229
Explorations and Settlements A long the Rio Grande
Establislmumt of t/1-e Presidio del Norte de la Junta de los Rios, 1759- 1760. Eleven years elapsed before the projected presidio, conceived as early as 1726, became a reality. On October 5, 1759, Captain Alonso Rubin de Celis, Lieutenant Manuel Villaverde, and Alferez Juan Hidalgo, with an adequate force set out from Chihuahua to establish the Presidio de! Norte de la Junta de los Rios. With them went Fathers Fray Jose Paez, Fray Juan Agudiana, and Fray Manuel of the same name. They proceeded without mishap until they camped twelve leagues from La Junta. Here they were visited by a group of four hundred Indians from the missions. who informed the members of the expedition that a league ahead there were two hundred more Indians, many Apaches among them, who were there in case hostilities broke out. The leaders did not want a presidio in their pueblos. They seemed to realize that a Spanish force stationed there would restrain them considerably. Captain Rubin de Celis was puzzled and remained in camp a few days awaiting instructions from the Governor of Chihuahua as to whether he should proceed or abandon the enterprise. Two of the Padres in the meantime went on to La Junta to appease the Indians. The governor replied posthaste that the expedition should go on and the presidio should be established. After the accomplishment of this purpose, Captain Rubin de Celis was to turn over the garrison to Manuel Munoz. The expedition moved on and arrived at La Junta on Christmas Eve. No time appears to have been lost now in beginning the construction of the presidio, which was located on the Texas side of the Rio Grande near the Pueblo of San Antonio de los Puliques, not far from the present site of the city of Presidio. The work of cutting timber and laying out the foundations was started on Christmas Day. By July 22, 1760, the entire presidio (fort), houses for the soldiers, and the stockade were finished. That same day it was destined to receive its baptism of fire. The various Indian chiefs, who had resented the establishment of Spanish soldiers in their midst, brought eight hundred Indians, many Apaches among them. ostensibly to celebrate the inauguration. At sunrise, just as the first rays streamed over the surrounding mountains, the ·blood-curdling yell of the Apaches and their allies, as they rushed the stockade. warned the garrison of the attack. For an hour the battle raged with fury, then the enemy broke and fled in confusion. Twenty-nine Spaniards had stoutly manned the stockade. On the ground lay seven Indians dead and more ~han sixty wounded were captured. Many fled towards the river and jumped into
Powered by FlippingBook