Last Filibustering Expeditions and Independence, 1817-1820 153
and in the evening the gallant warriors of the great Napoleon sat by the open fires to live again the days of glory and plan their restoration. 12 A manifesto issued to the world on May II, 1818, by General Lallemand appeared in the press of the United States and Europe. Lallemand proudly announced the establishment of an agricultural colony in Texas, and justified his instrusion by invoking the God-given right of man to find a home in the widemess and to enjoy the fruits of his labor. He denied all warlike intentions and protested that the colony had been fortified for the sole purpose of defending itself from attack. 13 The settlers held a great celebration in May, 1818, to mark the signing of a treaty with several Indian tribes. Representatives of the Choctaws, Coshates, and Alabamas solemnly filed into the camp and took their place at the peace parley. They smoked the traditional peace pipe, exchanged presents, and vowed mutual friendship and coopera- tion. This celebration, continued by the settlers even after the Indians left, was the last occasion the romantic refugees were to enjoy their short-lived dream of future happiness, conquest, and glory. Spanis/1 efforts to oust the Frencli. Almost at the very moment the French were congratulating themselves on having made peace with the Indians, Governor Antonio Martinez was receiving orders to expel the intruders. He was directed to reconnoiter Galveston Island and its vicinity at once to ascertain if the enemy had yet established himself in the area. The Governor had, however, anticipated his superiors. His scouts had already reported that they had located a party of more than a hundred and twenty Frenchmen and Americans at Cayo Gallardo, near the mouth of the Trinity. Their presence precluded the need of an investigation of conditions on the island. Governor Martinez asked Commandant General Arredondo for reinforcements to drive out the French, who, according to reports, had several cannon and were busily engaged in building fortifications. He pointed out the enemy stronghold was two hundred leagues from San Antonio, across the Guadalupe, the San Marcos, the Colorado, the Brazos, and the Trinity rivers, which in time of flood could not be forded. 1 ' 12 Reeves, "Napoleonic Exiles," Johns Hopkins University Studies ;,, Histo,-ical turd Political Science, Series XXIII, Nos. 9 and 10; Warren, op. cit., 13-14; Joseph and Ratchford, op. cu., 20-21. 13 Joseph and Ratchford, Th11 StorJ of Champ d'As,i/11 1 133-134. H Antonio Martinez: to the Viceroy, Bexar, May 7, 1818; Martinez to the Com- mandant General, May 19, 1818, Nacogdoches ,.4,-c!,ivu, XIX. 23-24, 31-33.
Powered by FlippingBook