The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 15, July 1911 - April, 1912 Page: 21
382 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Aguayo Expedition
our story opens he was evidently stationed in some military capac-
ity on the northern frontier, with headquarters either at Los
Patos or Parras. In 1716, writing from Santa Maria de las
Parras, he says that he has been there four years.'
HIe first comes to notice in relation to Texas in connection with
the quest of the Gran Quivira, which, since the time of Coronado,
had gradually receded from far off Kansas toward the Texas coun-
try. In a correspondence with the viceroy in 1715 and 1716,
Aguayo asked that Joseph Urrutia2 be sent to discover the Gran
Quivira, of whose wonders and riches he had heard from an In-
dian from the interior during his sojourn among the Texas tribes.3
The crisis in the Texas affairs seemed to offer Aguayo a chance
to gratify his ambition, and as soon as he heard of the French
attack, he offered "his life, sword, and property" in the service of
the king. The answer to this offer was his appointment to the
governorship of Texas and Coahuila and the further commission
to head the expedition that was to reoccupy Texas.4 He appar-
ently took possession of his office December 19, 1719.6 He is
'Archivo de Secretarla de Gobierno, Saltillo, aifo de 1699 [17161 Nu-
mero 17. January 12, 1715, he writes from San Francisco de los Patos;
December 5, 1716, he writes from Santa Marfa de las Parras. See, Autos
sre el Descubrimiento de la Gran Quibira segun lo consultado por el
Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo. Superior Gobierno, Aio de 1715,
Tewas, No. 2, in B. MS.
2Urrutia had accompanied the TerAn Expedition in 1691, and had lived
among the T6xas Indians several years after the Spanish missions were
abandoned in 1693. See, Autos sre el Descubrimaiento de la Gran Qui-
vira segun lo consultado por el Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo, Su-
perior Gobierno, Afio de 1715, Texas, No. 2, in B. MS.
'The fiscal's first answer was an unconditional refusal to consider the
proposition at all. It was taken up later, however, with apparently more
promise. On July 3, 1715, a junta de guerra was held to consider the
question. It was here decided to ask both Aguayo and Urrutia for de-
tailed reports regarding the solicited expedition-among other things,
about the soil, climate, and inhabitants of Quivira, and their plans for the
projected enterprise. Aguayo complied with the request November 2, 1715.
He described the land, according to his information from the Indians,
to be forty leagues from the Texas country, and bathed by a great lake.
He suggested that he be allowed to provide Urrutia with ten or twelve
men, and that the latter go incognito, depending for aid on his following
among the friendly Indians. Urrutia did not report, as requested, and
the correspondence closes January 11, 1716, with the fiscal's recommenda-
tion. It was, that since Urrutia's report, which was the more important,
as he was to be the leader of the expedition, was not forthcoming, the
viceroy must renew his request for Urrutia's report. (Autos sre el
Descubrimiento de la Gran Quivira, etc. A copy of this correspondence
is to be had in Coleccidn de Memorias, XXVII, 116-130.)
'Peia, Derrotero, 1.
"It was on this day that Alarcon, his predecessor, went out of office.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
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/m1/25/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.