The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913 Page: 260

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The Southtwestera Historical Quarterly

Diego de Trujillo, and the lieutenant-general, Alonso Garcia.
After summarizing the events of the retreat, they agreed that
because of the miserable condition of all, and especially of so
many women and children, and since there was little prospect of
any alleviation of their hunger, or any way to avenge or restrain
the taunts of the enemy in that desert place, the retreat should be
continued; and that after the defenseless ones had been estab-
lished in a place of safety, a reconquest should be attempted,
though they feared this would be difficult, since the enemy was
in possession of a great many firearms and other weapons.1 This
opinion having been read, it was agreed to by sixteen sarjentos
mayore.s, captains and soldiers.2 Lastly, in much the same tone,
the Cabildo, of Santa F6 went on record as conforming with the
decision expressed by the maestres de cam po.3 The main reasons
stated by this body had all been stressed by others who, had pre-
ceded them. But the Cabildo. in addition emphasized the fact
that for the 2500 persons in the camp, of whom only one hundred
were soldiers, there were less than twenty famncgas of corn; and
it was pointed out that it would be necessary to send to the
jurisdictions of the Mansos Indians to secure provisions, because
the enemy was possessed of all the sources of supply within a
radius of forty leagues from the camp where it then was. For
these and other manifest reasons they were in favor of proceeding
to a place of safety. After reaching such a place, they thought,
the viceroy should be asked for reinforcements so that the recon-
quest of the province could be attempted.
Having heard the opinions thus expressed by the principal men
in the army, being in great need of supplies, "in a place where
the earth was so parched and notched" that no pasture could be
found for the cattle, and for many other reasons, Otermin would
doubtless have ordered the army to proceed at once but for a let-
ter which he received from Father Ayeta,. This letter was writ-
ten from the "Passo" on September 8.4 From it Otermin learned
1Auto of the maestres de campo at Fray Crist6bal, in Auttos tocantes,
34-35.
2Auto of the sarjentos mnayores and others at Fray Crist6bal, in Autios
tocantes, 35-36.
8"Paraser del Cavdo (de Santa Fe)," in Auttos tocantes, 37-38.
4Ayeta mentions having learned through a letter written to him by
Garcia of Otermln's escape. This was evidently the letter of September

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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913, periodical, 1913; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101058/m1/268/ocr/: accessed March 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.

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