Battle of Pensacola (1814)

Battle of Pensacola Part of the War of 1812 Fort Barrancas as it appears today. Date November 7–9, 1814 Location Pensacola, Spanish Florida Result American victory British withdrawal from Pensacola United States occupation of Pensacola Belligerents  United States  United Kingdom  Spain Creek Commanders and leaders Andrew Jackson Mateo González Manrique Strength ~4,000 infantry, unknown artillery British: ~100 infantry,[1][2] unknown artillery, 1 fort, 1 coastal battery Spanish: ~500 infantry, unknown artillery, 1 fort Creek: unknown warriors Casualties and losses ~7 killed and 11 wounded[3] ~15 killed or wounded

American South Creek War 1st Fort Bowyer Fayal Pensacola 13 December 1814 Lake Borgne New Orleans Fort St. Philip Fort Peter 2nd Fort Bowyer

The Battle of Pensacola was a battle in the War of 1812 in which American forces fought against forces from the kingdoms of Britain and Spain, along with Creek Native Americans and African-American slaves allied with the British.^[4] The American commander, General Andrew Jackson, led his infantry against British and Spanish forces controlling the city of Pensacola in Spanish Florida. The British abandoned the city and it was surrendered to Jackson by the Spanish.

Background

Jackson and his soldiers entering into Pensacola in November 6, 1814.

After defeating the Red Stick Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, there was a migration of refugees to Spanish West Florida. The presence of the Creek refugees had motivated Captain George Woodbine to travel to Pensacola in July 1814. Woodbine's liaisons with the refugees and the Spanish governor of Pensacola would subsequently lead to the British having a military presence at Pensacola from 23 August 1814,^[5] initially occupying Fort San Miguel,^[6] and the town itself. The potency of the British force, and its perceived ability to see off any American forces were leveraged by Edward Nicolls in his negotiations with the Spanish. The measure of perceived potency was somewhat reduced, in the aftermath of the failed attack on Fort Bowyer in September 1814. ^[7][8][9] Just prior to the arrival of the Americans, as relations with the Spanish governor deteriorated,^[10] the British force left the town and was consolidated in the outlying Fort San Carlos, and at the Santa Rosa Punta de Siguenza battery (later rebuilt as Fort Pickens).^[11]

General Andrew Jackson planned to drive the British from the Spanish city of Pensacola in Spanish Florida, then march to New Orleans to defend the city against any British attack.^[12] Jackson's forces had diminished due to desertions.^[1] Jackson was forced to wait for Brigadier-General John Coffee and his volunteers to arrive, before moving against the city. Jackson and Coffee liaised at Pierce's Stockade in Alabama.^[13] In early November Jackson assembled a force of up to 4,000 men.^[3] On November 2, he moved out towards Pensacola, reaching the city on November 6.^[14] The forces in the Anglo-Spanish fort consisted of around 100 British infantry and a coastal battery, about 500 Spanish infantry, an unknown number of British and Spanish artillery, and an unknown number of Creek warriors. Jackson first sent Major Henri Piere as a messenger under a white flag of truce to the Spanish governor, Mateo González Manrique. However, the messenger approached the city and was fired upon by the garrison in Fort San Miguel. Eventually a second messenger, this time a Spaniard,^[15] was sent through and offered the demand that after the British evacuated the forts, Americans would garrison them until relieved by Spanish troops which would serve only to ensure Spain's neutrality in the conflict, Manrique denied these demands.^[10]

Battle

Destruction of the fort Barrancas, in Pensacola, by the British and his escape.

At dawn, Jackson had 3,000 troops marching on the city.^[14] The Americans flanked the city from the east to avoid fire from the forts and marched along the beachfront,^[16] but the sandy beach made it difficult to move up the artillery. The attack went ahead nonetheless and was met with resistance in the center of town by a line of infantry supported by a battery. However, the Americans charged and captured the battery.^[16]

Governor Manrique appeared with a white flag and agreed to surrender on any terms Jackson put forward if only he would spare the town. Fort San Miguel was surrendered on November 7, but Fort San Carlos, which lay 14 miles to the west, remained in British hands.^[17]

Jackson planned to capture the fort by storm the next day, but it was blown up and abandoned before Jackson could move on it and the remaining British withdrew from Pensacola^[18] along with the British squadron (comprising HMS Sophie (18 guns), HMS Childers (18 guns; Capt. Umfreville), HMS Seahorse (1794) (38 guns; Capt. Gordon), HMS Shelburne (12 guns) and HMS Carron (20 guns; Capt. Spencer).^[19] A number of Spanish accompanied the retreating British forces ^{[20][21][22][23][24][25]} and did not return to Pensacola until 1815. ^[26][27][28]

Aftermath

The battle had forced the British out of Pensacola and left the Spanish in control, angered by the British, who had fled in such a hurry once Jackson's force had attacked, for their destruction of the fortifications and the removal of part of the Spanish garrison.^[29] Jackson suspected the squadron which had left Pensacola harbor would return to strike at Mobile, Alabama.^[30] Jackson sent out to Mobile, and upon reaching the town^[11] he received requests to hurry to the defense of New Orleans.^[19] American casualties were negligible; around seven dead and eleven wounded. The Spanish and British suffered at least 15 dead or wounded.^[3] Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls states there were no deaths among the British, and is of the opinion that the Americans suffered 15 fatalities and numerous casualties.^[31][32]

