Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
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On the opposite side there were also several houses already built, which almost completed that wing. The house of the captain, the only one constructed of stone and mortar, occupied about one-third of the west side. Opposite to the captain's residence on the east side were the garrison's headquarters, which occupied about one-third of that wing. Here, too emplacements for two pieces of artillery had been built. All the buildings, ,vith the exception of the captain's house, were built of timber and plastered with clay mixed with hay or moss to give the plaster greater consistency. The purpose in plastering the buildings was to protect them against being set on fire by the enemy. This precaution was also taken with regard to the roofs. Thus it may be seen that this presidio was in much better condition than San Antonio de Bejar at this time. 18 But we gain a much more accurate picture of both the presidio and the missions at La Bahia from a long letter written by Captain Manuel Ramirez de la Piscina to the viceroy shortly after the governor's inspec- tion. From some stray remarks in this interesting document it seems the captain was not particularly pleased with the long stay of Governor Martos y Navarrete in La Bahia. In describing the location of the presidio he declares it was on the south bank of the San Antonio River, on the top of a small hill that dominated the spacious plains and the surrounding woods. The spot was, in fact, not very far from the c0ast. The presidio, which had consisted of a group of frame buildings thatched with grass, had been rebuilt since the arrival of Captain Ramirez de la Piscina. But it had been impossible to construct the buildings out of stone and mortar because of the scarcity of these materials and of expert work- men. He had, therefore, hit upon the idea of plastering the buildings, both inside and out, with mud mixed with hay or moss, as the governor had described in his report. The church of the presidio was a good, roomy structure stoutly built with solid beams and well plastered. The same was true of the barracks and the guardhouse. He explained that he had erected at his own expense a good residence for himself made of stone and mortar, which could serve as protection for the few settlers in case of an emergency. In order to construct this solid building he had been obliged to bring master masons from New Spain to do the work. The armament of the presidio consisted of six eight pounders which were brought several years before by water from Veracruz. Of these 11 Vlsita of Governor Martos y Navarrete, March 13-May 20, I 762. In Testimonio de los autos de la visita en cl Real Presidio de la Bahia de! Espiritu Santo . . . A.G. I., Audiencia de Mexico, 92-6-22, 1763, pp. 8-9.
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