Explo,·ations and Settlements A long tlze Rio Grande
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his men. On December 18, he marched eight leagues to the north and arrived in San Juan Bautista del Rio Grande. After remaining at this presidio for ten days making final preparations, he finally set out on December 28. He now had fifty-one soldiers, thirty- eight Indian auxiliaries, six muleteers, forty loaded mules, and three hundred and eighty horses. Father Rodriguez went along as chaplain. Taking up the march, the expedition went eight leagues in a general northernly direction and camped at a spring called Santo Domingo. The next day they reached San Antonio River (Mexico), after traveling seven leagues. All along the route they noted numerous wild horses and many turkeys. On December 30, the expedition marched eight leagues and camped at the headwaters of San Rodrigo River. The scouts, sent ahead to reconnoiter as far as San Diego River, reported at this point they had found no enemies. The next day the expedition went nine leagues and reached the San Diego River, located about fifteen miles south of present Del Rio, on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. A cold norther was encountered here and it was decided to remain in camp while a small party explored the San Diego River to its source. On January 3, 1736, a council was held to determine the course to be followed. It was decided that a part of the expedition should remain in camp and a party of thirty men with ten Indian guides, mounted on the best horses, would explore the country as far north along the Rio Grande as possible. Accordingly on January 4, these men set out under the command of Captain Miguel de la Garza Falcon, a son of the governor. After going nine leagues in a general northerly direction and crossing an Apache trail, they came to an abundant spring which formed a creek. This site was known as Real de las Vacas. The short stream is the one on which Villa Acuna, opposite Del Rio, is located today. After exploring the site, they reported that it was a good place for a settlement. They found here the remains of twenty-three Indian fires, showing that the enemy had recently camped on this spot. On January S, the party continued its march north, crossed the Rio Grande at a place called Barbacoas, evidently a few miles above present Del Rio, and went about eight leagues in the same general direction, inclining to the west. The next day it snowed, but Captain Miguel pushed on over very rough, high, and rocky hills for eight leagues to Las Tinajas (tanks), possibly the river bed of the Pecos near Shumla, but finding n~ water, he was obliged to go on to a spring called Hongos de Castro, nme leagues beyond, in spite of the fact that many of his horses
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