Ot" Cat/10/ic Heritage in Texas
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of the new Apache mission and the martyrdoms of Fathers Alonso Giraldo de Terreros and Santiesteban. By a strange coincidence, the original commander, Captain Felipe de Rabago y Teran, who was seriously impli- cated in the untimely death of Father Ganzabal at San Xavier, was restored to the command of San Saba by order of the viceroy on June 7, 1760. 35 The new commander took possession on October 19, 1760. After the formal ceremony, he entered into an agreement with Colonel Ortiz Parrilla to permit him to continue to administer the presidio until January 1, 1761, at which time the garrision would be turned over to Felipe Rabago y Teran fully equipped. When he finally took over the command, the condition of the presidio and garrison was far from favorable. Among the one hundred men of the garrision were included eighteen who had come from Coahuila to participate in the campaign recently waged against the northern Indians by Ortiz Parrilla. Furthermore, there were several boys who were entirely too young for military service, three tailors, and one sacristan in the ranks. There were also several superannuated soldiers and disabled veterans of frontier warfare, who although they had ren- dered efficient service in days gone by, they had outlived their usefulness and were entitled to honorable retirement. All in all, the effective number of men capable of military service was far below its reputed strength. They were all poorly clothed, had almost no horses, and their equipment was totally inadequate. In order to replenish the horses of the presidio, almost completely stolen by the Indians, Rabago y Teran requested six hundred remounts from Colonel Jose de Escandon. Unable to get more than three hundred and seventy from Escandon, he had two hundred and sixty sent from Coahuila. With these and seventy-four brought by himself, the presidio had almost enough horses to meet all emergencies. 36 It should be kept in mind that presidia! regulations required each man to have from six to eight horses as remounts. Supplies, arms, and ammunition were also secured with all diligence and the garrison was soon placed in condition to perform its duties more effectively. Rabago then turned his attention to the presidio. The old wooden buildings were quickly replaced by a casa ftterte (strong or blockhouse) 35 Rabago y Teran to the Viceroy, November 1, 1761, in A. G. M., Historia, Vol. 94, pt. 1, pp. 20-28. For the details of the early history of this presidio see Volume III of this history. 36 Rabago y Teran to the Viceroy, November 6, 1761, A.G. M., Historia, Vol. 94, pt. I, pp. 20•28.
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