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Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
the invaders and had put an end to the second Republic of Texas, but they had not removed all danger of foreign attack. 42 Spoils of the expedition. Before Perez; and his worn-out troops ar- rived in San Antonio, the prisoners they had captured and sent under escort late in November had been removed to Monterrey. Most of the captured forty-four American and Spanish filibusters were members of the self-styled "Army of the Republic of Texas." The thoroughness of Perez is revealed by his capture of eight Jaraname Indians, who had run away from Mission Espiritu Santo. These he sent to the padre in charge of the mission, Father Jose Miguel Muro. He, likewise, liberated from the Comanches eight or ten settlers from San Antonio, Laredo, and Camargo, among them a boy named Crisanto, a captive of five years. The lists of the goods, supplies, property, tools, equipment, and other objects taken in their raids in East Texas give an indication of the relative prosperity and the culture of these early pioneers. Found in the cabins were books in English and French, collections of letters and legal papers of various kinds, and a package containing part of the printing press equipment brought by Eli Harris. There were numerous tools of all kinds, particularly carpenter and blacksmith tools; there were cowbells and razors; shirts, coats and skirts, bedding and luxury items such as silk handkerchiefs-black, red, white, and yellow; silk and lace hose of various colors for men and women; gloves; fancy waistcoats of · blue, red, green~ and black velvet; rich brocades and ribbons. 43 Long's expedition was the third since Governor Martinez; had assumed command in 1817. The strain of this continuous struggle against the persistent incursions of adventurers, land-hungry pioneers, and In- surgents had begun to tell. The Province of Texas was prostrated by the unequal struggle. Desolation and ruin were apparent on every hand. There were fewer than 4,000 persons in the vast province. Be- cause there was no outpost or settlement beyond San Antonio and La Bahia, intruders penetrated well within the province with impunity. Each effort to put an end permanently to the threat of foreign ag- gression had proved only a respite. The intruders invariably fled to the safety of the United States; their pursuers, worn-out by the long march •=Martinez to Arredondo, February 2, 1820; Perez to Martinez, January 23, 1820; Arredondo to the Viceroy, March 6, 1820, n;storia, vol. 162, part 2, pp. 288-300, A. G. M. 4JList of prisoners sent under escort of Lieutenant Rodriguez; Inventory of arms and other property taken, Historia, vol. 162, part 2, pp. 350-360, A. G. M.
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