George Washington Papers

Francisco Rendon to George Washington, 29 May 1781

From Francisco Rendon

Philadelphia May 29th 1781

Sir

In due time I received Your Exellency’s most esteem’d favor of the 2d Inst. and Observe by it the distinctions Your Excellencys goodness bestow on me;1 I beg the acceptance of my most Sincere gratitude; I have defferred the honor of replying to it hitherto, in momentary expectations of Some Important News from the Havana to acquaint Your Excellency’s with.

Yesterday I received a Packet from the Captain General of Said Place dated2 10th Inst. who only mentions that it was very provable the Town of Pansacola be by that time Conquered by His Catholick Majesty’s Arms,3 the Last Accounts received there dated the beginning Instant from General Galvez anouncing it so; but having found therewas more Troops in that Garrison than what was Expected when the Expedition went from the Havana a New Reinforcement was Sent there, with which and the Troops before Pansacola already therewas an Army of about Six thousand Troops who had taken Possetion of all the Posts and that the Town was the only one unsubdue.4

The Combined Fleets which Sailed in Chace of the English Squadron that was Seen from the Island of Cuba had not been meet with, but that they keep on the Coast of Said Pansacola untill it be Surrendered.5 I expect soon to hear of these favourable News to have the honor to put them under Your Excellencys knowledge.6 With the greatest respect I remain Sir Your Excellencys most Obedt and most Humble Servant

Francisco Rendon

LS, DLC:GW.

1In his letter to Rendon of 2 May, GW had offered his congratulations on successful Spanish military and naval operations.

2The writer rendered “deted” for this word.

3Rendon refers to the Spanish king, Charles III. The packet from Don Juan Manuel de Cagigal, captain general and governor of Cuba, has not been identified.

4Bernardo de Galvez, governor general of the Spanish province of Louisiana, captured the British post at Pensacola, Fla., on 9 May.

5For these naval operations, see Dull, French Navy description begins Jonathan R. Dull. The French Navy and American Independence: A Study of Arms and Diplomacy, 1774-1787. Princeton, 1975. description ends , 234.

6GW replied to Rendon from headquarters at New Windsor on 8 June: “I had the Honor to receive your Favor of the 29th Uto & have to assure you that I shall be very happy in a Confirmation of the very agreable account you mention of the Success likely to attend the Arms of his Catholick Majesty under the Command of his General Don Galvez at Pensacola.

“Having nothing of particular Importance to communicate, I have the Honor to sub[s]cribe” (Df, in Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). Rendon replied to GW on 12 June.

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