The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925 Page: 101
344 p. : maps ; 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:
Descriptions of Texas by Stephen F. Austin
visited and explored the country in the summer of 1821, and
made the necessary arrangements with the governor of the prov-
ince. He returned to Louisiana, and in December of the same
year arrived on the Brazos river, with a part of the families he
was authorized to colonize. After the independent government
was established, and organized, he visited the City of Mexico,
and obtained a full confirmation of his grant to settle the col-
ony from the National Mexican Congress, and has subsequently
obtained a large extension of the same. Texas, at the time he
entered it, was entire wilderness with the exception of the old
Spanish posts of San Antonio de Bexar and La Bahia, and they
were poor and inconsiderable villages reduced to wretchedness
and misery by the arbitrary and cruel measures of the Spanish
general in 1813 after the defeat of the Republicans on the
Medina; and by the subsequent Indian war, with the Comanches,
and other savages. Between the Sabine and San Antonio, a dis-
tance of 400 miles there was not twenty souls of civilized inhabi-
tants, and the country was occupied in every direction by wan-
dering bands of the Comanches, Lipans, Tancawas, Wacos, Tawa-
canys, Karankaways and other Indians. The government at this
period (the winter of 1821-22) was unsettled, all Mexico was in
revolution. The Spanish power was prostrated, but much doubt
and uncertainty prevailed as to the final result-public opinion,
and parties vacillated between monarchy, aristocracy and Repub-
licanism; and it would seem that even these flattering hopes
could have offered few inducements to enter Texas with families
of women and children, under such circumstances. Col. S. F.
Austin, and the families who embarked with him, in the arduous
effort of settling this wilderness, knew and fully understood their
situation, and the risk, perils, and hardships they must neces-
sarily be exposed to. They had confidence in themselves, and
relied upon that confidence alone for safety, and protection and
success. The alarming and exaggerated rumors that went abroad
relative to the sufferings of the first settlers greatly impeded the
progress of the new settlements, and increased Col. Austin's diffi-
culties in procuring emigrants. True it is, the first adventurers
suffered greatly. They did not taste bread for six months; their only
hope for subsistence was the game of the forests until they raised
a crop; and they were constantly harrassed by Indian depreda-101
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 Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925, periodical, 1925; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101087/m1/105/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.