USA > Texas > A School History of Texas: From Its Discovery in 1685 to 1893. For the Use of Schools, Academies, Convents, Seminaries, and all Institutions of Learning > Part 3
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The viceroys of Mexico, sent by Spain, were frequently changed, and as frequently were the governors of provinces or states changed, and Texas was subject to the same changes of civil and military policy.
QUESTIONS .- How and when were the priests restored to their churches ? What was their condition the following year ? How did the viceroy respond ? What distinguished person came with others in 1716 ? What was said of him ? When was the mission removed to San Antonio ? When did Texas become a separate province ? What was the new name of each ? Who was the first governor of the new province ? What place became the capital ? What other place was suggested ? Why ? To what was San Antonio entitled as a Presidio ? How was the place arranged ? Where did the Indians of the mission live ? What did the Governor-general of Coahuila state in his report to the king ? What did he suggest ? How were the expenses to be borne ? How and when was the plan consummated ? What was the cost ? What were they granted ? What is said of this colony ? Was the experiment repeated ? What was done in view of the great expense ? What was the result of this economy ? How were the Indians punished ? What was the policy of Spain with regard to the viceroys sent to Mexico ? How was Texas affected ?
CHAPTER VI.
APPOINTMENT OF SANDOVAL AS GOVERNOR-HIS SUCCESSOR.
IN 1734 the Viceroy Marquis de Casa Fuerte, a great friend to Texas, appointed Don Manuel de Sandoval Gov- ernor of the "New Philippines." Sandoval was a Spanish soldier who had risen from a cadet to captain of grenadiers, and had been Governor of Coahuila. The good viceroy Casa Fuerte believed that under his management his plans for the prosperity of this young province would be greatly aided. In accordance with his military policy, Sandoval, with headquarters at San Antonio, took the field in person against the Indians, keeping them in subjection. While at the post of Adaes he appointed as his lieutenant Don José Gonzales, whose duty it was to watch the French at Natchi-
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toches, and report whatever was of interest for him (as gov- ernor) to know.
By common consent the Honda, a small tributary of Red . River, had been regarded as the separating line between the two forts-the French at Natchitoches and the Spanish at Adaes. After a heavy rain the spot on which the French mission stood became submerged, and orders were given for its removal to a higher point, which would bring it within the prescribed line.
Sandoval remonstrated against the intrusion, but re- mained at San Antonio. His administration was, however, brought to an unfortunate close by the death of Casa Fuerte at this time, which was a great calamity to Texas. He was succeeded in the viceroyalty of Mexico by Vizaron, Arch- bishop of Mexico. Vizaron immediately deprived Sandoval of his office, and sent Don Carlos de Franquis, a pet of his, who had been disappointed of a place in 'Tlascalla, to fill the office. Franquis reached San Antonio in September, 1736, and began his administration by a series of persecutions of Sandoval, insulted the priests, opened and read private letters, and was generally abusive and overbearing. He caused Sando- val to be arrested, put in irons, and tried by a commissioner, sent from Nueva Leon for that purpose, on eight different charges brought against him. The charges were not sustained. The transcript of the proceedings, amounting to thirty large volumes of manuscript, was sent to the King of Spain.
In 1805-11, during the discussions on the boundary question between Spain and the United States, these old records were brought forward.
Spain valued her colonial possessions in America in pro- portion to the revenue from the mines and other sources, for which there were no reciprocal benefits. Texas had little to offer to the royal, greedy treasury, and the only attention given to her condition was to collect from her scanty gains the tribute exacted from the mission Indians.
There was in Texas no permanent security for life or
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property, except within the walls of the forts. The coast had no seaports, and the country no highways, The mule was the only means of transportation, and the paths they made across the country were so jealously watched that the two and one-half months' journey from Natchitoches to the City of Mexico was seldom undertaken ; consequently there was little advancement made in the settlement of Texas.
QUESTIONS .- Who became governor in 1734 ? Who was Sandoval ? What was his policy ? What was his lieutenant's duty ? What was the line of separation between the French and Spanish posts ? What was the result of a heavy rain ? What did Sandoval do ? What brought his administration to a close ? Who succeeded Casa Fuerte Y Who succeeded Sandoval ? When did he arrive in San Antonio ? What was his con- duet ? How did they treat Sandoval ? Were the charges sustained ? What valne did Spain attach to her colonial possessions in America ? What attentions did the colonies receive ? Was there any security for the settlers ? What were the means of transporta- tion ? How long did it take to go from Natchitoches to the City of Mexico !
