Wilderness Manhunt: The Spanish Search for La Salle

Robert Weddle's "Wilderness Manhunt: The Spanish Search for La Salle" (1999 291-page paperback) presents a riveting recount of Spain's manic searches (from 1685 to 1690) for the first French settlement in New Spain. This informative text is well researched with nine pages of bibliography, 16 pages of black and white photographs (of period maps, drawings, writings, and contemporary aerial shots of the Texas coastline), and dozens of footnotes in each brief chapter. Weddle documents almost a dozen sea and land expeditions searching for La Salle's Ft. Saint Louis near Lavaca Bay in south Texas. Although La Salle group's 1685 landing was ultimately destroyed by the native Karankawas in 1689, the Spaniards failed to discover the French interloping until after the fort's destruction (Spaniards torched its six buildings in 1690). The book presents Spanish strategy and efforts to locate La Salle from primary sources (the journals of most who were involved in the searches). The story is exciting, informative, and helpful. Weddle answers many question with this very good history. Weddle is crisp and clear in his recounting of 17th century life. The reader feels the slow movement of the sailing ships, mule trains, wilderness marching, and hand carried correspondences. One experiences explorer fears of unknown natives, unseen before locales, and suddenly harsh weather. Spanish anxiety for finding the elusive French becomes understandable. The stories of La Salle's Texas explorations looking for the Mississippi, the building of Ft. Saint Louis, and the murder of the great French leader are comprehensively analyzed. All the Spanish authorities (Viceroy Monclova, Admiral Palacios, General De Leon, Captain Rivas, Father Massanet, and many more) are introduced with resumes presented. This excellent history shows how Spanish authorities began to take their new world holdings (from Florida to Mexico) seriously. It sets the stage for early 18th century Franco-Spanish clashes across the modern southern USA. Weddle's book is convincing and brilliant. This book is recommended to everyone interested in Texas history, what happened to La Salle, and late 17th century New Spain.