Her native name was Yahuivdem, baptized as Maria Guadalupe. Private Carriaga died at Mission San Juan Capistrano and is buried in the Old Mission Graveyard adjacent to the Mission.
Why are Salvador and his fellow Colonial Spanish soldiers and sailors considered Patriots of the American Revolution? From the start of the American revolution in 1776 Spain provided the fledgling United States money and war materials. 21 June 1779 Spain declared war on England and continued operations against England until peace was declared in September 1783.  King Carlos III urged his soldiers and sailors to attack the English wherever they appeared, including all of the territory held by Spain in the Americas, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The support Spain provided to the United States is viewed by many historians and military analysts as important as the support France provided to the United States. Essentially Spain prevented England from using all of the Gulf coast, all of the Mississippi River and from making water and supply stops in ports on both coasts of the Americas controlled by Spain. Spain prevented England from attacking the United States from the West. Spain and it’s soldiers and mariners effectively cut off over ½ the world from English supply and operations and caused England to divert considerable resources to defend the borders of territory occupied by Spain and Oceans and seas patrolled by Spanish ships. Salvador Carriaga served in the Spanish Colonial Army in California during the American Revolution and therefore contributed to our eventual victory over England.