Four active infantry battalions of the Regular Army (1-1 Inf, 2-1 Inf, 2-7 Inf and 3-7 Inf) perpetuate the lineages of American units (elements of the old 3rd, 39th and 44th Infantry Regiments) that were at the Battle of Pensacola.^{[33][34][35][36]}

See also

• First Battle of Fort Bowyer

Notes

References

• Eaton, John Henry & Reid, John (1828) The life of Major General Andrew Jackson. McCarty & Davis
• Heidler, David Stephen & Jeanne T (2003): Old Hickory's War: Andrew Jackson and the Quest for Empire. Louisiana State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8071-2867-1
• Hyde, Samuel C. (2004): A Fierce and Fractious Frontier: The Curious Development of Louisiana's Florida Parishes, 1699–2000. Louisiana State University Press. ISBN 0807129232
• Mahon, John K. (1991): The War Of 1812. De Capo Press. ISBN 0306804298
• Marshall, John (1829): Royal Naval Biography. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown.
• Nicolas, Paul Harris (1845): Historical Record of the Royal Marine Forces. Volume 2, 1805–1842
• Patterson, Benton Rains (2008), The Generals, Andrew Jackson, Sir Edward Pakenham, and the road to New Orleans, New York: New York University Press, ISBN 0-8147-6717-6 
• Sugden, John (January 1982). "The Southern Indians in the War of 1812: The Closing Phase". Florida Historical Quarterly. 
• Tucker, Spencer (ed). (2012): The Encyclopedia of the War of 1812: A Political, Social, and Military History. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1851099565

Conflicts of the War of 1812
Battles of the War of 1812
United States	Washington, D.C. Burning of Washington Georgia Battle of Fort Peter Louisiana Battle of New Orleans Siege of Fort St. Philip Maryland Battle of Baltimore Battle of Bladensburg Battle of Caulk's Field Battle of North Point Battle of St. Michaels Raid on Havre de Grace Massachusetts Battle of Hampden New York Battle of Big Sandy Creek Battle of Buffalo Battle of Ogdensburg Battle of Plattsburgh Capture of Fort Niagara Raid on Black Rock Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor Ohio Battle of Fort Stephenson Copus massacre Siege of Fort Meigs Virginia Battle of Craney Island Raid on Alexandria Skirmish at Farnham Church Battle of Rappahannock River
U.S. territories	Alabama Battles of Fort Bowyer Illinois Battle of Fort Dearborn Battle of Rock Island Rapids Siege of Prairie du Chien Indiana Battle of the Mississinewa Battle of Tippecanoe Battle of Wild Cat Creek Siege of Fort Harrison Siege of Fort Wayne Michigan Battle of Brownstown Battle of Frenchtown Battle of Mackinac Island Battle of Maguaga Siege of Detroit Siege of Fort Mackinac Mississippi Battle of Burnt Corn Battle of Callabee Creek Canoe Fight Battle of Holy Ground Battle of Horseshoe Bend Battle of Talladega Battle of Tallushatchee Battles of Emuckfaw and Enotachopo Creek Fort Mims massacre Kimbell–James Massacre Missouri Battle of Credit Island Battle of the Sink Hole
British North America	Lower Canada Battle of the Chateauguay First Battle of Lacolle Mills Second Battle of Lacolle Mills Upper Canada Battle of Beaver Dams Battle of Chippawa Battle of Cook's Mills Battle of Crysler's Farm Battle of Fort George Battle of Frenchman's Creek Battle of Longwoods Battle of Lundy's Lane Battle of Malcolm's Mills Battle of Queenston Heights Battle of Stoney Creek Battle of the Thames Battle of York Capture of Fort Erie Raid on Elizabethtown Raid on Port Dover Raid on Gananoque Siege of Fort Erie
Spanish Empire	Spanish Florida Battle of Pensacola
Naval battles	Atlantic Ocean Capture of HMS Boxer Capture of HMS Cyane Capture of HMS Epervier Capture of HMS Frolic Capture of HMS Penguin Capture of HMS Dominica Capture of USS Argus Capture of USS Chesapeake Capture of USS President Chesapeake Bay Flotilla USS Constitution vs HMS Java Sinking of HMS Avon Battle of Fayal Sinking of HMS Peacock Sinking of HMS Reindeer USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere USS United States vs HMS Macedonian Caribbean Sea Battle of La Guaira Great Lakes Battle of Lake Erie Battle of Fort Oswego Engagements on Lake Huron Engagements on Lake Ontario First Battle of Sacket's Harbor Gulf Coast Action of 13 December 1814 Battle of Lake Borgne Pacific Ocean Action off James Island Action off Charles Island Nuku Hiva Campaign Battle of Valparaiso (Capture of USS Essex)
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