OOLS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. eop^rigf/j fa.. H Shelf. « I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. -i^ I STEPHEN FUIXEK AUSTIN. A CONDENSED HISTORY OF TEXAS FOR SCHOOLS PREPARED FROM THE GENERAL HISTORY OF JOHN HENRY BROWN BY '/ Mrs. MARY M. BROWK WITH A NOTE TO TEACHERS, TOPICAL OUTLINES AND CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY BY JAMES MUNROE FENDLEY, A.B. PRINCIPAL, IN THE GALVESTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS DALLAS, TEXAS PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 1895 Copyright, 1895, by MARY M. BROWN Press of J. J. Little & Co. \ i Astor Place, New York /"'^ / PREFACE. Through a long life in Texas and a residence of five years in Mexico, it has been my practice to accumulate all data possible relating to Texas history— original documents, and copies when obtainable — governed only by a desire to throw the light of historical truth upon each event. The result has been a collection of much valuable material, a part of which is published in my "General History of Texas" (1893). The present volume is to be regarded as a training ground for youthful minds, where a love and zest for the interesting detail of State history, that awaits them, may be created. In its arrangement as a text-book for schools, credit is due to the suggestions and topical outlines furnished by Professor J. M. Fendley, of the Galveston public schools, who has made a special study of practical methods in teaching our State history. In placing before the student this concise, interesting, and reliable condensation, it is confidently believed that the need of a satisfactory work on the subject will be supplied. John Henry Brown. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY. CHAPTER I. PAGK Description of Texas, 13 CHAPTER II. Indians of Texas, . 19 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND CLAIMS, 1492-1819. CHAPTER III. Spanish Explorations and Claims, 1492-1540, .... 24 CHAPTER IV. French Explorations and Claims, 1682-1729, .... 27 SPAIN ATTEMPTS TO COLONIZE TEXAS. CHAPTER V. Missions Established, 1689-1693, 35 CHAPTER VI. Further Efforts of Spain to Colonize, 1727-1734, ... 43 CHAPTER VII. Ownership of Texas, 1734-1819, 45 8 CONTENTS. PERIOD OF EXPEDITIONS, 1797-1807. CHAPTER VIII. PAGE Philip Nolan's Expeditions, 1797-1807, 48 CHAPTER IX. Magee's Expedition, 1813-1813, 52 CHAPTER X. Long's Expeditions, 1819-1823, 58 CHAPTER XI. Galveston Island, 1816-1820, . 62 CHAPTER XII. Mexico Gains her Independence from Spain, 1821-1824, . . 66 COLONIZATION PERIOD, 1820-1835. CHAPTER XIII. Austin's Colony, 1820-1824 69 CHAPTER XIV. Edwards' Colony, 1825-1827, . . 77 CHAPTER XV. Other Colonies, 1825-1834, 81 CHAPTER XVI. Growth of the Colonies, 1824-1836, 83 CHAPTER XVII. Mistreatment of the Colonies, 1830, .87 CHAPTER XVIII. The Conventions of 1832-1833, 94 CONTENTS. 9 PERIOD OF REVOLUTION, 1830-1836. CHAPTER XIX. PAGE Causes of the Revolution, 100 CHAPTER XX. The Beginning of the War, 1835, 104 CHAPTER XXI. The Taking of San Antonio, 1835, '. 107 CHAPTER XXII. The General Consultation, 1835, 115 CHAPTER XXIII. The Convention, 1836, 119 CHAPTER XXIV. The Pall of the Alamo, 1836, 126 CHAPTER XXV The Destruction Wrought by Urrea's Army, 1836, . . . 137 CHAPTER XXVI. Houston's Retreat and Santa Anna's Advance, March-April, 1836, 146 CHAPTER XXVII. Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, 151 CHAPTER XXVIII. End of the War, 1836, 162 10 CONTENTS. PERIOD OF THE REPUBLIC, 1836-1845. CHAPTER XXIX. I'AGE Houston's First Administration, 1836-1839, .... 168 CHAPTER XXX. Lamar's Administration, 1839-1841, 173 CHAPTER XXXI. Houston's Second Administration, 1841-1843, .... 179 CHAPTER XXXII. Annexation, 1845, 189 STATE PERIOD. CHAPTER XXXIII. From Annexation to the Civil War, 1845-1861, . . . 193 CHAPTER XXXIV. The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1874, . . .200 CHAPTER XXXV. Recent Development, 1874-1895, 208 CHAPTER XXXVI. Present Condition, 1895, 218 CHAPTER XXXVII. The Constitution, 1875-1891, 230 TO THE TEACHER. BY J. M. FENDLEY. The topical outlines to be found at the close of each chapter may be used in different ways, but the following is suggested : Let one of the pupils place the topics on the blackboard. Then the first pupil that is called on to recite will take the first topic, and, in his otvn langiiage, tell what he knows about it. The next pupil will take the second topic, etc. , the recitation form- ing one continuous story. However poorly a pupil may recite, he should not be interrupted until he has finished ; then, at the discretion of the teacher, criticisms may be made, addi- tional facts stated, etc. The pupil that has been accustomed to the question and answer method will not find it very hard to recite by topics, and the results will richly repay all his efforts. When properly . used, the topical method of reciting trains the pupil in habits of systematic thought and easy expression that are worth fully as mucli to him as the facts acquired. The text-book is for reference, and the pupil should not be expected to learn everything that it contains ; least of all should he be allowed