1. Bernardo de Galvez (1746–1786) had served in Portugal during the Seven Years War and, later, in New Spain against the Apache Indians. After this service, Galvez was stationed in Algiers and then attended the military school in Ávila, Spain. Before his appointment in September 1776 as governor and intendant of the Spanish province of Louisiana, Galvez had served as colonel of the Spanish army regiment stationed there. He assumed his duties as governor in January 1777. After his successful campaign up the Mississippi River in August and September of 1779, Galvez captured Mobile in 1780 and took Pensacola, Fla., in May 1781. After the war, Galvez was promoted to major general and appointed captain-general of Louisiana and the Floridas. He also became captain-general of Cuba. The year before his death, he succeeded his father as viceroy of New Spain.

2. The enclosed undated document reads: “Extract of the Operations and Advantages acquired by His Catholic Majesty’s Arms, under the Command of the Brigadier Genl Dn Bernardo de Galvez, Governor of the Province of Luisiana, against the English Situated on the River Mississippy, taking possesion of all their Establishments, of three Forts they had at Manchak & Nantshes [Natchez], defended by 550 Privates, Sundry Inhabitants and Blacks who took the Arms, that were made Prisoners of War, and under the Dominion of the King of Spain about fifteen hundred Miles of the very best fertil and prime Ground; which News have been Sent to this Town by the Governor of Havannah under date of the 23rd Novr Ulto as follows.

“Said Govor Set out from the Town of New Orleans the 27th August, towards the Establishments which the Germans & Acadians dependents of that Governmt posses there, to the eféct of joining their Militia, having left orders that that very afternoon the Troops Should Set out which he had destined for the enterprize, leaving with Competent Garrison that Place for its Custody and preservation.

“All the People encorporated amounted to 1427 Men, comprehended in Said Number 600 of all kinds and Colours. Seven American Volunters and 160 Indians undertook the March, directing it to Mantshac [Manchac], 105 Miles distant which they perform’d in Six days with great pains Occasion’d by the Aceleration with which they executed it and the great heats of the Weather which they experienced having fell Sick many of them, by which reason the Number of the Army was reduced to two thirds.

“The morning of the 7th Septr took the Fort of Mantshak by Storm without loosing the Spaniards a Single Man, making Prisoners, one Captain one Lew Tent [Lieutenant] and 18 Privates, having escap’d at the time of the Storm, a Lew Tent and five Privates, because the English having had advice two days before of the March of the Spaniards, they had retired the rest of the Garrison Artillery Amunicion and Provisions to the Fort called Baton Rouge.

“The Spanish General ordered an Inventory to be made out, of what was found in Said Fort; and gave Six days of respite to his Army, which after this time was expired, went on against Said Baton Rouge Fort, making five Prisoners on his way.

“Having reconoitred Said Fort, was found to be Competently and regularly fortified, with a Ditch of 18 Feet Wide & Nine deep with Palisades and 13 Gun⟨s⟩ defended by 400 Men of regular Troops and 100 Armed Inhabitants, these were Sufficient motives to Obstruct the Storming of it which Occationed General Galvez to determine a regular Siege, approaching gradually to the Fort, forming a false attack, to hide from the Enemy the true one, of which they had no knowledge, untill the last night when the entrenchments and Bateries, were perfectly placed, beginning the fire the 21st of Said Month at day break with So much Success that three hours & a half after Said Fort was so much Shattered that oblig’d the English to beat a Call, and Sent two officers with the propositions of Capitulation to the Spanish General, who would not admi⟨t⟩ them, demanding the Condition that all the Garrison shou’d remain prisioner⟨s⟩ of War, and deliver with equal Condition the Fort of Pain mure [Panmure] of Nantshes Garrisoned with 80 Granadiers, The English forced to Submit to Said Conditions the Garrison Set out of Baton Rouge with Military Honors, marching 500 Ste⟨ps⟩ delivering to the Spanish Troop, which expected them form’d, in Number to 375 Men, Arms and Colours, remaing Prisoners of War.

“To the Same fate were Subject 500 Inhabitants and Blacks, who were found Arm’d in Manshak, Baton Rouge, and other Places, but the Spanish General did them the favour of leaving them free in honor to His Catholic Majesty, to whose Royal Dominions remain’d Subjects all the Establishments, and Grounds which the English had on the Said River Mississippy whose Inhabitants are chiefly employed in the Skin and Furr Trade.

“It’s not known the loss the English have Sustain’d by the great care they have had in hiding it, that of the Spaniards only was one killed and two wounded.

“The Prisoners taken amount to 550 Regular Troops, comprehended in Said Number 28 Officers Vizt one Lew Tent Colo. five Captains, Ten Lew Tents five Sub Lew Tents a Quarter Master, two Commissaries a Store keeper, three chief Surgeons, and Eight vessels with Sundry Provisions and different Boats with above 50 Sailors.

“General Galvez make the greatest praize of the bravery Intrepidity, and Constancy of the Troops under his command, and of the Love, Zeal and extraordinary good will, with which they have beheav’d, in assisting to the good Issue of Said enterprize, the Inhabitants of Luisiana” (translation, DLC:GW; the Spanish language copy of the extract, which Miralles signed, is also in DLC:GW). For British major general John Campbell’s report of the capture of these British outposts on the Mississippi River, see his letter to George Germain of 15 Dec. 1779, in Davies, Documents of the American Revolution, description begins K. G. Davies, ed. Documents of the American Revolution, 1770–1783; (Colonial Office Series). 21 vols. Shannon and Dublin, 1972–81. description ends 17:260–67.

3. GW replied on 27 February.