393
Frencli Intervention in Spain and Its Reaction in Texas
lance while working to pay off the expense of their transportation. As an alternative to this plan, Governor de Salcedo proposed the detention of American deserters to exchange them for Spanish deserters. Either plan would reduce the number of desperate squatters in the Neutral Ground who had been rustling horses and cattle as far as the Trinity. To strengthen his contention, he pointed out the danger of international complications that might arise out of a policy which excluded all deserters. The American Government in attempting to capture the deserters in the Neutral Ground area would probably pursue them into Spanish territory. 93 Bonavia sent the governor's protest to the commandant general, and stated that he himself favored the governor's objections and suggestions except the one pertaining to the proposed exchange of deserters, because he believed it would not solve the principal problem raised by the execu- tion of the orders. The commandant general replied that he considered their objections as treasonable, their suggestions as officious, and their attitude as unbecoming to loyal officers of the king. 94 Netttral Ground difficulties. Wilkinson's Neutral Ground Agreement had resulted in the creation of a no man's land east of the Sabine and Arroyo Hondo. Questionable characters soon began to drift into the area, which became the refuge for American and Spanish desperadoes. In November, 1808, Cordero had protested the violation of the Neutral Ground by American forces. It seems that, on orders of Judge Sibley, American soldiers had, on November 5, overtaken a train of merchandise belonging to Samuel Davenport, Nacogdoches Indian agent, two and one-half leagues west of Arroyo Hondo. The Americans had taken the train back to Natchitoches, where it, together with Davenport himself, was held by the authorities. The incident produced considerable excite- ment. It was alleged that Spanish sovereignty had been violated. The new governor, Manuel de Salcedo, was quite disturbed over the report, and felt slighted that the commander at Nacogdoches had not taken the matter up with him immediately. 95 Governor de Salcedo wrote Cordero that the incident involved three points. Seizure of the train was in effect a denial by American officials of the right of Spanish merchants or agents to purchase Indian goods in Natchitoches; in the next place, it was a violation of the Neutral Ground Agreement; and last, the plan to send
93 M. de Salcedo to Bonavia, July 30, 1809. Bexar Arc/rives. 94 N. Salcedo to Bonavia, August 13, 1809. Bex11r Arc/rh,es. 95 Cordero to M. de Salcedo, November 28, November 27, I 808. Nacogdoches Archives, XI, pp. I 29-139.
I 808; M. de Salcedo to Cordero,
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