The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 17
382 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Aguayo Expedition
Spaniards beyond the Trinity, and returned August 1.1 He bore
the intelligence that Monsieur Blondel, the commandant at Nat-
chitoches, had driven the Recollect Fathers out of the Mission of
los Adaes.2
Blondel's testimony, given at the time, November, 1719, casts
light on the subject because of its interesting contradictory nature.
When taken to task by La Harpe for having driven the Spaniards
out of los Adaes, he assured the latter "that he had gone there
only with the intention of protecting that mission from the ag-
gressions of the Indians, who when they knew the breach between
us [the French and Spanish] would not have failed to destroy
it"; but that the fathers, not knowing his intentions, had fled,
abandoning the sacred vessels and other effects "of which the
Indians had taken possession."3 Thereupon La Harpe dictated
a letter which Blondel should write to the fathers. In it he ex-
pressed the fears that he had entertained for them on account of
the Indians, and stated that he bad gone there to protect their
reverences. He did not find the reverend father there, however,
and Brother Manuel, not trusting in his (the Frenchman's) prom-
ises, had fled, abandoning the effects, of which he (Blondel) had
taken possession "to prevent their profanation by idolaters." He
assured the priests that should they be sent for, the ornaments
would be gladly delivered.4 It is true that Blondel does not men-
tion the soldier which the Spanish claim he captured, but it is
curious to note that when scolded by La Harpe, he declared that
the Indians had taken the ornaments, but when writing to the
fathers he was forced to admit that he had taken them and had
them in his possession. This little incident in itself betrays a
lack of candor in Blondel's position, and leaves something to be
explained by those who say that there was no attack on los Adaes.
The other extreme view taken of the matter is that St. Denis,
west of the Neches crossing, would bear witness that the Spanish retreat
was not so precipitate as it is generally represented; for he stayed there
till after the retreat of the Spaniards, "who, fearing our garrison and
our savages, had retired on the other side of the Trinity." Margry,
VI, 280.
Margry, VI, 280.
2-Ibid.
3Ibid., 305.
Ibid., 300.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912, periodical, 1912; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101056/m1/21/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.