Adventurism and Empire Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs i This page intentionally left blank Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs ii Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs iii Adventurism and Empire The Struggle for Mastery in the Louisiana- Florida Borderlands, 1762–1803 1 david Narrett Published in association with The William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies, Southern Methodist University, by The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs ii Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs iii © 2015 The University of North Carolina Press All rights reserved Designed and set in Adobe Caslon by Rebecca Evans Manufactured in the United States of America The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. The University of North Carolina Press has been a member of the Green Press Initiative since 2003. Jacket illustration: William Augustus Bowles (RC06489). Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Narrett, David E., 1951– Adventurism and empire : the struggle for mastery in the Louisiana-Florida borderlands, 1762–1803 / David Narrett. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. isBN 978-1-4696-1833-3 (cloth : alk. paper) isBN 978-1-4696-1834-0 (ebook) 1. West Florida—History. 2. Borderlands—United States—History— 18th century. 3. Louisiana—History—To 1803. 4. Florida—History—To 1821. 5. Gulf States—History—To 1803. 6. United States—Foreign relations—Spain. 7. Spain—Foreign relations—United States. I. Title. F301.N37 2014 973.27—dc23 2014039230 Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs iv Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs v to my BriGht star isaac so LomoN Narrett Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs iv Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs v coNteNts Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Part i Struggles for Empire in Peace and War, 1762–1787 1 ProLoGue The Open and Hidden Features of Peace Louisiana, Florida, and the Imperial Settlement of 1762–1763 11 chaPter 1 Maritime and Interior Colony Beginnings of British West Florida, 1763–1766 21 chaPter 2 The Conundrum of “Spanish- French” Louisiana British Imperialism and the Mississippi-G ulf Frontier, 1766–1775 45 chaPter 3 Opening Salvos in a Revolutionary War, 1776–1779 69 Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs vi Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs vii chaPter 4 Multiple Conflicts Warfare and a Disputed Peace, 1779–1783 91 chaPter 5 Bidding and Conspiring for Access to the Realm, 1783–1787 115 Part ii New Empires, New Republics, 1787–1803 1 ProLoGue Wilkinson and the Imperial Self 137 chaPter 6 License to Venture Colonization and Commercial Adventurism 141 chaPter 7 Frontier Separatism and Integration 164 chaPter 8 Conspiracies and International Turmoil 187 Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs vi Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs vii chaPter 9 Intrigues across Creek Country and Beyond 209 chaPter 10 The Imperial Question at Century’s End 233 coNcLusioN The Impermanence of Boundaries 257 Notes 267 Bibliography 337 Index 365 Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs viii Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs ix iLLustratioNs Bellin, Carte reduite des costes de la Louisiane et de la Floride 14 Bellin, Cours du Fleuve Saint Louis 17 Captain George Johnstone 22 Plan of the Bay and Island of Mobile 29 Plan of Point Ibberville [sic] 38 A Map of Part of West Florida 59 Bernardo de Gálvez 102 Coat of Arms and Patent of Nobility awarded to Gálvez 102 Brion de la Tour, Suite du Théatre de la Guerre 112 James Wilkinson 138 Esteban Miró 168 Manuel Luis Gayoso de Lemos 168 Hutchins, A New Map of the Western Parts of Virginia . . . 180 William Augustus Bowles 216 Flag of William Augustus Bowles—First Ensign 219 Flag of William Augustus Bowles—Second Ensign 219 Town and Fort of Natchez 236 Plan of Nogales 237 Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs viii Narrett_adveNturism_FiNaL PGs ix