In the year 1841, Texas was an independent Republic. This was five years after the battle of San Jacinto, when General Santa Anna and his army were defeated, which liberated the south-eastern portion of the country from Mexican authority. Texas claimed all the country extending from the United States on the north and east, to the Rio Grande river on the west; and the Gulf of Mexico on the South. The territory was so great, that the Government, up to that time, had in its duties provided only for the counties that were within the settlements; which did not extend west of the Nueces river or San Antonio, or north of Austin; except in =he eastern district, where it was more thickly inhabited. The north-western portion of the territory was known as New Mexico, where nearly all the inhabitants were Mexicans and Indians who lived with them in their towns.

The vast country between Austin and Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, was an unexplored region of seven hundred miles; the greater part of which was known only to roving tribes of Indians, who made frequent incursions into the settlements to plunder, steal horses, and sometimes they murdered men and took women and children into captivity. These acts of cruelty were committed on the frontier, and by the time the neighbors could learn of the deed, the Indians had fled, beyond reach of pursuit, to the camps of their tribes.

Mirabeau B. Lamar, who was then President of Texas, received letters from citizens in Santa Fe, who wrote to him that the people there wanted to be under the laws of Texas and not those of Mexico, whose laws and officers then governed over them. As this could not be effected without troops, he concluded that to afford assistance to a portion of territory which was so far from the capital at Austin; could best be done by opening a road over the prairies and through the wilderness to Santa Fe. He gave out invitations to traders and merchants to take goods along, and also to volunteers for an escort guard to protect them from Indians and assist in crossing the wagons over difficult places on the route; and for all persons intending to go, to meet together at Austin in the month of May.

There was a double purpose in the expedition: one was secret or political, known only to a few principal persons, who were appointed to offices, either military or commissioners, whose duty it was to arrange with the people of Santa Fe on their arrival at that place. The object made public, was that of a commercial or trading expedition.

In Mexico there were but few mills for the manufacture of cotton and other goods; the people depended upon imports from the United States and Europe for most of the clothes they wore, and for other supplies; which in northern Mexico were taken over on a road from Independence, a town in Missouri, to Santa Fe, by caravans of traders, who went every year with large quantities of goods. It was of great importance to Texas to obtain the trade to Santa Fe, and if the expedition succeeded in its objects, it was believed the route would be preferred to the one from Independence, which could not be traveled in the winter months on account of deep snows and impassable streams that would not be met with on the route from Texas. The goods wanted by the Mexicans could be brought from Europe, which would increase the commerce and make Texas of greater importance to those countries; while the duties paid into the treasury was much needed for making public works and improvements throughout the country.

At the appointed time, the vicinity of Walnut creek, two miles from Austin, was dotted over with camps of those assembled, preparing for the trip. They came from all parts of the settled Republic, besides a few from the United States, who joined with many others for the excitement of adventures to be met, as well as to take a tour either through Mexico or return by the northern route; many went to gain a knowledge of the trade to be used in after expeditions. Two accidents occurred at this camp: a Mr. Snow, returning from town at night was shot by a sentinel who mistook him for an Indian; and a Mr. Davis, while-showing his friends a manoeuvre with his gun, it accidentally went off, killing him instantly. The camp was moved to Brushy, a stream twenty miles north, where there was better grass and water.

This being the first expedition of the kind in Texas, it took longer time in fitting out, than expected; when ready, there were six mounted companies, under command of General Hugh McLeod, the commissioners with Messrs. Kendall and Coombs as guests, the merchants and wagon drivers, numbering in all three hundred and twenty men; with one brass cannon, nearly thirty wagons and a drove of beef cattle to furnish meat. The President visited the camp, where he reviewed the companies and made an appropriate address.