Battle of Pensacola

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

v d e American South Creek War Pensacola 1st Fort Bowyer 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 the British, Spanish and Creeks allied with the British.

Background

After defeating the Red Stick Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, 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. American forces had diminished, and Jackson was forced to wait for volunteers to arrive before moving against the city.

In early November Jackson assembled a force of up to 4,000 men at Fort Montgomery. On November 3, he moved out towards Pensacola, reaching the city on November 6. Jackson first sent a messenger under a white flag of truce to the Spanish governor, Mateo Gonzáles Manrique. However, the messenger approached the city and was fired upon by the British garrison in Fort St. Michael. Eventually a messenger 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 even though he had no more than 500 soldiers in Pensacola.

Battle

At dawn, Jackson had 3,000 troops marching on the city. The Americans flanked the city from the east to avoid fire from the forts and marched along the beachfront, 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.

Governor Manrique appeared with a white flag and agreed to any terms Jackson put forward if only he would spare the town. Jackson demanded the immediate surrender of all forts surrounding Pensacola. Forts Boyer and St. Michael were surrendered, but Fort Barrancas remained in British hands. 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 fled Pensacola along with the British fleet.

Aftermath

The battle had forced the British from Pensacola and left the Spanish in control, who were angered that the British had fled in such a hurry once Jackson's force had attacked. Jackson suspected the fleet which had left Pensacola harbor would return to strike at Mobile, Alabama. Jackson sent out to Mobile, and upon reaching the town he received requests to hurry to the defense of New Orleans. American casualties are unknown but were negligible. The Spanish and British suffered at least 15 dead or wounded.

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.

See also

• First Battle of Fort Bowyer
• British occupation of St. Marys and Cumberland Island
• American South theatre of the War of 1812

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