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Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
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On September 29 of the same year three soldiers were driving twenty- one head of cattle to Mission Espiritu Santo. As they approached the presidia in the dark, they were suddenly attacked by a group of Indians. One soldier was shot in the arm, but they succeeded in reaching the fort. The attackers were quickly dispersed by the garrison who rescued the cattle. An investigation disclosed that the Indians, estimated to number from forty to fifty men, were Karankawas from Mission Refugio. They had been granted permission on September 17 to go to the seashore. They explained that they had mistaken the soldiers for Comanches who, they thought, were driving their cattle away-a lame explanation at best. Nava, however, suspected the Comanches of having some connection with the attack and instructed Munoz to impress upon the missionaries the need of preventing the Indians from leaving their missions. At the same time he gave orders for greater vigilance to be observed by the garrison at La Bahia. 37 Chief Frazada Pinta was a constant source of irritation and trouble to th_e missionaries of Refugio and the commanders of the presidio at La Bahia. 38 In July, 1796, Captain Cortes reported that late one evening Chief Frazada Pinta had surprised a group of settlers, who had gone to the Guadalupe to cut wood, killed one, and carried off their horses. The party sent in pursuit followed his tracks to the coast and noted where he had crossed to the neighboring island of El Sombrero.3 9 Jose Miguel del Moral was seriously worried late in 1798 by rumors that the troublesome chief had entered into an alliance with the Orco- quisacs (Arkokisas) and that he was planning a series of extensive raids on the settlements. Aware of the fact that the wily chief main- tained spies in the mission to keep informed, Captain Cortes publicly declared he would make ready for the attack. The stockade was repaired, the cannons were remounted, and the old fort bustled with preparations for defence. 40 The threat did not materialize. In June, 1801, the new commander at La Bahia enthusiastically reported that at last Chief Frazada Pinta was willing to make peace. The governor went to the coast in hope of concluding a permanent agreement, but only a temporary truce resulted.4 1 37Jose Miguel del Moral to Munoz, October 1, 1798; Munoz to Del Moral, October 8, 1798; same to same, November 6, 1798. Bexar Archives. 31 See pp. 82, 90, 106, 12~.
S9Juan Cortes to Manuel Munoz, July 21, I 798. Bexar Archives. 40 Jose del Moral to Munoz, November 13, 1798. Bexar Arcl1ives. 11 Nava to Governor of Texas, June 26, 1801. Bexar Archives.
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