The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906 Page: 81
ix, 294 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Spanish Abandonment and Re-Occupation of East Texas. 81
To secure a more uniform and efficient military service on the
frontier, the order provided for a new general officer, the inspector
comandante of the interior provinces of New Spain. He must
be a person of at least the rank of colonel, and might not,
while inspector, be a provincial governor or a presidial captain.
He was put directly under orders from the viceroy, but in case a
comandante general of the interior provinces should ever be ap-
pointed, he was to be directly subject to that officer. To aid him
in the discharge of his duties two assistant inspectors were pro-
vided. These duties were primarily to keep the viceroy informed
of presidial and military affairs, direct frontier campaigns, and
supervise the presidios and presidial officers. Either he or his as-
sistants must make an annual inspection of each of the presidios
and report to the viceroy.
The office of inspector comandante was filled by the appoint-
ment of Dn. Hugo Oconor, who had recently served as governor of
Texas ad interim. Of his career there Bonilla, author of the
Breve Compendio, wrote, "Oconor attained the glorious distinc-
tion of leaving an immortal name in the province. He attested
his valor, disinterested conduct, and military policy, he preserved
peace in the land, and he made himself an object of fear to the
savages, who know him by the name of el Capitan Colorado [the
Red Captain]."' Oconor chose for his assistants Antonio Bonilla,
just quoted, and Dn. Roque Medina.2
2. Oconor's instructions to Ripperd.-The viceroy's instruc-
tions to Oconor for carrying the new policy into effect were issued
March 10, 1773, and on May 6, Oconor, from camp at Nuestra
Sefiora del Carmen, despatched to Baron de Ripperda, then gov-
ernor of Texas, orders for putting in force so much of the new
plan as concerned his province.s Immediately upon receiving the
'Breve Compendio, 62.
2The Breve Compendio was written before Bonilla Became Oconor's as-
sistant.
3Ynstruccion Reservada que han de tener presente el Colonel de Caval-
leria Baron de Riperda Governador de la Prova. de texas para la practica
en los dos Presidios de alla del nuebo Reglamto. qe. su Magd. se hi servido
expedir en Diez de Septre. del Afio proximo pasado, y demas puntos que
contiene, para el Govno. Politica de dha. Provincia dispuesta por mi Dn.
Hugo Oconor, Coronel de Infanteria Comandte. Ynspector de las Pro-
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906, periodical, 1906; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101036/m1/85/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.