The history of San Augustine dates back to the very earliest Texas history, with its location astraddle the El Camino Real, previously the Buffalo Trail and then part of the Caddo Indian trail system. Cabeza de Vaca passed this spot and later a scouting party of the Hernando de Soto expedition. The Ais (Ayist) Indians were there to greet the Domingo Teran Del Rios Expedition and then the Domingo Ramone Expedition. The Ais Indians of San Augustine were the first Texas Indians to establish trade agreements with the French, when in 1708 the Frenchman, Bejoux, began trading with them for horses. San Augustine became a most important port of entry, second only to Galveston. It may very well be called the Cradle of Texas Independence for it is said that any man entering San Augustine, be he French, Spanish or American, became a Texan. Ninety percent of the men who engaged in the strife for Texas independence had walked the streets of San Augustine. [Illustration: Fort St. Jean Baptiste Des Natchitoches. Restoration of Colonial Natchitoches, Inc. BUTLER & DOBSON, AIA ARCHITECTS NATCHITOCHES This interpretation of how Fort St. Jean Baptiste looked was drawn by the architects, Butler and Dobson of Natchitoches, for the Committee for the Restoration of Colonial Natchitoches, Inc. It is my sincere hope that this restoration will be executed by the year 1964 when Natchitoches will in that year celebrate her 250th anniversary. To the Frenchmen of that period, the title, Fort St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches, meant that the Fort or Post was named for St. John The Baptist and that its location was among the Natchitoches Indians. It was this Fort which St. Denis defended against the Natchez Indians in 1731.] [Illustration: Old Kitchen of Fort Jesup—only remaining building of the original fort] The progress of the struggle for Texas independence was watched with keenest interest throughout the United States, but the interest south of the Mason-Dixon line was greater as most of the Texas settlers came from the Southern states. Louis Cass, the Secretary of War, on January 23, 1835, sent instructions to Major General Edmund P. Gaines, ordering him to move to a position nearer the western frontier of Louisiana, and to assume personal command of the troops near the Mexican (Texas) border. Blockhouses were erected to protect the supplies of the personnel of the camp. General Gaines took personal command of the troops there.