01'r Catliolic Heritage in Texas
of three hundred French hunters from Louisiana to defend San Antonio. On July 2, 1770, the commander of Natchitoches had informed Lieutenant Gonzalez at Los Adaes that he had just learned that the Taovayas had joined a large group of Panis Mahas (Pawnees?) who together with the Tonkawas, Xaranames, Juxanes, and Comanches were on the way to San Antonio to drive out all the Spaniards. Gonzales had transmitted the warning at once to Ripperda, explaining that the Indians had sworn vengeance and planned to kill even the children. 6 While anxiously awaiting the decision of the viceroy, the governor received the discouraging news that his proposal to raise troops in Louisiana could not be contemplated, because it involved too great an expense. The viceroy recognized the need of reenforcing San Antonio, however, and authorized him to order fifty men from Los Adaes, thirty- one from Orcoquisac, and fifty from the former garrison of San Saba to San Antonio and to solicit ten Indians from each of the five missions to meet the emergency. This would give him an effective force of over three hundred men. A supply of guns and ammunition was also being sent to arm the citizens if necessary. With this reenforcement, the viceroy observed, the governor should not only be able to repel any attack but to take the offensive and carry the war into the enemy's territory. 7 As an additional defence measure Ripperda had also suggested the establishment of a presidio in the Almagre hills, sixty leagues to the northwest of San Antonio. This proposal was likewise refused as extrav- gant and impractical. In order to rebuild the crumbling fortifications, construct a respectable stockade, and erect redoubts for fourteen cannon, Ripperda solicited ten thousand pesos. To this the viceroy replied that it was the duty of the citizens and garrison of so large and important a settlement to undertake the construction and reenforcement of the defences without royal aid. The most he was willing to do was to send eight hundred pounds of powder, sixteen hundred pounds of lead, and one hundred guns for the use of the citizens when necessary.• T!te use of mission Indians. When the order of the viceroy was pre- sented to Fray Acisclos Valverde, President of the missions of Queretaro, 6Ripperda to the Viceroy, July 22, 1770. Provi11cias /11/ernas, Vol. 100, pp. 35-36. 71\farques de Croix to Ripperda, July 24, 1770. Provi11cias /11ternas, Vol. 100, p. 58. •Marques de Croix to Ripperda, July 24, 1770. Provincias /11ternas, Vol. 100, pp. 60-62.
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