Magazine Article Review: Villasur: How a Spanish-Indian Battle in Nebraska Changed American History

 Villasur: How a Spanish-Indian Battle in Nebraska Changed American History, by Ron Soodalter, Nebraska Life, March/April 2025, pp 30-35.

The history may have been much different if the Spanish had been more successful in the foray to the north in 1720.  With the goal of discovering what the French were doing in the midwest, Lieutenant General Pedro de Villasur headed a large contingent north from Santa Fe.  He had with him 45 elite Spanish soldier, 60 Pueblo Indians, José Navarro a seasoned scout, a Jesuit priest, and a dozen Apache guides.  At this time possession of the midwest was hotly contested between the Spanish and French.  According to the Pawnee, the French were not after their land, but had been a trading partner for the last 100 years.  The Spanish for their part had a more brutal and forceful approach to relationship0s with Native Americans.

The expedition reached the Platte River at ab out the location of Grand Island.  They attempted negotiations with the Indians through a Pawnee slave.  As more and more Native Americans arrived, Pawnee and Otoe they felt more and more offended by the Spanish.  As the Spanish felt more and more hostility towards them, they withdrew to the confluence of the Loup and Platte rivers.  This however was an ideal spot for ambush because of the high grass and good cover.  

They attacked in the morning.  Villasur died almost imnediately.  Within 15 minutes most of the elite Spanish troops had perished.  A few of the Pueblo were killed, but they had a separate camp and missed the brunt of the attack.  The priest and Jose Navarro were both dead.  None of the Apache were killed.

This excursion marks the farthest north the Spanish advanced in the midwest.  However it lead to discouragement in New Mexico as no further such forays were attempted.

In the history museum in Lincoln there is a mural, copied from a mural drawn in Santa Fe on leather which depicts the battle.  The original is in the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe.  There is also a Pawnee song which remembers te battle.

History sometimes is so fragile and random.  Things would have been different with a different result.  Perhaps the Louisiana Purchase would have had a different seller.