The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 10, July 1906 - April, 1907 Page: 10
ix, 354 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
demand the Rio Grande as the western boundary of Louisiana.
The governor should also make an establishment on the Madelaine
(Guadalupe) for the purpose of controlling the mines in the in-
terior of Mexico.
The result of the entrada of 1716, under the double leadership
of Captain Domingo Ram6n and Saint Denis was the reoccupation
of the eastern frontier of Texas by the Spaniards. By means of
mission station and presidial guard, aided by native converts, they
hoped to impede future French encroachments. During 1716 and
1717 six missions were established in the country to the eastward
of the Trinity River, the last of which, among the Adaes Indians,
was only eight leagues from Natchitoches, a fort erected by the
French in 1716.2 The first step in the Spanish reoccupation of Texas
was thus accomplished. Frontier outposts-religious in character
it is true, but effective if well supported-were placed so as to cut
off French aggression by the land route through the Texas In-
dians, and orders were given to prevent these missions themselves
from forming the channel of French contraband trade."
These remote missions, far from the base of supplies, and gar-
risoned by few soldiers, were insufficient to hold the province com-
pletely, even if the missionaries were equally zealous in national
and religious propaganda. Consequently the recommendation was
made to advance missions to the San Antonio River, as a sort of
half-way point, and to occupy the bay of Espiritu Santo (Mata-
gorda) in order to open a communication by sea from Vera Cruz.
This would prevent its use for the purpose of carrying on contra-
band trade, and forestall the French claim to the Rio Grande.4
In accordance with the first of these suggestions the mission
of San Antonio de Valero was founded near the site of mod-
ern San Antonio, in 1718, to keep open communication between
the Rio Grande and the eastern missions. The suggestion with re-
gard to the bay of Espiritu Santo was not followed out till 1722.
TI-E QUARTERLY, VI 19, note; Margry, VI 198-213; Bancroft, North
M exican States and Texas, I 610, 613. It will be observed that the Mex-
ican mines still appeal to the French adventurers.
'Bonilla, Breve Compendio, in Memorias de Nueva Espata, XXVII 9;
Historia XLIII, Opisculo III, Par. II.
'Dictamen Fiscal, November 30, 1716, in Memorias de Nueva Espana,
XXII 226-235.
4Memorias de Nueva Espaiia, XXVIII 226-235; Margry, V 212, 213.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 10, July 1906 - April, 1907, periodical, 1907; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101040/m1/18/?rotate=270: accessed April 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.