The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911 Page: 208
348 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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208 Texas Historical Association Quarterly
The fact that they went northward five days before entering the
Lomneria, and that they returned by way of the San Xavier (San
Gabriel) , where Father Pita's remains were found, would indicate
a generally northward direction for the campaign. Since they
were nineteen days returning and traveled one hundred and thirty
leagues, the air-line distance from San Antonio could hardly have
been less than two hundred miles. This would put the place where
the battle occurred somewhere in the region of Brownwood, perhaps.
The foregoing account of Flores's campaign is based on the offi-
cial report made by Flores to the Marqu6s de Aguayo, supple-
mented by the other accounts in so far as they do not conflict.
Conflicting statements are not wanting, however. Indeed, in a
later report by Flores himself we find slight discrepancies in the
figures, as well as additional details. According to Fray Joseph
Gonzalez, missionary in Valero, who, be it noted, was not present
at the battle, Flores attacked an innocent band of Apaches "behind
their backs," and killed and captured his victims while they were
trying to escape. Gonz6lez's statement was corroborated by four
soldiers of B6xar, who made a declaration containing some addi-
tional facts.2
These differing and conflicting accounts of the expedition indi-
Eate in part the dissensions which were so prevalent at this time
between the missionaries and the soldiers, with their respective
sympathizers, and, as will be seen presently, Flores's campaign,
'Dr. Bolton's investigation of the history of the San Xavier missions has
established the identity of the San Xavier river with the modern San
Gabriel.
2In a letter to the viceroy, in 1724,, Flores said that he left twenty-four
soldiers to guard the presidio; that the battle occurred after thirty days'
march; that thirty-six TIndians were killed; that one hundred and forty
horses were recovered, including the eighty that had been stolen (Gon-
zalez contra Flores, 26-27). Gonz1lez said that Flores set out with thirty
soldiers and thirty-three Indians; that one hundred and eighty horses were
recovered (Autos sre diferentes puntos, 22). The four soldiers testified
that only seven men were guarding the horses, which were scattered at the
time of the attack, and that some of these were without arms, whereas
all of the numerous Indians were well armed; that the campaign had been
prompted by Father Gonzalez, who suggested that it would be a good time
to follow the trail of the Apaches and try to convert them, and for this
purpose furnished thirty mission Indians; and that Flores left Gonzalez
with only two soldiers, everyone else being disarmed in order to provide
weapons for those who went on the campaign (Autos sre diferentes puntos,
23-27).
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911, periodical, 1911; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101054/m1/232/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.