Plans for tl1e Reorganization of tlle Frontier
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in twenty-four separate reports on as many presidios visited, seven volumes of extracts and depositions gathered while engaged in the commission, and a special dicta11ie11 (opinion) on the reorganization of the entire frontier. In these voluminous reports is to be found the most reliable information concerning the conditions that prevailed not only in Texas but in the entire northern line of outposts on the eve of the actual transfer of Louisiana. What he found in Texas was typical of all the other presidios. No preconceived plan had been observed in the establishment of the various posts, discipline was practically non-existent, no attention had been paid to the need of mutual support between the different garrisons, the 'missions had failed to bring the Indian tribes under submission through a series of cir- cumstances beyond their control, while the Indian policy adopted in general had encouraged and invited hostilities, bringing upon the Spaniards the enmity of the fiercer tribes of the north. His analysis of the Indian problem is remarkable for the clearness with which he saw the inevitable issues. Equally remarkable is the vivid picture of economic conditions which he painted, with the great misery of the suffering garrisons and the fabulous profits made by the unscrupulous commanders of the decadent outposts. A brief summary of his general recommendations and of his inspection of the Texas presidios will not be out of place in view of the fact that it has been generally ignored by Texas historians. General condit-ions foimd in Texas. Beginning with El Paso, which he visited in August, 1766, Rubi was exasperated with the reprehensible practice of using the soldiers of the garrison to look after the horses, mules, and cattle of the private ranch of the commander of the presidio and of the different droves and herds owned by the settlers in the vicinity. Equally against all regulations was the frequent employment of consid- erable portions of the garrison to escort merchants and private individuals conducting merchandise for trade in Chihuahua or in Santa Fe. The presidial guard was made ineffective by the assignment of ten men and an officer to duty at Carrizal, some twenty-five leagues southwest, and from two to three men to each of the missions in the vicinity. This left hardly enough soldiers to mount guard and attend to the duties of the presidio. Naturally under such conditions discipline and military instruc- tion to improve the efficiency of the garrison was impossible. The arms were of different calibers and over half of them in bad condition. The horses were far short of the number required to provide each man with six mounts. The soldiers were poorly and grotesquely attired, lacking the
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