Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
212
l I I ?
the instructions for the new exploration and summarized the antecedents of the undertaking. He began by declaring that practically all the lands beyond the thirty-second degree of north latitude had never been reduced to Spanish dominion, with the exception of New Mexico. The Rio Grande flowed for a distance of more than three hundred and sixty leag11es from El Paso to its mouth in a general southeastern direction. Several rivers of Nueva Vizcaya flowed into the Conchos (Mexico). which in turn emptied into the Rio Grande at La Junta, about seventy leagues southeast of El Paso. At this point the Custodia of New Mexico had maintained six missions for many years under truly adverse conditions. A large number of Indians had been congregated in these missions at various times, but their enemies-the Apaches, Natajes, Faraones, Zumas. and others from beyond the Rio Grande had frequently harassed and driven them away. The Rio Grande, he declared, crossed the Sierra that divided Nueva Vizcaya and Coahuila through a large canyon (Big Bene!) but this area had never been satisfactorily explored for various reasons. He then pointed out that from El Paso to San Juan Bautista (opposite Eagle Pass) the distance was about three hundred and sixty leagues because of the numerous detours. In this entire length there was not a single presidio. At the recommendation of Brigadier Rivera (deceased), Viceroy Casafuerte had ordered the establishment of a presidio at La Junta or ten leagues below, with a garrison of fifty men, but the orders had not been carried out. Since 1724, there had been no regular mis- sionary work at La Junta. The missionaries visited the place for short periods but were obliged to return to San Felipe de Chihuahua because they lacked protection. The partial abandonment of this mission center had afforded easy access to hostile Indians by way of La Junta to the frontier establishments of Nueva Vizcaya, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. The entire area should be carefully explored, he concluded. For this purpose a simultaneous entrada from all the points along the line should be undertaken, similar to that of Nuevo Santander. Fifteen men could set out from Saltillo, fifteen from Parras, twenty from Presidio del Pasage, twelve from Mapimi, twenty from El Gallo and all converge upon La Junta. At the same time similar groups of twenty men f~om Cerro Gordo, twenty from San Bartolome, and twenty from San Francisco de los Conchos could start with the same destination. The men from the second group could escort the missionaries now at San Felipe de Chihuahua to La Junta and help them reestablish the missions. . · · b 1 rging the establishment He closed his recommendations y strong Y u
Powered by FlippingBook