to memorize it. History and geography go hand in hand. A large wall map should be kept before the class, and the different places located as reference is made to them in the course of the lesson. There is in this book a valuable map of the colonies, never before accessible to pupils, which will add much to the interest of the colonial period. The teacher may well give variety to his methods, but the 12 TO THE TEACHER. constant aim in all his instruction should be, to stimulate thought ; to give the pupil the power of expressing his ideas clearly, in his own language ; to cultivate a taste for histori- cal studies ; and, finally, to kindle the fire of patriotism in the breasts of the pupils, and prepare them for the duties of citizenship. HISTORY OF TEXAS. INTRODUCTORY. CHAPTER I. DESCKIPTION" OF TEXAS. 1. Texas before the Ag-e of Man. — The greater part of Texas was once the bed of an ocean, with the higher points, protected by stone and iron caps, showing above the water, like islands. This was ages and ages ago. As the water slowly fell, it left its marks on the hillsides ; monnds of shells were left to tell of the sea which rolled over the land before years and dates were thought of. 2. A Description of the Crust. — By digging into the crust of the earth we see what it is made of and how it would look if o-reat slices could be cut off. This crust is divided into layers, each layer telling its own story by showing the minerals stored up for our use, and the bones of animals that lived at that time, turned into stone, that we may see and learn from them. Who has not climbed Texas hills and followed rocky ■creek beds looking for the fossils to be found there, or searched the gravel beds for the bones of animals that lived in those ancient days ? Scientific men have been looking into the crust of Texas, and find it wonderfully interesting. The stone bodies, or fossils, are among the rarest and finest in the United States. Many schools are becoming interested in making collections, and have been given minerals and fossils from the collections ,of these men. 14 INTEODUCTORY. 3. The Two Iron Districts. — Iron and coal are two most useful minerals, and they exist in great quantities in Texas. There are two great iron districts — one in the eastern part, FALLS OF THE LLANO, SOUTH OF LONG MOUNTAIN. known to the earliest settlers, and the other in the central, or LUmo, district, said to contain the best grade of iron and in inexhaustible quantities. 4. The Coal Veins. — The chief coal veins of Texas run in a northeast course from the Eio Grande to the great coal mines of the Indian Territory, showing them to belong to the same beds. 5. BuiUlinj^ Stones. — A plentiful supply of fine granite, limestone, sandstone, and marbles is to be had from our home quarries. It is not necessary to go out of the State for beauti- ful building materials, for Texas has everything needed for that purpose, as can be seen by our beautiful Capitol at Austin. §371. DESCRIPTION OF TEXAS. 15 6. The Four Natural Divisions of Texas. — Texas is naturally divided into four distinct regions. 7. The Timber Keg-ion. — The eastern, or timber, region is the end of a great line of timber which follows the Atlantic TUB NATURAL DIVISIONS OP TEXAS. Ocean and Gnlf of Mexico, reaching about one hundred miles into Texas. This timber belt, three hundred miles in length, is made up of the long leaf, or yellow, pine, known over the world as making the best lumber for building purposes ; the short leaf, or loblolly, pine ; and, on its western edge, a great variety of hard woods. 16 INTRODUCTORY. From two linndred to six liundred feet above the Gulf of Mexico, East Texas is a rolling, upland country, well watered by living streams. The hills crop out in picturesque forms of iron and sandstone. 8. The Prairie Region. — The prairie region lies like an open sea, reaching from the Red River to the coast country, and from the timber belt in the east to the high plateaus of AVestern Texas. Equal in size to three large States, this part of Texas is deeply covered with dark, rich soil. The principal rivers of Texas run through it in a southeasterly course to the Gulf. The beds of sand and clay so hold the water as to make the edges of the river banks the natural home of the most luxu- riant ferns, whose exquisite beauty cannot be surpassed. The land is a succession of rolling jirairies, perfectly drained, fringed with hard-wood timber in the river bottoms, such as Bois d'Arc, which is almost everlasting when used under or above ground. 9. The Coast Reg-ion. — Lying along the Gulf shore for four hundred miles, the level coast prairies stretch inland from fifty to one hundred miles, broken only by the timber on the streams that cross them, and by the motts, or islands, of live oak, pin oak, and sweet-gum trees scattered here and there. Farther than the eye can reach, these prairies extend ; carpeted with green grass thickly dotted with gay flowers, they have the appearance of vast parks. They rise gently from the Gulf. "Where there is much clay in the soil, the dry weather causes it to crack open in deep seams, which close again after a heavy rainfall, making Avhat is known as ''hog-wallow prairie." From these clays are made bricks, flower-pots, charcoal-furnaces, etc. 10. The Staked Plain and Western Monntains. — At and beyond the head waters of the largest Texas rivers, the country sharply rises upon a high plateau which is the eastern line of the Staked Plain. DESCRIPTION OF TEXAS. 