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HERALD
Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss., Friday, February 14, 1975
00 in 1775
Manchac. His high-handed looting alienated many people otherwise indifferent to the Revolution or even favoring the American cause. It jolted the set-tlers and caused the British to send reinforcements to West Florida.
Oliver Pollock, with Spanish Governor Galvez' aid, had been supplying George Rogers Clark in his winning of French support in the upper 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 western area.
James Willing proved to be a great embarrassment :n New Orleans in the sale if his loot there consisting )f slaves, furniture, pelts, iilverware, livestock, etc. Jue to his arousement of he ire of settlers along the ^iver, Willing could not go >ack to Pittsburgh that vay. He was sent by sea n a captured British ship enamed the “Morris” >rhich was boarded by an inglish blockader causing Villing to become a pris-ner of war.
On May 8,1779, Spain de-lared war on England. In oing so she was allied »ith France but not with le United States. Both pain and France were af-lid of a too powerful Un-ed States and Spain had [ississippi Valley and estern ambitions. This •pe action caused the In-ans to be much disturbed the lower South by these uick changes from rench to British and then Spanish control. Since ey greatly outnumbered
the Europeans, various leaders attempted Indian confederacies to resist fur-ther 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.
Financed by Oliver Pollock, a captured English boat was fitted out as a pri-vateer known as the ‘'Morris” which went into Lake Pontchartrain in September 1779. American Captain William Pickles was seeking the English “West Florida” which for two years had dominated the Sound and Lakes, blockading trade with New Orleans.
Overtaking the “West Florida", Captain Pickles demanded her surrender which the English refused. Both sides opened fire. The Americans boarded the “West Florida," killed four including Captain Paine, and took the remainder of the 28 man crew prisoners. Pickles reported his only loss as “Brown, Traitor to our Cause, swimd ashore.”
This was an impressive victory to the Spanish for the “West Florida” was larger, had stronger guns, and had a trained crew.
On the same day that Gov. Bernardo Galvez was bombarding Baton Rouge, Pickles landed on the northern shore of Lake
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Pontchartrain, took possession in the name of the United States and obtained an oath of allegiance from the settlers between Bayou La Combe and the Tanchipahoa, “we do hereby acknowledge ourselves to be natives as well as true and faithful subjects to the United Independent States of North America.”
September 26, 1779,‘Pickles ferried 122 Indians ac-
ross the lake to New Orleans. Next day he took a prize near Mobile with 13 negroes aboard valued at $2660.
Captain Pickles later commanded the “West Florida” in the successful capture of Mobile in March 1780. It is possible it also served with the Spanish in transporting men and munitions in the capture of Pensacola May
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