Ottr Catliolic Heritage in T ezas
It seems that the Spanish Government had officially protested through dip~omatic channels against this violation of the Neutral Ground Agree- ment, for on May 2, 1810, the American Secretary of War had issued instructions to the commander of Fort Claiborne to cooperate with Spanish authorities in removing all settlers from the zone. Accordingly, the American commander informed Governor de Salcedo of his willingness to cooperate in removing all the settlers between the Arroyo Hondo and the Sabine. In order that the necessary arrangements could be made to carry out the plans jointly, he asked how many troops would be used, at what point he wished the American contingent to join them, when they planned to set out, and who was to be in command.Ioo Ten days later Governor de Salcedo informed the American commander that Lieutenant Jose Maria Guadiana had been appointed to proceed with fifteen men to Arroyo de la Piedra (in the vicinity of the aban- doned Presidio Los Adaes) to remove all squatters who, contrary to the terms of the Agreement entered into by General Wilkinson and Governor Simon de Herrera, had established themselves in the neutral area. He was expected to arrive on August I and would wait for the American contingent so as to carry out the commission jointly. He informed the American that he had instructed Guadiana that the settlers were to be shown every consideration and given a reasonable time to gather their property before departing-everything was to be done "in accord with ... the inalienable rights of the people." Likewise, he was informed that Guadiana was to burn and destroy all houses, even huts, in order to discourage those who were expelled from returning as soon as the troops had departed, and in order to leave nothing that would attract others to the area.IOI The efforts to dislodge the intruders permanently proved futile. Bonavia informed the commandant general late in November, 1810, that foreigners were still moving into the zone. In his opinion it would be better to leave them alone than to try to force them to return to the United States. Nothing would be gained, and much ill will might result. Always inclined to be lenient with newcomers, Bonavia added that it would be equally useless to attempt to expel some of those who had entered the province, regardless of the circumstances of their entrance. 10 °Commander of Fort Claiborne to M. de Salcedo, July 7, 1810. Nacogdoches Archives, XV, pp. 101-102. I0 1 M. de Salcedo to the commander of Fort Claiborne, November 17, 1810. Nacogdoches Archives, XV, pp. 103-105.
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