23 I
E:rplorations and Settlements A long the Rio Grande
temporarily abandoned and its garrison removed, together with such mission Indians as wished to follow, to the south side of the Rio Grande to a pueblo of the Julimes who lived west of the Conchos. This indicates that it was placed a short distance below the juncture of the two rivers and on the last mentioned stream. The abandonment of the original site was against the instructions of the viceroy. When the Marquis of Rubi, who made a careful inspection of the entire northern frontier of New Spain in 1767, visited the presidio it was already deserted. In his report to the viceroy on April 10, 1768, Rubi protested that the Governor Jose de Aguero of Chihuahua had taken this step against the expressed orders of the viceroy and in open disregard of his ( Rubi's) instructions and rank. How ill-advised the abandonment of the original site and the attempt to move the congregated Indians were, had been shown by the fact that practically all had run away from the new location. The old presidio was now in undisputed possession of the barbarians, who had destroyed the buildings and the stockade. This important post had been lost to the enemy without a blow, after having been established at the cost of many sacrifices and great expense to the royal treasury. In its vicinity there had been six Indian pueblos whose inhabitants were loyal vassals, who had frequently helped Spanish troops effectively against the Natages. All the advantages of the presidio and the friendship of these Indians had been lost by the removal. "The presidio," he declared, "must be reestablished at any cost on its former location at La Junta de los Rios. Its garrison must be aided by those of the other presidios in proportion to the opposition which the savages may offer to prevent its reestablishment, fully aware of its importance to the Spaniards." 30 But the strong plea of the Marquis of Rubi went unheeded for five years. When Hugo O'Conor, ex-Governor of Texas and first Inspector of Presidios, visited the place in 1773, it was still deserted. But on May 10 of that year, he wrote the viceroy that he had gone to Los Julimes, where the former garrison was now stationed and ordered it to reoccupy the old presidio. 31 The presidio, commonly called "del Norte," according to Rubi, but - JODictamen que de orden del Ex?'o. Marques de Croix, Virrey de este Reyno expone el Mariscal de Campo Marques de Rubi .• . A. G. /., Audi,ncia d, Guada- lajara, 104-6-13 (Dunn Transcripts, 1768-1772, pp. 23•24). JtO'Conor to the Viceroy, May 10 1773 A G I .,4 •. J" • d , . . . ., .....unc,a , Guadalajara, 104 .6. 1 6 (Dunn Transcripts, 1773-74), pp. 91• 93 _
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