Our Cat,l,olic Heritage in Te~as
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Gutierrez and Magee and there hoisted the flag of the first Republic of Texas.so The little garrison fled the moment the enemy appeared. The citizens and the Indians watched the parade with manifest joy. A dele- gation of citizens waited on Gutierrez shortly afterwards and, according to the now famous leader, requested him to form a government for the entire Province of Texas "with Americans in command of the towns." 11 The jubilant emancipators found ample supplies of corn and salt in the large stone fort. During the next few days they busied themselves in putting things in order and making their headquarters more comfort- able.u ~egGf !::,g_Bama. Salcedo and Herrera were still waiting patiently on the uadalupe when news reached them of the change in the line of march of the enemy and the surprise attack on La Bahia. They immediate- ly decided to strike a decisive blow before Gutierrez and Magee could con- solidate their positions. On November 14 they led a furious assault, but the enemy retired within the safety of the walls, and successfully repelled the attack. That evening Herrera and Salcedo decided that a siege would be the best means of bringing the rebels to terms. Tl'!e next day work began. Three camps were established, one on the east side, one on the west, and one on the opposite bank of the San Antonio River across from the mission and fort. Thus triangulated, the Royalists laid siege to the Insurgents for four months. -~----- Magee was sorely disappointed. The tactics adopted by the Royalists were the best calculated to undermine the morale of his men. He had expected the bulk of the enemy to flock to his standards. On the contrary, their fierce attack had shaken the confidence of his men, and their prepara- tions for a long siege but added to the discouragement. Davenport made his way through the lines of the besiegers in Decem- ber. The letters he delivered to Shaler in Natchitoches reveal the low spirits of Magee. The failure of the populace to rally to the Republican Army preyed heavily upon the American commander. He had called a military council shortly before November 23, when the American officers agreed unanimously to ask for terms permitting the Republican Army to withdraw from Texas. They proposed trying to make Salcedo and "Garza, Dos He,-mmws Heroes, 43·44; Gutierrez, "To the Mexican Congress," Lamar Pajers, I, 12. 21 Manuel de Alanis to Governor Salcedo, La Bahia, November 6, 1812, Berar ,frcl,;ves; Gutierrez to Shaler, La Bahia, November 25, 1812; Shaler to Monroe, Natchitoches, December 25, Stale Dejartrrunt Records, N. A. W. 21 Magee to Shaler, La Bahia, November 14, 1812; Shaler to Monroe, Natchitoches, November :a9, 1812, Stal1 Dejartrrunl R1cords, N. A. W.
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