Our Cat/1olic Heritage in Texas
investigation concerning the introduction of merchandise by the French, in which he questioned the soldiers as well as the missionaries and the settlers, he carried on active preparations for his entrada into Texas. He was able to discover little or nothing of value to incriminate either St. Denis or the Ramons. The French who were at the presidio fled upon his arrival. With much disgust he declares that in the Presidio of San Juan Bautista there are only Frenchmen and sympathizers of the Ramons, which association, in his opinion, was one_and the same thing. He is glad to report, however, that he has enlisted thirty-two soldiers, all of whom are in the villa ready to start; that seven of these are married and have families; that he has received a letter from Captain Domingo Ramon stating that he has twenty-five men now in Texas; that he (Alarcon) has succeeded in gathering one hundred and fifty car gas ( equivalent to about one hundred pounds each) of flour, one thousand sheep, a number -0f oxen, and two hundred cows. But he informs His Excellency that he is still waiting for the three hundred horses he was to secure in Saltillo. 18 The soldiers enlisted for the expedition, according to Alarcon, were: Francisco Hernandez, Alferez, who was going with his family; Diego Escobar, with his family; Francisco Barreyro, engineer, who was put under arrest September 20, for complicity with Diego Ramon; Miguel Martinez de Valenzuela; Diego de Zarate y Andizavar; Juan Barrera; Cristobal Carvajal; Joseph Flores Quinones; Juan Valdes; Joseph Gaona, with his family; Juan de Castro, with his family; Nicolas Hernandez and Francisco Hernandez, sons of the Alferez,· Joseph de Neira; Joseph Velasquez; Francisco Menchaca; Lazaro Joseph Chirino, with his family; Geronimo Carvajal; Sebastian Peniche; Antonio Guerra; Francisco de Escobar; Domingo Flores, with his family; Cristobal de la Garza; Sebas- tian Gonzalez; Joseph Placido Flores; Joseph Jimenez; Manuel Maldo- nado; Manuel de Vargas; Pedro Rodriguez; Francisco Juan de la Cruz, master mason; Santiago Perez, carpenter; Joseph Menchaca; Antonio Menchaca;-Vicente Guerra, and Cristobal Barrera. 19 When added, the list will be found to consist of thirty-five instead of thirty-two men. But although the C abildo testified to the correctness of the statement of Viceroy, September 20, 1717, A. G. /., A11die11cia de Mexico, 61-6-35 (Dunn Transcripts). IBAJarc6n to the Viceroy, September 20, 1717. A. G. I., Audimcia de .Mexico, 61-6-35 (Dunn Transcripts). 19Certificaci6n del Cabildo de la Villa de Santiago de la Monclova. September 18, 1717. San Francisco el Grande Arc/1ive, VIII, 192-193.
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