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Pre-paring to Weatleer the Storm, r790-r800
Fernandez remained in command until April, 1798, when he was replaced by Jose Miguel del Moral, former lieutenant in San Antonio. Elguezabal, who had carried on an extensive investigation, remained in La Bahia until he was ordered to conduct an inspection of the garrison at San Antonio. 26 Nava had intended to appoint Jose Francisco Sosaya, of Coahuila, to the command of La Bahia, and did so in January, 1798, but the lack of experienced officers in Coahuila made him rescind the order in March and select Del Moral to take charge. Immediately after assuming com- mand, Del Moral wrote Governor Munoz that the wall of the presidio had been so torn apart by the soldiers that it needed to be rebuilt. He explained that work had already been started, and that in order to keep down the labor costs, he had promulgated an ordinance to the effect that all those found guilty of gambling would have to work out their fines by rebuilding the new wall. 27 False alarm and tlie exploration of tlee coast. Shortly after his arrival, Del Moral was unduly alarmed when one day, at about eight in the evening, a messenger from Refugio brought news that foreigners had been observed on the coast. The deduction was that they were either shipwrecks or the advance guard of an invading force. As the repairs on the wall had not been completed, the presidio was in no condition to withstand attack. Del Moral reported the matter to the governor and frantically called for reenforcements. An investigation disclosed that either the rumor was false, or that, if foreigners had been seen, they had reembarked shortly afterwards. 28 Still fearful of prowlers along the coast, Del Moral dispatched Ser- geant Francisco Vazquez with eleven men to make a careful exploration of the bay and the surrounding islands. This expedition went down the San Antonio to its mouth, expecting to ask the natives if any foreigners had been seen recently in the bay. They probably reached the vicinity of present Tivoli. Here they found traces of an Indian camp recently abandoned. Vazquez and his companions concluded that the natives had 26 Pedro Nava to Juan Bautista Elguezabal, April 21, 1797; Elguezabal to Nava, May 27, 1797; Elguezabal to Manuel Munoz, May 28, 1797; Munoz to Elguezabal, May 29, 1797; Nava to Munoz, June 13, 1797. Berar Arcnives. 17 Pedro Nava to Manuel Munoz, January 19, 1798; Nava to Munoz, March 8, I 798; Juan Bautista Elguezabal to Munoz, April 22, 1798; Jose Miguel del Moral to Munoz, May 13, 1798. Bexar Archiv,s. 21 Del Moral to Munoz, May 28, I 798. B,rar Arcl,iv,s.
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