Analysis and Lessons from General Galvez's West Florida Campaign during the American Revolutionary War
Abstract
The American Revolutionary War was a global war in which the main European powers were involved. Spain played a relevant role in the war, which has not always been recognized or properly studied. General Bernardo de Galvez was the Spanish governor of Louisiana. He conducted the campaign along the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico to regain West Florida for Spain, and to protect the southern flank of the American Revolution. Recently, he has been recognized as the eighth honorary citizen of the United States of America. My research presents a historical narrative of the campaign. It analyzes the campaign from a professional military perspective and focuses on the challenges and the methods employed to overcome them. My aim is to deduce the lessons that can be learned from the campaign which have enduring value to practitioners of military art and science. Galvez faced a difficult command and control structure, scarcity of forces, and others challenges related to the operational environment (terrain, weather, diseases, etc.). The analysis strongly suggest that superior leadership, audacity, adaptation, and the application of what may be termed Mission Command philosophy enabled Galvez to achieve victory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA623981
Entities
People
- Ernesto P. Alonso
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College