WI: Spain had intecepted Lewis and Clark?

When Spain learned that the Corps of Discovery was traversing North America through Spanish-claimed territory, they dispatched four armed expeditions from New Mexico over the course of two years with the intention of halting Lewis and Clark. Two of the Spanish expeditions came within ~100 miles of intercepting them. If they had caught up to the Corps of Discovery, what might have happened?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Vial#Chasing_Lewis_and_Clark
 
Yes, the Spanish were concerned that Lewis & Clark might enter Spanish claimed territory. Had they found them they might have
- Ordered them to turn around and leave the region and tailed them for a while to make sure that they did;
- Detained the corps for awhile and then send them back from whence they came;
- Claimed damages from the US government for the coast of the search.

These are the sorts of things that Spain did do when they encountered American explorers, such as Zebulon Pike during that era.
 
Top