Spains little known place in Americas Revolution

How Spanish longhorns helped the Yankees in their struggle to establish the United States of America might be appropriate for this site, being as Im a Texan living in Spain.

The Spanish connection of the American Revolutionary War is not an often heard part of history. The Spanish, which at that time controlled what is now Texas, wanted to help the American colonists win their independence from England, without declaring war on Britain, as France had done. In February 1778, France sided with America and urged Spain to declare war against England. Spain, not feeling as strong as France resisted, but recognized the independence of colonies in February 1779.

However, the Spanish assistance to the American revolutionary cause was fomenting from 1775-1777. At that time Spain was negotiating with the Continental Congress on how to help, but no agreement could be reached as it could not be decided who would control Florida if the colonists won their freedom. Despite the lack of a formal agreement, the Louisiana province governor Bernardo de Galvez supported the American rebels by providing cattle, weapons, and other supplies, which American agents shipped by river or ocean to Philadelphia. Those cows were from Spanish herds in Texas, that later became known as the Texas long horns. One can still see this type of cattle around here.

It is also known that in those hectic times more Spanish pieces of eight were used as the medium of exchange in the U.S. colonies than English money. The dollar eventually retained the Spanish symbol $ for its currency. Its funny how things come down without one being aware why. For instance, when I was a kid my father used to say four bits (for 50 cents), and two bits (for a quarter). The Spanish Peso (the famous piece of eight) was actually cut by American users in pieces, ergo two bits.

De Galvez also assisted the rebels by clearing the British out of the southern Mississippi in 1779 capturing all British forts from Lake Pontchartrain to Baton Rouge. Then Governor De Galvez attacked Mobile, capturing it in March 1780. With a force of 9,000 men, including mestizos, Indians and blacks, he attacked Pensacola capturing the British fort on Santa Rosa Island in March 1781. As De Galvez led the attack in Pensacola Bay with the motto yo solo (I alone). He was promoted to captain general of west Florida.

This young Spanish hero, who contributed greatly to the founding of the new American nation was not forgotten. Galveston, Texas is named after him (from 1769-1771 he fought the Apache in Texas as a captain), his statue is in Washington D.C., and in 1980 a U.S. commemorative stamp in his honor was issued. At the age of 40, this Spanish hero and contributor to Americas independence, died in an epidemic in Mexico City in 1786.