Louisiana Cultural Vistas - Spring 2009 - (Page 57) plaza. Each square was divided into four 90-by-90-foot lots construction of the fort in case British forces should attempt on which would sit identical galleried, wooden houses to attack the Spanish using the back route — through the measuring 16 by 32 feet each. By May 20, 1779, twenty lakes, Amite River, and Bayou Manchac. After Galvez homes had been finished, save roofing shingles, and the successfully conquered Mobile and Pensacola, however, fields were planted with “corn, rice, beans, potatoes, peas, Galveztown’s strategic importance disappeared, even as flax and wheat.” According to records, a coffee house and a living conditions continued to worsen. single-room jail had been built by one of the Englishmen. Disease plagued the settlement and, in the summer of But Galveztown was almost completely dependent on the 1780, before the harvest could be gathered, a hurricane Spanish government for resources and Commandant Collel damaged buildings and flooded fields. This assured both regularly requisitioned supplies of all kinds from New settlers and the Spanish government that Galveztown Orleans. He also complained in letters to Governor Galvez would not soon become self-sufficient. In 1781, frustrated about a lack of workers; the Isleños were challenged in the settlers petitioned the governor for more support; by then, fields and were ill-equipped to construct mills to grind their Collel supported their appeal. But little improved and a corn or build boats or pirogues. Carpentry, in fact, was small group of residents fled the community. performed by the English, French and Acadians who lived Collel was replaced as commandant by Captain Antonio among them. Sometimes Collel’s letters complained that the de St. Maxent, Galvez’s brother-in-law, no doubt with the government sent the wrong supplies, such as building nails hope that St. Maxent could duplicate the success he had that impeded construction. He also wrote that flooding achieved as commandant at Valenzuela. At St. Maxent’s prevented access to the woods to cut trees for arrival, the settlement boasted 67 completed houses with lumber. others underway and fields prepared for cultivation. But The litany of Galveztown’s problems was then a drought damaged the crops and St. Maxent, like only partially offset by the welcome arrival of Collel before him, was forced to plead for more food. a Spanish Catholic priest, Father Francisco In 1782, a Mississippi River flood, one of the most Lopez. Since the promised church had not devastating of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, yet been built, Father Lopez held services overwhelmed south Louisiana and affected in a corner of the barracks gallery and led Galveztown, despite its distance of more than prayers for the waters of the Amite 15 miles from the river. The flooding also River to recede. More happily, he also affected Native Americans living near began officiating marriages between Galveztown who then raided the little Isleño daughters and Spanish soldiers. community to steal food and animals. On During the summer of 1779, Collel orders from the new governor, Esteban warned Galvez of British movement Miro, St. Maxent offered food to the nearby which provoked the governor Indians to placate them, which of course to order formation of two meant that Galveztown would require Galveztown militias — one Isleño, even greater support from the Spanish one composed of the expats — and government. sent two cannons and some light With all of their travails, the settlers, flintlock muskets to arm them. At and especially the Isleños, were the same time, waves of diseases disheartened by the loss of their — calenture, mange, dropsy, resident Catholic priest. Father Lopez Bernardo DE Galvez scurvy, and smallpox — were had died in 1779 and had not been infecting the settlers and claiming replaced; the congregation had been served by increasing numbers of lives. Collel priests who made infrequent cross-country trips bemoaned that so many were sick that every home from St. Gabriel on the Mississippi River or by residents was a small hospital and gardens went untended. “I am sad making the arduous trip to St. Gabriel themselves. To that I cannot do anything about it,” he wrote to Galvez. bolster morale, Governor Miro suggested that if Galveztown residents could grow a successful enough crop, DISEASE, FLOODS AND HURRICANES they sell their surpluses in New Orleans, St. Gabriel, or As war between Spain and Great Britain grew more likely, elsewhere, and make money. It was a hollow offer Governor Galvez ordered Collel and his militias to attack the considering Galveztown’s consistent food shortages. Miro British on the Amite River. At the end of August, the also increased their unhappiness by forbidding anyone to Galveztown troops captured seven British ships and more flee the village. than a hundred soldiers, including “3 Serjeants, 1 drummer, 7 Commandant St. Maxent never achieved the success he rank and file Independent Company,” as well as the nearby anticipated and was succeeded by his brother, Francisco British Fort Graham. In September, after being detained in Maximiliano, and then shortly thereafter by Lieutenant New Orleans by a hurricane, Galvez led an army of disparate Joseph Petely. Petely’s description of his new jurisdiction soldiers up the Mississippi River from New Orleans and was bleak: “more than half of the houses had fallen into captured the British forts at Manchac, Baton Rouge and ruins” due to deaths or departures. The remaining residents Natchez. This gained part of West Florida for the Spanish still clamored for a church, their own priest, and the crown and ended the immediate geographic threat from requisites to celebrate mass. But it was Petely’s successor, British forces across Bayou Manchac and the Amite River. Marcos DeVilliers, who arrived in 1787, who was finally Galveztown, however, remained a strategic outpost able to respond. Sometime between 1787 and 1791, the because the British still occupied Mobile and Pensacola. So Church of St. Bernard was completed and a Capuchin friar Galvez sent reinforcements to Galveztown, to help complete assigned. He remained there until 1799. Spring 2009/LOUISIANA CULTURAL VISTAS 57
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