First Clashes wit/, tl,e United States
included veterans and militia and comprised the garrisons stationed on the Trinity, at Nacogdoches, and Orcoquisac. All were fully equipped and well supplied with food to last until August 30. Four kegs of powder had been sent by Cordero to Nacogdoches from San Antonio, as also four cases of cartridges (8,000) for the militia and from the Trinity four more cases for the Coahuila contingent. Father Cipriano de la Garza, of Punta de Lampasos, had been appointed chaplain for the troops in East Texas and a portable chapel for field services had been secured from Parras for his use. 93 On June 25 Herrera reported that he had arrived safely and had placed his troops advantageously so as to enable him to observe with ease the movements of the Americans from the Trinity to the Arroyo Hondo. Viana was now sent to reoccupy Bayou Pierre which had been abandoned voluntarily in February in accord with the proposal for the establishment of a neutral zone. The Spanish flag was raised at the old post early in July on the site of the abandoned mission, San Francisco de los Tejas. But conditions on the eastern frontier were far from sat- isfactory. The arrival of fresh troops in Nacogdoches served only to multiply the difficulties of the commissary. On August 4 Viana made an urgent appeal to Nacogdoches for provisions, explaining that his detachment at Bayou Pierre had been four days without rations. Sickness spread rapidly through the crowded camp of underfed men and soon converted it into a wretched hospitaJ.M Exaggerated rumors of the number of Spanish troops on the frontier and of their designs now spread alarm among the Americans. Colonel T. H. Cushing, commander of Natchitoches, sent Major Moses Porter with a letter to Lieutenant Colonel Herrera, in which he stated he had just learned of the recrossing of the Sabine by the Spanish forces recently assembled west of the river. He peremptorily demanded their immediate withdrawal and an explanation of their actions. He declared that Herrera would be responsible for the consequences of a refusal. The question of the true boundary was still the subject of diplomatic discussion. The reenforcement of the American outposts was intended for the protection and safety of the territory of the United States. There was no intention 9 scordero to Salcedo, June 12, 1806. Nacogdocltes Arcltives, X, pp. 109-uo; McCa!eb, Tlte Aaron Burr Conspiracy, 116-117. MCordero to Salcedo, June 29, 1806. Nacogdocltes Arclth•es, X, pp. 115-120; McCaleb, op. cit., n1-117.
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