President Mirabeau Lamar had a vision for his new country - The Republic of Texas. Unlike his predecessor Sam Houston who favored annexation with the United States, Lamar envisioned a separate independent republic. His fellow Texans or Texians - as he liked to call them - would become a cultured society free from Mexican influence and Indians, whom he wanted expelled. In addition, his republic would have extended borders, including the entire length of the Rio Grande. Within its borders, portions of present day New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Kansas would be included. Texas, however, didn’t have the manpower, military and money to stake such an extensive claim. Though defeated, Mexico refused to recognize the Texas Republic and still considered it a Mexican state in rebellion. Nevertheless, the town of Santa Fe, New Mexico and its trade riches beckoned to a cash-strapped Texas that had no established trade routes.
The Santa Fe Trail was a lucrative commercial pipeline between St. Louis and Santa Fe. For years, teamsters drove ox and mule carts filled with fabrics, tools, and knives to Santa Fe in exchange for silver coins, wool, processed gold, and most important to a continued westward expansion - mules. Texas merchants were more than eager to tap into Santa Fe’s wealth by redirecting the Santa Fe Trail toward Texas and its ports on the Gulf Coast.
Lamar, who wanted to occupy Santa Fe, saw opportunity through a Kentucky-born adventurer and trader who resided in Santa Fe, William D. Darden. Via an offshore shipwreck, he entered Texas and met with Lamar. Impressed with Darden’s enthusiasm, Lamar appointed him a commissioner in a planned Texas expedition to Santa Fe - a sort of front man for Texas interests. Two other Santa Fe residents were appointed commissioners as well, John Rowland and William Workman. Darden carried back instructions for the new commissioners and a rambling speech written by Lamar for the citizens of Santa Fe, explaining the benefits of a Texas government. Unimpressed, the debt-ridden Texas Congress refused to approve the expedition, forcing Lamar to issue a call for volunteers. Five companies of infantry and one artillery battery were raised to protect an ox-drawn wagon train of twenty-one wagons carrying goods for sale and 321 teamsters, merchants, and more Lamar-appointed commissioners. Altogether, the crude caravan’s merchandise totaled $200,000.
The expedition’s commissioners were prominent Texans, including Colonel William G. Cooke, J. Antonio Navarro and Dr. Richard Brenham. Navarro, a highly respected Hispanic community leader, spoke fluent Spanish and could possibly influence Santa Fe’s Hispanic residents. “My participation,” said Navarro, “would serve…to avoid a crisis among my fellow citizens.” One of the more curious members of the expedition was British immigrant and respected jurist Thomas Falconer who had offered his services to Lamar in developing Texas’ fledgling judicial system. Sensing a grand adventure ahead, he went along as an observer and chronicler. He would soon wish he had stayed in England.
The expedition did not get off to an auspicious start. On June 19, 1841, its members, officially dubbed the “Santa Fe Pioneers,” set out from Kenny’s Fort on Brushy Creek, twenty miles north of Austin near present day Round Rock. Since no one in the expedition had ever traveled to Santa Fe from Austin, the expedition had to rely on a dubious Mexican guide who eventually deserted them. In addition to a poor sense of direction, supplies were lacking. Only two days into their journey, the Santa Fe party had to send back wagons for more food. After mistaking the Wichita River, near present day Wichita Falls, for the Red River and lacking reliable maps, a company was sent out to find the elusive Red River that would lead the party into New Mexico. The rudderless expedition was plagued by terrain, infighting, thirst, soaring temperatures, and Kiowas, who stole Falconer’s horse. To avoid starvation, the party consumed dogs, horses, lizards, and snakes. The hapless Falconer had his eyebrows and hair singed off when his campfire suddenly became a raging wildfire. On August 20, 1841, a guide arrived to lead the expedition into New Mexico.
After three hellish months, the expedition’s main party reached Laguna Colorada near present day Tucumcari. On October 5, party member Captain William G. Lewis, in cahoots with New Mexico’s Governor Manuel Armijo, turned traitor and talked the expedition into surrendering to Mexican forces in New Mexico. Thinking the New Mexicans would be overjoyed to see them, the Texans quickly found out they were anything but. The expedition straggled into Santa Fe, only to be made prisoners by 1,500 Mexican troops and then forced to march 2,000 miles to Mexico City where they were imprisoned. To make matters worse, the President of Mexico was none other than Santa Anna, the vanquished commander of Mexico’s army at San Jacinto. Freed from captivity, the wily Santa Anna had regained power and a fresh hatred for the Texans who defeated him. He especially wanted to punish Navarro; whom he considered a traitor to be sentenced to death. Fortunately, the United States stepped in and negotiated the prisoners release in April 1842. Falconer was released at the request of the British ambassador to Mexico. Navarro was not released and forced to spend another three years in prison. Sympathetic Mexican citizens helped Navarro escape before he made his way back to Texas. Falconer made his way back to England and never came back. Though a failure, the Santa Fe Expedition led to a renewed U.S. interest in Texas and statehood for the struggling republic.
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