CHAPTER VII. MISSION RUINS AT SAN ANTONIO.
HE Alamo, as a mission, was first projected, or organ- ized, in 1700, on the Rio Grande. Its locality, as well as its name, was several times changed. The last name from which it was changed to Alamo was, " The Mission de San Antonio de Velero." The slab of marble in- serted in its wall bears the in- scription, "1757," although the corner-stone of the building was laid in 1744, when it was first established in its present locality, after having been twelve years in the military plaza of San Antonio. "It took its present name, Alamo," says Lorenzo de Castro, "after the soldiers 3
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from the Presidio of Parras in Coahuila were ordered to garri- son San Antonio de Bexar, about the year 1804-05." In 1793- 94, when, by order of De Narva, the missions were taken from the Franciscan friars and placed under pastors, the Alamo ceased to be used as a church, the soldiers occupying the building and enclosure of the old mission. In March, 1836, it became the scene of those tragic events known as the "Fall of the Alamo." In 1841 the congress of the republic of Texas passed an act, conceding the title as the property of the Roman Catholic Church. It was never used for religious purposes, and the State of Texas purchased it in order to preserve it as a sacred memento, and such dedication as should hereafter be ordained by the State.
In 1841 Nangle, a sculptor from Philadelphia, constructed a beautiful monument, about ten feet high, of some of the stones of the ruin, on which were inscribed the names of the men who fell in the Alamo ; and on the four sides of the shaft the following inscriptions : "To the GOD of the FEARLESS .and FREE is dedicated this ALTAR made from the ruins of the Alamo." " Blood of HEROES hath STAINED ME. Let the stones of the ALAMO SPEAK that their IMMOLATION be not FORGOTTEN." "Be they ENROLLED with LEONIDAS in the HOST of the MIGHTY DEAD." "THERMOPYLE had her MESSENGER of DEFEAT, but the ALAMO HAD NONE." On the frieze of each side were the names : "TRAVIS," "BOWIE," " CROCKETT," " BONHAM." This monument was purchased by the State of Texas in 1857, placed in the entrance way of the capital, and, with that building, de- stroyed by fire on November 6, 1881.
The mission of San Jose, standing on the right bank of the San Antonio River, four miles below the city, was founded in 1720 by the Rev. Father Margil. It was fifty-three years in reaching its completion. Before its completion the much- loved and honored father died. He was buried in the City of Mexico. The beautiful carving was executed by a
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sculptor named Huicar, who was sent over from Spain for that purpose. The ruins of the mission of Concepcion stand on the left bank of the river, about two miles below the city. The corner-stone of this mission was laid March 5, 1731, by Captain Perez of the garrison, and Father Borgarra.
The mission of San Juan Capistran, six miles below, on the east bank of the river, was erected under the supervision of the Rev. Father Margil in 1731; and Espa- da was the same year removed to its present lo- cality, below San Juan Capistran, from the Medina River, for the greater security of its occupants. It was nineteen years in build- ing.
The present beautiful cathe- dral, with a new front added in MISSION CONCEPCION. 1868 to the parish church of San Fernando, was built in 1732, and named in honor of Fernando, King of Spain.
The missions of Espiritu Santo, La Bahia, and Rosario, were "recommended " by De Leon in 1690, but "projected " by Teran in 1718. The Carancahuas, Anaquas, and Arana- mas were the Indians for whose benefit these missions were built.
The mission of Refugio, in the town of that name, about thirty miles from Goliad, was established in 1790.
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La Trinidad was on the Trinity River. It was short lived. For security from Indians it was removed to the vicinity of Nacogdoches.
The San Saba mission, built in 1734, in Menard County, was for the benefit of the Comanche Indians. For a number of years its success was encouraging. In 1752 the San Saba silver mines were opened ; a new element was added to the population. The Indians became demoralized, and savagely murdered every person belonging to the mission.
In 1794 the Franciscan friars returned to Mexico and Spain, and as they took the archives of the church with them, but little of record has come within reach of the historian.
QUESTIONS .- Which is the oldest of the San Antonio missions ? Give its history. When did it take its present name ? What was its next change ? For what was it used ? What important event took place in it ? What did the Congress of the Republic of Texas do regarding it ? What was done in commemoration of the " Fall of the Alamo " in 1841 ? What was the inscription ? What was the fate of this monument ? Where was the mis- sion of San Jose ? When and by whom was it founded ? How long was it in building ? By whom was the carving executed ? Where was the mission of Concepcion ? When and by whom was it founded ? Who was the founder of Capistran ? When ? Where was the Espada moved from ? Where was it moved to ? Why ? How long was it in build- ing ? What of the present cathedral ? What missions did De Leon recommend ? When ? Who projected them ? When ? For whose benefit ? Where was the mission of Refugio ? When was it established ? Where was La Trinidad ? Where was it moved ? What was the origin of the San Saba mission ? What was its success for a time ? What was its final fate ? When did the Franciscan Fathers leave Texas ? What did they take with them ?
