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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
No. 2325 1847 Apr. 4, S. F. BOYD LAREDO, [TEXAS] TO H. P. BEE, [LAREDO, TEXAS]7° ·
Laredo, April 4th /47
Lt. H. P. Bee,
Sir-·
I would beg leave to report to you, as commandant of this Post, the return of the detatchments of Thirteen men under my command, from up the Rio Grande. I left this place on the 16th of March ult. and proceeded up the river to the Comanche crossing, when I was met by three Mexicans, who reported, that a band of robbers, under the Command of one Miguel Martinas, was in the vicinity of Prisidio, organized for the purpose of robbing and despoil- ing all trades passing between the towns of the Rio Grande, and Bexar. A number of outrages had been lately committed by the said band against American Citizens. Under these circumstances, I thought it my duty to go in search of these robbers. I proceeded to Prisidio, and the Mexicans hearing nothing of our approach, we entered the town on the evening of the 20th ult. without there being any hostile demon- strations manifested on the part of the Citizens of that place. A large number of persons left town that evening and next morning with theiI arms, and it was reported that they were going to I\forelo@, a town some forty or fifty miles above, where they intended to make a stand and we were strangly advised by friendly Mexicans, not to proceed, as we would be attacked and over powered by a large force. We pro- ceeded to San Fernando, and remained there four days expecting anrl awaiting an attack from the robbers. A Bexar Merchant (Walkins) was with us who having some three thousand Dollar's in bullion who wished me to take charge of the same, and guard it out of the coun- try lest it might become the spoil of the robbers. I consented to do so, which detained me some five or six days. I passed on my route home, the town of Morelos, the headquarters of the robbers, where about one hundred had rende!'voui::ed under Martinas and where I con- fidently expected an attacked [sicl When we approached the town, 11 number of men were @een upon the outskirts of the town, but they made no hostile demonstration towards us. I visited San ,Juan and Pe:vota on my rout, and the Alcalde of the latter place, stated that · there were some one hundred and fifty robbers posted in some ravines on our route home, and he strongly advised me to take another route home. Believing my command too small to contend against such odds. I Rtruck camp at 8 o'clock P. M. and next morning we had left the robbers some fifty miles behind us The facts I learned on the expe<lition, believing them im- portant to the American authorities. and to which T would respectfully caJl :vour attmtion, arP these:- That the chief Alcalde of Prisidio is b1mded with the robbin.rr party, and sharei- in their Rnoils. also the Alcalde of Morelos bears the same relation to them That the whole civil authorities of San Fernando, San Jusm and Peyota solicit and strongly urge that those towns be garrisoned by American soldiers, for
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