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Our C atl1olic Heritage in Texas
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Instructions for t/1e founding of San Saba. Colonel Diego Ortiz Parrilla had remained in Mexico awaiting the final instructions for the establishment of the new presidio and missions. These were issued to him on September I, 1756. Detailed directions were given him for the transfer of the San Xavier garrison to the San Saba River and its increase to one hundred men. Similar instructions were given for the transfer of all mission property and disposition to be made of the neophytes that remained. Upon his arrival at San Saba he was to make a thorough examination of the country and if the site selected was not satisfactory he was to choose a more appropriate one, bearing in mind the possibility of the growth and extension of the new missions. The buildings were to be constructed of timber, as economically as possible, and the plans of the new fort and the missions when decided upon were to be submitted to the viceroy for approval. The new commander was strongly urged to accord the missionaries the respect and regard which their station merited, and to treat the Indians with kindness and gen- erosity. It would be well to encourage the Indians to learn Spanish and both the Indians and the soldiers should diligently cultivate the soil that a scarcity of food might not cause the failure of the enterprise. 85 Ortiz Parrilla asked pennission on September 15 to recruit a part or all of the additional twenty-seven men needed for the new garrison while en route to Texas. To this the viceroy readily agreed. But Ortiz Parrilla did not leave Mexico until October 13. Before setting out for Queretaro he appears to have made an agreement with Fray Alonso, whereby the latter was to buy all the supplies necessary for the missions, while the new commander looked after the needs of the new presidio and the recruiting of the needed soldiers. On October 20, Parrilla was already in Queretaro, where he enlisted seven men. The next week he made his way to San Luis, where he enlisted three more on October 30. It took him twelve days to reach Saltillo, where he recruited nine men and went on to Monclova, where he arrived on December 1, and enlisted the remaining eight soldiers needed to make up the desired twenty-seven. From Monclova he went on to San Juan Bautista, where he seems to have spent a few days. There he found Fray Alonso, who had obtained nine families of Tlascalteca Indians from Saltillo to be used as instructors Spanish text is found in_ San Fr~n.cisco el Grande Archive, Vol. 2, pp. 94-137 ; copy also in A.G./. Aud;m,;1a de Mex1co, 92-6-22 (Dunn Tr., 1757-1758), pp. 48_97 . a.sinstrucciones al Coronel Diego Ortiz Parrilla, September 1, 1756. A. G. M. Provincias /nternas, Vol. 95, PP· 181• 188 ·
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