Ex^mo. Señor.

Mui Señor mio; En Continuation de las novedades q^e. participé a V.E. en el Correo pasado le dire; como noticioso el Governador de Panzacola de la toma de 10s Puestos Ingleses por los Americanos mandó un destacarnento de 90. hombres a el Manchak, los que entraron en él a el Arnanecer del dia 19. del presente y encontrando la poca Guarnicion que en el havia durmiendo, atacaron la Casa donde estaban, y despues de dos, o tres descargas de fusileria se apoderaron de ella haviendo muerto dos hombres, una Muger, y herido ocho o diez, tomando prisioneros de Guerra hasta el numero de 14. hombres q^e. encontraron, y quedando por consiguiente Dueños del Citado Puesto.

Haviendo Savido los Americanos que se hallaban en las immediaciones de esta Capital el Succeso, incontinenti Armaron sus lanchas, y se pusieron en Mancha para el referido puesto con el intento de Vengarse, y desalojan a sus Enemigos, a donde llegaron y segun tengo noticia han buelto a posecionarse de dho territorio segunda vez sin oposicion, pues con el Aviso q^e. tuvieron los Realistas de su Salida, y q^e. era mayor numero que el de ellos, abandonaron el puesto.

No contentos los Americanos con la retoma de Manchak, sino queriendo vengarse en sus Enemigos, me escrive uno de los Comandantes de Nuestros Puestos, que seguian en su busca, y que segun los informes que le dieron algunos Cazadores havian oido 33. tiros en el monte, sin Saver su Causa, ni el efecto q^e. producieron.

Asi el mencionado Puesto de Manchak, como todos los demas de la partida Inglesa que estan Cituados en las orillas de este Rio Misisipi han quedado enteramente desiertos, por haverse pasado todos sus habitantes a nuestras tierras pidiendo la proteccion Española, huyendo no solo de los Americanos, sino tambien de los destrozos q^e. los Indios Chactas hazen en sus habitaciones y bienes, quemandoles las Casas y quitandoles todo lo que en ellas Encuentran, dejando las personas solo con las Camisas, y diciendoles que se vayan de Sus tierras que no quieren mas Ingleses en sus temtorios, y para ponerse a Cubierto de no ser Atacados de improvisto, segun me avisa el Comandante de la Punta Cortada, han apostado tres destacamentos desde la Orilla del Rio hasta lo interior del monte con la idea de tener noticia de quanto ocurra.

Es de admirar en la Ocasion presente la buena feo, armonia, y Respecto q^e. dhos Indios Guardan a nuestros territorios, pues no han ejecuato el menor daño en ellos, y para darme a Conocer la amistad q^e. quieren Conservar Con los Españoles, embiaron dos Gefes diputados Suyos a el Referido Puesto de la Punta Cortada, los q^e. despues de unas harengas bastante largas dieron la mano a su Comandante, asegurandole del Respeto que Guardarian a 10s Dominios del Rey, y que Su Corazon, y el de toda la nacion havia buelto acia nosotros, abandonando a 10s Ingleses. Yo atribuyo este mod0 de proceder a el buen trato con que he Recivido algunas partidas de ellos, que en varias Ocasiones han venido a visitarme.

El 14. del Corriente se presento en el Rio a distancia de media legua de esta Ciudad una Fregata de Guerra Inglesa,¹ cuyo Comandante² me ha hecho la peticion de que le entregue todas las presas que los Americanos han hecho en el Rio, y que las q^e. han tomado en los territorios Ingleses quedasen depositadas en mi poder hasta la Resolucion de la Corte, a cuya infundada pretension le he Respondido que no obstante los muchos Insultos q^e. los Ingleses han hecho en este Rio en medio de las poseciones de nuestro Monarcha, visitando, y Registrando las embarcac^s. Españolas, y q^e. ellos mismos havian apresado nueve embarcaciones American^s. amarradas en nuestras Orillas, havia sido una justicia imparcial, y el Conservar el Respeto devido a las poseciones del Rey lo que me havia movido a tomar Conocim^to. de todas las presas q^e. pudiesen estar hechas en parage donde Gozasen de la proteccion Española, para devolverlas a sus Respectivos Dueños, pero todas aquellas que hayan sido hechas en las Orillas Inglesas, o en sus tierras, seguirian la Suerte de la Guem, quedandole la facultad de Recobrarlas donde pudiese siempre que no fuera en los Dominios de mi mando, ni en parage donde puedan Gozar de la proteccion Española, con cuya Respuesta definitiva parece q^e. por aora ha cesado en sus Contestaciones y demandas.

