Revoluti<m Flares Again
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pointing out the advantages of free trade that would result from the liberation of Mexico. News of the "Republican Army of the North," and its plans and its objective were made known to the residents of Washington by the Natio11,a/, Intelligencer in August. There seems to have been little or no secrecy about the whole affair. 41 The role of Samuel Davenport. Invaluable to the success of the ex- pedition were the services of Samuel Davenport, Spanish Indian agent and successful merchant of Nacogdoches. For almost twenty years he had prospered under the Spanish rule and had made many friends both in Nacogdoches and Natchitoches. All through the summer of 1812 he was in Natchitoches, supposedly in the interest of the Governor of Texas, to keep the Spanish authorities informed of developments. Actually, he reported only such developments as would allay fears and suspicions. He made several trips to New Orleans to purchase supplies for the Texas government, and to gather equipment and supplies necessary for the army that was being assembled by Magee. Like the others, he, too, awaited anxiously the expected declaration of war against England. 41 Late in July Davenport wrote Captain Montero in Nacogdoches asking him to send a train of wagons to take back supplies which he had pur- chased. He permitted Montero to infer that the supplies were for the Spanish garrison at Nacogdoches. Significantly, he feigned anxiety over the possible attack on Nacogdoches, which would inevitably follow the declaration of war. Spain would doubtlessly be dragged into the conflict and Texas would be the first point of attack. Davenport played no small part in this expedition. It was he who was largely responsible for Magee's resigning his commission in the United States Army to assume the leadership of the daring enterprise. His own decision to join the filibusters and to accept the position of quartermaster general inspired confidence in the ambitious young leader. Davenport proved of inestimable value to the expedition not only in assembling supplies but also in assuring its success by putting his knowledge of the country to good use and maintaining his wide contacts among the Indian tribes and the settlers along the Spanish frontier. To facilitate the march of the army into the interior of Texas along the coast, he sent word to the Indian tribes in advance. Many of the residents of Nacogdoches who worked for him were disposed to follow his leadership. They were induced 41 Garrett, G,-een Flag Ovef' Tezas, 144-145; NaJional lnt4lliKe,u:«, Washington, D. C. August 29, 1812. 41 For biographical data on Davenport, see p. SI, n. 23, tur/4; Cristobal Dominguez to the Commanding General, Bexar, September 13, 1812, Bezar .A,-e/tit,41.
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