Reorgani&ation and New Policies, 1770-1800
9
Texas into Nuevo Leon and Nuevo Santander. To safeguard Nuevo Leon, soldiers from the Presidio of Coahuila {Monclova) should patrol regularly the country from that post to Laredo. Similarly a group of soldiers from Monterrey should make inspections at regular intervals as far as Pesqueria. These patrols would soon drive the raiding bands of Apaches east of the Rio Grande. The Indians would then naturally come to prey upon the settlements of Laredo, Dolores, San Ambrosio, San Ignacio, Revilla, Camargo, and Reynosa, as well as upon the ranches in their vicinity. In all these establishments there were numerous ranches on either side of the Rio Grande with an abundance of stock and cattle. To protect the lower Rio Grande settlements and their ranches, Governor Cabello suggested the establishment of a competent detach- ment of troops at Camargo. But more important still was the reenforce- ment of Laredo, located east of the river and constituting the natural defence for the rich ranches of Dolores and San Ignacio. With an adequate garrison at this point afid sufficient troops in the neighboring presidios and outposts of Coahuila and Texas, the settlements in the two provinces would have ample protection; and the Apaches, unable to continue their habitual thievery, would be starved into submission. The larger garrison at Laredo could then send out at regular intervals a detachment to reconnoiter the country in the direction of La Bahia. This detachment would meet another at the half-way point in the vicinity of the mouth of the Nueces where Corpus Christi stands today. If the troops at La Bahia were increased, the commander at this point could also send a similar detachment to meet one from San Antonio at Rancho de San Bartolo, located about midway. The Presidio de Bejar would also send another patrol in the direction of San Juan Bautista to meet the one from that place at Palo Alto, located about the same distance from the two. By this means the country between these three strategic points would be regularly patrolled and the Apaches kept constantly at bay. He further proposed the patrol of the country along the east bank of the Rio Grande by detachments from San Juan Bautista and Laredo. He was fully aware of the large number of additional troops needed for this elaborate plan. But, in his opinion, the benefits accruing to the two provinces and their wretched settlers from the effective protection
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