Tlze Begi1111ings of P1'esent l\lacogdoches
came upon their camp just beyond the Brazos. Feeling secure, the Comanches had relaxed their vigilance, the settlers completely surprised them, killed several and wounded others, routed the remainder, and cap- tured not only the few stolen horses but most of the Indians' own drove_:., Ibarbo and his men had acted with resolution and scored a victory over the dreaded enemy. They returned to Bucareli well pleased and not a little elated. But their triumph was to be short-lived. The Comanches were vindictive. The shame of the surprise on the Brazos and the loss of their own horses induced them to plan their ,·indication. \Vhate\'er their purpose may ha,·e been in May, there can be no doubt of their C\'il intent on their second appearance late in October, Ii78. Sweeping down upon the unsus- pecting settlers, they ga\'e them no time to round up their horses and place them in safety within the corrals. Quickly they drove off between two hundred and two hundred sixty horses and as many if not more head of cattle. 55 Ha\'ing obtained their purpose, they kft as suddenly as they had come, following the same route as before. lbarbo and the settlers soon organized a pursuit party and set out to recover their property. It may be said in passing that most of the horses belonged to Nicholas de la Mathe, the former Louisiana Indian trader, who so generously undertook to rebuild the church of Bucareli and who seems to have enjoyed the full confidence of both the Governor and the new C 0111a11da11te General. Before they reached the Brazos, howc,·er, they were informed by the scouts sent ahead that about sixty braves lay in ambush at the crossing of the Brazos, where the Spaniards had surprised them before. Ibarbo had only a handful of men. He wisely decided to give up the pursuit and the little band returned empty-handed and dis- couraged, filled with fear and apprehension for the future. The vindictiYe Comanches had discovered Bucarcli and had avenged their initial failure. S4De .Mezieres condemns the Spaniards for not having talked to the Comanches before attacking them. "\Vithout asking a question or trying to ascertain their purpose or intent they fired upon them," he says. The criticism seems a bit unjust, knowing the character of the Comanches. It seems, furthermore, there were thirty warriors and thirty Spaniards. The forces were too equally matched and equally well armed to risk being so generous. At any rate, the Comanches certainly would have denied any hostile intention. De .Mezieres to Croix, November 15, 1778; Governor Cabello to Croix, August 8, 1779. A.G. Al. Hisloria, Vol. St, pp. 588-92, 551-553. S 5 Fray Garcia Botello, an eye-witness, says over two hundred; Father de la Garza says about two hundred sixty. De l\lezieres put the number at two hundred forty. See letters previously cited. Bolton gives two hundred se\·enty-five. Dolton, "Spanish Abandonment and Re-occupation of East Texas," The Quartuly, Vol. 9, p. u5.
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