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Our Catholic Herit,age in Texas
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of Joaquin Arredondo, who had landed in Tampico and was marching north through Santander to wipe out the last vestiges of revolution, Gutierrez resolved to leave his home, his family, and his friends, and attempt to carry out the mission entrusted to him. 36 The unexpected arrival of Captain Miguel Menchaca from San Antonio removed whatever doubts he might have entertained as to the difficulties of the task. Because of his liberal ideas, Menchaca had been forced to flee San Antonio to escape arrest. He had campaigned for many years against the Indians and was thoroughly familiar with every trail from San Antonio to Nacogdoches. Gutierrez was determined on his course. At his own expense he outfitted an expedition of twelve men besides Menchaca and himself and by the last week in July was ready to start for the United States to secure aid for the Revolution. 37 Along unfrequented Indian trails, Menchaca led the little band far to the north of the established Spanish settlements until they reached the numerous ra11c/1enas in northeastern Texas. It took them a weary month to cover the distance. But Spanish officials had been alerted and a diligent watch was being kept for the fugitives. Governor Cordero warned Salcedo about August 16, and requested that a sharp lookout be kept for them. Detachments were sent to intercept the little band if possible. John Garnier, a Frenchman, was one of the soldiers in the detachment sent to capture the fugitives. But dissatisfied with the service, he escaped and joined Gutierrez and his party just north of Nacogdoches. Gutierrez and Menchaca thus learned that a search was being made for them. On September 16 they crossed the Sabine near a Nadaco village, and the next night they arrived in Bayou Pierre, where they were sheltered by friendly Frenchmen. The presence of strangers in small communities is always news. It was not long, consequently, before a group of soldiers arrived from Nacogdoches to arrest the Revolutionists. In the confusion that fol- lowed, two members of the band were captured, but Gutierrez, Menchaca and the others succeeded in escaping into the woods. Pursuit was given up because the fugitives were already beyond the unquestioned jurisdiction of Spanish authorities and in the dangerous Neutral Ground. 38 When the news reached Natchitoches, the friends of the Revolution quickly organized a party of fifteen volunteers to bring the daring patriots 16 Garza, Dor Hermanos Heroes, 10-19. S1Gutierrez, ,"Memorial, to the Mexican Congress," Lamar Papers, I, 6-8; Gutierrez, Breve A-polog,a .. • (Monterrey, 1827, Segunda edicion), 7, 30-31. SIDeposit!on of John Gamier, :fugitive Texas Rebel before Justice of the Peace In Natchitoches, John Sibley, September 19, 18u; Joh~ Sibley to Edmond Randolph, September 23, 18n, Tl,e Quarter~, XLIX, 290-291; 399-400.
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