Battle of Lake Pontchartrain
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Lake Pontchartrain was a naval engagement on September 10, 1779 that was part of the American Revolution
fought in the waters of Lake Pontchartrain
between Mandeville and Lacombe
in Louisiana
. The capture of HMS West Florida eliminated the British naval presence on the lake, weakening already tenuous British control over the western reaches of the province of West Florida
.
did not occur on the Gulf Coast
until 1779, when Spain entered the war
. Before then, New Orleans, then the capital of Spanish Louisiana, served as a semi-secret source of money and matériel
for the Patriot
cause, quietly supported by the Spanish governors and often mediated by Oliver Pollock
, a prominent New Orleans businessman.
In 1778 James Willing led a raiding expedition directed against targets in British West Florida
. One prize that he captured on the Mississippi River
was a British ship, the Rebecca, which he brought into New Orleans. She was rechristened the in honor of Philadelphia financier Robert Morris.
The West Florida had been cruising Lake Pontchartrain
since 1776 under the command of George Burdon, stopping and searching all manner of shipping, including Spanish merchants destined for New Orleans, to the annoyance of the Spanish. Burdon was unsuccessful in tracking down Willing during his 1778 raid, and returned to Pensacola
, West Florida's capital, for refit and repair late in 1778. In January 1779 Burdon was replaced by Lieutenant John Payne at her helm.
. The ship never returned; it was captured by Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez' expedition against British targets on the Mississippi. Gálvez successfully took the Manchac
garrison on September 7, and negotiated the surrender of Dickson and the remaining British forces on the Mississippi after the Battle of Baton Rouge
on September 21. However, Payne was unaware of these activities.
Pollock had given command of the Morris to Continental Navy Captain William Pickles
. However, she was destroyed in a hurricane (which also delayed the departure of Gálvez' expedition), and Gálvez provided another ship for Pickles' use, variously called or "Morris tender
". Pollock instructed Pickles to harass British military shipping on the lake, which had recently increased in activity.
. Spotted on September 10, the two ships closed, and Payne hailed the Morris to discover her intent. He was told she was a merchant bound for Pensacola shortly before Pickles had the false colors hauled down and replaced with an American flag. The Americans then threw grappling hooks to bring the ships together and opened fire with their swivel guns while Peter George Rousseau, Pickles' second in command, prepared to board West Florida.
Payne's small crew put up spirited resistance, and twice repulsed the boarders. The third attempt succeeded, and Payne himself went down with a mortal wound.
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
fought in the waters of Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
between Mandeville and Lacombe
Lacombe, Louisiana
Lacombe is a census-designated place in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,518 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lacombe is located at ....
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The capture of HMS West Florida eliminated the British naval presence on the lake, weakening already tenuous British control over the western reaches of the province of West Florida
West Florida
West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...
.
Background
Significant military activities of the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
did not occur on the Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
until 1779, when Spain entered the war
Spain in the American Revolutionary War
Spain actively supported the Thirteen Colonies throughout the American Revolutionary War, beginning in 1776 by jointly funding Roderigue Hortalez and Company, a trading company that provided critical military supplies, through financing the final Siege of Yorktown in 1781 with a collection of gold...
. Before then, New Orleans, then the capital of Spanish Louisiana, served as a semi-secret source of money and matériel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
for the Patriot
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
cause, quietly supported by the Spanish governors and often mediated by Oliver Pollock
Oliver Pollock
Oliver Pollock was a merchant and financier of the American Revolutionary War, of which he has long been considered a historically undervalued figure...
, a prominent New Orleans businessman.
In 1778 James Willing led a raiding expedition directed against targets in British West Florida
West Florida
West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...
. One prize that he captured on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
was a British ship, the Rebecca, which he brought into New Orleans. She was rechristened the in honor of Philadelphia financier Robert Morris.
The West Florida had been cruising Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
since 1776 under the command of George Burdon, stopping and searching all manner of shipping, including Spanish merchants destined for New Orleans, to the annoyance of the Spanish. Burdon was unsuccessful in tracking down Willing during his 1778 raid, and returned to Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, West Florida's capital, for refit and repair late in 1778. In January 1779 Burdon was replaced by Lieutenant John Payne at her helm.
Prelude
Payne cruised West Florida's waters uneventfully until August 1779. On August 27 he sent a ship with a few men to make contact with Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Dickson's men at ManchacManchac, Louisiana
Manchac is a small unincorporated community in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. The ship never returned; it was captured by Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez' expedition against British targets on the Mississippi. Gálvez successfully took the Manchac
Capture of Fort Bute
The Capture of Fort Bute signalled the opening of Spanish intervention in the American Revolutionary War on the side of France and the United States. Mustering an ad hoc army of Spanish regulars, Acadian militia, and native levies under Gilbert Antoine de St...
garrison on September 7, and negotiated the surrender of Dickson and the remaining British forces on the Mississippi after the Battle of Baton Rouge
Battle of Baton Rouge (1779)
The Battle of Baton Rouge was a brief siege during the American Revolutionary War that was decided on September 21, 1779. Baton Rouge was the second British outpost to fall to Spanish arms during Bernardo de Gálvez's march into British West Florida....
on September 21. However, Payne was unaware of these activities.
Pollock had given command of the Morris to Continental Navy Captain William Pickles
William Pickles (American Revolution)
William Pickles was an officer of the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War.Commissioned on October 10, 1776, he was active on the Gulf Coast. He was given command of the , a British ship that had been captured on the Mississippi River, in 1779, but she was destroyed by a hurricane...
. However, she was destroyed in a hurricane (which also delayed the departure of Gálvez' expedition), and Gálvez provided another ship for Pickles' use, variously called or "Morris tender
Ship's tender
A ship's tender, usually referred to as a tender, is a boat, or a larger ship used to service a ship, generally by transporting people and/or supplies to and from shore or another ship...
". Pollock instructed Pickles to harass British military shipping on the lake, which had recently increased in activity.
Battle
Pickles sailed from New Orleans with crew of 65 Americans and Spaniards. To hide his intentions, he flew a British ensignEnsign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
. Spotted on September 10, the two ships closed, and Payne hailed the Morris to discover her intent. He was told she was a merchant bound for Pensacola shortly before Pickles had the false colors hauled down and replaced with an American flag. The Americans then threw grappling hooks to bring the ships together and opened fire with their swivel guns while Peter George Rousseau, Pickles' second in command, prepared to board West Florida.
Payne's small crew put up spirited resistance, and twice repulsed the boarders. The third attempt succeeded, and Payne himself went down with a mortal wound.