Aftermath of San Saba 111assacre
I 19
that he would not abandon his post regardless of the consequences. Fully aware of the danger, however, he closed his report by saying "we may die here like sheep." 21 Almost at the same time there came a messenger from Lieutenant Juan Cortinas, who had been left in command of San Saba by Colonel Ortiz Parrilla. He sent word to his superior that friendly Indians who had visited the presidio had told him to beware, because the northern tribes would soon sweep down to finish razing the fort to the ground. He added that marauding bands had been seen in the vicinity and he urgently pleaded that reenforcements be sent. The fears of Father Calahorra and Lieutenant Cortinas were confirmed by the warning sent by Cesar Le Blanc from Natchitoches to Father Fray Joseph Abad in charge of Mission Dolores. The French commander advised the good missionary to take ·refuge in the Presidio of Los Adaes because an attack was being planned by hostile Indians. Fray Abad forwarded the warning to Fathers Tello and Vallejo, who sent the information on to San Antonio. 21 Governor Jacinto Barrios y Jauregui, who was presiding over the Junta in San Antonio, presented the information he had received concerning the immediate danger that threatened San Antonio and San Saba. The plans for the proposed campaign were temporarily dropped. In view of the circumstances the ltmta penned an urgent request to Governor Juan Manuel Munos de Villavicencio of Nuevo Reyno de Leon for one hundred men to be sent to San Antonio without delay. The Junta declared that the aid solicited was indispensable to prevent the complete destruction of San Antonio and San Saba. Copies of the letters of Father Calahorra, Le Blanc, and Cortinas were sent with the request, which was signed by Governor Barrios, Colonel Parrilla, Governor Martos y Navarrete, Captains Manuel Rodriguez and Manuel Ramirez de La Piscina, and Eca y Musquiz. The call for aid was sent immediately by special messenger. The Governor of. Nuevo Leon replied on January 27, 1759, stating that he had given instructions on that day to Sergeant Major Antonio de Urresti to raise the hundred men requested in Monterrey and proceed to San Antonio without delay. But when Urresti received the order from the 21 A. G. /., Audie11cia de Afexico, 1763 (Cunningham Transcripts, 1763), pt. :r, pp. :171-272. 2ZA. G. / ., Audie,zcia de Afexico, 1763 (Cunningham Transcripts), pt. :r, pp. :171- 273. At this time Chief Chico was surprised by a band of Comanches on the Florido while hunting buffalo. Arricivita, op. cit., pp. 378-379.
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