CHAPTER VIII.
PHILIP NOLAN'S EXPEDITION TO TEXAS-HIS PURSUIT AND DEATH BY SPANIARDS-IMPRISONMENT AND DEATHI OF HIS MEN-EVIDENCE OF HIS BETRAYAL.
PHILIP NOLAN was a citizen of the United States, living, at the time of his expedition to Texas, in Natchez, Mississippi. His avowed object was to purchase horses in Texas and Tamaulipas (Mexico) for a Mississippi regiment then forming. He obtained a passport from the Spanish Governor of Louis- iana (then belonging to Spain), dated July 17, 1797. He
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also obtained permission of the proper authorities in Texas and Mexico, purchased twelve hundred and ninety-seven horses, which he kept for a while on the grazing lands of the Trinity, when he returned with them to Natchez. The suspicions of the Spanish authorities in Louisiana were aroused when the fact was made known that Nolan drew maps of the country as he passed through it on his return to Natchez.
This they apprehended as the preparation for combin- ing with restless English and American adventurers and Indians for the purpose of revolutionizing that country, and for the invasion of Texas for the same purpose. An order was accordingly issued by the Spanish authorities to arrest all such persons, and Philip Nolan in particular, and that he should be so disposed of as never to be heard from again.
A new Governor of Louisiana accused Nolan of obtaining his passport under false pretences, and, also, that among Spaniards he professed to be a Roman Catholic, while among the Americans he ridiculed that church.
They also complained that their remonstrances with the authorities at Natchez had received no attention, inferring from this that they did not discountenance Nolan's plans. They warned the military commander of Nacogdoches that Philip Nolan was organizing for an armed expedition into Texas.
PHILIP NOLAN'S SECOND EXPEDITION TO TEXAS.
In October, 1800, Nolan, with about thirty-four men, left Natchez on his second expedition. Travelling through the wilderness to avoid the Spanish at Nacogdoches, they kept a north westerly course, and encamped on the bank of the Blanco. Lieutenant Musquez left Nacogdoches March 4, 1801, with one hundred men, in pursuit of Nolan. He left the road and travelled northwesterly to the head of the Nava- sota, where two Indians informed him where Nolan was
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encamped. Under cover of night, with the two Tehuacano Indians as guides, they approached the camp and concealed themselves. On the morning of the 20th, as Nolan and ten of his men came out of his intrenchment unarmed, Musquez called upon him to surrender in the name of the King of Spain. Nolan refused and prepared to fight ; the fight con- tinued two hours, when, Nolan being killed by a four-pound cannon ball, and their ammunition being exhausted (Nolan's carbine was stolen during the night by two of his Mexicans who deserted him), they surrendered. Of those who surren- dered there were fourteen Americans, one Creole from Louis- iana, seven Mexicans, and two negro slaves. Cæsar, Nolan's slave, begged leave to bury his master, which was granted, after Nolan's cars had been cut off as evidence that he had not escaped.
The prisoners were taken to Chihuahua, and tried by civil tribunal as invaders of the country. The judge ordered their release, but the commander of the provinces objecting, the proceedings were sent to the King of Spain, who, by royal decree, dated February, 1807, ordered one out of five of the men to be hung, and the remainder to suffer ten years' hard labor, and ordered that the judge who tried them should be removed from his office. Before the decree arrived the judge had died. Only nine of Nolan's men had survived the severity of their long imprisonment, and the judge then in office decided that but one should suffer the death pen- alty, to which the commandant agreed.
The prisoners agreed to throw dice for the choice of a victim, the lowest numbers to decide. The oldest prisoner, Ephraim Blackburn, threw 3, 1, the lowest numbers. He was hung on the 11th of November, 1807. more than six and a half years after his capture. After the execution, the remain- ing eight men were taken to Acapulco, where they became separated. Of four of them nothing was ever heard by their friends. Of the remainder, Cæsar was the only one liber-
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ated ; two were known afterwards to be still in different prisons. Ellis P. Bean lived to write his own romantic story.
