The San Sabá Mission: Spanish Pivot in Texas

The Spanish approach to the occupation of eighteenth-century Texas embraced the triad of mission, presidio, and settlement. In founding communities, Franciscan missionaries sought to convert the natives to Christianity and make them productive Spanish citizens. By midcentury, however, change was in the offing. The turning point was the San Sabá Mission disaster and the ensuing military campaign to punish the Indians responsible. In 1758, the mission, near present-day Menard, was destroyed w...