West Florida and the American Revolution

PANAMA CITY, FL - Caroline Windham, of Daughters of the American Revolution, spoke to Kiwanis Club about West Florida’s involvement in the American Revolutionary War. She reminded us that there was more land in North America than just the thirteen Original Colonies. It was quite interesting to hear about the Siege of Pensacola that was fought from March 9th to May 10th, 1781. It was the culmination of Spain’s conquest of West Florida during the Gulf Coast Campaign and was the largest and longest battle of the American Revolution, only two hours away from Bay County!

As a result of an assault on Fort Bute and the surrender of forces following the Battle of Baton Rouge, the governor of Spanish Louisiana, Bernardo de Galvez, gained control over the lower Mississippi River. He followed up by capturing Mobile then launching an assault from Mobile on Pensacola, but the initial invasion fleet was dispersed by a hurricane. Galvez spent nearly a month regrouping the fleet at Havana.

The British defenses at Pensacola were provincial soldiers, rather than militia, who were supported by bands of Indians, with 1,500 to 2,000 joining the defense.

Galvez embarked his flag with the Spanish fleet, under the command of Captain Jose Calvo de Irazabal, ordering additional troops from New Orleans and Mobile to assist, using his authority as Governor of Louisiana to commandeer the ships from Louisiana. Supplies were offloaded onto Santa Rosa Island. They established redoubts at Crescent, Sombrero and Fort George, and encampments, and prepared for a siege. Galvez was wounded while viewing the British fortifications, so battlefield command was transferred to Colonel Jose de Ezpeleta. Ships from the Spanish and French fleet from Havana arrived, bringing the total Spanish force of Pensacola to an unstoppable 8,000 men.

On April 30th, the Spanish batteries opened fire, starting the full-scale attack on Pensacola. A hurricane struck Spanish ships on May 5th and 6th, causing the fleet to withdraw. The army continued the siege, although trenches were flooded. Galvez even issued a ration of brandy to lift their spirits!

On May 8th, a howitzer shell struck the magazine in Fort Crescent causing it to explode, followed by a light infantry charge to take the fort. Fort George was also overwhelmed by massive Spanish firepower.

Two days later, Galvez accepted the reluctant surrender of Fort George and the Prince of Wales Redoubt by General John Campbell. The terms included the entirety of West Florida.

Galvez and his army were welcomed as heroes upon their arrival in Havana on May 30th. King Charles III promoted Galvez to lieutenant general and made him governor of West Florida and Louisiana.