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Oliver .ollock had, vith Spanish G . Galvez1 aid, been supplying George Ropers Clark in his winning of French support in the upner Mississippi Valley to defeat the British and their Indian allies at Vincennes, Kaskaskia, Detroit. As Commercial Representative for Virginia, Pollock sent powder, guns, clothing, and all needed military supplies up the Spanish controlled Mississippi River providing the tools for victory for the American cause in this vestern area.
James Willing proved to be a great embarrassment in New Orleans in the sale of his loot there consisting of slaves, furniture, pelts, silverware, livestock, etc. .Due to his arousenent of the ire of settlers along the River, Willing could not go back to Pittsburgh that way. He was sent by sea in a captured British ship renamed theuMorris" which was boarded by an English blockader causing Willing to become a nrisoner of war.
la
On May 8, 1779* Spain decsired war on England. In doing so
she was allied with France but not with the United States. Both
Spain and France were afraid of a too powerful United States and
Spain had Mississippi Valley and western ambitions. This type
much
actions caused the Indians to be disturbed in the lower South by these quick changes from French to British and then to Spanish control. Since they greatly outnumbered the Europeans various leaders attem pted Indian confederacies to resist further land losses. Rum, trade goods, and the fierce independence of the various tribes seemed to prevent a strong Indian nation.
In August 1779 the Spanish, aided by Americans and Indians,
captured the British villages on the Mississippi of Manchac,
Baton Rouge and Natchez. They also pushed the British boats out of the river.