Our Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
II8
almost the end of September. But seeing that no help came, the little band of disappointed settlers, soldiers and missionaries was forced to retire to the new establishment on the San Antonio River. It is evide11t that the retreat, then, was not precipitate, for in spite of the natural fear they harbored, they waited more than three months on the limits of the Tejas country. This was surely a reasonable time. The missionaries tried in vain to dispel the fears entertained by the soldiers and the families and to appease the Indians. Only when they became convinced that no help was forthcoming, were they willing to abandon at last, with deep regret, the land of their beloved Tejas Indians. Conclusive evidence of the slow retreat from Concepcion Mission to the Trinity River is afforded by the corporal who was sent by La Harpe to report on what had hap- pened at Los Adaes. Corporal Saint Fran~ois was ordered by La Harpe on June 20 to observe the movements of the Spaniards and to report on what had actually taken place at San Miguel Mission. Saint Fran~ois went from the Nassonites to the Amediche Indians, a tribe that has been identified with the Nabedache, for whom the Mission of San Francisco was founded. Here he stayed·until almost the end of July, returning to the post among the Nassonites, August 1. He informed La Harpe that Blonde} had driven the missionaries out of Los Adaes and that all the Spaniards had retired for fear of the French soldiers and their savage allies first to the Neches and later to the west bank of the Trinity River, where they had camped and were staying at the time of his departure.n The camp on the Trinity must have been abandoned early in October. Winter was approaching, no news of help had been received, and the limited supplies were practically exhausted by this time. "We suffered many hardships," declared Father Espinosa, "for although we had meat, we lacked salt altogether, and a small portion of flour which we had left had so many husks and was of such poor quality, that only in a place such as we were, could we stand it." 22 There was nothing to do but try to reach the settlement on the San Antonio River before the northers blew and the winter rains made the roads and the streams impass- able. By December, the P,arty was already in the Villa de Bejar and the Mission of San Antonio de Valero. 23 Here they were to wait anxiously for the arrival of reenforcements and supplies to return to East Texas.
%1Margry, op. cit., VI, 280. %%Espinosa, Cltronica, 454.
23Father Margi! wrote the Marquis of Aguayo on December 26, 1719, from San Antonio de Valero. Margi! to Aguayo, December 26, 1719, in Testimonio de la possn. y missn. de Sn. Joseph. A. G. I., Audiencia de Guadalajara, 67-3-1 I.
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