War on the Gulf Coast : the Spanish fight against William Augustus Bowles / Gilbert C. Din.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Din, Gilbert C.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Indians of North America.

History.

Spaniards.

History, Military.

Gulf Coast (Fla.)--History--18th century.

Gulf Coast (Fla.).

Florida--History, Military--18th century.

Florida.

Spaniards--Florida--Gulf Coast--History--18th century.

Indians of North America--Florida--Gulf Coast--History--18th century.

Bowles, William Augustus, 1763 or 1764-1805.

Bowles, William Augustus.

Florida--Gulf Coast.

Physical Description:

xiii, 319 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Gainesville : University Press of Florida, [2012]

Summary:

There are few books written about the Spanish period in West Florida (1797-1805) from the Spanish point of view. War on the Gulf Coast is one of the first books to fill that gap. Using Spanish archival sources, Gilbert Din is able to shed new light on the period through the machinations of William Augustus Bowles, a British loyalist who sought to introduce goods, subvert the Creek Indians, and deprive the Spaniards of territory.

Through the use of archival research, Din is able to describe the inner workings of the Spanish military establishment. He reveals how officials in West Florida strove, despite shortages of every kind, to retain control of their territory, particularly in response to Bowles's efforts to sow discord among Native Americans- an effort that ultimately failed when he could not deliver on his promises.

War on the Gulf Coast offers a much-needed corrective to previous depictions of Bowles, questioning his actual influence among the Creek Nation. Din highlights the naval efforts to curtail smuggling and capture Bowles and counters prevailing wisdom about why the Spaniards were forced to surrender at Fort San Marcos. He makes a convincing case that West Florida-which then stretched all the way to the Mississippi River-was a vital zone of international intrigue in which three European nations fought for control. Book jacket.

Contents:

Apalache

William Augustus Bowles challenges the Spaniards

Bowles's first clash with the Spaniards, 1791-1792

Bowles and Apalache on separate paths, 1792-1798

Portell versus Bowles

Bowles : from fugitive to besieger

Recovery of Fort San Marcos

Pacifying Apalache

The continuing search for Bowles

Signs of approaching peace

Peace at Apalache

Apprehension of the "director general"

War's aftermath.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780813037523

0813037522

OCLC:

713186886