17 There have been several reasons given why this is called tlie '^ Staked Plain/' The most probable one is that, many years ago, the Indians who roamed all over the conntry, or traders from Santa Fe to Lonisiana, drove stakes in the ground to mark the way which led by water, that they might always be able to find it as they travelled to and fro. This plain reaches from the upper part of the Pan-Handle to Central West Texas, and varies from sixty-five to one hun- dred and fifty miles in width, and from three hundred to four hundred feet in height, sloping slightly to the southeast. Its soils are porous and rapidly take up the rains, and hold the water for a long time. Moist soil can be found there at a SIERRA DIABLO, EL PASO COUNTY. depth of a few inches at any time. The plain has the appear- ance of a boundless sea of grass. It is cut, here and there, by canons. Beyond the Pecos liiver, which runs south through the plain, lies the Texas spur of the Kocky Mountain range. 18 IKTRODUCTOEY. Here are found real mountains, lifting their heads from six thousand to eight thousand feet above the Gulf of Mexico. TOPICAL OUTLINES. 1. — Description of Texas. 1. Texas before the age of man. 2. A description of the crust. 3. The two iron districts. 4. The coal veins. 5. Buihling stones. G. The four natural divisions of Texas. 7. The timber region. a. The timber. h. The surface. 8. The prairie region. a. The size of this region. h. The soiL r. The drainage. 9. The coast region. a. The grass and trees. h. The soil. 10. The Staked Plain and western mountains. a. Why the " Staked Phiin" is so called. h. Its elevation. c. The soil. d. The canons. e. The mountains. li^^DIANS OF TEXAS. 19 CHAPTER II. INDIANS OF TEXAS. 11. Why so Called. — Tlie discoverers of America, think- ing they had reached India by sailing west, called the red peo^ile they found there Indians. 12. Orig-iii of the Indians. — As to where the Indians came from, no one has been able to decide. They are a race by themselves. For many thousand years they have been in America, and the discoverers of Texas found them living in nearly every part of the country. A few legends were all they claimed as history. 13. How They Lived. — Most of them had villages, from which they went out on hunting or thieving expeditions, or in making war upon each other. Some, naturally inclined to peace, planted little fields of corn, and made their clothing from the skins of animals. Although all were Indians, they were divided into tribes very different from one another, as the white settlers soon found out when they moved into Texas. 14. The Carancahuas. — The country along the Gulf of Mexico was occupied by the Carancahuas. They were foot Indians, and hunted, in light canoes, on tlie shallow bays and rivers, for fish and sea fowl. They were no man's friend, and had disappeared before 1850. 15. The Conianches and Kiowas. — The largest and most cruel tribes were the Comanches and the Kiowas. Their villages were in the mountains and at the head of the Texas rivers. They went on raids through all the country down to the Gulf and as far east as the Trinity River. They never 20 INTRODUCTORY. kept a treaty if greed or revenge temioted them to break it. Eiding swift horses, they were ahnost sure to escape with prisoners, scalps, and cattle. 16. The Toncahuas. — This tribe lived in tlie conntry of the Guadalupe, Navidad, and Lavaca Rivers. In them the LOCATION OF THE TEXAS INDIAN TRIBES. settlers always found friends. Their last chief, Placido, and a number of his warriors, fought with General Burleson and others against the Comanches, whom the Toncahuas feared and hated. During the civil war the Comanches attacked them at Fort Cobb. Placido and so many of his warriors were killed that the tribe was almost swept from the earth. INDIANS OF TEXAS. ^1 17. Tlie Lipaiis. — The Lipaiis were Mexican Indians, and fought with ]\Iexico in the Kei^ublican army dnring the Mex- ican revolution. At one time they acted as scouts for Texas, but afterward returned to Mexico and be- came bitter enemies to the Texians. As long as the border country was open to them they made raids upon the colonists. 18. The Apaclies. — The Apaches were from New Mexico and Arizona. They were always fierce and war- like. 19. The Cficldos.— The Caddos were from Louisiana, and included the tribes, under different names, who had villages from the Sabine and Tied Eivers to the Trinity. They had farms and cattle, and in many ways gave signs of civilization. The Frencli in Louisiana found faithful friends in them. s 20. The Waeos. — The Waco villages were on the Brazos and upper Trinity. They had cultivated fields, and built tliem- selves houses. They were not friendly or reliable, and gave the early settlers a great deal of trouble. The city of Waco takes its name from this tribe. 