An Officer and a Gentleman? Telling the story of Captain Rábago and the Spanish Colonial Site of Presidio San Sabá through Archaeology and History

Summary

Presidio San Sabá, located in Menard County, is the largest Spanish Fort in Texas.  Occupied from 1757 to 1770, the garrison was under the command of Captain Felipe Rábago for most of its existence. Prior to and during his command, the presidio underwent several changes that reflect the political and social environment of Spanish Colonial Texas during the late 18th century.  Drawing from both archaeological investigations conducted by Texas Tech University and historical research, the story of Rábago and San Sabá is contrasted. Prior to these investigations, much was already known about Rábago however; recent archival research has yielded new information about the Captain that sheds light on the events that unfolded at San Sabá. Further, the data gathered through archaeological excavations is helping to flesh out the history of the site, which itself is a microcosm of the greater social and political processes at work along the Spanish Frontier.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Bring the Boys Back Home: War, Conflict, and Commemoration   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 267