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Aguayo Expedition and San Jose 1J1ission, r7r9-r722
in pursuance of their designs, he was to expel them from Texas by force of arms. But on May 16, 1721, a treaty of peace having been concluded, he again addressed the viceroy, commanding him to suspend the execu- tion of the orders of November 1, 1719, and March 16, 1721, with regard to the use of force in driving out the French. He declared, however, that this order did not affect the instructions given for the establishment of a presidio among the Cadodachos, the increase of the number of missions on the San Antonio River, the occupation and fortification of the Bay of Espiritu Santo, nor the reenforcement and increase of the garrisons or presidios in Texas. 49 Aguayo sets out from flt/ onclova. The Marquis of Aguayo, having received his final instructions and completed his preparations for the expedition, finally ordered his men to set out on November 16, 1720, under the command of Lieutenant Governor Almazan. At the head of the column was placed a picket of veteran soldiers who were familiar with the road and had had experience in fighting Indians, then fol- lowed the equipage, behind which came the eight companies in order of seniority, followed by the baggage, provisions, and munitions of war. In the rear came the droves of animals. 50 It was now winter. The rivers were swollen and the road was difficult. The expedition was delayed several days at the Sabinas River and did not reach the Rio Grande until December 20. According to the official diary the river carried so much water that it was more than one and one-half rods in depth and more than a gunshot in width. The Marquis of Aguayo, who had remained behind, joined the expedition before it crossed the river. With him came Father Espinosa. A few days later Dr. Joseph Codallos y Raval, who was sent to Texas as Vicar-General of the Bishop of Guadalajara, arrived in camp. At San Juan Bautista the group was joined by Father Benito Sanchez, a missionary who entered Texas with Domingo Ramon in 1716, and who had been stationed at San Jose de los Nazonis until the French attack in 1719. There was one other cleric who accompanied the expedition, Father Juan Antonio 49 Royal Cedula of May 26, 1721. Historia, Vol. 298. sopefia, Derrotero, San Francisco el Grande Arcniv11. For a detailed account of the progress of the expedition see Buckley, "Tl,e Agua-yo Expedition," Southwest- ern Historical Quarterly, XV, 165. This splendid study of the route followed by Aguayo is invaluable.
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