21. The Tehuacaiios. — Northeast of the Wacos were the Tehuacanos. The Anadacos and Pawnees were their near neighbors. 22. The Keechis. — In the east were a low, crafty tribe called the Keechis, few in numbers and held in contempt by all. PLACIDO, CHIEF OF THE TONCAHUAS. '22 INTRODUCTORY. 23. The Wicliitas. — The Wichitas, a large and fierce tribe, lived iu the Red River and Cross Timber country ;, and in the Wichita Mountains. 24. The Pueblos. — The most interesting of all the Texas Indian tribes are the Pueblos, For many centuries their home has been in the country around their town of Ysleta, on the Rio Grande. They are said to be the builders of cities whose ruins have been seen by explorers through New Mexico and California. They became Roman Catholics when the Spanish priests came among them. For more than three hundred and fifty years they have been peaceful shepherds. § 33. Ysleta is said to be the ^1 -^_ ^ oldest town in North Ameri- ca, and the houses are still built in the same style that the first ones were. The office of chief de- scends from Their records have been kept for hundreds of ^yW/-i OLD CHURCH AT YSLETA, THREE HUNDRED YEARS OLD. father to son. years. 25. The Alabamas, Coosliatties, and Muscogees. — Leaving Alabama, these simple, kindly Indians made their home in a village that had been deserted by the Caddos, south- east of the Trinity. They have never been sent to the Indian Reserves (§337) or to the Indian Territory, but have lived in peace among the white people of that region. 26. The Araiiainas and Aiiaqiias. — These Indians were in and around (}oliad. They disappeared before many colo- nists came there. II^DIANS OF TEXAS. 23 TOPICAL OUTLINES. II. — The Indians. 1. How they received their name. 2. What we know of their history. 3. How most of them lived. 4. Names of the principal tribes. 5. Some peaceful tribes. 6. Some warlike tribes. 7. Some tribes that were friendly to the white people. 8. The Pueblos. 9. Their curious villai^e. 10. Make a list of places in Texas that have taken their names from Indian tribes. 11. What city in Texas is built on the site of a large Indian village ? PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND CLAIMS. 1492-1819. CHAPTER III. SPANISH EXPLORATIONS AND CLAIMS, 1492-1540. 27. Lawful Claims of European Nations. — When any European nation took possession of any extent of sea-coast, it was understood that it had a right into the country as far as the sources of the rivers emptying within that coast, to all their branches and the country they covered, and no other nation could lay any chdm to it.* 28. Spain Claims Texas. — As a part of America when discovered by Columbus, the people of Spain claimed that Texas belonged to them. Tliey also claimed it as a part of Mexico when it was conquered by Cortez in 1521. * Rules of International Law established by the Goveknments of Europe, in kegakd to their American Discoveries. Rule 1st. " When any European nation takes ])ossession of an}- extent of sea-coast, that possession is understood as extending into the interior country to the sources of the rivers emptying within tliat coast, to all tlieir branches and the country they cover, and to give it a right in exclusion of all other nations to the same," Huh 2(1. "Whenever one European nation makes discoveries and takes possession of any portion of this continent, and another afterward does the same, at some distance from it, where the boundary between them is not determined by the principle above mentioned, that the middle distance becomes such, of course." Hide 3d. " Whenever any European nation has thus acquired a right to any portion of territory on this continent, that right can never be diminished or affected by any other power, by virtue of purchase made, b}' grants or eon- (luests of the natives within the limits thereof." 1528-1582.] SPANISH EXPLORATIONS AND CLAIMS. 25 29. Paiifilo cle Narvaez, 1528. — Spjiiii sent Narvaez to explore the Gulf of Mexico in hopes of finding gold and silver and precious stones. He had four shi^is and four hundred men. They got separated^ and, at the mouth of the Mississippi Iiiver, Narvaez and some of his men were drowned ; others were taken prisoners by the Indians. Four of these captives — three white men and one negro — had many adventures. The Indians had never seen any but red men, and looked upon their captives as beings from another world ; so they took them wherever they went. For eight years their lives were spent with tlie Indians, roaming more than two thousand miles, and passing through Texas. They told wonderful stories of the great cities they had seen, and the riches of the people, who had gold and silver and precious stones. 30. Heriijuiclo de Soto, 1530. — De Soto was one of the bravest and most ambitious of the men sent out by Spain in hopes of finding another country in the west as rich and won- derful as Mexico. He and his men landed in Florida, and pressed on through the country until they came to a great river, which proved to be the Mississippi. They were attacked by the Indians all the way. The Mis- sissippi was crossed on flatboats which they made for that pur- pose. It is said that I)e Soto entered Texas somewhere near Texarkana, thus strengthening the claims of Spain to Texas. After two years of hard life, travelling through a wild coun- try without roads, fighting Indians all the way, De Soto died, and was buried by his faithful men at the foot of a tree ; after- ward his body was sunk in the waters of the Mississippi, that the Indians should not find him and know of his death. 