Republic of West Florida
Bicentennial
— 1810-2010 —
The Louisiana region known as the Florida Parishes remained under the control of Spain after the Louisiana Purchase. In 1810, some settlers not pleased with the tax law enforcement or the governing of the area, secretly planned to overthrow the Spanish government.
The rebels planned to take control of the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge. Larry Moore of St. Helena, as cunning as a piney woods fox, spoke up and claimed he knew how to enter the fort. He led the Bayou Sarah cavalry in the fog before dawn, through the hole in the palisades where the cattle entered the fort. The Lone Star Flag was unfurled for the first time on September 23, 1810 over the fort in Baton Rouge after a short battle for control.
Shepherd Brown, Commandant and Alcalde for St. Helena, supported the Spanish and promised that he could muster five hundred loyal supporters for Spain. Shepherd Brown failed to raise the five hundred loyalists. When he was confronted by General Philemon Thomas and his four hundred men, Brown advised his men, who numbered about 80, to disperse and save themselves, Brown fled by boat to New Orleans. Later he was captured and held prisoner with the Spanish governor.
For 74 days, the stout little Republic of West Florida was an Independent Nation with its own constitution and its own President Fulwar Skipwith.
December 10, 1810, the
this page online
The Florida parishes were annexed and Shepherd Brown returned to St. Helena, to become the first District Judge. Fulwar Skipwith the former President of the Republic of West Florida, served as the Registrar of the St. Helena District Land Office.
Erected 2010.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1810.
Location. 30° 50.575′ N, 90° 41.899′ W. Marker is in Greensburg, Louisiana, in St. Helena Parish. Marker is on Zachary Taylor Parkway (State Highway 10) near Fred Hurst Lane, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8140 Highway 10, Greensburg LA 70441, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. William Kendrick Square (approx. 2.1 miles away); Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Greensburg Land Office (approx. 2.1 miles away); Greater Greensburg Veteran's War Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Springfield - Liberty Road (approx. 6.3 miles away); Tangipahoa (approx. 11.3 miles
Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry. “Upon learning of the revolt, U.S. President James Madison wanted to move quickly to annex the republic but knew he could not use the military without congressional approval. Congress would not meet until December 1810. Military occupation would incur the wrath of Spain and perhaps also Britain and France. He feared if he did not move, West Florida could fall into unfriendly hands, as a considerable part of the population had previously been British subjects. Though troubled by ‘constitutional qualms’ Madison did not want to let the opportunity pass unexploited and resorted to the oldest justification in the political book: he acted on the grounds that ‘a crisis has at length arrived subversive of the order of things.’” (Submitted on November 25, 2017.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2017, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 951 times since then and 133 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week December 10, 2017. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 24, 2017. 3. submitted on December 14, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4, 5. submitted on November 25, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