Among the " proceedings " at the trial of the prisoners was a paper purporting to be a copy of Nolan's plan for revo- lutionizing Texas and taking possession of the country. The paper was furnished by one of Nolan's men who professed to have been in his confidence, and who had abandoned and betrayed him. This was the apology for the severity on the part of the Spanish Government.
QUESTIONS .- Who was Philip Nolan ? What was his avowed object in coming to Texas ? What was the date of his passport ? What was his success ? Why did the Spanish authorities become suspicious ? Of what were they apprehensive ? For what purpose ? What order was issued ? Of what did the new governor accuse Nolan ? What was the complaint of the Spanish against the Natchez authorities ? What did they infer ? Of what did they warn the authorities of Nacogdoches ? When did Nolan start on his second expedition ? How did he travel ? Why ? What course did they pursue, and where did they camp ? With what force did Lieutenant Musquez leave Nacogdoches, and for what purpose ? What route did he take ? What was he told ? What did he do at night ? What occurred next morning ? What did Nolan do ? What was the result of the fight ? How many surrendered ? Who were they ? What became of Nolan's body ? Why did the Spanish cut off his ears ? What became of the prisoners ? What did the King of Spain decree ? How many of the men had survived ? How many were finally executed ? How was the victim chosen ? Who was he ? How long after their capture ? What became of the remaining prisoners ? What paper was brought forward at the trial ? Who furnished this paper ?
CHAPTER IX.
PIKE'S EXPEDITION-HIS REPORT OF THE COUNTRY- TROUBLE ABOUT BOUNDARIES-RE-GARRISONING TEXAS FORTS WITH SPANIARDS TO WATCH THE FRENCH-A WAR AVERTED.
IN 1805 Captain Zebulon M. Pike, with twenty-three assist- ants, was sent by President Jefferson to explore the sources of the Mississippi, and the next year he was sent by order of General Wilkinson of Louisiana, then belonging to the United States, to explore the sources of the Arkansas. The Spanish government at Coahuila, receiving information of Captain
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Pike's expedition, sent a military force of six hundred men, with provisions for six months on pack animals, to intercept him, but they missed the object of their search. Captain Pike, losing his course, was found near the head waters of the Rio Grande, and, under military escort, was conveyed to Santa Fé, where his papers were examined and retained. IIe was then sent to Chihuahua, to General Salcedo, who, con- vinced of the peaceful purpose of his expedition, furnished him an escort to Natchitoches. " Pike's Peak " in Colorado perpetuates the memory of his expedition.
After his return to the United States, Captain Pike pub- lished copious notes of his expedition, with descriptions of the country and all classes and conditions of social life, espe- cially in the gay city of San Antonio, where the families of the civil and military officers rivalled in elegance their supe- riors in the City of Mexico, the gayety extending down to the Mexican and Indian dances. He estimated the population of Nacogdoches at seven hundred, among whom, in addition to the military, he found Americans of wealth, intelligence, and polish, who, having braved Spanish proscription, had established farms and ranches on the streams as far as the Trinity. IIe gave the apparent civilized population of Texas as seven thousand, with about one hundred thousand cattle and fifty thousand horses on various ranches.
BOUNDARY OF TEXAS.
In 1806, the United States having purchased Louisiana of the French, the question of its southwestern boundary became a source of irritation, and the Spanish prepared for defence of their eastern boundary. They rebuilt the old fort at Adaes, on the east bank of the Sabine, and regarrisoned the forts at Nacogdoches, the crossing of the Atascosita, Matagorda Bay, and on the Trinity, the last named being made a source of supply. In October Colonel Simon de Herrera and Manuel Salcedo, Governor of Coahuila, entered Texas with about
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fifteen hundred men to disperse among the forts, Ensign Gonzales holding Adaes.
On the part of the United States, Captain Turner, with his command, and three companies of infantry under Lieuten- ant Kingsbury, with four pieces of artillery from Fort Adams, held Nachitoches, Louisiana. Captain Turner advanced upon Adaes, and demanded immediate evacuation of the post on the Sabine, to which Gonzales promised to accede. The next day, finding the troops not withdrawn, Captain Turner made the demand in writing, giving six days as the limit of time, to which Gonzales signed an agreement. In July about thirteen hundred additional Spanish troops arrived in the vicinity, who, on the first of August, proceeded to cross the Sabine. Governor Claiborne of Louisiana called out the State militia under General Wilkinson, and a clash of arms, involving Spain and the United States, seemed inevitable ; but a secret arrangement of an amicable but suspicious char- acter was entered into by the two generals, Herrera and Wil- kinson, one feature of which was that no troops from either side should cross the Honda, a small tributary of Red River on the west, the country between the Honda and the Sabine remaining "neutral ground " pending the negotiations be- tween the two countries.
