In 1808, the most direct road from San Antonio to Santa Fe served the Spanish era in Texas from 1519 to 1821 and was charted to strengthen ties between Mexico City and New Mexico after American explorer Zebulon Pike blazed a trail from the U.S. to New Mexico. That Spanish road was mapped by Capt. Francisco Amangual and 200 soldiers. A veteran of 46 years of service to Spain, Amangual left San Antonio on March 30, 1808. On April 8, entering a valley 5 miles to the south, he followed the East James, then called El Chimal Creek for its bordering bluffs that resembled Indian headdresses, and camped that night by a red bluff. The party saw much game, including buffalo, and killed a bear. Stampedes and losses of horses and mules, some loaded with crude sugar and other food, made the trip difficult. The route pointed north-northwest, and the party reached Santa Fe on June 19, then returned to San Antonio six months later. Although Zebulon Pike had traveled with only eight men, Amangual had to field a large party, in part to impress the wild and fierce plains Indians with the might and glory of Spain. Traces of the road measured in 1808 remain visible today, parallel to auto roads.