Our Catl,olic Heritage in Texas
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The viceroy replied on June 22 by stating that he had noted that steps had been taken for the establishment of a new fort on the Cibolo. He did not express either approval or disapproval, but contented himself with merely acknowledging the accomplished fact. In spite of strenuous efforts Ripperda began to realize his inability to cope with a situation that was constantly growing worse. He felt that his efforts to help and to defend San Antonio were not appreciated either by the viceroy or the ungrateful settlers. When the viceroy asked him in June, 1771, to restore twenty-nine men to the garrison of San Saba in Coahuila, the governor replied that without the necessary force, there was little use in his remaining in San Antonio. He asked the viceroy to allow him to burn or destroy the fort and stockade of Santa Cruz. built at such great sacrifice by the citizens and soldiers. It mattered little that he had contributed three hundred pesos of his own money to the enterprise. Three months of painful labor would be lost, but it was better to destroy it than to allow it to fall into the hands of the Indians. He added that his presence in San Antonio was useless. Under the circumstances he could do more good by taking up his official residence in Los Adaes. This important post was slowly crumbling with only ten men to look after it. He asked permission, therefore, to be allowed to return to Los Adaes with the fifty men of that garrison. In San Antonio he lacked the cooperation of the citizens; in La Bahia his authority was ignored; and in the missions he was refused aid. The viceroy referred the request to the Fiscal, who promptly rendered a long opinion stating the reasons why the governor should not be permitted either to burn the new fort of Santa Cruz on the Cibolo, or be allowed to return to Los Adaes. The viceroy adopted the recommendations and on November 2, 1771, instructed Ripperda regarding his decision, giving at this time his formal approval to the establishment of the Fort of Santa Cruz.u llBrief accounts of the establishment of this fort are found in Bolton, Texas in the Middle Eighteenth Centur,y, I 14-11 S, 392; Castaneda, Morft's Histor,y of Texas, pt. 2, pp. 418-419. But the account given here is based on the following documentary sources: Ripperda to the Viceroy, February 12, 1771; March 8, 1771; June 7, 1771; Viceroy to Ripperda, June 22, 1771; Rlpperda to the Viceroy, August 25, 1771; and the Viceroy to Ripperda, November 2, 1771, all in A. G. M. Provincias /nterna.r, Vol. 100, pp. 37-57, 79-82, 91-93, 126-131, 171, 193-196, 314-316. Ripperda had many reasons for his grievances. But to those in Texas was added that of being denied promotion to a Brigadier in 1771, because of his marriage in Mexico without permission from.the king. See Ibid., pp. 172-173.
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