FRENCH POSSESSION OF THE CROWN OF SPAIN.
French Rule in Texas .- Texas was not well informed as to affairs in Europe ; consequently, when on the morning of the 8th of September, 1808, the French General Octaviano · d'Alvimar appeared in San Antonio in the full uniform of a French general, the Spanish Governor Cordero had him arrested and sent a prisoner to the City of Mexico. This was the beginning and the end of the Napoleonic rule in Texas.
In 1810 there occurred a general uprising of the Indians, resulting in great destruction to stock and the desolation of
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establishments remote from the small garrisons; the settle- ments receding for protection.
QUESTIONS .- Who was Philip Nolan ? What was the avowed object of his visit ? From whom did he obtain a passport, and what was the date ? To whom did Louisiana then belong ? How was he authorized to proceed ? What was the object of Pike's expedition ? What that of the next year ? What was done by the Spanish with regard to this expedition ? Were they successful ? Where was Pike found finally ? What was done with him ? What place is named for him ? What did Captain Pike report of Texas ? What did he say of the people of Nacogdoches ? About farms and ranches ? Of the whole population of Texas ? Number of cattle and horses ? What new cause of irritation between Spain and the United States arose in 1806 ? What preparation of defence did the Spanish make ? Who arrived in the country with troops ? How many men were there ? How was the fort at Natchitoches mauned by the United States ? What demand was made by Captain Turner ? What occurred in July ? What seemed inevitable ? What agreement was made between Herrera and Wilkinson ? What was the beginning and end of French rule in Texas ? What calamity befell Texas in 1810 ?
CHAPTER X.
BEGINNING OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION AGAINST SPAIN- THE GACHUPIN WAR-THE MAGEE, GUTIEREZ, AND LARA EXPEDITION.
WHEN the Mexican revolution against Spain, under the patriot priest Hidalgo, began in 1810, there was a pronuncia- mento in his favor in San Antonio, January 22, 1811, by Captain Bautista Casas and the whole garrison; and on March 3d following there was a counter pronunciamento headed by Zambrano, when Casas was loaded with chains and sent to Monclova for trial. Such was the uncertainty of Mexican rule in Texas at the beginning of the Mexican Revolution.
From 1806 to 1812 the strip of country between the Arroya Honda and the Sabine, known as the " neutral ground," had attracted a class of people who made an armed escort neces- sary for travellers passing to and fro, and especially for mule trains. General Overton, at Natchitoches, usually furnished the guard. At this post, and of the guard, was Augustus W. Magee, a native of Massachusetts, graduate of West Point in
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the class of 1809, and a lieutenant of artillery in the United States service.
At that time men of the Patriot, or Revolutionary, party in Mexico had occasionally taken refuge, after reverses, in Louisiana. Among them was Bernardo Gutierez de Lara. The period was auspicious for adventure. Leading spirits were not lacking, and Texas was an inviting field. Magee resigned his position as lieutenant of artillery in the United States army, and with Gutierez as nominal commander, for the purpose of enlisting patriot Mexicans in their cause, pro- ceeded to make up an army for the purpose of taking Texas from the Spaniards and establishing a republican government, promising forty dollars per month and one league of land to each volunteer, if they were successful.
Their army of about three hundred and sixty-nine men was made up of Americans, Mexican Patriots, occupants of the neutral ground, and Cooshattie Indians. Their officers were Americans-Dr. Forsythe, Kemper, Slocum, Perry, Ross, Captains Hall, Taylor, Luckett, Gaines, Scott, and Macfar- land. They camped on the Trinity, and left their camps in October, 1812, with about one dozen beeves, and as many mules loaded with provisions and ammunition, for Goliad.
Arriving at Goliad, and meeting with no opposition from the few Mexicans there, they proceeded to fortify the fort, mounting an old nine-pounder which they found, said to be a cannon taken from La Salle's fort on the Lavaca. They had been informed by Mexicans that the Mexican Royalist forces were all at San Antonio, but on the morning of the 7th they were surprised to find themselves surrounded by about two thousand Royalists, commanded by Generals Salcedo and Herrera in person. On the evening of the 7th Magee marched out and attacked the division at the mission, but night com- ing on there was no decisive result to either party. The Royalists, finding that their escopettes were no match for the Patriot rifles, waited until the expected arrival of nine pieces
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