31. Espejo. — In 1582, Espejo, with a company of Sjmn- iards, explored and named New Mexico, and established mis- sions at Santa Fe and El Paso. 32. Why Spain did not Care much for Texas. — Al- though a few Spanish adventurers had visited Texas, and the Roman Catholic missionaries had begun their work on the Rio 26 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND CLAIMS. [1540. Grande, Spain did not feel much interest in the country, be- cause of the poverty of the Indians. It was soon found they had nothing that coukl be carried away to add to her own riches. 33. Spain's First Formal Claiiii to Texas, by Vasqiiez de Coronaclo, in 1540. — General Coronado had been sent out by Mexico to hunt for five golden cities that were said to be in the north. In the spring of his second year's search he came to the Pueblo village of Ysleta, set up a cross, and declared it to belong to the King of Spain. He brought sheep and horses to the Pueblos, and taught them to be shepherds. § 24. TOPICAL OUTLINES. ni.— Spanish Explorations and Claims. 1. What was necessary to make good the claim of a European nation to territory in the New World ? 2. Spain's first reason for claiming Texas. 3. Narvaez and his fate. 4. The adventures of the four men tliat were spared. 5. De Soto. 6. Why Spain did not care much about Texas. 7. Her first formal claim. 1682.] FEEIfCH EXPLORATION^ AKD CLAIMS. 27 CHAPTER lY. FRENCH EXPLORATION AND CLAIMS, 1082-1729. 34. Kt)bert Cavalier de la Salle. — La Salle was a brave Frencliman. llis parents intended liini to be a priest, and had given him a fine education for that pur- pose. But La Salle was fond of exciting travel, and became a fur trader among the Indians of Canada. While with them he discovered the Ohio and Illinois Rivers, and launched the first vessel on the Niagara River that had been seen in that part of the world. After wonderful ad- ventures, he came to the Mississippi, and. went down it until he reached the mouth, where he planted the liag of France and declared all the country near it belonged to the King of France. The king's name was Louis ; for him La Salle called the country Louisiana. 35. La Salle's Expedition Org-aiiizert. — La Salle went back to France, and gave such a delightful account of Louisi- ana that he was able to start with four vessels, one hundred LA SALLE. 28 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND CLAIMS. [1684. and eighty men, seven priests, and seven families, to set up a colony near the mouth of the Mississippi, for he knew, in order to hold the country for France, he must put French people there. During the storm the vessels Avere blown away from each other, and one was taken by the Spaniards. The other three joined one another, and came into the Gulf of Mexico. There was little, if any, knoAvledge of the Gulf Stream in those days ; the sea was as jDathless as the western wild coun- tries. La Salle sailed too far south, and passed far beyond the Mississippi. He became sure they had gone too far, and turned back. Seeing an inlet, which they thought was one of the openings in the mouth of the Mississippi, they entered Avhat is now ^[atagorda Bay. In crossing the bar one of the vessels was wrecked. 36. First WJiite Colony in Texas at Fort St. Lonis. — La Salle sailed i\\^ the river, which he called La Vaca ("• the Cow '^), and landed on the left bank. He planted a cross and took possession in the name of the King of France. A small church was built, and a fort called Fort St. Louis. They planted crops, and cared for the animals and fowls they had taken with them. 37. Tronbles at Fort St. Lonis. — Two of La Sal-le's best men were killed by Indians ; several were taken prisoners, though afterward recovered. The sailing master of the little fleet took one of the vessels and the crew of the wrecked ves- sel, and sailed away for France. Then five more men were killed by Indians. 38. La Salle Hopes to Find the Mississippi. — The colonists were delighted with the fine crops raised in their new fields, and with the (puintity of game around them. La Salle spent the winter exj^loring the country with twenty of his men, on foot, hoping to find the Mississippi. They dis; covered the Colorado Iliver, and went back to Fort St. Louis. 1684.] FRENCH EXPLORATIOiq^ AND CLAIMS. 29 Many of the colonists luul been sick^, unci several had died. A mutiny was barely prevented. 39. Further Ktforts to Fiiul the Mississippi. — In the spring La Halle, with the same number of men, travelled as far as the Neches Kiver, trying again to find the river on which he had promised his king to })lace the colony. The Nassonite Indians were there, and the Frenchmen were delighted with the warm welcome they gave them. Here La Salle had a slow fever. Only eight of his men were left when he got well, and their food was almost gone. He re- turned to the fort, and found some of the colonists gone ; the rest were dissatisfied. 