Our Cat/10/ic Heritage in Texas
By November 12, the orders of the viceroy had reached Veracruz. Two experienced pilots, Juan Enriquez Barroto and Antonio Romero, both men of marked ability and tried courage, were selected as leaders of the expedition. The first was an excellent draughtsman, while the second had made numerous trips from Havana to Apalache and was personally familiar with that part of the route. Palacios prepared a set of detailed instructions and, a vessel having been secured, the two pilots embarked from Havana on November 21. In the meantime, Admiral Palacios advocated strongly that another expedition should be sent simultaneously from Veracruz, so that one could explore the coast south and west from Florida while the other explored it to the north and east from Veracruz. Although this plan was not approved because no suitable person could be found for the second reconnoissance, it led to a discussion of the advisability of sending a land expedition to search for the French colony from the northern frontier of New Spain, which was later to bear fruit. 6 In the meantime Barroto and Romero arrived in Havana on December 3. nd lost no time in presenting their credentials to the acting military overnor Andres de Munibe. As no royal ship was available, a private !ssel was chartered, but the best one that could be found in the harbor as in such poor condition that it took several weeks to make it sea- worthy. Provisions were placed on board sufficient for ninety days, addi- tional cannons were mounted, and a long canoe was secured. The crew of forty-two men furnished by the governor was swelled to fifty-two by a number of adventurous and patriotic citizens who voluntee red to go without pay. Among this was Juan Jordan de Reina, later destined to play an important role in the occupation of Pensacola Bay. Fortunately he kept a careful diary which is the only source available for the details of the first search for the French. Everybody had become alive to what was considered a serious menace to the whole empire of Spa in in America and the preparations were consequently hurried amidst tense excitement. According to the detailed inst ructions of Admiral Palacios, the expe- dition was to go first to Apalache. From this point it was to follow the coast closely to the west, noting every particular. When Apalachicola River was reached , the natives were to be ques tioned closely for infor- mation concerning the recently established colony on the Mississippi. which was thought to be near. The members of the crew were warned
6Test imonio de Autos hechos . . . A.G. I., Audiencia de 111exico, 61 -6-20 (Dunn Transcripts, 1678-1686), pp. 40-78.
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