Our Catholic Heritage itt Texas
order, issued on l\fay 8, 1804, 9 the Eastern Interior Provinces were to in- clude Texas, Coahuila as far as Bols6n de Mapimi, a part of Nuevo Leon, and Nuevo Santander from the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) west to Rio del Pilon and north to Saltillo and Parras. The ·western Interior Prov- inces were to comprise Sonora, Sinaloa, NueYa Vizcaya, and Nuevo Mexico. Salcedo was to become the commandant general of the western division and a new commander with the same authority and privileges was to be appointed for the eastern division. The decree authorized the organization in New Spain of a regiment of infantry for the eastern commandancy, in addition to a body of troops of 200 men, who were to be recruited in Spain from among married men under 50 years of age and who had served 15 years or more. A company of artillerymen was likewise to be organized in Spain under the same conditions and for the same purpose. The decree further stated that it was the desire of the crown to encourage deserving veterans to go to Texas in order to establish military colonies which would form an effective barrier against the Americans. The necessary supplies for the projected military colonies were to be collected in Coahuila, where the settlers and troops were to assemble preparatory to the assignment and distribution of lands. The settlements were to be founded along the coast, starting at the mouth of the Rio Grande and extending northward to Galveston Bay. A special survey was to be made of the_bays of Espiritu Santo and San Bernardo for suitable sites. The captain general of Cuba and the viceroy of Mexico were requested to cooperate, and two ships were ordered to be placed at the disposal of the settlers to transport them, their families, and all their belongings. The decree authorized the organization of an additional regiment of cavalry and one of infantry when the new project reached the stage of development as to warrant it. These were to be recruited in New Spain, with the exception of one-third of the officers, who were to be sent from Spain. 10 Appointment of Grimarest and preparations for tlie military coloni- ::ation of T ezas. Agreeable to the decree, and at the suggestion of 9 Such is the date given in the letter of transmittal of Jose Antonio Caballero, cited by Salcedo in his letter ·of May 20, 1805, to Governor Elguezabal. Mrs. M. A. Hatcher, in her study, Tlte Opening of Tezas to Foreign Settlement, cites it as "Real Cedula de 30 de mayo de 1804," p. 84 1 n. 35. 10 Salcedo to the Governor of Texas, May 20, 1805. Nacogdoc/,es Archives, X, pp. 22-24.
I I
I i i I i I ·I i l
Powered by FlippingBook