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Don Bernardo de Galvez
Although Louisiana was not part of the original 13
colonies, it played a major role in the success of the American Revolution
and provided a large number of patriots for the cause. Louisiana was
under the rule of Spain in 1776. Spain did not join forces
with the United States utill1779, Don Bernardo de Galvez, Governor of
Louisiana, is responsible for several victories including victories at the
battles of Baton Rouge, Fort Bute, and Natchez.
Don Bernardo de Galvez, the son of the Governor of
Mexico, became Governor of the Spanish territory of Louisiana in 1777. At
that time, Louisiana's population was between 14,000 and 16,000, not
enough for Galvez to build a strong economy, so when Galvez first took
office, his main focus was populating Louisiana. Very quickly, Galvez's
attention was diverted to the growing conflict between Britain and her
colonies. Although France openly recognized American independence, Spain
hesitated not recognizing the fledgling country until May 8, 1779 when
Spain declared war on England as an ally of France. Spain then told
Galvez that he could wage war on the British in America.
Galvez took action, not waiting for the British to
attack. He mustered an army of about 700 soldiers and began marching from
New Orleans north, picking up more soldiers along the way, the final
force reaching a total number of about 1,300. Galvez attacked the forts
the British had built along the Mississippi river.
On September 6, 1779, Galvez and his army captured
Fort Bute, near Bayou Manchac and then marched his army on to Baton Rouge
where he was met with a well fortified fort that would not be easily
taken. Using a diversionary tactic, Galvez had his soldiers dig trenches
close to the fort's walls and then faked an attack from another direction.
The tactic worked, and on September 21, 1779 the British surrendered the
Fort at Baton Rouge to Galvez. As part of his terms of surrender, Galvez
insisted the British also surrender Fort Panmure at Natchez, giving Spain
control of both sides of the Mississippi River. Because of Galvez's
victories, Captain William Pickles was able to bring an American schooner
named the "Morris" onto Lake Pontchartrain where he boarded and seized the
British privateer, "West Florida," which had dominated Lake Pontchartrain
for two years.
Galvez next turned his attention on Fort Charlotte in
Mobile leaving with about 1,500 troops in March of 1780. But, on the way
to Mobile, some of Galvez's ships were damaged when they encountered a
storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the hardship, Galvez continued
towards Mobile, attacking Fort Charlotte and taking control of the fort
and the City of Mobile when the British surrendered on March 13, 1780.
With his attention now aimed at Pensacola, on October
16, 1780, Galvez's fleet headed towards Cuba for needed reinforcements and
supplies only to be met the very next day by a hurricane. Ships sunk or
were damaged, and the fleet was scattered, however Galvez arrived in Cuba
where he made the necessary repairs on his ships and re-gathered his
troops.
In February of 1781, Galvez was able to again turn
his attention to Pensacola. After waiting for additional reinforcements
from Louisiana to arrive, Galvez made a brave advance on Pensacola
standing on the deck of the lead ship in full view of the British who
opened fire on him. Galvez passed through the difficult to navigate
Pensacola Bay unharmed. The British Commander at Pensacola negotiated a
surrender that would allow Pensacola to remain neutral territory and it
looked like Galvez would take Pensacola without a battle, however that
night a fire was set burning some of the settlers homes. Galvez blamed
the British, the British blamed Galvez, and instead of a peaceful
surrender, a long siege began. Little happened for two months until
finally a cannon shot hit a gunpowder storehouse blowing a large hole in
the fort's wall.. The British finally surrendered Pensacola to Galvez on
May 10, 1781.
Galvez's victories let the British know that holding
on to the American Colonies would be a very difficult feat and in 1793,
England surrendered the lands to the United States recognizing the
independence of the colonists. At that same time, England returned Florida
to Spain.
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The Spirit of '76
Chapter
is proud to have members who represent the
following Louisiana Patriots:
Pat. Thomas de Acosta, LA
Pat. Antoine Bonin, LA
Maj. Antoine Bordelon, LA
Pat. Firmin Breaux, LA
Pat. Jean Baptiste Broussard, LA
Capt. Miguel Cantrell, LA
Pat. Jean Louis Champagne, LA
Lt. Pierre Denis de la Ronde, II, LA
PS Christobal Dermas Y Arcila, LA
Pat. Louis Charles de Blanc, LA
Pat. Jean Baptiste Verloin deGruy, LA
Pat. Francois Delery, LA
Pat. Balthazar Ricazrd Devillier, LA
Mid. Felix Bernard Dumontier, LA
Capt. Armand Gabriel Allard
Duplantier, LA
Antonio Folts, LA
Pat. Jacques Fortier, LA
Pat. Michel Fortier, Jr., LA
Pat. Michael Fortier, Sr., LA
Jacques Freret, LA
Pat. Joseph Hebert, LA
Pat. Joseph Landry, LA
Pvt. Jean Pierre LeDoux, LA
Pat. Charles Francois Marioneaux, LA
Pat. Jean Mouton, LA
Pvt. Pierre Nezat, LA
James Anthony Percy, LA
Lt. Col. Manuel Antonio Perez, LA
Pat. Alphonse Perret, LA
Pvt. Arnaud Philibert, LA
Pat. Juan Rodrigues, LA
Pat. Thomas Saulet, LA
Pat. Alonzo Segovia, LA
Lt. Jacques Verret, LA
Pvt. Augustin Verret, LA
Pat. Laurent Vignes, LA
Pat. Don Juan Vincente Vives, LA
Nathan White, LA
Pvt. Jean Baptiste Wiltz, LA
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Spirit
of '76 Chapter
Spirit
of '76 Chapter