The Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba is the only mission in Texas ever completely destroyed by Native Americans. It was established in 1757 in an attempt to introduce members of the Apache tribe to Catholocism.
The Apache are Native Americans whose traditional enemies were the Comanche people. The Comanche people believed the new Spanish mission had allied with the Apache and attacked, destroying it less than a year after it was founded.
A fortified base, the Presidio de San Sada, was created when the mission was founded for it’s protection. Located three miles away, the Comanche attack left the fort untouched.
The Spanish response did nothing to diminish the power of the Comanche. A Spanish force of 500 men were forced to retreat after attacking a town, fortified by a stockade and a moat, filled with Comanche armed with European guns.
The Presidio San Saba remained operational for another decade, in territory controlled by the Comanche, before it was abandoned.
