Our Catltolic Heritage in Texas
Rio Grande by the lower road, leaving Nacogdoches slightly to the north. He then wrote Cook that he would follow the coast "along the sea to avoid troops at Nacogdoches," adding, "I am so well acquainted with the coast from Opelousas to the Rio Grande, that they would never be able to overtake and attack us. I have everything so well arranged at Revilla that I shall not be detained two days in that place." 28 But before he finally left Natchez, late in October or early in November, 1800, he again changed his plans and went up the Mississippi to Nogales (modern Vicksburg) where he crossed the river and proceeded to the Ouachita (Wichita). That he expected trouble is evident from the arms which he carried. He personally had a double-barreled shotgun, a brace of pistols, and a carbine. Almost all his men were equally well-armed. 29 First encottnter witlt Spanish troops. When the party reached the vicinity of the post on the Wichita, on or about November 6, they encountered a group of nineteen men sent by Vicente Fernandez Tejeiro of that post to stop them. The Spanish troops had not anticipated meeting so formidable a group and contented themselves with explaining they were out in search of Indian marauders. Nolan, who was allowed to proceed with his companions, nevertheless, made an explanation to Fernandez Tejeiro, to whom he wrote a note saying that he was on his way to the Province of Texas, that he did not have a passport, and that he would consequently avoid him embarrassment by not passing through his post. 30 The following day, Fernandez Tejeiro sent a force of fifty men to halt the intruders, but to no avail, as Nolan and his men had moved on rapidly to avoid trouble. 31 The meeting with Spanish troops caused Nolan's men to question him concerning the nature and purpose of the expedition and sowed deep distrust among them. A few days later Richards induced Adams and King to run away. When Richards arrived in Concodia, he immediately went to Vidal and made a full confession. 32 21 Nolan to Cook, October 23, 1800. Miscellauous corres,;ondence concerning Phili,; Nolan, pp. 42-43. Z9Testimony of Charles King and Stephen Richards. Nolan Documents, I, PP· 39, and 47. 30 Nolan to Fernandez Tejeiro, November 6, 1800. Nola11 .()ocuments, I, pp. 135-136. 31 Femandez Tejeiro to Trudeau, November 7, 1800. A.G. M., Historia, Vol. 413, pt. l, p. 259. 32 Declaration of Mordicai Richards, December 13, 1800. A. G. M., Historia, Vol. 4IJ, pt. I , pp. 353-358.
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