Our Catl,olic Heritage in T exa.s
obliged to concentrate in Monterrey to plan campaigns against the aroused A pachena. 11 During the summer of 1812, as the storm was about to sweep down from the Neutral Ground, a concerted effort was made to win over the Caddos and their allies along the Red River. These Indians were good fighters, had long been using firearms, and would make excellent allies. July, therefore, saw a special agent from Nacogdoches visiting the principal Caddo chief. He proved crafty and assumed a hesitant attitude to entice the Spaniards to raise their offers. Dr. Sibley, who watched the proceedings with increasing uneasiness, reported to the Secretary of War that the chief was still loyal to the United States, but "an Indian is an Indian."u The Americans were equally anxious to win the Caddos and the Chiclc- asaws to their side. The Spanish Indian agent, Marcelo de Soto, reported at about the same time that the chiefs of these tribes had informed him that the Americans had promised to establish a new trading post soon at Bayou Pierre and to station a large force of troops at the new post for their protection, and that they would be treated right. De Soto added, however, that he was convinced that the Indians still distrusted the Americans and preferred dealing with the Spaniards." Just to make certain, de Soto persuaded the most influential Caddo chief to accompany him to Nacogdoches, where Montero feasted him for several days and gave him many presents. The Indians were not so simple as they appeared. They realized that the Spaniards were in no condition to offer effective resistance. They accepted their gifts but continued their depredations. Almost at the same time that the filibuster expedition of Gutierrez and Magee boldly marched out of the Neutral Ground to attaclc Nacogdoches, a band of infuriated Comanches, Towakonis, and Taovayas attacked the small post on the San Marcos. In spite of the brave and determined resistance put up by the 12 soldiers, the Indians took away more than 250 horses and killed several of the settlers. Shortly after this attack of July 27, 1812, the settlement at San Marcos was abandoned.M 31 Jose Ramon Diaz de Bustamente to M. Salcedo, May 20, 1812; M. Salcedo to Bustamente, June 1, 1812, Historw, 0,Peracwnes de Guerra, Salcedo, I812, vol. I, pt. I, A.G.N. 32 Sibley to Eustis, July 14, 1812, Tl,e Quarterly, XLIX, 411-412. "Marcelo de Soto to Bernardino Montero, Bayou Pierre, June 2, 1812; M. Salcedo to Viceroy, Bexar, June 25, 1812, Historw, O,Peraciones de Guerra, Sakedo, 1812, vol. I, pt. 1, A.G.N. MSibley to Eustis, August 5, 181::1, The Quarterly, XLIX, 413-41 S; M. Salcedo to Montero, Augu.it 3, 1812, Historia, O,peraciones de Guerra, Salcedo, 1812, vol. l, pt. 1, A.G.N.
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