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quested that they depart, but they did not comply. The order would probably have been more stringent had it been known that Casa Calvo was sending information both to the governor of Texas and to Cevallos concerning American exploring expeditions. The commissioner sent Juan Minor of Natchez to visit Bahía and San Antonio. After examining the coast and rivers, he was to proceed to Natchitoches to commence demarcation of the boundary. Owing probably to the fact that he did not present any documents, Minor was not allowed to enter Texas.58

The commissioner continued his policy of delay. Quarrels between Morales and Casa Calvo were referred to Claiborne, but the governor refused to interfere. He again requested the Spaniards to depart; the troops were accordingly sent to Pensacola but the officers remained, Casa Calvo among them, claiming that he expected shortly to be employed in defining the boundary, but later assuring the governor that he intended to set out soon on an excursion through the Interior Provinces. Nevertheless he continued in New Orleans during the summer of 1805. At this time a rumor became current that Louisiana had been retroceded to Spain. In answer to Claiborne, who asked the commissioner if he knew on whose authority it was circulated, he replied in the negative, adding that he understood that Monroe's mission to Spain had failed and that the King desired to make the Mississippi the boundary.59 Soon after Claiborne asked the commissioner for a passport for the Freeman party. With the greatest reluctance he granted it, but neutralized it by immediately informing the captain-general of the Interior Provinces, who stopped the expedition.o

Finally, on October 15, Casa Calvo set out on his longpromised journey. He gave notice that he would proceed to

58 Gayarré, History of Louisiana, IV, 24; Cox, The Early Exploration of Louisiana, 56-57, 63-64. The writer is at variance with Cox, regarding the refusal to admit Minor.

59 Gayarré, History of Louisiana, IV, 29-32, 69-76, 83-85.

60 Cox, The Early Exploration of Louisiana, 57-58; Coues, The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, II, 612-613.

61

Movements of Casa Calvo

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Adaes where he expected to find some stone posts which were on the old Spanish and French line. He consented to a proposal of Claiborne that Captain Turner be allowed to join him from Natchitoches, but succeeded in eluding the American officer. While the commissioner was absent, orders arrived from Jefferson urging the departure of the Spaniards. Captain Ross of the New Orleans volunteers was sent to inform Casa Calvo of his dismissal from the province, and orders were sent to Major Porter at Natchitoches to prevent the commissioner's return. After proceeding as far as the Trinity, Casa Calvo went to Nacogdoches, and later to Natchitoches; Captain Ross failed to find him nor was he detained by Porter, and on February 4, 1806, he arrived in New Orleans. There he was informed that all who held Spanish commissions must leave, and though protesting, on the fifteenth he made his departure. He afterwards wrote to Yrujo that he had examined the records of the Mission at Adaes, which proved that Spain had been in possession of that region for more than eighty-five years. He also found that the dividing line between Louisiana and Texas had always been the Arroyo Hondo near Natchitoches.62

As soon as the cession of Louisiana became known, the Spanish representatives in America believed that war was inevitable. Thinking that the United States intended to occupy the Floridas, Yrujo sent warnings to Casa Calvo, to the captaingeneral of Cuba, to the consul at Charleston, to Enrique White, the governor of East Florida, and to Vicente Folch, the governor of West Florida. Instructions were also sent to Havana to prepare a squadron to blockade the mouths of the Potomac, the Delaware, and the Mississippi, and American ports.63

Governor Folch also submitted a plan, advising that the fortifications of West Florida be strengthened, and that Ship Island 61 Gayarré, History of Louisiana, II, 86-87.

62 Cox, The Early Exploration of Louisiana, 67-71; Gayarré, History of Louisiana, IV, 130–132.

63 Robertson, Louisiana under Spain, France and the United States, II, 109-114.

and Nacogdoches be fortified and a fort be erected on the Sabine. He suggested that three thousand men be placed in West Florida, eight hundred at Nacogdoches and fifteen hundred on the Sabine. He also urged that settlements be made at the mouths of the Teche and Sabine, or, if the latter were impracticable, at Matagorda Bay. He advised that Spain should set aside twenty thousand pesos to be used among the discontented tribes which the United States was driving across the Mississippi. These Indians he hoped to use to check the extension of American settlements, and if necessary, to destroy them. To protect the frontier, he believed that troops should be sent from Chihuahua and Santa Fé to intercept Lewis and Clark. Boone's advance into central Missouri he considered dangerous, for he and his followers might quickly explore the right path to Santa Fé."*

