CHAP. 71. vated by the usual disputes and animosity between 1779-1781. the two nations. After some ineffectual attempts

July 5.

to check the progress of the pestilence, the two fleets separated. De Guichen returned with the homeward-bound convoy; Solano proceeded to the Havannah, to assist in the military operations which were now begun against Florida.

On the continent of America, the spaniards were more successful than in their naval operations. The requisite preparations having been previously made, Don Bernardo Galvez, governor of Louisiana, commenced hostilities soon after the spanish court announced their union with France. Collecting a force of 2,000 men, he made an irruption into West Florida, which was defended by only 1,800, the principal part at Pensacola, and the rest scattered in the different garrisons. Having formally recognised the independence of America, he set his troops in motion, ascended the course of the Mississippi, and after a siege of nine days, reduced a fort erected at the mouth of the Ibbeville, and garrisoned September, with 500 men. Proceeding up the river, as far as the Natches, he occupied the forts and settlements which formed the barrier of the province on the west, and over-ran a fertile country no less than 1,200 miles in extent.

April 19.

1779.

Before the season for action, he concerted with the governor of the Havannah a plan for

1780..

reducing Pensacola, and the remainder of the CHAP. 71. province. With this view, he embarked his 1779-1781. troops at New Orleans, and, under the convoy of several frigates and light vessels, proceeded to the bay of Mobile, where he was to be joined by an additional force from the Havannah. After a continued struggle of above a month with the tempests common to the climate, many of his vessels were wrecked, and 800 of his men cast on the beach, without arms, clothes, or necessaries. He bore this reverse with the characteristic firmness of his nation. As the greater part of his artillery was lost, he formed ladders from the wrecks, and prepared for the desperate attempt of reducing fort Mobile by escalade. At this moment, he was relieved by the arrival of part of the succours from the Havannah, and encouraged with the prospect that the remainder would shortly follow. He re-embarked his troops, and, after encountering a new series of difficulties, landed within three leagues of the March 14, fort, which was defended by only 284 men, including inhabitants. Approaches were formed, and three days afterwards a battery opened with such effect, that before night the besieged proposed a capitulation. The garrison surrendered prisoners of war; and such was the good fortune which attended this enterprise, that they

1780.

CHAP. 71. were marched out at the moment when general

1779-1781. Campbell, the military commander of the pro

vince, appeared in sight with a force of 1,100 men for their relief.

The fort was instantly occupied, and such preparations made for resistance, that the british commander did not venture to risk an attack. The remainder of the season was spent in some partial contests, and the interval between this and the ensuing spring employed in active exertions for reducing the capital, Pensacola. Galvez repaired to the Havannah to accelerate the preparations, and resumed his operations at the head of a new expedition of 8,000 men, which sailed at the commencement of 1781. He again suffered from violent hurricanes, lost four of his principal ships, with 2,000 men, and was driven back to the Havannah. But the arrival of the armament under Solano enabling him to refit and resume his design, he once more put to sea with a force of 5,000 men, under the convoy of five sail of the line, and was followed by the remainder of the fleet, amounting to fifteen. As there was no naval force to oppose him, he effected a landing with little difficulty, and commenced his attack both by sea and land. He experienced a desperate resistance from the garrison, though composed of a motley mixture of

foreigners, negroes, and indians, with a few regulars. But no defence can long balance a decided superiority of numbers, with the advantage of position. The trenches were regularly, though slowly, advanced, and the batteries opened with effect against the advanced works which covered the town. A shell having blown up the magazine belonging to the principal battery, the assailants profited by the momentary confusion, pushed forward, and established themselves on the ruins, and the dependent works. The accident decided the event of the siege. From this position, the fire even of their small arms swept all the defences of the place; the commandant, unable to keep his troops to their quarters, obtained an honourable capitulation. The garrison of 800 men marched out with the honours of war, and experienced the treatment due to their gallantry, from a generous conqueror. The reduction of Pensacola completed the subjugation of the whole province.*

At the moment when Galvez directed his attacks against the forts on the Mississippi, the governor of Yucatan commenced hostilities against the british settlers on the bay of Honduras, and plundered the principal establishment at St. George's Key. The progress of the spa*Beccatini, p. 309.-Official accounts.

CHAP. 71.

1779-1781.

CHAP. 71. niards was, however, arrested by the efforts of 1779-1781, these hardy and enterprising settlers; till the

Oct. 24, 1779.

accidental junction of a small squadron and succours from Jamaica, enabled them to retaliate for the aggression. As a division of valuable register ships had taken refuge in the harbour defended by the fort of San Fernando de Omoa, they formed the daring design of attacking this fortress, which had been constructed with peculiar labour and skill.

Without artillery to make an impression on the walls, this motley force, amounting to 500 men, settlers, sailors, and soldiers, scaled a fortress defended by nearly an equal number, and carried the works with a spirit seldom equalled. Of the garrison 100 escaped in the confusion of the assault, and almost 400 were made prisoners. The treasure which had been a temptation for the attack was removed to a place of safety; but on board the vessels in the harbour was found a booty of above three millions of piasters, including a valuable supply of quicksilver for the use of the mines, which the successful assailants disinterestedly refused to relinquish for any

ransom.

This signal success led to the arrangement of a convention between the british and spanish officers for the liberation of the captive settlers.