Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
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he would support Perry. After some discussion they agreed that Mina was to command the land troops and Aury, the naval forces. 60 Minds fateful expedition. Shortly after Mina's return, the impetuous young leader called a meeting of his staff. He announced to his officers that the moment for the great adventure was at hand; that instead of proceeding to Tampico or Nautla as originally planned, the expedition would go to the mouth of the Santander River, the best place to effect a landing. He had eight vessels to transport the troops--approximately three hundred and fifty-the necessary arms, munitions, and supplies and some twenty cannon. Samuel Bangs, together with his printing press, was also taken on board. But Colonel Montilla changed his mind on the eve of departure and decided to remain in Galveston. A late arrival, the Elleti Hooker, however, joined the fleet. Finally on April 7, 181.7, the nine vessels left Galveston on what proved to be the last enterprise of the dashing revolutionist from Navarre. Contrary winds slowed progress. On April 11 or 12 a brief stop was made at the mouth of the Ri6 Grande. A guard stationed to watch the coast was misled by the ships flying the Spanish flag. Instead of spreading the alarm, he cheerfully helped round up some cattle, which were slaughtered. As the water· casks were being refilled, the unsuspecting lookout freely offered information concerning the location of the Royalist troops along the coast. It was during this time spent on the Texas coast that Mina issued a bulletin, dated April 12, 1817. This is probably the first Texas imprint. Nine days later Mina gave the order to land at the mouth of the Santander, some thirty miles from the village of Soto la Marina. 61 Perry's return to Tnas. After the landing, Aury returned to Texas with seven of the nine ships to secure recruits and additional supplies. Mina, elated over the lack of any opposition, lost a few valuable days building a fort to store the surplus arms and supplies. Almost a month elapsed before Mina set out for the interior. They made about fifteen miles the first day, May 17. Then began discussion of the plan of campaign. Colonel Perry, remem- bering the bitter lesson learned in the Gutierrez-Magee expedition, '°Declaration of Father Servando Teresa de Mier, Hernandez y Davalos, Docu- wurrJos, VI, 808; Fatio to the Captain General of Cuba, May I 4, I 8 I 7, Pa-peles dtt Cuba, A.G. I. '1Fatio to Cienfuegos, New Orleans, May 24, 1817, Pa-peles de Cuba, A. G. I.; Declaration of Father Mier, October 9, 1817, Hernandez y Davalos, DoaJmenJos, VI, 808; Mina, "Boletin," April 12, 1817, copy in Pa,Peles de Cuba, A.G. I.
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