The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 38, July 1934 - April, 1935 Page: 85

Benjamin Rush Milam

the expedition to repair to that post, Bolivar Point, not later than
April 10, 1820.1"
At New Orleans Long naturally met with many difficulties. His
recent failure placed a damper on the original enthusiasm of the
people, and aroused their prejudice against him. There was one
thing in his favor; he met in New Orleans a new set of adventurers,
and among these was Ben Milam. At New Orleans Milam had
met one Jos6 Felix Trespalacios, who had come from Cuba where
he had been imprisoned for his activity in behalf of the revolution-
ists in Mexico.16 Trespalacios was in New Orleans at this time for
the sole purpose of fitting out a new expedition to aid the revolu-
tionary party in Mexico.17 Milam joined this expedition, and
Trespalacios in turn gave him the commission of colonel." It
would be hard to determine whether or not Milam had much per-
sonal property at this time, but what he had he put into this
expedition.19
Milam had two companions with him, a certain John Austin
and a man by the name of Christy. Long thus found a salvation
for his expedition in joining his resources with those of Tres-
palacios, Milam, Austin, and Christy.20 Long was, without hesi-
tancy, willing for Trespalacios to assume the nominal leadership
of the army.2' He seemed to rely, however, more on Benjamin
Milam and on John Austin than perhaps on any of his men. The
three became very close friends throughout Long's short life.22
"Lamar Papers, II, 77.
'"Lamar Papers, II, 93.
"Brown, J. H., History of Texas, I, 75. This fact is also mentioned in
the Austin Papers, I, 498.
18In Archivo de la tecretaria de Fomento (colonizacion y Terrenos
Baldios), Legajo III, Document 30.
"Ibid., Document 33.
MBrown, History of Texas, I, 75. Nothing at present has been found to
show what sort of agreement took place between Long and Trespalacios.
2Lamar Papers, I, 93. General E. W. Ripley of New Orleans was a.
staunch supporter of Long's enterprise and used his influence for the cause
as much as possible. In a letter to Long he convinced him that Trespalacios
should be given the chief command because he would be more likely to
obtain recognition of this enterprise from the revolutionary Mexican
government. Trespalacios himself believed that they could secure resources
from the revolutionist forces in Mexico.
nIbid., II, 79. Later events seem to indicate that Lamar was correct in
the above statements. It was Ben Milam who, in 1822, demanded an
investigation of Long's assassination. Also, he seems to have befriended
Mrs. Long after her husband's death. Lamar is not always correct in his
dates, but I think we are justified in accepting some of the facts that he