Spanish Expedition Leaves For East Texas

[Craig Tx]

From the Texas State Historical Association

On this day in 1693, Gregorio de Salinas Varona, recently appointed governor of Coahuila, left Monclova, Coahuila, on a relief expedition to take supplies to the troubled missions of East Texas.

The expedition consisted of some twenty soldiers, including early Texas pioneer Nicolás Flores de Valdés, and ninety-six mules loaded with provisions. Salinas, an experienced soldier and explorer, took the occasion of the trip to define a portion of the Old San Antonio Road. His diary of the expedition is an important source of information on the small Indian bands he encountered, including the Sacuache and the Piedras Blancas. As a relief mission, though, the expedition was a failure. Salinas reached San Francisco de los Tejas Mission, in what is now Houston County, on June 8 and found illness and death rampant among the mission Indians. The supplies Salinas brought were far short of the need. When he departed six days later, two of the mission's friars went with him, and conditions worsened after his departure. Salinas's term as governor ended on December 26, 1697.

Craig

[greyhunter]

 

[Uncle Russ]

As always, these stories are enlightening, and helps form the picture in the mind of the reader of what Texas was really like back in the early days.

And, it is always a bit different than what Hollywood would have us think.

Unfortunately, without these tidbits of early History, we would all have a very different view of what life was really like.

Thanks!

Uncle Russ...

 

[Bigsmoke]

Isn't that just how it is.
Hollywood's motto seems to be:  "Shut up boy.  Don't bother me with the facts !!!"

[Craig Tx]

Fortunately the TSHA keeps the history remebred and alive.

Craig