The All-important Colorado River Crossing

The All-important Colorado River Crossing. Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. During his 1774 exploratory trip, Anza made friends with Chief Olleyquotequiebe (Anza called him “Palma”) of the Quechan Indians, who controlled the river crossing. The Quechans welcomed the 1775 colonizing expedition and supplied beans, grain, and a feast of watermelons to the weary travelers., The Yumas entertained us in an arbor which Captain Palma had ordered erected here as soon as he learned of our coming, and many Indians of both sexes assembled to visit us, very festive and joyful and very much painted in various modes and colors. , , Padre Font, November 28, 1775, The expedition crossed on November 30, where the Colorado River was relatively shallow, three to four hundred yards wide and running in three channels past two islands. Many of the men waded, the taller horses being reserved for women and children. Anza positioned ten men on the downstream side to rescue anyone who should fall. One man carrying a child did go down, but was soon rescued. The crossing was otherwise made without mishap., The Anza expedition arrived at the Colorado River on November 28, 1775. The exact crossing site is unknown, because flooding periodically altered the river courses and the confluence of the Gila and Colorado Rivers. We do know they crossed the Gila River a few miles east of here, and camped between the two rivers. After two days rest, they crossed the Colorado River, camped, and then moved on to camp near Chief Palma’s village., The Aftermath , At Chief Palma’s request, in 1775, Anza left to establish missions in the area. By 1780, two mission churches and missionaries had been established by Spanish authorities., In 1781, forty families of settlers were captured while crossing on their way to establish the Mission and presidio at Santa Barbara. Faced with starvation after the Spanish soldiers burned their crops, and angered by unfulfilled Spanish promises, the Quechans revolted. The remaining Spanish settlers, soldiers, and priests, including Father Garcés, were killed or taken prisoner., The Spaniards had not heeded Anza’s warning of the need for good relations with the Quechans. His route was abandoned during the rest of the Spanish colonial period. It later became a part of the routes of the Mormon Battalion, the Butterfield Overland Mail, and the southern route for “49ers” seeking their fortunes in California. . This historical marker was erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. It is in Yuma in Yuma County Arizona