Our Catl1olic Heritage in T e:xa.r
who joined Long at this time. Austin and Milam sailed on the Tl,ree Sisters to Point Bolivar, and Long made his way up the river on a barge with the supplies by way of Lake Calcasieu and Vermillion Bay. The American officials, however, were still diligent in enforcing neutrality, as the Florida Treaty of 1819 was still awaiting the signature of Fernando VII. The fifty recruits were arrested before they could leave and only a few were able to join Long at Point Bolivar." Shortly after his return, Long reassembled the supreme council on June 24, 1820. Long resigned as president and General E. W. Ripley was appointed in his place. The council voted the presidency a salary of $25,000 and the grant of a large tract of land. When Ripley was informed of the action of the council, he graciously accepted and outlined a very liberal program which he would institute. Business in New Orleans, however, detained Ripley with the result that he never did take office in Texas. Long grew impatient with the passing of weeks and months, and his small inactive band-grow~ to about one hundred-awaited in vain the arrival of the new president, and the signal to attack La Bahia and San Antonio. Reorganization of tlte Rep,ehlic. A Karankawa attack on the little band late in July induced Long to construct a fort, {which was romantically called "Las Casas." On August 30 he issued one of his usual proclamations, declaring Galveston, now deserted, a port of entry for the Republic of Texas. He asked his friends in New Orleans for authorization to capture La Bahia and march against San Antonio. The request was refused. Governor Martinez had been meanwhile informed of the new threat from Long and his followers-more than eight hundred. He was as- sured, however, that the expedition lacked official American approval; that its members were considered outlaws; and that their real purpose was to rob and raid the country. 47 Unbeknown to Martinez, unforeseen events that would eventually defeat the filibusters were at work. The chance meeting of General Ripley with Jose Felix Trespalacios in New Orleans changed the aspect of Long's project. Trespalacios, a native of Chihuahua, had spon- sored the Revolution against Spain, had been imprisoned, sent to Havana, and escaped to New Orleans. The meeting with Ripley aroused his interest in Long's enterprise. Trespalacios was placed in command of "Lamar Papers, II, 78; V, 351; Niles Weekly Register, XVIII, 288. 41Lamar Papers, II, 78-84; Ramon Querk (Kirke) and James Gaines to the Governor of Texas, Sept. 20, 1820, Nacogdocnes A.rcl,ives, XX.
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