Our Catleolic Heritage in Texas
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and showed little friendliness to the newcomers, having been warned by Spanish agents that Nolan was a "bad man." Chief Erias Cooquis, of the Tahuayaces, actually revealed the confidence to Nolan, who could not resist writing a note to Samuel Davenport and \N'illiam Barr of what he thought of them." Commandant Musquiz, at Nacogdoches, after a careful study of ::'lfordicai Richards-' confession, confirmed by statements of his Indian agents, informed Governor Elguezabal in January that he was ready to go in search of Nolan. In reply to his request for reenforcements, the governor sent thirty men-all he could spare-and authorized Musquiz to enlist thirty citizens of Nacogdoches to complete the number requested. If this force was inadequate, Musquiz was to request aid from Natchi- toches and Wichita. 45 But for various reasons, Musquiz did not set out until March 4. With a force of seventy regulars and fifty militia, led by Indian scouts from the Tawakoni villages, who had visited Nolan's camp, Musquiz made his way to Blanco Creek (Nolan River). The party was well armed and carried a small fieldpiece. On March 21, early in the morning, he came in sight of the camp. Nolan and his men had been there for almost five months. They made a sorry sight, with their long beards, tattered garments, and crude equipment. For several months they had been reduced to eating horse meat, as their two months' provisions had long since been exhausted, and powder could not be spared for game. Although Musquiz divided his men into three parties for the attack, one under Saucedo, another under Granado, and the third under himself, and advanced with great stealth, their presence had been revealed to Nolan during the night by the restlessness of the horses. As the early morning light became brighter, the three parties advanced to within thirty paces of the camp, and Barr, who accompanied Musquiz, told the adventurers to surrender in the name of the king. Nolan and his men withdrew to the interior of the inclosure and prepared to resist. Before the fight began, Vicente Lara and Juan Jose Martinez deserted to the Spaniards; and Refugio de la Garza, Francisco Berban, Thoma6 House, and Stephen Richards were captured. Soon the crack of firearms broke the stillness of the morning and a lively fusillade was kept up 44 Nolan to Barr and Davenport, Nolan Docrmrents, I, p. 142. '5Musquiz to Elguezabal, January 2, 1801. ,Miscellaneous correspondence ., 1800-1803, p. 70; Elguezabal to Nava, January 8, 1801. Quaderno Borrador, I, p. 104. (Photostat)
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