40. Lti Salle Leaves Fort St. Louis. — La Salle again started, taking nearly every one with him. Sieur Barbier was left in charge of the seventeen men, women, and children who stayed in the fort. The preparations La Salle made — causing mass to be celebrated and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to be administered — and the amount of silver and valuables which he took, witli the little boat made of buffalo hides which was to be carried on horses, showed that he did not expect to return. A brother of La Salle's who- was a priest, two of his nephews, his old Indian servant, an Indian hunter who had come from Canada with La Salle, and another priest (called the good Father Anastase) were in this party. Near the Neclies Eiver they camped to dry buffalo meat for their journey. Three of the men Avho had gone out after buft'alo were killed in their sleep on account of a quarrel. 41. Death of La Salle. — Becoming anxious because the men did not come in. La Salle started with the Father Anas- tase to find them. One of the murderers hid in the high grass and shot La Salle. He fell and died without speaking. The priest, whose hands he pressed while dying, dug a grave and buried him, setting up a cross to mark the spot. The murderers were in turn killed. One of the men left 30 PERIOD OE DISCOVERY AND CLAIMS. [1712-1714. took the treasure^ dressed himself in La Salle's scarlet uniform, and offered himself as a leader to the peaceable Indians. Seven Frenchmen stayed with him. One was drowned in Eed Eiver, and oidy five were known to reach France again. 42. Fate of the Colony. — The Carancahua Indians were accused of the death or capture of those left in the fort. The Spanish claimed to have found several among the Indians and to have sent them to their friends. § -48. 43. Anthony Crozat's Grant, 1712. — The French tried again, many years after, to claim Texas. The whole valley of the Mississippi was granted to Crozat, who was a French mer- chant. He hoped to plant colonies in Texas, and make roads through the country to Mexico. 44. Jug-ereau St. Denis, 1714.' — St. Denis came as Crozat's agent. Tlie Governor of Louisiana consented to his coming into Texas, but said it was a piece of insanity to travel in such a wild country. With twelve men and a number of Indian guides, he reached the Presidio of Rio Grande. He met with exciting adventures,* and married a beautiful Mexi- can girl. After two years he returned to France, leaving his wife with her father. Crozat was so much disap2:iointed that lie sold his right to a French trading company. ^Romantic experience of St. Denis, one of the agents of Anthony Crozat, condensed from the records of this expedition in the old archives of San Antonio, translated by Sehor de Castro. "Jugereau de St. Denis was a young officer from the French army in Canada — a man of extraordinary strength, gifted Avith an iron will, a tine personal appearance, a good education, and the heart of a lion." He started from Mobile, then the capital of Louisiana, came up the Mis- sissippi and Red Rivers to the Natchitoches, where he founded the present city of that name. lie had with him thirty hunters and trappers from Canada. Twelve of these he took with him, and leaving the remainder at his small fort at Natchitoches to watch the Spaniards, who had a small garrison at Nacog- doches to watch the French, he started in August, 1714, on the expedition, taking with him an amount of merchandise to trade with the Mexicans in exchange for cattle and horses. They travelled west, and arrived at the Nechcs, where, tvventj'-six years before, La Salle met his tragic death. The friendly Indians at this jilace fur- 1714-1739.] FRENCH EXPLORATION AND CLAIMS. 31 St. Denis was eager to see bis lovely wife, but tbe second trip was not a success, and be was finally killed by tbe Natcbez Indians in Louisiana. nished him guides across the country to the Presidio of San Juan Bautista, near the Rio Grande, a mission and an extreme frontier post. On arriving at the post he immediately exhibited to Villasecas, the military commander of that post, his i)assport from Cordillac, the French Governor of Louisiana, which represented that the bearer had only in view to establish a trade between Mexico and Louisiana. Villasecas detained St. Denis under pretext of obtaining the consent of Don Gaspardo Anaya, Governor of Coahuila, to so new an enterprise, while he extended to the handsome young cavalier the elegant hospitalities of his house. In the meantime he had captivated the heart c5f the Donna Maria Villase- cas, the young daughter of the commandante. Unhappily for them, Governor Anaya was a jealous, because unsuccessful, suitor for the young lady's hand. After a long delay the governor sent an escort of twenty-five heavily armed men, who took St. Denis in irons to Monclova, where he was imprisoned. The governor visited him in his cell, and offered him his freedom on condition that he would relinquish his claim to the young lady's hand. This he indig- nantly refused to do. Anaya increased the rigors