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SAN ANTONIO-HER TRADE,
Many of the citizens of San Antonio to-day trace their lineage back
to the Canary Islands, from which place, at the express wish of Ferdinand
III of Spain, they emigrated at expense of the king's private purse. In
the year 1733 having settled, and as far as possible began to develop the
natural resources into a thriving and peaceful community, applied to the
king of Spain for a city's charter, which was granted under the name of
San Fernando.
For an uncertain length of time they were allowed to remain
unmolisted by the avarice of ignorance, and only suffered from the aggressions
of the savages, who, never satisfied with a single habtation, considered
this an encroachment upon their hunting grounds, warranting recourse to
the firebrand and tomahawk ; and though submissive and apparently at-
tentive to the teachings of the missionaries, frequently manifested their
brutal natures by treachery and massacre. This led to every dwelling
being constructed somewhat upon the plan of a fortress, and offered ex-
ceptional protection to the settlers.
The Spanish rule continued under supervision of twelve Spanish gov-
ernors, with little to dispell the quietude of a contented community, ex-
tending gradually its claims to the respect of civilization, and considering
themselves equal to the protection of life and property from the occa-
sional ravages of the Indians.
Indeed these troubles existed almost entirely within the domination
of the first four governments.
About the year 1806 the Americans encroached upon the soil of Span-
ish rule and brought forth the call to arms ; but the commercial interests
which had gained birth between the upper provinces of Mexico and por-
tions of the United States, gave deeper insight into the resources of this
new country further to the north and east, and seeming yet open to con-
quest invited the attention of adventurous spirits of the states, whose on-
ward marches led to several pitched battles with various degrees of suc-
cess. This human avarice excited and encouraged by some successes and
prospects of satiation in the fields of plenty, changed their actions from
those of prospectors to the crimes of the bandit ; and it was not long till
Mexico's government took the matter in consideration, making various
demands upon the United States for reparation. Meeting with no satis-
factory responses, blood and ravage became the order of the day.
About this time, Mexico being entangled in the complications of her
own misguided government, it became necessary for the states to protect
their own people who had properly established themselves in this section,
from the mutual aggressions and insults of both Mexicans and outlaws,
and dispatched a force with that object in view. It suffered from the
traitorous actions of the commander ; and after much blood-shed, marched
to San Fernando, which was held by General Salcedo. His forces num-
bered about 2500, the Americans consisting of 800 regulars, and 400 Mex-
icans and Indians.