From San Lorenzo to Retroccssion of Louisiana, 1795-1801
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that the westerners were in the habit of striking their sons on the shoulder if they were unusually robust, and of saying to them, "You will go to Mexico by and by." 34 A brief quotation from the illuminating Jl1 emoir of Colonel Joseph Xavier Delfau de Pontalva serves to emphasize the repeated warnings which Spanish officials received concerning the ulterior designs of the American pioneers and the danger they represented. "The Mississippi is the natural barrier," he declared. "It should be rendered impenetrable as ... the surest way to destroy forever the bold projects with which several persons in the United States fill their newspapers, designating through Louisiana the road to the conquest of Mexico; especially since the disputes that have arisen about the frontier... . "Since the Americans have been in possession of the new limits, it becomes more important than ever to assure a rampart for the protection of Mexico." 35 Keeping watclr, against foreign surprise. Under the circumstances it was only natural that in the closing years of the century strenuous efforts should have been made to prevent encroachments. A hunter of wild horses reported to the commander of La Bahia that he had heard cannon fired on the coast. On January 5, 1799, Captain Del Moral dispatched a group of mission Indians from Refugio to investigate. Having made a careful exploration of Aransas and Matagorda bays, they returned thirteen days later to report no trace of foreigners. 36 Not long afterwards rumors reached Captain Guadiana at Nacogdoches through the Arkokisas that a trading post had been established by for- eigners in the vicinity of the mouth of the Sabine River. He immediately sent Bernabe del Rio, trusted Indian interpreter, to investigate the report. A vacant log house was found at the place indicated, which, according to the natives, had been occupied two years before by an Englishman named Juan Barney, and his companion, who were now living in Natchi- toches. Guadiana inquired from the commander at Opelousas if any settlers from Louisiana had moved recently into Texas. The reply was that he knew of none. Before the end of January, Del Moral, still suspicious, sent four soldiers to make a careful exploration of the mouth of the Colorado and the coast 34 Cited by Fortier, op. ciJ., II, 17 5. 35 Pontalva, Joseph Xavier Delfau de, Memoir, September 15 1 1801. Quoted in full in Fortier, op. cit., II, 192-193. 36 Jose Miguel del Moral to Munoz, January 5, and 13, 1799. Bexar Arcl,w1s.
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