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Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
some of the inhabitants of Natchitoches, who were planning to come to live in the abandoned site, to look after the farming implements left behind. He hoped that the governor of Louisiana would instruct the commander at Natchitoches to watch this property also, until means for its transportation to San Antonio were found. The Tejas and other neighboring nations had expressed deep resentment at the withdrawal and were laboring under the misapprehension that the Spaniards were going to join their enemies, the Apaches, to return in force to annihilate them. The commander at Natchitoches should be instructed, therefore, to explain to these Indians the real reason for the abandonment of this post and the missions in its vicinity. Governor Ripperda had one more request to make before leaving. He informed Unzaga y Amezaga that several families from Los Adaes had fled to Natchitoches, when the orders for their abandonment were pub- lished. The permanence of their abode was contrary to the orders of the king, who had expressly commanded them to go to San Antonio, where Humble though their miserable huts were and wretched their condition of life, the citizens of Los Adaes and its v1cm1ty were thrown into what was equivalent to a panic, when they were told the order for withdrawal was to be carried out in earnest and with the greatest speed. It is true that the governor had informed them as early as April of the determination of the king. Nevertheless they had hoped with that hope that dwells forever in the hearts of pioneers that they would not be made to abandon what was to them their home, the only one they had ever known. Although Rubi had estimated the total number of settlers to be thirty families, Ripperda found not less than five hundred persons, including young and old, living at or near Los Adaes. They pleaded for time, they made a thousand excuses, they begged to be allowed to remain without the garrison. Ripperda firmly informed them they must make immediate preparations and leave in a body to find new homes in San Antonio. The corn fields were green and the golden tassels waved their promise of a rich harvest. The warmth of early summer was beginning to animate the settlers; their cattle droves, which appear to have been numerous, were scattered over the countryside. How could they gather all their belongings, abandon their crops, round their herds, and start on such thev were to be resettled. 42 Despair of the settlers.
42 Ripperda to Governor Unzaga y Amezaga, June 14, 1773. A. G. I. Pape/es de Cuba, (Dunn. Tr., 1768-1780) 8-1o.
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