The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 7, July 1903 - April, 1904 Page: 23

The Mejia Empedition.

insulted by military encroachments in these colonies since 1830,
and that they will be at all times ready to take up arms in defence
of the independence and constitution of their adopted country and
the integrity of its territory". The remaining sections are the
so-called "additional articles," on the privileges of freemen, and
on the formal presentation of copies of these declarations to various
persons.1
Austin's Colony was thus identified as a firm center of federalism,
and as a staunch friend of General Santa Anna.
At Nacogdoches.
The earliest intimation that we have of the people of the Nacog-
doches Department embroiling themselves with the troubles of
1832, is given by Col. Piedras, the commandant of the frontier,
stationed at Nacogdoches, in the report of his relief expedition to
Anahuac. Soon after the outbreak of hostilities at Anahuac,
Piedras was apprized of it, and, on June 19, he set out with a
small force with the intention of succoring the besieged Bradburn.
Having advanced as far as Fort Teran, the company was met by a
messenger from Anahuac by whom Piedras was informed that the
colonists had declared for Santa Anna,2 and that they were in
communication with the residents of the Ayish Bayou, Bevil, and
other places. The commandant of the frontier feared that the peo-
ple of Ayish would be won over to the insurgeilts' cause, and hence
he delayed in order to guard his rear. At Sabine, which he reached
some days later, Piedras' worst anticipations were realized on his
being told that meetings had already been held at many points in
the district of Ayish, and that the settlers there had sanctioned the
Plan. Although the precise date is not found, it may be inferred
from the incidents mentioned in the report that the proceedings
of the Ayish Bayou inhabitants occurred about June 24.3
Piedras returned to Nacogdoches on the 11th of July where he
heard that the Ayish Bayou colonists had not gone any further
than to announce their acceptance of the Santa Anna plan.' He
"Mrs. Holley, Tewas (1833), 152-154.
'This refers to the Texans at Turtle Bayou.
8Piedras to Elosua, July 12, 1832. Nacogdoches Archives, box 1, no 18.
'Ibid.