Adventurism and Empire: The Struggle for Mastery in the Louisiana-Florida Borderlands, 1762-1803

386 Pages·2015·3.742 MB·English

by  David Narrett

Adventurism and Empire
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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
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© 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
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to my BriGht star
isaac so LomoN Narrett
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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
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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
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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
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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
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