Revolutiqnary Lull
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to safety. They found Gutierrez, Menchaca and the other ten men on the banks of Arroyo Hondo in United States territory and only six miles from Natchitoches. Gutierrez had lost three hundred of his five hundred pesos and all his papers. They were given a royal welcome by the many sympa- thizers, and furnished food, clothing, lodging, and entertainment.ff Many persons and officials of prominence showered favors on Gutierrez and Menchaca. Dr. Sibley gave him a letter of introduction to the Secre- tary of War and Captain Overton recommended him to General Overton, who lived in the vicinity of Nashville. Governor Claiborne instructed Judge John C. Carr in Natchitoches to keep him informed of develop- ments.'° About the middle of October Gutierrez left on his eventful trip to Washington, accompanied by a young interpreter, and armed with valu- able letters of introduction. With dogged determination the envoy of the Revolution journeyed on and was everywhere well received. He suffered considerable discomfort from the cold rain and the snow to which he was unaccustomed, but his amazement at the sights he encountered never ceased. Finally on December I 1, 181 r, he arrived in Washington, the first ambassador from the Mexican people to the United States. Although he had no duly executed credentials, he was, nevertheless, received by Secretary of War Eustis, and the chief clerk of the State Department, John Graham, who took personal charge of all his wants at the instructions of Secretary of State Monroe himself.u A btwtive filibustering expedition. Before leaving for Washington, Gutierrez had proposed a plan to Captain Menchaca to expedite the Revo- lution in Texas and to get his much needed credentials in order. Menchaca was to recruit American volunteers and proceed to San Antonio, where he would be joined by the numerous citizens and soldiers who were anxious to throw off the yoke of Spain. Once the new government of the people was established, Menchaca was to send Gutierrez credentials, letters of credit, and the necessa.ry funds for his mission. In order to gain time, Gutierrez ~Ibid., Garnier in his Dep05ition stated that Gutierrez and Menchaca claimed to be ambassadors and that they had fifteen million pesos to buy anm, munitions and supplies. Judge Sibley said he had fifteen hundred pesos, but Gutierrez himself asserted he had only five hundred. See Gutierrez, Brrv, A,;olopa • •• , 30-31. 40 Garrett, Green Flag ... , 86-87. ' 1 For a detailed account of his journey, see "Diary of Jose Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara, 1811-1812," translated from the original in the Texas State Library, and edited by Elizabeth West in T/ie American Historical Rrviru,, October, 19:18, XXXII, No. 1, 55·75, January, 1929, XXXIV, No. :a, :181-294. For a summary see Garrett, D'j. cit., 89-91.
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