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Louis Michel Aury
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"Terror of the Gulf"
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Mystery Battle at Matagorda
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Aury's appearance at Matagorda in June of 1817 caused much concern among the Spanish officials in Texas. Governor Antonio Martinez, at Bexar (San Antonio), wrote to the Military Commander of the Eastern Interior Provinces warning about the "band of pirates" that had 12 ships anchored in the bay and were building barracks ashore.
(right: "Aury and his men in Florida" by maritime artist William Trotter)
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Martinez was receiving his information from the Commander of the garrison at La Bahia (Goliad), who was receiving his from the observation post at Los Mosquitos (on the San Antonio River), who were receiving their information from the Caranchua Indians. This third-hand information was enough to cause the Governor to beg for more troops, weapons, and supplies.
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Just as it looked like Aury's band of pirates were about to establish a defendable foothold on the bay, Governor Martinez's pirate problem mysteriously solved itself, as explained in his letter to the Commandant:
"...From the said report you will learn of the destruction of the 13 vessels which were anchored at the port of Matagorda...I am sure they were attacked by some naval squadron or were fighting among themselves. An attack by land was impossible, first, because they were situated between two bodies of water, and second, because the observation party was stationed on the only route leading to that part of the coast."-July 26, 1817
Aury's later writings do not specify why he abandoned his base at Matagorda Bay. Most likely, the natural harbor was not to his liking because of its treacherous entrance (Pass Cavallo) and the hostility of the local Caranchua Indians.
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