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Our Catlt0lic Heritage in Texas
His brother-in-law, Elias George, added that Diego Ramon, one of the soldiers, had sent two mule loads of stolen goods to his brother on the Rio Grande. 15 A ttem,pt to occ11,py t/1e Trinity at once-. But let us return to Los Adaes. On October 23, 1754, Governor Barrios convoked a ltmta de Guerra to decide on a course of action. After hearing the opinion of the officers it was agreed that to prevent the possible settlement by the French a detachment of ten soldiers and ten citizens should be sent at once, pending the ultimate action of the viceroy. The citizens could be assigned twenty-four pesos a month and given such arms as could be spared from the stock in the presidio. In the meantime a report was to be made to the viceroy and a request for twelve men sent to the com- manders of San Antonio and La Bahia. Lieutenants Jose Gonzalez and Antonio Losoya were accordingly commissioned to enlist the citizens. But by November 4 only three men had been found and the matter was dropped awaiting the decision of the viceroy. 16 Before reporting the matter to the viceroy, however, Governor Barrios thought it wise to present some evidence of the favorable disposition of the natives towards the establishment of missions. Father Francisco Vallejo, President of the missions in East Texas, was requested to state what he knew concerning the matter. He quickly replied on November 19, 1754, that he had often heard Father Calahorra say that the Orcoquisac Indians had repeatedly come to Nacogdoches to solicit missions and had expressed a deep desire that Spaniards and missionaries should live in their lands. It had been the intention of Father Calahorra to visit these Indians this year for which purpose he, Vallejo, had given him permission, but illness had prevented his expedition. 11 Satisfied with the evidence gathered, Governor Barrios formally ordered ten men from Los Adaes to go to the mouth of the Trinity as soon as eighteen others came to join them for that purpose from San Antonio, San Xavier, and La Bahia. On November 30, he made a detailed report to the viceroy and transmitted copies of all the evidence he had gathered. nsummary of declarations in Res-puesta fiscal, in ibid., pp. 46-65; see also Decla- radones de los reos franceses, given in full in San Francisco el Grande Archive, Vol. 6, pp. 181-190. 16 Autos of the Junia de G11erra, October 23-Novernber 4, 1754, in Testimonio de los auttos !echo . . . A.G. I., Audiencia de G11adalajara, 103-6-23 (Dunn Transcripts, 1756), pp. 20-27. 17 Fray Francisco Vallejo to Governor Barrios, November 19, 1754. In ibid., pp. 31-32.
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