F:rst Claslzes wit!, the United States
to run away and had been given protection in Nacogdoches. The governor of Louisiana demanded an explanation; the release of Shaw, Irwin, and Brewster; and the return of the runaway slaves. 98 Two days later he reported to the War Department that the Spaniards had advanced their main body to within seventeen miles of Natchitoches and their patrols as far as Bayou Funda (Arroyo Hondo), claimed by them as the eastern bounda:ry of Texas; that their number was said to be r.ooo; and that reenforcements were expected daily. Within a week he raised the estimate to r,200 Spanish troops, composed of 300 regulars brought up by Governor Codero, and two regiments from Vera Cruz expected to land at the mouth of the Trinity. 99 A ttem,pts to dispel tlie war clouds. Cordero reported the occupation of the territory as far as Arroyo Hondo to the commandant general on August 23. At the same time he recounted the arrest of three suspicious characters, Shaw, Irwin, and Brewster, who had been sent for examina- tion to Nacogdoches and hence to Monclova. They seemed to be either spies or smugglers. Cordero related he had just arrived in the camp on the Trinity by dint of forced marches and there received Herrera's dispatches of August 17. From all information available, the situation on the frontier appeared serious. The Americans at Natchitoches were on the verge of attacking his troops. He, however, assured the com- mandant general that, in case of hostilities, he would delay the advance of the enemy until reenforcements could be rushed to his aid. He was expecting on the morrow the arrival of 100 men who were bringing 120 horses from Bejar and the Alamo (post in Coahuila) and others bor- rowed from La Bahia. These would be replaced by others from Coahuila. The condition of the forces on the frontier was truly deplorable. he pointed out. The climate. the lack of adequate pastures, and the cam- paign were hard on the men and horses. Sickness was prevalent in Nacogdoches and the vicinity. More than 200 men had either died or were too sick for active service. All those who were able to travel he had sent to San Antonio to be cared for in the hospital recently estab- lished there. He estimated the effective force of the outposts on the
91 William C. C. Claiborne to Herrera, August 26, 1806. Stale Pa-pers and P11blicR Documents, II, 165-168. 99 McCaleb, o-p. cit., 118-119.
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