The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 467

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467

distinction, finally consented to take the command of such volunteers
as could be raised, and after considerable drumming up, he organized
a force of three hundred men. The Cooshattie Indians finding no
booty on the battle field, and but little prospect of pay for their
services at San Antonio, returned home a few weeks after their arrival
at that place, with a few poor horses for the services they had ren-
dered, much dissatisfied-that being the best the Americans could
do for them, have served themselves for the mere fun of the thing,
with a gloomy prospect in the future.o10 Col. Kemper and several
others left on leave of absence in the month of April and May,
leaving Lt. Col. Ross in command."x-Having organized a civil gov-
ernment, and the Mexicans assuming the police regulations of the
city and country, the Americans had a relaxation from duty.112 They
had frequent intelligence that there were great exertions made in the
interior to organize an army to invade their repose. But the Mexican
scouts came in frequently and reported everything quiet and solitary
between San Antonio and the Rio Grande."1s The first intelligence
chaca deserted his men, who disbanded and returned to the Neutral Ground. He
joined the Magee-Gutierrez expedition early as he appears as a company com-
mander during the seige of La Bahia. When Toledo replaced Gutierrez as head
of the revolutionary government in San Antonio, Miguel was the center of the
Mexican opposition to Toledo, whom they considered a Gachupin. Miguel is
described by Bullard as a brave but headstrong man who had great influence over
his countrymen. His actions in the Battle of Medina helped spoil Toledo's plan
for the battle and led to the defeat of the republican forces. Miguel Menchaca
was killed during the Battle of the Medina, August 19, 1813. Antonio Menchaca,
Memoirs, 13; Information derived from John Villars, in Gulick and others, Lamar
Papers, VI, 150, 153; [Bullard], Book Review, North American Reveiw, XLIII, 241;
Castafieda, Catholic Heritage, VI, 25, 32, 58-60, 95, 112; Mattie Austin Hatcher
(trans.), "Joaquin de Arredondo's Report of the Battle of the Medina, August 18,
1818," Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, XI, 225.
11oThrall says that the Indians were supplied with two dollars worth of ver-
million and presents to the value of $13o and were sent away rejoicing. One cannot
accept fully McLane's statement that the Americans were solely inspired by an
interest in Republicanism or for the fun of the thing. After all, there had been
advertisements in newspapers in the United States offering a league of land (4428
acres) and forty dollars per month. Thrall, Pictorial History, 118; Garrett, Green
Flag Over Texas, 157.
'11Hall says that he and several others quit the expedition in disgust over the
murder of the Spanish Officers. Several writers say that Kemper also quit but he
returned in time to take part in the final battle. Hall, Texas Almanac, x86z, 73.
Among those who quit was Samuel Noah, an ex-lieutenant in the United States
Army. In addition loo men were allowed to return to the United States on leave
for three or four months. Cullum, Register, I, 10506; Shaler to Monroe, June 12,
1813, Shaler Papers.
'12Yoakum says that the Americans abandoned themselves to every form of dis-
sipation. Yoakum, History of Texas, I, 17o.
118McFarland was sent out as a lookout on the Laredo road and hearing nothing
of the enemy took off down the Nueces, allowing Elisondo to reach a point four

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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/m1/503/ocr/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.

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