La.st Filib11stering Expeditifms and Independence, 1817-1820 169
before they reached the field of action, were unable to prevent their escape. The leaders of the various schemes returned to the comfort and encouragement of friends to renew the attack, whereas the defenders returned, weary and tired, to the two forlorn outposts of Spanish power to find their homes more dilapidated, their friends more discouraged, and their strength slowly ebbing. With a two-day start on Perez:, Long had cross~d the Sabine with his wife and had gone to Natchitoches to secure help to continue the struggle. Hardly had Perez: and his men started back, before Long was again on Texas soil at Point Bolivar, where he joined a few of his scattered followers. But in Natchitoches his agents could raise no money, and ·he was unable to bring more than a handful of supplies. 44 Long's second attempt. Eli Harris was there with a few stout spirits, who had kept them- selves alive by foraging and trading with the Indians. Fortunately for them, Lafitte was willing to take fresh venison in exchange for powder and lead, which enabled them to continue hunting and thus survive. Long went to Galveston on April 6 to secure help, only to find I.:.a- fitte and his men boarding their ships with all their belongings. At long last the pirates were abandoning their nest at the insistence of the United States. Lafitte was leaving forever his famous "Red House," the stranded brig from which he had directed the activities of his lawless followers and ruled his pirate empire. The two chiefs shook hands and said good-bye. Watching and waiting patiently offshore was the United States coast guard Enterprise, whose Captain had served notice on Lafitte to evacuate without delay. General James Long, Presi- dent of the Republic of Texas, recently forced to take refuge in exile, found himself without an ally just when he most needed one.u Long returned to Point Bolivar that same day. He summoned by proclamation all members of the reputed "Army of the Republic of Texas" for duty. No one came. He decided to go again to New Orleans, where he arrived with his wife on April 25. With the aid of E. W. Ripley, Isaac T. Preston, and a few others, he obtained about fifty recruits and purchased supplies and a small vessel, Three Sisters. John Austin and Benjamin Rush Milam-destined to play an important role in the history of Texas-were ·among those 44 Lamar Pa,P11rs, II, 72-7 S; Natchez: Mississi,P,Pi GaJ:61111, June I 6, I 8 I 9. 4 SLile Saxon, Lafi/111, tlu Pira/11, 247-256. A vivid and somewhat colored account of the abandonment of Galveston by the pirate chief is given in this book.
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