HomeMy WebLinkAboutBernardo de GalvazBernardo de Galvez deserves recognition for his part in helping the
American cause and should be remembered as a patriot. He was, in fact,
commended by the Continental Congress and received letters from- Patrick
Henry and Thomas Jefferson thanking him for his services to the United
States.
Galvez was a brave, chivalrous and compassionate man who was very
popular with the people. He was an able administrator and following the
war he was appointed Viceroy of New Spain and was given more jurisdic-
tion than any of his predecessors. He arrived in Mexico City in 1784 to
begin governing his new territory which was virtually all of Spanish North
America. In the fall of 1786 Bernardo was stricken with a fever during an
epidemic and on November 30, he died and was buried in Mexico City.
Galveston, Texas, and Galveston Bay are named for him, and Texans are
proud that because of him, Texas made a contribution to the American
Revolution.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
John Walton Caughey. Bernardo de Galvez in Louisiana 1776 -1783. 1972
Department of Defense. Hispanics in American's Defense. 1983
Galveston Tribune Golden Jubilee Edition. Nov. 26, 1929
Robert V. Haynes. The Natchez District and the American Revolution. 1976
Ray Miller. Galveston. 1984
Texas Legislature. House Concurrent Resolution No. 30. 1984
Robert Thonhoff. The Texas Connection with the American Revolution. 1981
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nancy Reynolds Tiner is a native Texan who has had an avid interest in history
since childhood. She became intrigued with the story of Galvez, and feels that he
should be recognized for his role in the American Revolution.
Mrs. Tiner has encouraged the study of history in Texas and has given historical
programs for various organizations. In the Daughters of the American Revolution
she has served as State Regent, National Vice President General, Recording Secre-
tary General and National Chairman of The DAR Magazine. She was awarded the
National Society DAR History Award Medal for her work on Galvez. Nancy has
encouraged ladies to join DAR on their ancestors who led the cattle drives from
Texas to Galvez's troops. She currently is an Honorary State Regent of Texas.
This brochure is printed through the generosity of the
Texas Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
One Hundred Thousand (100, 000) brochures have been distributed to
Texas Schools by the Texas DAR Chapters.since 1987.
Copyright 1987 by
Nancy R. Tiner, 1008 S. Dexter, College Station, Texas 77840
BERNARDO de GALVEZ
"Unsung Hero"
By Nancy Reynolds Tiner
ILLUSTRATIONS BY CASSANDREA TINER HAGER 11.1
BERNARDO de GALVEZ
by
Nancy Reynolds Tiner
Bernardo de Galvez was born July 23, 1746 in the village of
Macharaviaya, Malaga, Spain. He was part of a noble family that
distinguished itself in service to Spain, and he chose a military career.
In 1765 he arrived in Mexico, which was then call New Spain, and in 1769
he was made commandant of Nueva Vizcaya and it was his duty to subdue
the Apache Indians in the area that included Texas.
The first expedition he led contained about 135 men and took him all the
way to the Pecos River in Texas. By the time the Indians were located it was
November and the weather was very cold and the soldiers were tired and
hungry. Bernardo urged the men to follow him as he plunged his horse into
the cold river. They followed his courageous charge and killed and captured
a great number of the Indians.
Galvez conducted other
campaigns against the
Apache and during one of
these he was badly wounded
while fighting five indians
by himself. He returned to
Spain to recover, and in
1776 he was sent to New
Orleans and soon made
governor.
Bernardo gave aid to the
American colonies during
their fight for independence
by keeping open the Missis-
sippi River for navigation.
Ammunition, guns, clothing, and other supplies were sent to George
Rogers Clark in the northwest. Galvez and an American named Oliver
Pollock were responsible for furnishing these provisions to Clark's troops.
Pollock financed the purchase of the supplies and Galvez kept the British
from capturing the American ships.
Spain formally declared
war on Great Britain on
May 8, 1779, but Galvez did
not receive the news until
August, at which time he
was instructed to
begin hostilities against the
British forts along the Gulf
Coast. His first expedition,
started on August 27, was
to Fort Bute at Manchac in
Louisiana, 90 miles upriver
from New Orleans. He easi-
ly took Fort Bute and mar-
ched on to the fort at Baton
Rouge. He took the fort
and demanded that the
British commander also
surrender Fort Panmure at
at Natchez, which he did.
Galvez was rewarded for
the capture of these forts
with a promotion to
brigadier general.
The new General began planning a campaign to take Fort Charlotte in
Mobile and began the attack on February 29, 1780. The British surrendered
on March 13 and Galvez was promoted to field marshal and was given com-
mand of all Spanish opera-
tions in America.
Pensacola was the next
objective, but a hurricane
scattered the first fleet and
it was not until March 9,
1781, that the second fleet
arrived off the Florida coast
to start the seige. The
Spanish admiral was reluc-
tant to try to take the fleet
across the sand bar for fear
of running aground. Galvez
decided to go in alone on his ship the "Galveztown," accompanied
launches and a sloop that were under his personal command.
They sailed across the sandbar and anchored safely, and the remainder of
the fleet arrived the following day. Additional reinforcements arrived and
on May 10 the British surrendered. King Carlos III made Bernardo a count
and promoted him to lieutenant general. The king also gave him permission
to put the "Galveztown" on the crest of his coat of arms with the motto
"YO SOLO " —I alone.
Following the victory at Pensacola, the Bahama Islands were taken and
Galvez was planning a campaign to take Jamaica when word was received
that the hostilities had ceased.
In August of 1779, when Galvez first received word of Spain's declara-
tion of war, he sent a request to the governor in San Antonio, Texas for
Texas longhorn cattle to be driven to Louisiana to aid his campaign. During
the time he was fighting the British, approximately 10,000 head of these cat-
tle were delivered to Galvez.
The cattle belonged to the Spanish missions in San Antonio and Goliad
and were assembled at the presidio La Bahia, near Goliad, and driven to
Nacogdoches, Texas, and then to Galvez. The use of these longhorns gives
Texas a connection with the American Revolution.
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