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Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
an armed expedition to Nacogdoches to rescue American contraband traders held at that post constituted an absolute disregard of Spanish sovereignty. He advised immediate preparations for war. He warned Cordero that the Nacogdoches garrison could not possibly repel the rumored expedition, and that Guadiana was unfit to be its commanding officer. He urged dispatching two auxiliary companies of at least eighty men to Nacogdoches, fifty to the Sabine crossing, and an observation detail of nine to the Atoyaque. Governor de Salcedo seems to have been particularly interested in the maintenance and promotion of Indian trade. American refusal to permit Spanish merchants to secure supplies in the United States for their traffic with the Indians would seriously affect relations with the nath·es, whose friendship might he lost. He suggested, therefore, that steps-subject to the approval of the commandant general-be taken immediately to secure the necessary goods either from Florida or from the British West Indies. An agent could be dispatched at once, he thought, to purchase the supplies from the old Florida firm of Juan Ponton, under the management of Juan Forbes. who imported his mer- chandise directly from England. Letters also could be sent to Governor Vicente Folch, who would probably cooperate. Should this plan be deemed impractical, an agent could be sent to New Orleans for the purchase of a light sailboat, which the American embargo doubtlessly would facili- tate. The vessel could sail out of New Orleans in ballast, he explained, without violating the embargo, and make her way to Jamaica or Santo Tomas to purchase in the English islands everything that was needed for the Indian trade at prices much lower than those prevailing in the United States. The vessel might bring back also a cargo of swords, sabers, pistols, rifles, guns, ammunition, and many other supplies needed by the troops in the province. 96 Cordero forwarded the governor's letter to the commandant general, and remarked that he did not agree with the new governor on the number and disposition of troops that would be required to safeguard the frontier against ~ny eventuality growing out of the seizure of Davenport's cart train and his arrest. Cordero appears to have been a bit piqued at Manuel de Salcedo's forwardness in proffering him advice on military matters. He did not object to suggestions from the governor, he qualified, but he felt that decisions on military policy rested with
96 M. de Salcedo to Cordero, November 27, 1808. Nacogdoches Arc/1ives, XI, pp. 129-135.
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