Our Catl,olic Heritage i1i Texas
Davenport proceeded systematically to gather, list, and evaluate the booty of this bloodless victory. Six hundred horses and mules, quantities of flour, powder, munitions, spears, and lances, eighty thousand pounds of fine wool, and a goodly number of silver bars-the whole conservatively estimated to be worth sixty thousand dollars-fell to the victors. The wool and silver belonged to Colonel Zambrano--the same silver and wool that had escaped Magee's advanced guard. The Americans knew that this booty was destined to fall into their hands. They had, in fact, boasted what they would do with Zambrano's property when they captured it." . The rejoicing of Nacogdoches was equalled only by that of Natchitoches. The merchants and traders were overcome with joy. They extended credit to the brave men who dared to make possible free trade with Texas; they furnished, free of charge, part of the supplies for the army. There was nothing they wouldn't do to help carry the victorious band of adventurers to the city of the Moctezumas. Governor Salcedo's. fmitless efforts. Bad news travels fast. Salcedo was not surprised but he was overcome with grief when be learned of the fall of Nacogdoches. There was yet time, he thought, to expel the invader. But not a single moment could be lost. Immediately he ,vrote the Viceroy in one last appeal for aid. He informed the Viceroy on August 17 that the Americans _had come ostensibly to aid the leaders of the Revolution. Within Texas were many deluded persons who were supporting the ideas of the Insurgents, and Texas was the door to the kingdom of New Spain. Unless a thousand soldiers from those recently arrived from Spain were sent to Matagorda within thirty days, Texas would be lost. The people were easily induced to sedition. They blindly believed that the Americans had come to aid them in winning independence. They did not realize, the Governor wrote, that "under the pretext of liberty they are working to take possession of Texas." Never doubting for a moment that his plea would be answered, the Governor sent a signal for the commander of the vessel that would bring the thousand men to Matagorda. The Viceroy, unfortunately, did not even bother to answer until the following spring. 50 49 The account of the capture of Nacogdoches is based on various reports, par- ticularly that of Montero to Governor Salcedo in reply to the Governor's instructions concerning the defense of Nacogdoches, which were not received until Montero and Zambrano had reached Trinidad. Montero to M. Salcedo, August 12, 1812, Nacogdoclses Arclsives. For the boast of Americans in regard to the property of Zambrano, see Shaler to Monroe, August 18, 1812, State Department Records, N.A. W. 50 M. Salcedo to Viceroy, Bexar, August 17, 1812; Viceroy to M. Salcedo, March 26, 31, 1813, O,;eracw11es de Gunra, Salcedo, A. G. M.
i.
I I
Powered by FlippingBook