Just as the Mexican officer repeated his request on Sept. 24, 1841 that the 97 Texans lay down their guns, a missing comrade mysteriously appeared and insisted the wild goose chase into New Mexico was not worth the loss of a single life.
The blood had hardly dried on the battlefield at San Jacinto, when the new Republic declared the Rio Grande to be its western boundary. It was no coincidence that the claim encompassed the 300-year-old settlement of Santa Fe, end of the famous trail that every year attracted $200 million in trade.
The idea of taking over Santa Fe and diverting that commercial bonanza to Texas did not originate with Mirabeau Lamar, second president of the Republic. The tempting prospect was a popular topic throughout the term of his predecessor, Sam Houston.
Texas’ depressed economy badly needed a boost, and the New Mexicans, who staged their own successful revolt in 1838, were prime candidates for Lone Star citizenship. Although Houston warned any reckless adventure could reignite war with Mexico, most Texans felt the prize was worth the risk.
President Lamar sent an open letter to the residents of Santa Fe in April 1840. “We tender to you a full participation in all our blessings,” he wrote warmly. “We shall take great pleasure in hailing you as fellow citizens, members of our young Republic, and co-aspirants with us for all the glory of establishing a new and happy and free nation.”
Instead of clearing the way for annexation, the message tipped his hand because Lamar knew about as much about the dark side of the moon as he did the situation in the distant town. Texans were unaware the recent uprising had been crushed and that New Mexico was again under military occupation.
Trouble with the pesky Comanches and opposition engineered by Houston postponed the plan to send an expedition to Santa Fe in the summer of 1840. Lamar waited until congress adjourned the next spring before personally authorizing the undertaking.
At Brushy Creek north of Austin, 321 self-proclaimed “Pioneers” assembled for the historic journey. Merchants and thrill-seekers swelled the ranks of the diplomats and six companies of volunteer militia. After a rousing send-off from Lamar, the expedition departed on June. 19, 1841.
Maps were not available at the corner gas station. Not only were the trusting travelers forced to rely upon undependable guides, no one knew the actual distance to their destination. The best guess was 500 miles, but the roundabout route followed by the Texans was closer to 1,300.
As a result, they soon started running out of everything – pack animals, provisions and patience. Progress was so agonizingly slow that the Pioneers did not reach the Texas Panhandle until late August.
A heated debate ended with a decision to send a group of 75 soldiers and 22 dignitaries on ahead to Santa Fe. After replenishing the exhausted supplies, the advance party would meet up with the main body allowing everyone to finish the final leg in style.
But the Mexican army was not about to allow the Texans anywhere near Santa Fe, where the inhabitants were certain to welcome them as liberators. For months the expedition had been the worst kept secret in the Southwest, and a well-armed welcoming committee was ready and waiting.
At the Pecos River, the vanguard encountered a patrol whose commanding officer advised handing over their weapons before the governor arrived with several thousand troops. The Texans refused stalling for word from four representatives that had ridden on to contact that very official.
Another officer made the same stern request the next day, and again the suspicious visitors balked. But the Texans could tell something was up because the size of the opposing force steadily grew.
By the third morning, the Texans were outnumbered five to one and anticipating an attack at any moment. On the heels of the third surrender demand, Capt. W.P. Lewis suddenly showed up to assure his startled comrades that all was well.
Lying through his teeth, the smooth-talking traitor urged the Texans to give up their guns or face immediate annihilation. Lewis swore they would be detained only briefly as “prisoners of war on parole” before being permitted to leave for home.
Their judgment clouded by fear, fatigue and Lewis’ convincing performance, the confused contingent capitulated. Two weeks later, Lewis gave an encore for the benefit of the main body with the same shameful outcome. Over 300 Texans surrendered without firing a shot.
The shackled captives were marched to prison at gunpoint across the burning desert of northern Mexico. After months of misery and mistreatment, the pitiful Pioneers were freed in April 1842. But the people of Santa Fe had to wait for the Mexican War to win their freedom.
Bartee welcomes your comments and questions at barteehaile@gmail.com or P.O. Box 152, Friendswood, TX 77549 and invites you to visit his web site at barteehaile.com.
