The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-06
HISTORY OF PENSACOLA
BY CAPT. J. c. PATTERSON

War declared by France Against
Spain. Bienvills and Chateausla
Surprise the Governor of Pensacola,
Matamoras, and Captures Pensacola
and San Carlos, and Destroy the
Magazine.
On the 18th of April, 1913. two
French vessels brought to the French
colony the intelligence that on the
previous December France had de-
clared war against Spain, an event of
which Don Juan Padre Matamoras,
governor of Pensacola, who had just
succeeded Don Gregororlo de Salenas,
had no information. Bienvilla at once
organized with all possible secrecy an
expedition by land and water to cap
ture Pensacola by surprise. the land
force consisting of 400 Indians and
body of Canadians which were collect
ed at Mobile. The naval force, COM
posed of three vessels, two of them the
Felipas and the Fountain, carrying "a
guns each, under the command of Sc
vigni. had its rendezvous on Dolphin
island. The movement of Bienvilia
who marched across the country with
his land force and that of the fleet was
so well timed that on the 14th day Of
May, at o'clock in the afternoon, that
the vessels presented their shots
abroadside to San Carlos, Bienvilla
and his Canadians ana Indians ap
peared on the land side.
There was, of course, nothing for
Matamoras to do but to order the cha
made to be beaten and to settle the
terms of capitulation. He surrendered
the fort and all public property within
his jurisdiction. 1t was stipulated that
he and his garrison march out of the
fort with thehonors of war, retaining a
cannon and three charges of powder,
that they should be transported to Ha-
vana in Frtnch vessels and the town
should be protected from violence and
the property OF the soldiers and the
should he protected.
The victim of such ruse, it was
natural that Matamoras should have
his thoughts to retaliation.
and it is probable that during the voy-
age to Havana he r7editated for his
captors a surprise as complete and
prompt as that which he had just suf-
fered from them.
After the French vessels Toulousia
and the AIarechal Gle Villars had
reached Cuba and landed their pris-
oners they were seized by the governor
of Havana, who at once, upon learn
ing of the disaster at Pensacola, deter
mined upon prompt reparation by a re-
captude
He accordingly prepared fleet con-
sisting of a Spanish warship and nine
and the French vessels.
In this fleet Natamoras and his cap
tured troops, besides others, embarked
for Pensacola on the 9th of August, |
1919.
The Spanish fleet was off the har-
Dor with two French vessels flying the
French flag, entered as decoys, who
enabled them to receive favorable |
position for attacking San Carlos in !
the event there was refusal to surren- /
der. Immediately after them came the !
Spanish war vessels.
The ruse for position succeeded, but !
the demand to surrender was promptly /
refused by Chateaugune, the comman- /
der of the fort. To an almost harm
less canonading there succeeded an ar |
nistice which the French thought eX-
tended for four days, but which the
Spaniards limited to two days. After /
the expiration of the armistice came ,
the Intellectual exchange Of cannon
shots. followed by the surrender Of the
fort, the terms being that a garrison !
Of $50 men should march out with the
honors of war and return to Havana 4
as prisoners. The commander, Chau-
.engao was also to be sent there and
then to Spain to await exchange. They
we're, accordingly, all taken to Havana
Chautgenao, instead OF being se3t
rom there to Spain, was imprisoned in
Moro castle, where he remained
short time in consequence Of the ener-
retic preparation which his brother,
3iehvilla, was then making for his de-
iverance.
Matamoras once again in command
4 Pensacola. realized that the stake
or which he and BienviIla we're play
ny was not to be finally won BY such
ltratagems, as each In turn had been
he others victim, and that the two
which had been achieved had been but
,reludes to a trial of battle. Appreci-
ting the bold prompa and enterpris-
ns BienviIIa, he calculated that his
inae for preparation would be short,
ind he accordingly, to the best Of his
IbiIity and resources, erected battery
N Point Seguna. the western extrenl-
~ of Santa Rosa island. which he!
FAMED Principe de Asturias. 10 aid san
-arlos and the Spanish fleet in resist
ng an attack by sea. To guard san
-arlos from a land attack he built the
tockade in his rear. To man all his
works he had force OF 500 men. The
ort was captured by MatamOras. early
n August; on the 18th Of the following
september Bienvilla was ready to set
Ie BY arms mis- right to retain II. The
eIerity or BienyilIa IN preps ration va
.ue, "howevef. 70 the accidental arrival
{ Daphne island Of a French fleet un-
er John Charipmerisn. who ar ones
sl.evsd him from the care and prsp-
ration OF The seward part OF his ex-I
edition
The naval force OF the French cor
listed Of six vessels under the COM
land OF chanpInelmaiin. The Hercu
IS. OF 81 guns, the Mar, OF So the Tri-
on OF 80. the Union or IS, and tasi
'niiIppse OF -. They landed 4 force