64

The Spanish plan of defense on the southwestern frontier, as carried out, appears to have been fourfold: all foreigners were to be forbidden to cross the frontier, Texas was to be colonized, garrisons established, and expeditions were to be sent out to gain control of the Indians, impede the advance of American settlement, and intercept exploring expeditions. Instances of foreigners being stopped are furnished by the refusal of entrance to Minor in 1804 and the arrest of Baptiste Lalande in New Mexico.65 It was reported that during the same year three thousand settlers for Texas were gathered in Spain; that the expedition was on the point of sailing from Cadiz when the Spanish frigates were captured, and that, in spite of this, a few families arrived at San Antonio with a considerable detachment of troops.66 For the defense of Texas, forts were established on

64 Robertson, Louisiana under Spain, France and the United States, II, 339-345. I. J. Cox has revealed the fact that Folch's recommendations emanated from Wilkinson. See The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, XVII, 28-32. Cox has given a more extended treatment of this and has also shown that Wilkinson engaged in intrigues with Casa Calvo at this time. See The American Historical Review, XIX, 794-802.

65 Bancroft, History of Arizona and New Mexico, 291.

66 Ward, Mexico in 1827, I, 556; Annals of Cong., 9 Cong., 1 Sess., 12061207. Sibley reported that there were five hundred families, probably an exaggeration.

Spanish Frontier Defense

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Matagorda Bay and at Orcoquisac at the mouth of the Trinity. When Cordero arrived at San Antonio to take up his duties as governor, he brought a considerable reinforcement for Orcoquisac, Nacogdoches, and Adaes.67

The Spanish frontiers were guarded with the greatest care; during 1804-1807 several expeditions were sent northward for the double purpose of pacifying the Indian tribes and preventing American encroachment. In 1804 the governor of New Mexico sent a force of fifty-two men among the tribes south of the Platte. They were attacked near the Arkansas by a large force of Indians and compelled to return. The following year another expedition from New Mexico under Lucero visited the Kiowas and Comanches, and succeeded in making an alliance with them. In 1806 two expeditions left the Interior Provinces to intercept American explorers and control the border Indians, one from Nacogdoches under Viana, the other from New Mexico under Melgares. Viana's force penetrated the Caddo villages and intercepted Freeman's expedition, forcing it to turn back. Melgares visited the Pawnees, Kansas, and other plains tribes, kept a close watch for Freeman or Pike, and eventually captured the latter.s In 1808 under Amangual a military expedition of three companies from Nuevo Leon, Nuevo Santander, and Texas, left San Antonio, passed through the Comanche country, and reached Santa Fé. Conferences were held with the Comanche tribes to obtain information regarding the Americans and to warn the Indians against them.69

While the Spanish were vigorously preparing to defend their frontiers, the United States was equally active. As we have seen, a thousand men were gathered to take forcible possession

67 State Papers, Foreign Relations, II, 690-692.

68 Cox, The Early Exploration of Louisiana, 65-66, 85-87; Coues, The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, II, 410-414, 508-510, 597. Pike misspelled Melgares' name, and the misspelling has been followed by historians.

69 Bolton MS notes, based on the diary of Amangual. See Bolton, Guide to the Archives of Mexico, 277.

of Louisiana if necessary. After the transfer, the troops were stationed at New Orleans, Fort Adams, and other points. Captain Turner was sent to Natchitoches to watch the border, where considerable friction developed over land titles and fugitive slaves. Sibley made his headquarters there and kept informed regarding activities in Texas by collecting information from Indians and traders.70 Governor Claiborne also busied himself in organizing the militia."1

Alarming news from the border in 1805 and rumors of a rupture with Spain caused Claiborne to increase his exertions. In August he journeyed through the territory to assist personally in the organization. Hearing of continual reinforcements in Texas, he later wrote to Madison asking for troops, and advised that Forts Plaquemines and St. Johns be placed in a state of defense, that troops be moved from Fort Adams to Point Coupée, and that the soldiers then posted at New Orleans be placed above and below the city. In December he made a second inspection of the provinces, commissioning many military officers. Alarmed at the activities of Casa Calvo, he took measures to remove him. At this time he was surprised and chagrined to find that Wilkinson had ordered one full company of the troops at New Orleans to repair to Fort Adams. This left barely a hundred effective men in the city. Strictures on American trade through West Florida and conditions on the western border further alarmed him, and in March, 1806, the governor again asked Madison for troops, recommending that twelve hundred men be stationed on the western border.72

In the latter part of 1805 the Spanish established posts at Bayou Pierre and Nana, east of the Sabine, and at Adaes.

70 Robertson, Louisiana under Spain, France and the United States, II, 289–291; State Papers, Foreign Relations, II, 690–691; Cox, in The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, XVII, 35–42.

71 Gayarré, History of Louisiana, IV, 15-16; Robertson, Louisiana under Spain, France and the United States, II, 225-231, 267-268, 272.

72 Gayarré, History of Louisiana, IV, 85–86, 90–91, 122–130, 136–137.

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