011r Cat/10/ic Heritage in Texas
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powder was high enough from the ground to prevent its getting damp, it was exposed to the danger of being ignited by lighted arrows thrown by the enemy. The new governor declared that he planned to rebuild the entire fort, replacing the wooden structures with buildings of stone and mortar. This was entirely practical. Good building stone could be found within a quarter of a league and lime could be obtained by g-oing about one league. It was his firm intention to build a subterranean deposit for the powder and ammunition. All this would mean considerable work for the garrison and would require the importation of some laborers; but when the work was completed, it would relieve the garrison from constantly repairing the stockade and the timber buildings which rotted so quickly because of the dampness.sz Fear of Englisl, attack. Rumors of the progress of the French and Indian War had filled officials both in Louisiana and Texas with fears of the English. Early in 1761, the viceroy had issued instructions to officers in Texas to regulate the use of powder and safeguard the stock of this important item in the presidios. The viceroy warned commanders against the danger of English attack and asked that a dose watch be kept against surprise by intruders. That his fears were not unfounded is evident. From a letter of Governor Martos y Navarrete written at this time, we learn that he postponed his inspection of La Bahia for fear of an English encounter. The French commander at Natchitoches, seriously menaced in the fall of 1761 by an Indian rebellion, warned Governor Martos y Navarrete of the peril. Fortunately the French officer succeeded irt preventing the revolt induced by English traders. By December, the danger of English attack had passed and the Texas governor informed the viceroy that the season was too far advanced now for the English to invade Louisiana and threaten the interests of Spain. 11 Mission San Miguel de los Adaes. A short distance from the presidia stood the mission on a small hill, opposite the narrow valley that separated them. Founded by the enthusiastic and zealous Father Margil in 1716, it was the most advanced Spanish mission on the frontier, less than six leagues from the French fort of Natchitoches. The old church, the friary, HTeatlmonl01 de 101 auto1 formados, A. G, /,, A111tuncla tt, MJ,:leo, 88-6-10 (Dunn Tran1crlpt1, 1759-1762), pp. 258-260; Fiscal to the Viceroy, September 3, 1761, A. G, !,, Au,U,ncla tt, Guadalajara (Dunn Transcrlpt1, 1761-1766), pp, ll6•tt7, 11 Martot y Navarrete to the Viceroy, May 26, 1761; same to same, December 4, 1761, In A. G, M., Hulorla, Vol. 91, part 1, pp. 150-153,
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