Our Catholic Heritage in Tezas
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New expeditions of De Mezieres and liis untimely deatli. The plan outlined by De Mezieres had to be submitted to the various Spanish officials before it was put into execution. Unwilling to remain idle in San Antonio, he now revisited the northern tribes. In March, 1778, he set out from San Antonio with a small escort and went first to the new settlement of Bucareli on the Trinity. He proceeded to the pueblos and ranchenas of the Kichais, the Tonkawas, and the Tawakonis on the Brazos. Following the Cross Timbers, he went on to the villages of the Taovayas on the Red River. While among the Taovayas, he sent a stern message to the Comanches who had been lukewarm in their attitude towards the proposed alliance with the Spaniards. He learned to his amazement that since his last visit several English traders had pene- trated this area and successfully disposed of their wares. To prevent such incursions in the future and to strengthen the influence of .Spain over these Indians, he dispatched an urgent appeal to Croix for the establishment of a Spanish settlement among the Taovayas. But this, like many other proposals, was disregarded. Shortly afterwards he left the site of what is now known as Old Spanish Fort and went to Natchi- toches, taking with him the two cannons abandoned by Parrilla in his hasty retreat almost twenty years before. These he left at Bucareli. 11 In the meantime Croix had returned to Chihuahua. The plan drawn up by De Mezieres was carefully considered in several councils and approved in principle, but it was concluded that its execution required more troops than were available. While the matter was being decided by the viceroy, De Mezieres was formally transferred to Texas, and his permanent residence was established in San Antonio. The purpose was to have him continue his work out of San Antonio among the nations of the north, particularly the Comanches who had not been won over completely. The change seems to indicate that the authorities in New Spain had eventually adopted the recommendations of Ripperda in this regard and decided to transfer the control of the northern tribes from Natchitoches to San Antonio. But fate decreed otherwise. In May, 1779, De Mezieres set out from Natchitoches for Texas. Instead of going directly to San Antonio, he decided to call upon the new allies in an effort to win the friendship of other tribes and strengthen the good will of those who were now at peace. When he reached the Atoyaque River, he suffered a severe fall from his horse which stumbled and threw him on his head. He went back to Natchitoches, or rather was carried
11 /bid., I, 113-116.
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