Es quanto Ocurre por aora que participar a V.E. a quien le aseguro el deseo que tengo de empliar mis contas facultades en su Servicio.

Nuestro S^or. Guarde a V.E. m^s. a^s. Nueva Orleans y Marzo 24. de 1778./. Ex^mo. S^or. [&c.]

Bern^do. de Galvez

[Translation]

Most Excellent Sir.

My dear sir;

In continuation of the news that I sent to Your Excellency in the last post I tell you that the Governor of Pensacola, likewise notified of the taking of the English Posts by the Americans, sent a detachment of 90 men to Manchac; they entered it at dawn on the 19th day of the present month and encountered the small Garrison sleeping there, attacked the House where they were, and after two or three discharges of musketry took possession of it, having killed two men, one woman, and wounding eight or ten, taking prisoners of war some 14 men they encountered, and becoming in consequence owners of the said Post.

Having learned of the event, the Americans who were in the vicinity of this Capital immediately fitted out their barges and set out for Manchac, the referred to place, to avenge themselves and to dislodge their Enemies; they arrived there and according to my information have gained possession of the said territory a second time without op position, inasmuch as with the Notice that the Royalists had of their Departure, and that there were more of them than themselves, they abandoned the place.

The Americans were not content with the retaking of Manchac without avenging themselves on their Enemies. One of the Commandants of Our Posts wrote me that they followed in pursuit, and that according to the information that some Hunters gave him, the Hunters heard 33 shots in the woods, without knowing the Cause, nor the effects they produced.

Thus, the aforementioned Post of Manchac, like the rest of the English Posts that are Situated on the banks of this River Mississippi, have remained entirely deserted, by having had all their inhabitants pass into our lands asking for Spanish protection, fleeing not only from the Americans, but also from the destruction that the Choctaw Indians do to their dwellings and goods, burning their Houses and stealing from them Everything that they find, leaving the people only with their Shirts, and telling them that they should leave their lands, that they do not want any more English in their territories; and in order to take shelter from unexpected Attack, according to the advice I receive from the Commandant at Cortada Point, they have posted three detachments from the Bank of the River to the interior of the forest, with the idea of taking notice of whatever may occur.

It is a cause to marvel on the present Occasion the good faith, harmony, and respect that the said Indians Keep towards our territories, as they have not done the least injury to them; and in order to make known to me the friendship that they want to Conserve with the Spanish, they sent two of their Chiefs, to the referred to Post of Cortada Point, who after some rather long orations, shook hands with the Commandant, assuring him of the Respect that they Maintained toward the Dominions of the King, and that Their Affection, and that of all the nation was again made ours, abandoning the English. I attribute this method of proceeding to the good treatment with which I have Received some of their parties, who on several occasions have come to visit me.

On the 14th of the Current Month, there appeared in the River at a distance of half a league from this City an English Frigate of War,¹ whose Commander² petitioned me to deliver to him all the prizes that the Americans have made in the River, and that those that they have taken in the English territories remain deposited in my power until the Resolution of the Court; to which groundless pretension I Responded to him that—notwithstanding the many Insults that the English have made in this River in the midst of the possessions of our Monarch, visiting and Searching the Spanish vessels, and that they have likewise captured nine American vessels, fitted out on our Shores—there has been impartial justice; and to Conserve the Respect owed to the possessions of the King, who has moved me to take Cognizance of all the prizes that come to be made in areas that enjoy Spanish protection, in order to return them to their Respective Owners, but all of those that have been taken on the English Shores, or in their lands, would follow the Fortune of War, continuing the right of Recovering those where one can, provided always that there be no violence in the Dominions that I command, nor in areas that enjoy Spanish protection, with definitive Respect to which it appears that for now he has ceased in his Replies and demands.

It is as much as has Occurred for now that I communicate to Your Excellency, whom I assure of my desire of employing my full powers in his Service.

May Our Lord Keep Your Excellency many years. New Orleans the 24th of March 1778. [&c.]