LMt Filibuseeri,,g Expeditiuns and Independence, r817-r820 175
Deposition of Long a11d. his friends. Such were some of the facts that Long was ignorant of when he led his ill-starred attack against La Bahia. After his surrender, he was first taken with his small band to San Antonio, and later dispatched to Monterrey under guard. In the depositions taken by Governor Martinez in Bexar, Long and his men protested that the sole purpose of the expedition had been to help Mexico win independence. Their relations with Trespalacios were pre- sented as evidence of their sincerity. Governor Martinez, well aware of their previous record, was not impressed and so informed Lopez when transmitting his report on the prisoners. The effect of the alleged antecedents on Lopez was very different. He immediately warned the Governor that until the guilt of the prison- ers was proven, they should be treated with all courtesy, and that in sending them under escort to Monterrey every step should be taken to insure their comfort. Particular concern was evinced by Lopez for Trespalacios, reported by some of the prisoners as likely to return to Texas by way of Galveston. Wherever and whenever Trespalacios appeared, he was to be informed of the triumph of the Revolution and the terms of the Plan of Iguala. If he subscribed to it, he was to be shown the courtesies due a veteran officer of the armies of in- dependence, for he had sponsored the cause of liberty from the very beginning of the struggle. To the report sent by Martinez, Iturbide replied that the prisoners were not entirely innocent of the charge of violating Mexican territory. But since they had chosen to justify the incursion by their anxiety to cooperate with the defenders of independence, they were to be given every opportunity to prove their contention. As to Trespalacios, it was advisable to win his support to the Plan of Iguala. He was a veteran of the Revolution of 1810 and was entitled to every consideration. Iturbide went even further. He sent Lopez a sealed letter for Tres- palacios which was to be delivered as soon as possible. He explained to the new Commandant General that he was tendering Trespalacios an appointment in an effort to attract him to the service of the new government. 57 The veteran Revolutionist and colleague of Long was soon to replace Martinez as Governor of Texas for a short term. By a strange coinci- dence the two unwavering supporters of the King were thus replaced by their former antagonists.
57 L6pez to Martinez, October 20, December 3, 1821 1 Nacogdo&/,4s ,A,-&/,iv4s, XXI.
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