Bernando Galvez

Bernardo de Gálvez was born on July 23, 1746, in Málaga, Spain and died in November 30, 1786, in Mexico City. He was a Spanish military leader and  governor of Louisiana and Cuba and  viceroy of New Spain. Gálvez helped the Thirteen Colonies in their war for independence and led the Spanish armies against Britain in the Revolutionary War, defeating the British at Pensacola and conquering back Florida for Spain. Gálvez smuggled operations to supply the North American in 1777. The British had blocked the eastern ports. Gálvez worked shipping gunpowder, muskets, uniforms, medicine and other supplies.Gálvez was sent to Florida by New Spain's Viceroy. Bernando being the leader of Spanish troops helped Americans in their independance from Britain. Spain's reasons to join the Americans were the opportunity to recover land lost to the British such as Florida. His most important military victory over the British forces happened on May 1781, when his troop attacked and took Pensacola. The loss of Mobile and Pensacola left the British with no bases in the Gulf of Mexico, except for Jamaica which was not even part of the colonies. He received many honors from Spain for his military sucesses against the British, he was promoted to lieutenant general and field marshal, governor and captain general of Louisiana and Florida. Galvez also assisted the Americans with supplies and soldiers. Gálvez, saw it convenient for France and Spain to go ahead on the cause of the American revolutionaries, was among those who made the terms of the Peace of Paris (1783) that ended the war. By the 1783 treaty Spain officially earned back East and West Florida from the British. In recognition of his work and help to the American cause, George Washington took him to his right in the parade of July 4 and the American Congress cited Gálvez for his aid during the Revolution.Galveston Bay, Galveston, Texas, Galvez, Louisiana, and St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana were, among others, named after him. 

Battle: SARATOGA

The victory in The Battle of Saratoga was a very important victory in the Revolutionary War. It brought the French into the war. This now showed the Americans had a chance to win. The French felt that it was now worth fighting for the Americans now that they had a chance to win. The Americans had more confidence after the win atThe Battle of Saratoga. Saratoga battle occured Saratoga on the Hudson River in New York State, was between British and German troops against the Americans. Major General John Burgoyne commanded the British and German force. Major General Horatio Gates and Brigadier Benedict Arnold commanded the American army. The British force comprised some 5,000 British, Brunswickers, Canadians and Indians. By the time of the surrender the American force was around 12,000 to 14,000 militia and troops. The British wore red coats and headgear of bearskin caps, leather caps. The German infantry wore blue coats and retained the Prussian style grenadier mitre with brass front plate.

The Americans dressed as best they could. Increasingly as the war progressed regular infantry regiments of the Continental Army wore blue uniform coats but the militia continued in rough clothing. Both sides were armed with muskets and guns.

Actually, there were two battles at Saratoga, New York. The first began with Gen. John Burgoyne's offensive on September 19, the second with the climactic phase of the fighting during the Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7. 

The Battle of Saratoga started because the British troops came down from Canada and tried to take over New England. The Americans wanted to protect New England. They started to fight and the battle started. British captured Fort Ticonderoga, General John Burgoyne was the general for the British. He led a charge that made the Americans give it up.The British thought that the capture of the fort would be a major turning point, but it wasn't. Burgoyne almost lost before the true surrender, but Baron von Riedesel brought in his German troops and came to Burgoyne's rescue. The British survived, but lost 600 men. Yet, Burgoyne did not retreat. Burgoyne waited a month for other British troops to fight, but soon realized he had to fight himself. A British general named Simon Fraser led the British troops in a charge, but was shot.That was the end of the battle. A week later, Burgoyne surrendered to General Horatio Gates on October 17, 1777. The Americans had won the battle.  

The Battle of Saratoga was a major setback to the British force. It showed that the Americans were a strong fighting force. It also brought the French into the war. This gave the British something more to worry about. This defeat in The Battle of Saratoga was a major turning point in the war. The victory in The Battle of Saratoga was a very important victory in the Revolutionary War. It brought the French into the war. This now showed the Americans had a chance to win. The French felt that it was now worth fighting for the Americans now that they had a chance to win. The Americans had more confidence after the win atThe Battle of Saratoga.