Our Catholic Hm/.age in Texas
8
Whatever confidence remained was shattered on January 2 I, I 8 II, when Governor Salcedo and Commandant Herrera informed the gar- rison that they would soon march to the Cibolo, the Guadalupe, or the Colorado for field maneuvers and military instructions. The explanation that this move would also give the troops an opportunity to hunt wild cattle did nothing to remove the suspicion of some ulterior motive. A feeling of uneasiness spread throughout .the barracks and the city. Everyone seemed to think that the moment for action had come. At about five o'clock that evening Ensign Vicente Flores called upon Alcalde Francisco Travieso, the most prominent officer of the City Council, with whom he seemed to be on intimate terms. Flores told him that the soldiers had resolved not to obey orders from the Governor or from anyone else to leave the city, and informed him that they were ready to follow Captain Juan Bautista Casas whenever he gave the word. Travieso was pleased to learn of the attitude of the troops, because he himself was disgusted with the prospect of commanding a citizen- guard to protect the city. He let Flores know that the Governor had told him that it was the duty of citizens as well as of soldiers to defend the country, and that when the soldiers departed, he, Travieso, would be left in command of a group of civilian volunteers to defend the city. This did not seem right, in the opinion of Travieso. The two, being in accord, decided to go immediately to discuss the whole situation with Captain Casas. They had agreed that neither the Governor. nor the troops should be pennitted to abandon the city and leave its defense to the inexperienced volunteers. By the time they ar- rived at the home of the chief conspirator, soldiers and civilians had already started to hold conferences surreptitiously with Casas. Flore~ and Travieso were invited into the house, where they remained until almost midnight. Their prolonged conference with Casas w~ frequently interrupted by callers, who were interviewed by Casas outside in guarded whispers. Shortly before midnight all the details of the coup d'etat were com- pleted. It was agreed that on the following day Flores and Travieso would return to Casas' residence, and just as reveille sounded, go to military headquarters to call on the troops to denounce their officers, recognize Captain Juan Bautista Casas as their leader, and then with the troops in formation proceed to Military Plaza to seize Governor Salcedo and Commandant Herrera. 16
16 "Trlal and Execution of Captain Juan Bautista Casas," in Chabot, Texas ;,, 1811. T~e facts summarized are taken from the declarations made by the various
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