Plans for tl,e Reorganis:atio11 of tlze Frontier
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Route to Orcoquisac. After a careful inspection of the Presidio of Nuestra Senora del Pilar de los Adaes, which kept him at the post until September 28, Rubi set out for Orcoquisac. He retraced his route for forty-five leagues as far as Nacogdoches. From here he followed an almost due south course, crossed Nana Creek, the Angelina about three leagues east of where the present highway to Lufkin intercepts the river, and camped after going five leagues. On October 3, after travelling ten leagues in the same general direction, they crossed Bidai Creek, near where they noted an abandoned rancl,eria of these Indians and continued for two leagues to the north bank of the Neches, which flowed almost due east at the point where they camped, probably a few miles east of Diboll. The following day in spite of rain, they resumed the march and travelled ten leagues, inclining slightly to the west. They crossed two unidentified streams, one after going three leagues and the other seven. On October 5, the rain continued and slowed their march, but they succeeded in going twelve leagues notwithstanding the thick woods, fallen timber, and numerous marshes encountered. They were approaching the swampy area east of Livingston. The next day the rains made ~ravel impossible, but on October 7, the march was resumed and seven more leagues were covered to the south, quarter southeast, through muddy and soggy paths. Keeping to the east of the Trinity, they marched fourteen leagues on October 8, passing probably by or near the present sites of Ace and Moss Hill. The following day they went ten more leagues to the Presidio de San Agustin de Ahumada generally known as Orcoquisac. This day they crossed Calxones Creek, and passed by the site of Los Horconcitos. The presidio was "in the country of the Indian nation of the Orcoquisacs, located one league from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico on the east. and five on the south in the direction in which the river empties into the sea. The river flows a quarter of a league west of the presidio, is very wide and deep, and subject to frequent floods, because of its low shore line and a sand bank which by closing the mouth impedes the flow. The result ·is that the surrounding country is filled with lakes which prevent examining the coast." The garrison consisted of thirty-one men, including the captain. Two missionaries looked after the spiritual welfare of the troops, their families, and the mission Indians gathered in Nuestra Senora de la Luz, founded a short distance from the presidio. The Indians were half-hearted in their interest and Rubi thought that the presidio was of little use in its present location. 43
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