FL -- Pensacola -- Old Fort George:
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- Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
- FTGEO_170423_01.JPG: Battle of Pensacola
March 9 to May 8, 1781
On March 9, 1781, Spanish General Bernardo de Galvez, with a fleet of some 30 ships, arrived opposite Pensacola Bay and within a day took Santa Rosa Island. On March 18, Galvez, in his ship Galveztown, sailed under the cannon of the Royal Navy Redoubt into the harbor, thereby inspiring the rest of the fleet to follow him. The British Army abandoned the town of Pensacola to take position on the fortified hills north of the town. After more than a month of siege and skirmishing, a shell from a Spanish howitzer destroyed most of the Queen's Redoubt and resulted in General John Campbell's capitulation and surrender of British West Florida. Although Spain was not a formal ally of the United States, her victory at Pensacola made a significant contribution to the success of the American Revolution.
- FTGEO_170423_07.JPG: "Yo Solo" -- "I Alone"
Siege of Pensacola, 1781
Bernardo de Galvez
- FTGEO_170423_14.JPG: Siege of Pensacola, 1781
Bernardo de Galvez
- FTGEO_170423_25.JPG: Sons of the American Revolution
Florida Society
Here at Fort George, Don Bernardo de Galvez of Spain achieved his greatest victory by defeating the British in the Battle of Pensacola in May 1781 during the American Revolutionary War.
The campaign successfully eliminated British control of the lower Mississippi River Valley and the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, the Territory of British West Florida was ceded to Spain in 1783 and subsequently to the United States of America in 1821.
This plaque is dedicated to the twenty-five American volunteers who served under General Galvez's command in the Battle of Pensacola. Given by the Centennial Committee on the 100th anniversary of the founding in Pensacola of the Florida Society, Sons of American Revolution.
March 24
1886-1986
- FTGEO_170423_31.JPG: Native Americans:
The American Revolution disrupted Indian affairs in the southeast. Trade came to a standstill. Europeans competed for Indian military alliances. Preparing for a Spanish invasion, the British called on the Indian nations for help. Early in 1781 some 1000 Creek, Choctaw, and Chickasaw warriors were in the city, but the British were unable to maintain the large force. To the dismay of British defenders, the Indians camped outside the city to avoid ambush. During the Battle of Pensacola, Indians fought in skirmishes on both sides, delaying the capture of British West Florida.
- FTGEO_170423_33.JPG: Soldiers of 1781:
The Battle of Pensacola has been described as a cross-cultural event. Spanish forces included some of the country's most elite regiments including the Hibernian Infantry. Joining the Spanish force were Grenadiers, Dragoons and Rangers of the Louisiana Regiment, a company of well trained Irish soldiers, American volunteers, and some 800 French Rangers. Soldiers from Louisiana included free mulatto and Negro troops. Slaves served both the Spanish and British military. British forces included the elite British 60th and 16th Foot, Pennsylvania and Maryland Loyalist, and the 3rd Waldeck Regiment of German mercenaries.
- FTGEO_170423_36.JPG: Fuerte San Miguel:
During the last forty years of Spanish occupation in Pensacola, the military continued to build fortifications for defense. Fort George was renamed Fuerte San Miguel, the Queen's Redoubt to Fuerte San Bernardo, and Prince of Wales Redoubt to Fuerte Sombrero. Only San Bernardo was occupied. Consideration was given to abandoning the city in favor of an earlier site near the entrance to the bay. New fortifications were built at the harbor entrance. It was hoped that Pensacola's meager defenses could withstand a siege by Indian or European armies long enough for assistance to arrive from Havana.
- FTGEO_170423_39.JPG: Jackson's Invasion:
Although Pensacola officially belonged to Spain after 1783, the British often used Pensacola to harass the United States. In 1814, General Andrew Jackson invaded Florida to attack British forces. Again in 1818, Jackson entered Pensacola, this time to stop Florida Indians from raiding the US. In 1818, Jackson ordered the Spanish garrison be shipped to Havana and US troops commanded by Colonel William King occupied the city and its forts for ten months. Jackson entered the city a third time in July 1821 to accept Florida from the last Spanish governor.
- FTGEO_170423_42.JPG: Archaeology at Fort George
During 1974 and 1975 archaeological investigations were conducted on this lotto determine the location of Fort George. Plans to develop the lot into an educational park required archaeology to protect potential cultural resources. Several significant elements of the fort were located including a section of the moat, a powder magazine, and a group of vaulted rooms believed to be latrines. Since the site did not include living and dining areas, few artifacts were recovered. Much of the useable equipment was removed from the structure when it was abandoned.
- FTGEO_170423_50.JPG: Colonial Archaeological Trail
- FTGEO_170423_52.JPG: British Pensacola:
During the Seven Year's War (1756-63), France and Spain battled the British. The British captured Cuba, and at the end of the war Spain ceded La Florida to the British to regain Cuba. The British arrived to occupy Pensacola in August 1763. They found the town and military stockade in poor condition. In 1765, engineers completed a new plat for Pensacola. Plans included enlarging the deteriorated stockade at the waterfront, the development of city streets, and residential lots. By 1781 the city had over 250 new dwellings.
- FTGEO_170423_55.JPG: Fort George:
After six years the British West Florida population swelled from 2000 colonists and slaves, to nearly six thousand. To better defend the city, three new fortifications were built north of the waterfront stockade. Fort George (1772) was to be the principal fort. Several hundred yards north, on higher ground, the Queen's Redoubt and the Prince of Wales Redoubt were part of the system. Fort George consisted of a square parade ground, an earthen rampart with four demi-bastions, surrounded by a dry moat. The fort wall mounted 20 cannon. An outer earthwork stretched southwest for approximately 600 feet.
- FTGEO_170423_57.JPG: Galvez:
King Carlos III of Spain appointed thirty-year old Benardo de Galvez Governor General of Louisiana on January 1, 1777. He had proven skills as a soldier and military leader in campaigns at Portugal and New Spain. In 1779, Galvez captured British outposts on the Mississippi, then Mobile in 1780. In February 1781, Field Marshal Galvez led a convoy of 32 ships and 3000 men to seize British West Florida. During the 61 day Battle of Pensacola, Galvez, out front of his troops, was wounded by musket fire. The Battle of Pensacola is considered the greatest victory of his career.
- FTGEO_170423_59.JPG: Battle of Pensacola:
Entering Pensacola Bay, the Spanish prepared trenches and batteries from which to attack the British forces. The British requested that the town not be attacked and women, children, and sick be allowed sanctuary in the waterfront stockade. The battle centered on Fort George. In spite of being out numbered 3 to 1, the British held their position for two months. With reinforcements, Galvez commanded over 7000 troops. On May 8th, 1781 a grenade from a Spanish howitzer exploded the powder magazine at the Queen's Redoubt, completely destroying the structure.
The British surrendered all of West Florida.
- FTGEO_170423_96.JPG: Fort George
Site of Fort George - headquarters of British West Florida - Suwannee to the Mississippi. From 1763 until captured by Spanish Gen. Bernardo de Galvez in 1781 and renamed San Miguel. Seized by Andrew Jackson in 1814 and 1818 and delivered to him as U.S. Territory, 1821. Acquired by the Knights of Columbus 1924.
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