Our Catl,olic Heritage in Texas
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spoken with many of the officials concerning the situation in Texas. He evidently made a good impression on the viceroy, or he profitably used his time to advance his personal affairs, because on February 29, 1756, just a week after formal approval was given to the project for a new presidio, that official appointed Ruiz lieutenant commander of the proposed establishment and commissioned him to enlist thirty men for its garrison on his way back to Texas. Instructions were likewise issued at the same time to the officers of the provinces and towns, through which he was to pass, to place no hindrance in the way of the new commander, but to render him whatever aid he might need. 31 Making his way back to Texas leisurely, Ruiz arrived in Los Adaes on May 12. His recruiting efforts had not been entirely successful, revealing that it was not easy to secure volunteers who were willing to go out to a frontier outpost. When he reported to Governor Barrios he had only fifteen men. He presented his credentials and asked for the cooperation of his former commander. The governor had already received the decree of February 12, and the more detailed instructions of the viceroy, which were delivered to him on April 28, and had made prepara- tions for the immediate occupation of the lower Trinity River. He gave Ruiz sixteen more men, one hundred fifty-one horses, the required guns, swords, saddles, and other military equipment, and all the supplies he could spare. On May 16 Ruiz left Los Adaes and on May 27 he formally took possession of the new post, which was established on the very spot where Blancpain and his companions had been captured on October 10, 1754. This was east of the Trinity, on a low hill near a lagoon, about two leagues (five miles) from the head of the bay. Although Bolton places it near the north line of Chambers County, it was really in Liberty County at or near present Moss Bluff. The presidio was named San Agustin de Ahumada in honor of the viceroy, and immediate steps were taken to put it in condition. By July 12, 1756, temporary structures had been put up for the garrison. Two cannon had been borrowed from Los Adaes with the corresponding powder and lead to be ready for any surprise attack. The soldiers had brought the necessary carpenter's tools, plows, harrows, anc.l other farm implements, axes to cut down the trees, several yoke of oxen, and one hundred fifty-one cattle. While some cut down logs others planted, so that the presidio had already eighteen bushels of corn planted in the 31 Decreto dt:l Virey que se t:nvie d~spacho de teniente a Ruiz que lleve tropas para la fundacion dt: la mision de la Trinidad, February 29, 1756. San Francisco el Grande Archive, Vol. 6, pp. 112-113.
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