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The 'Battle of Pensacola' marked the culmination of Spain's reconquest of Florida from Britain during the American Revolutionary War. Commanded by Field Marshal Bernardo de Gálvez, Governor of Louisiana and architect of the successful Spanish campaign, a powerful flotilla of warships neutralized outer British defenses and began an amphibious siege by the Infanteria de Marina of the town on March 9. The Spanish forces included five hundred and eighty officers and men(or about nine percent of the entire Spanish soldiery) from the Regimiento de Hibernia, one of the three regiments, at that time, of the Irish Brigade of Spain.

British Major General John Campbell clung to the sturdy defenses of Fort George until Spanish artillery fire struck close to the door of the British powder magazine and set fire to it on May 8 at 9:30 in the morning. When the smoke cleared away, over 100 British casualties could be seen strewn about the emplacement, most of them fatalities. The Spaniards then took possession of the Redoubt, entering through a yawning breach caused by the explosion. Just before three o'clock, Campbell raised a white flag.

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External links

External links

★ The Patriot Resource: West Florida Campaign

★ Revolutionary War: Pensacola, Florida