.: The Battle of Pensacola - English Version

- The Battle of Pensacola -

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AESclick is a Spanish association of PLAYMOBIL collectors who create gigantic dioramas.

Here's their link: https://www.aesclick.com/public/wordpress/

Some of their members create gigantic dioramas. Here's one of their creations for an exhibition in Valencia in 2023:

- The Battle of Pensacola -

This diorama shows a river with a Spanish ship and the English Fort of Pensacola, besieged by French soldiers.

English fortified camp of PENSACOLA

The hard war between Great Britain and its thirteen rebellious colonies in North America (1775-1781) ended with the victory and independence of the colonies, but this would not have been possible without the intervention of France and also of Spain.

Spanish ship

On October 16, 1780, a fleet of some 1,315 soldiers and 5 navy ships, under the command of Bernardo de Gálvez, set course for the North American continent with the aim of attacking and taking Pensacola from the English, under the command of the English general, John Campbell.

French siege camp of PENSACOLA

After initiating hostilities with the English and making advances on land, on April 19, 1781, a reinforcement squadron arrived from Cadiz. Bernardo now had 7,498 soldiers and 19 ships of the line under his command. It was time to begin the assault on Pensacola. Facing them were 3,600 men from the 16th and 60th British Regiments, Waldeck's 3rd German Regiment, the Royalist Regiments of Pennsylvania and Maryland, the West Florida Royal Forresters, the Royal Artillery, the Maryland Dragoons, and some 950 Indians, armed civilians and sailors from the ships HMS "Mentor" and "Port Royal".

English fortified camp of PENSACOLA

The British defended three main positions, one of them, Fort St. George depicted in the diorama.

English fortified camp of PENSACOLA

Finally, the English troops were overwhelmed by the impetus and determination of the Spanish troops. John Campbell was forced to raise the white flag and surrender Pensacola to the Spanish Crown. On May 9, General Campbell signed the capitulations.

English fortified camp of PENSACOLA

The agreement considered the surrender not only of Pensacola, but also of the forts north of the Gulf of Mexico, except St. Augustine and the island of Jamaica.

French siege camp of PENSACOLA

The same document guaranteed the repatriation of British troops to England.

English fortified camp of PENSACOLA

When the English coastal batteries were cannonading the Spanish fleet and against the opinion of José Calvo de Irázabal, who was in command of the Spanish squadron, Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid decided to enter Pensacola Bay with his ship, managing with his troops to surrender the English garrison.

English fortified camp of PENSACOLA

George Washington himself recognized, shortly before Spain decided to intervene, the importance that the participation of the Spanish Crown in the American war of independence would have: "With Spain at war, England would surely be forced to renounce her American projects".

English fortified camp of PENSACOLA