Our Catlwlic Heritage in Texas
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was planning an early campaign to reoccupy Nacogdoches and was re- cruiting men and gathering supplies for that purpose. The increasing hostility of the Indians on the Coahuila and Nuevo Leon frontier and the outbreak of rebel activity on the lower Rio Grande had prevented him from carrying out this undertaking. At the end of the month he sent to San Antonio a large train of more than four hundred mules loaded with supplies. He suggested that Governor Dominguez solicit additional sup- plies from the adjacent provinces in preparation for the contemplated ad- vance to East Texas.u The old mission of Valero, used for quartering the troops in San An- tonio, was in sore need of repairs. The Indian quarters and the monastery cells were ordered thatched for the use of the troops, while the mission it- self was being repaired. Acting Governor Armin.in made an urgent appeal to Arredondo for aid in purchasing materials for reconstruction. At the same time he ordered the royal alcaldes at the mission to request all dwellers having oxcarts to help the military by hauling materials for repairs. 24 Similar restorations were required at La Bahia to make the barracks at least livable. Orders were issued to Captain Lorenzo Serrano, who had succeeded Luciano Garcia, to make the most necessary repairs and to em- ploy the garrison troops for the work when not occupied with other duties. Swiftly came the reply from Serrano that he had neither materials nor funds with which to purchase them. Governor Dominguez thereupon rushed an appeal to Arredondo for funds. The harried Commandant General could but make the usual response that means must be found locally because he was unable to furnish any aid.:s In the midst of these arduous efforts to appease the Indians, to rebuild the decadent defenses of Texas, and to revive farming, ranching, and trading came news of ominous plots and formidable preparations for another invasion of Texas. An Insurgent messenger was intercepted on the Rio Grande revealing that Toledo, Gutierrez, Humbert, pi.rates, and merchants were planning a combined attack by land and sea. The United States officials obligingly winked at the preparations, it seemed, while the plotters openly carried on their ac- tivities in New Orleans. Rumblings of new filibuster attacks. UArredondo to Governor of Texas, June 29, 30, 1814, Be:ra,- A,-cl,ives. 24 Mariano Varela to Armiiian, November 16, 1814; Armiiian to Arredondo, De- cember S, 1814; Armiiian to Bustillos, April IS, 1815, Be:ra,- A,-cl,i-t,es. 2 5Governor Dominguez: to Arredondo, April 16, 1814, and related correspondence, Be:rar Arcl,;1111.
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