The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-06-28
mo. 80.
were no Spanish troops near enough

were no Spanish troops near enough
to permit speedy reinforcement.
The move Of revolt first commenced
among the people along bayou Sara.
and they were soon joined by the
people in the adjacent country aud
by numerous volunteers from the
United States Territory Of Mississippi
The troops were marshaled under
two distinguished leaders. There
were Philemon Thomas, of the piney
woods region of the Felicianas. and
George Depassau, of st. Francisville.
Capt. Thomas had . force of about
eighty rifiemen-men who were ex-
pert with the American rife, q wea-
pom that has had SO much TO do in
making The early history of the new
world. Capt. Depassau led about
forty men. known as the St Francis
vile dragons.
With this little force of less than
125 men to the commanders resolved
to attack the Spanish garrison at Ba-
ton Rouge, then numbering $50 men
and protected BY Notifications. These
Notifications consisted OF . stockade
inclosing . piece Of ground about
$50 feet square. The stockade was
composed Of the trunks OF trees
planted upright in the earth around
the area inclosed and projecting
about twelve ieet above the surface.
A ditch has been excsvated around
the outside of the WORT, nd the
earth taken from it piled against the
inside OF the stocksde to strengthen
it against cannon shot The work
formed q good defense against mus
kerry, and the garrieon had openings
between the upright logs through
which they could IRE. There was q
gate at the centre OF the north side
Of the quadrangle, and another in
the south side OF the work.
On the morning set for the attack,
Depassau, with his forty mounted
men dashed in at the north gate Of
the fort, which appears to have been
open. There he was confronted ny
ihe Spanish forces with their COM
mandev. Grand Pre-, at their head.
Depassau demanded q surrender,
while the Epaniard ordered bis men
to fire. simultaneously with the
volley Of the Spanish musketry. the
Louisiana cavalry charged the foe,
who were astounded ct the yells and
volleys Of Thomas and his rifemen,
who rushed in through the rear gate.
Grand Pre- was already shot down,
and the Spaniards finding themselves
assaulted both in front and rear,
threw down their arms and cried for
quarter. The Spanish flag was haul
ed down, and revolutionists establish
ed themselves in fort and demanded
the surrender Of the Spanish civil
authorities in the town of Baton
Rouge. This was accomplished with
out difficulty. and the Spanish troops
and civil officials were permitted to
retire nndisturbed to Pensacola then
the stronghold OF the Spanish power
north of the Gulf of Mexico.
As result of this conquest of the
Florida parishes b Philemon Thomas
and his little force . convention was
assembled at Baton Rouge, and On
The 26th of September, in . formal
declaration of Independence, re-
nouhced allegiance to the King Of
spain and set mp the Republic Of
Weat Florida. and Pbilemon Thomas
was commander n chi< Of it's militia
ny forcss The territoty was SUISSE
quently taken possession OF on the
7th Of December BY w. G. c. Clai
borne. of the United States Territory
OF Louisiana, who on that day hoist
ed the United States flag at st. Fran
cisville. Some time afterward that
territory became : part Of Louisiana.
Of which itis to dsyemost Important
and prosperous section.
Gen. Thomas was Z member of
Congress from 1881 to 1886. He was
Presidential Elector for Madison
and Monroe, and was several times
candidate for Governor Of the State.
He died At Baton Rouge in 1847,
aged SO years.
Yeung Men, Atsensien.