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Nationalist
activities abounded in Spain's Northern Provinces (Texas) during the
first two decades of the nineteenth century. The Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition
was one of the most spectacular of these adventures.
In response to Father Hidalgo's unsuccessful revolt against Royal
control in Guanajuato in September 1810, the Juan Bautista de las
Casas led a similar movement in San
Antonio the next year that succeeded in gaining temporary control
of the town. Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara, Casas' epresentative, then
traveled to Washington to enlist U.S. assistance in sustaining his
success.
The U.S. government chose to remain officially uninvolved but, it
supported Gutiérrez covertly. American consular officer William Shaler,
stationed in New Orleans, accompanied Gutiérrez to Natchitoches, Louisiana,
and put him in contact with Lt. August Magee, who was stationed at
Fort Jessup.
Early
in August 1812, Gutiérrez and Magee led an expedition into Texas
to establish the Republic of the North at the expense of Spain. Magee
led their "army," largely composed of adventurers and more residents
of the Neutral Ground—the kind of folks who liked an absence of law
enforcement.
The expedition captured Nacogdoches
easily, then moved on southwestward to La Bahia (Goliad),
where they met and eventually defeated Spanish forces. There the expedition
stalled while intrigue added the flavor of the movement.
First, Magee committed suicide, according to Gutiérrez, and was succeeded
by Samuel Kemper, who led the republican forces to victory over those
of Governor Salcedo, but when Gutiérrez authorized Salcedo's execution,
Kemper led some of the invaders back to the United States. First Rueben
Ross and then Henry Perry succeeded Kemper in the military command.
Meanwhile, maneuvers by Shaler resulted in replacing Gutiérrez with
José Alvarez de Toledo in command of the civilian aspects of the independence
movement, but it all came to an end when Perry's men were defeated
by a superior force led by General Joaquin de Arredondo at the Battle
of the Medina on August 15, 1813. Arrendondo then executed survivors
of the expedition as well as anyone in Nacogdoches
or San Antonio who
had cooperated with them.
This suppression delayed but did not end efforts to free Mexico
from Spain's control or the westward expansion of the United States,
but it did constitute one interesting chapter in the progress of both
movements.
© Archie
P. McDonald |
All
Things Historical
July 14,
2008 column
A syndicated column in over 70 East Texas newspapers
This column is provided as a public service by the East Texas Historical
Association. Archie P. McDonald is director of the Association and
author of more than 20 books on Texas. |
Books by Archie
P. McDonald - Order Here
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