The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 466
641 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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466 Southwestern Historical Quarterly
to have no further connection with Bernardo in the field, united
with the Mexicans and invested him with the title of Governor of
the State of Texas.Os - devoting their time in the forenoon to mili-
tary exercises and in the afternoon at fandangoes. These fandangoes
at which the ladies manifested more friendship for the Americans
than for their countrymen, augmented their hatred of the Americans,
and to relieve themselves of their intercourse, they abandoned the
town in small parties, going into the interior and there promulgating
the charge against the Americans of being the authors of the dia-
bolical butchery of the Spanish officers, which raised an universal
storm of indignation against them throughout the country-causing
the men to vow before the alter to devote their time and means, and
the women to sell their trinkets to raise men and money to extermi-
nate these inhuman barbarians.c
The Americans urged the Mexicans to organize a regiment and
discipline them ready for service, in case of need. They demanded a
guarantee of the Americans for their pay, stating that if they fought
for them they must pay them. The Americans endeavored to impress
them with the importance of obtaining their own liberty and that
they had embarked in this hazardous expedition for the purpose of
aiding them in obtaining that object and they should be the first to
demand a guarantee for pay. Col. Manahaca [sic],0' an officer of some
108Gaines says that the Patriots formed a government on April 5th, with Gutierrez
as governor and a council of thirteen, chosen from among the inhabitants of the
town, except for two, Masicot, a Frenchman, and Hale, who represented the army.
Bullard supports this statement. Information from Capt. Gaines, ibid., I, 280;
[Bullard], Book Review, North American Review, XLIII, 238.
eThis expedition was gotten up and conducted exclusively to aid the Republicans
in obtaining their independence and the Americans, being ignorant of the Mexican
character, yielded too readily to their counsel, subjecting themselves to the charge
of complicity in their guilt. If the American officers had insisted on and procured
the liberation of these prisoners on their parole, they would not in all prob-
ability have encountered any further opposition in Texas. The whole northern
provinces then being ripe for revolution, only requiring an efficient leader to
insure success. But this barbarous act arrayed the whole inhabitants of the country
against the Americans, except a few desperadoes who had shielded themselves
under the counsel and protection of Bernardo. The most ardent friends of the
Republican cause became lukewarm, leaving the Americans to plan and fight
their battles without their counsel or aid.
10gMiguel (Magill) Menchaca, was a member of a prominent San Antonio
family. His nephew, Captain Jos6 Menchaca, had remained loyal to the Spanish
regime during the Las Casas rebellion of 1811. Because his name appeared in
correspondence of the rebels, he was seized after the revolt and imprisoned in
Chihuahua until his death in 1820o. It was Las Casas' head that was displayed on
a pole in San Antonio. According to Gaines, it was Jos6 Menchaca's head and this
was one of the grounds for the court-martial of Salcedo, Herrera, et al. When
Gutierrez left Texas during the Hidalgo revolt, Miguel served as his guide, and
led an abortive raid against Nacogdoches from the Neutral Ground, while Gutierrez
was on his way to Washington. On meeting resistance from the Spaniards, Men-
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963, periodical, 1963; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101196/m1/502/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.