CHAPTER VII
ABANDONMENT OF EAST TEXAS
"In 1772, the Spanish government decided to give back to nature and the Indians, temporarily at least, all that portion of Texas lying northeast of San Antonio de Bejar and La Bahia de! Espiritu Santo, some parts of which had been occupied, continuously even if weakly, for more than half a century," frankly declares one of the pioneer historians of Spanish Texas. 1 The withdrawal, however, is not to be interprett::d as an admission of failure on the part of either the missionaries or of Spanish authorities. A series of circumstances combined to bring about the attempted consol- idation of the far-flung and insecurely held frontier of Texas. Chief among these were the increasing frequency and intensity of the attacks by the Comanches and their northern allies; the cession of Louisiana, which removed to its own eastern limits the danger of foreign aggression; and the urgent demand made upon the meager resources of Spain in the occupation and fortification of both Louisiana and Alta California under the more aggressive policy of Charles II I. It was these facts which contributed to the adoption of the radical recommendations made by the discriminating and clear-minded Marques de Rubi. Conditions had steadily grown worse. The westward advance of the English to the Mississippi had driven before it the fierce and desperate nations of the north, who in turn had encroached upon the more docile tribes of Texas, penetrating far into the dominions of Spain. To the constant menace of the vicious thrusts of the Comanches was now added the treachery of the Apaches within the weakent::d defences. Rubi's appraisal of the situation seems prophetic in view of the trend of events that followed his inspection. In order to understand better the abandon- ment of east Texas it is necessary to recount the gradual retreat which preceded the official order of the king. This will show more clearly the difference between official policy and individual initiative and will reveal the part which selfish interests, misdirected enthusiasm, and lack of reliable information played in the tragic withdrawal from Los Adaes. Hugo Oconor in Texas. In the summer of 1767 there came to Texas the virile and energetic Sergeant Major Don Hugo Oconor, who was 1 Bolton, Texas ;,, t/re Middle Eigliteentli Century, 377.
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