As the American Revolution brewed on the Atlantic Coast, Spain expanded its New World empire to protect California against the British and Russians. In 1774, Juan Bautista de Anza, commander of the Royal Presidio of Tubac, successfully explored an overland route from Sonora, Mexico, into Alta or Upper California, making possible the transport of livestock, goods, and people to sustain new settlements. The viceroy of New Spain then authorized him to lead a 1775-76 expedition to settle the port of San Francisco. Volunteer soldier-settlers came from as far south as Culiacán, and livestock, equipment, supplies, and expedition members were gathered at Horcasitas and finally at Tubac before traveling 1000 miles on foot, horseback, burro, and mule. The party included soldiers and their families, interpreters, priests, packers, cowboys, and cooks, as well as nearly one thousand head of livestock. At journey’s end, 198 people, more than half of them children under 12, stayed to build the Presidio of San Francisco and the missions of San Francisco de Asís and Santa Clara de Asís. With others using the trail established by Anza, they helped begin the settlements of San José and Los Angeles and stamped California with the language and customs of their New World Hispanic customs. On this night, camp was at a known watering spot called El Aquituni, somewhere in the distant center of the panorama. Anza proceeded cautiously through Apache territory, where as captain of Tubac Presidio he had several times been called upon to rebuff Apache attacks. He had avoided this very campsite on his return from his 1774 exploratory expedition because of Apache activity in the area, but he also needed water for the travelers and livestock. The next day the party traveled over 30 miles to reach water at the Pima villages on the Gila River, where Anza learned that the Pima had surprised an Apache band the day before, killing two and causing them to flee. Anza wrote that the long journey to the Gila was necessary for lack of water, which was found only by rare accident, and he marveled that despite the hardships no dissatisfaction had been shown, especially among the women and children, whose patience showed the contentment with which they were accepting their lot.