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36
MAGEE AND GUTIERRES.
[1812.
tied.* As in this strip of ground no law ruled, it soon
became the home of criminals and desperadoes, whose
sole occupation was robbery.t
Magee's Expedition.-Of all the companies sent into
Texas during these troubled times, none was of such
magnitude, none underwent such terFible experiences,
as Magee's expedition.: The leader was a talented young
lieutenant in the United States army, who had been sta-
tioned in Louisiana, to protect Americans crossing the
Neutral Ground and to crush the power of the free-
booters.
Magee and Gutierres (goo te er'6s).-At this time the
Royalists (those who preferred belonging to Spain) of
Mexico were in power, and the Republicans were in ex-
ile. Many of them had taken refuge in the United States
and in the Neutral Ground. Having met with some of
the most talented of these Republicans, Magee became
infatuated with the idea of freeing Texas from Spanish
rule. He and Gutierres, a noted Spanish exile, entered
* This contract, about which a certain amount of mystery has always hung,
was entered into suddenly by Generals Wilkinson and tHerrera. It is supposed
the Spanish were so alarmed at Aaron Burr's schemes for invading Mexico that
they deemed it best to make concessions in order to keep at peace with the United
States.
t These outlaws had the highest sense of honor in regard to keeping the secrets
of their comrades. Yoakum says: "Two of a gang of robbers, who had attacked
a band of traders and carried off a large amount of treasure, were captured by
Lieut. Magee in command of some troops from Natchitoches. The men were tied
to trees and flogged to make them disclose who were their associates. As this
punishment failed to elicit a word of betrayal, a live coal of fire was passed along
their already tortured backs, but stil no disclosures could be obtained."
$ Augustus W. Magee was born in Massachusetts and graduated from West
Point in 1809. He was young, bright, brave, and full of ambitious plans; he met
with marked success in conquering the free-booters of the Neutral Ground.
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Pennybacker, Anna J. Hardwicke. A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination, book, 1895; Palestine, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2388/m1/50/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.