In honor of the July 4th weekend, we’re running four days of content about the American Revolution in Florida.

PODCASTS ON THE WAR IN WAST FLORIDA:

1-we focus on the the push to liberate West Florida.

2- The Liberation of Pensacola

For years it was ignored by history books, but recently scholars of the revolution have begun to emphasize the importance of fighting along the Gulf Coast of North America in discussions about the later years of the Revolutionary War.  The campaign conducted by Spain and the Continental Army against British West Florida. Note that our entire narrative takes place on what are now parts of other states but were governed by the British as part of their colony of West Florida. Additionally, the campaign’s goal was to take Pensacola, but needed to liberate British held locales between the Mississippi River and thew West Florida capital city.

In March 1781, The Spanish launched a siege against Pensacola. Gálvez had close to 20,000 troops at his disposal including about 2,500 French troops. The British defended the city with only about 2,000 troops and Native Americans.

The Spanish began a siege to the fortified town on March 9. During the siege periodic attacks of Spanish forces by British regulars or Native American allies would take place, but all were beaten back.

The British and their native American allies were defeated after two months, surrendering the town on May 8.

The entirety of West Florida fell into Spanish hands by the end of May 1781. However, East Florida continued to be secure and a militarized protector of the British possessions in the Caribbean which were facing potential French attack during the final phase of the Revolutionary War.