of his imprisonment, and, at the end of six months, sent a messenger to the Donna Maria, offering to release St. Denis if she would marry Aim, but if she refused, St. Denis should die. She replied that she would never marry him, and that if St. Denis was put to death by his order, or died in consequence of harsh treatment, his own life should surely pay the forfeit. She sent a trusty messenger to the Viceroy of Mexico, informing him that "a young Frenchman, supposed to be a spy, had been for six months in the hands of the Governor of Coahuila, who was holding him for the ransom which he hoped to appropriate to his own use." The viceroy sent an armed guard, and St. Denis, heavily ironed, was placed on horseback and taken to the City of Mexico, where he was again im- j)risoned. His hair and beard had grown so that his physiognomy could hardly be seen. No one, in that miserable being, broken down by suffering, would ever have recognized the gallant French adventurer. After several months' delay. Donna Maria sent a messenger to the viceroy, with the following note : " In the jjvisons of Mexico a gentleman is uujmtly detained, and iqjon whose character the good faith of your excellency has been betrayed. Before God you will be accountable for his death, now that you are notified.''^ The viceroy sent a French officer who had taken service in the Sj^anish 32 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND CLAIMS. [1714-1729. The trading company sent a few men to Fort St. Louis for a little while, and there Avere three other nnsuccessftil efforts to hold their claim. It was then given up. army, as many French ofRcers did, with a squad of soldiers, to inspect all the prisons in the city. The officer and soldiers entered unannounced into St. Denis' cell, who supposed his last hour was at hand. " The officer advanced toward that human form which lay prostrate on the floor of the cell, and addressed him in Spanish : ' Who are you, and why are you here ? ' He answered feebly in French : ' My name is Jugercau St. Denis. I am a gentleman by birth, a prisoner by treason, and I am waiting for justice to be done me.' " The ofiicer, much excited, asked, " Were you not born in Canada V " '* Yes." " You have been raised in France ? " "Yes." " Did you not go to Louisiana to make a fortune V " " Yes." He then ordered the irons to be instantly stricken from him, and embraced the shrunken figure affectionately. " And who are you ? " asked St. Denis. " I am the Marquis of Lanai-ge." The surprise and joy were mutual. They f(nind in each other the play- mate of childhood and the schoolmate of later years, whose paths had diverged to meet again in this remarkable manner. St. Denis remained in that gay capital until his health was restored, the recipient of devoted attention from admiring friends (as he always was). He afterward rescued the viceroy, the Duke of Linarez, from three masked ruflSans. He received urgent and tempting invitations to join the Spanish service. "I can serve but one God and one king. I am a Frenchman, and, much as I esteem the Spaniards, I must remain a Frenchman." He had improved the opportunity to })lace before the viceroy the plans of Crozat, urging upon his notice the great advantage it would be to Mexico to share in a more extended commerce, by which also he was able to explain the reasons for his strange adventures. This proposal was treated with the usual delays, and finally refused, under pretext of a " decree " from the King of Spain. He determined to return to the Presidio, claim his bride, look after the goods he had left, and report himself in readiness to renew the enterprise, notwithstanding the opposition of the King of Spain. The viceroy parted with him reluctantly, furnished him funds for his journey, presented him the finest horse in his stable, an escort to accompany him to Coahuila, and written authority for the arrest of Anaya, or the privi- lege of inflicting upon him any chastisement he might think proper. (St. 1714-1729.] FRENCH EXPLORATION AND CLAIMS. 33 45. Thanks to St. Denis. — St. Denis deserved the thanks of the American colonists for having located roads through Texas. Denis jiolitely pardoned the offending s^overnor, and left him to the chastise- ment of liis own conscience and his disappointed love.) On arriving at the Presidio he found the commandante in the greatest consternation. The Indians of the mission had rebelled, folded their tents and left, with all their flocks and herds, women and children. St. Denis mounted his horse and started alone in pursuit of them. As he approached them in their slow march, now nearing the Nueces River, he elevated his pocket-handkerchief upon the point of his sword, when the chief ordered a halt. He went into the midst of them, and they pressed closely around him to hear his "talk," Assisted by his intimate knowledge of the Indian character (acquired in Louisiana), his natural vivacity, and more by his power over men, he success- fully pictured to them their folly in abandoning their lands and homes with- out knowing where to plant their tents, with the dangers to which they were exposing their women and children from wandering savages and probable starvation. He kindly urged their chief to tell him their grievances. He listened attentively, and replied, pledging the honor of the whole Spanish nation for their immediate and entire redress. The Indians embraced him warmly, and signified their willingness to return with him. They followed his lead, and reentered the Presidio more like an army flushed with victory than the surly Indians they were so short a time since. St. Denis and the daughter of the commandante were married ; when, after further vain attempts to gain the consent of the government to his plans, he returned to Mobile, having been absent two years. He did not, however, abandon the enterprise, but returned to the Presidio, and, finding that his goods had been confiscated, vv^ent to the City of Mexico to demand redress, and again to urge his plans upon the favorable notice of the government. A new viceroy, Marquis de Valero, had succeeded the Duke de Liuarez, his bitter enemy. Anaya, still Governor of Coahuila, wrote of St. Denis to the viceroy, representing him as a man dangerous to the tranquillity of the government. " For," he urged, " nothing less could induce a man to undertake sncli ajotirney a second time.'''' St. Denis was arrested and again thrown into a Mexican dungeon. His wife went in person to the City of Mexico, and made representations of the truth to many influential persons, who, taking advantage of the extreme unpopularity of the viceroy, procured his imnie- diate release, and also remuneration for his losses. On his return he was accompanied by Ramon, with friars and soldiers, for establishing missions. St. Denis returned a second time to Mobile, and, from a broad, plain trail 34 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND CLAIMS. [1729. TOPICAL OUTLINES. IV. — French Exploration and Claims. 1. The education and character of La Salle. 2. His former adventures. 3. How Louisiana received its name. 4. The expedition organized. 5. Its object. 6. The voyage. 7. La Salle's mistake, and how he came to make it. 8. The first white colony in Texas. 9. Trials of the colonists. 10. Further efforts to find the Mississippi. 11. La Salle's farewell to his colony. 12. His death. 13. Fate of the colony. The Crozat Grant. 1. The extent of the grant. 2. Why France claimed the right to dispose of the country. 3. Crozat's object. 4. St. Denis and his adventures. 5. Why the grant was given np. 6. France abandons her efforts to hold Texas. 7. Why St. Denis deserved the thanks of those who came after him. made across the country, it was believed that a considerable contraband trade was carried on through the Presidio. St. Denis was ])laced in com- mand of the fort at Natchitoches, and in 1T29 became instrumental in defeat- ing a deeply laid ])lot among the Natchez Indians in Mississippi and Louisi- ana, and several Indian tribes in Texas, for the extermination of all the white inhabitants. He was, however, afterward killed by the Natchez in a general fight, when Ihey regarded him as a superhuman enemy. ATTEMPTS OF SPAIN TO COLONIZE TEXAS. CHAPTER V. MISSIONS ESTABLISHED, 1G89-1G93. HE Jealousy of the Spanish Aroused. — The Governor of Coahuila heard through some missionary priests that people resembling the Span- isli in color, and with beards, had landed in Texas. He made known the report to the Span- ish Viceroy in the City of Mexico. 47. Alonzo cle Lieon sent into Texas. — As it was decreed that none but Spaniards shonld enter the Gulf of Mexico, on pain of death, I)e Leon, then Governor of Coahuila, was sent with soldiers to drive every for- eigner from Texas. A priest, Damien Martinez, went with him to set up missions among the friendly Indians. 48. Fort St. Liouis. — Not a Frenchman was to be found. at La Salle's little Fort St. Louis, nor could they hear of the women and children. § 40. A house with the figures " 1685" over the door, and, farther 36 SPAIN ATTEMPTS TO COLONIZE TEXAS. [1689-1693. down the bay, the wreck of the vessel lost in crossing the bar, were all that was left. Religious exercises were held by the priest ; the Indians did not wish to be baptized unless the father would go with them to their country, which, they said, was /V/r away, 49. Origin of the Name Texas. — At the Neches village on the Trinity, the Indians had a friendly recollection of La Salle, and welcomed De Leon, saying, '' Tel Lias I Teliias!" ('^Friends! Friends!") As the other Indians he met used the same Avords of welcome, he called them all Ijy that name.* 50. Why Missions were Estahlishe4. Refng-io Mission, 1790. — 'J'hc last mission built by SAN ESPADA MISSION. 1794] MISSIONS ESTABLISHED. 41 the Franciscans was at Refugio, about thirty miles from Cloliad. It was used as a fort in Liter years. § 240. 65. The Franeisciins Return to Mexieo in 1794. — Three years after the hist mission was built, the Indians re- belled. Drouths destroyed the crops and pastures. The King of Spain thought best to give up the country until there was more hope of success. The priests returned to Mexico. As they took the Avritten record of their work with them, but little can be told of it.* * The priests who planted the cross in Mexico were monl