Edge of Empires

Edge of Empires. . , The succession of outposts here, remote from centers of New World empire, symbolized a dream of the imperial age: to connect the Gulf of Mexico to North America's vast interior by the great rivers that drained it., Following British victory in the French and Indian War France--in 1762--ceded Louisiana to her ally, Spain. Fearing Great Britain's designs on the Mississippi, the Spaniards took command of the Post of Arkansas, later called Fort Carlos IIl, and retained many of the French traders and soldiers. During the American Revolution, Spanish offensives against the British in Florida and on the Mississippi River aided the patriotic cause. , At the very end of that war-in 1783--a partisan band led by former British Captain James Colbert attacked Fort Carlos. The Spanish-French garrison and community fought them off Names of some of the soldiers, settlers, and militia who lived at the Post of Arkansas before, during, and after the Colbert Raid are presented below: , Joseph Barthelemy . Jean Baptiste Imbeau (father) , Antoine Beauvais . Joseph Imbeau , Anselme Billet dit Lajuenesse . Pierre Jardelas , Michel Bonne (father) . Stanislas LeVasseur , Michel Bonne (son) . Andres Lopez , Louis Boulard . Francois Menard , Peter Clausin . Marie Messager , Francois Cousott . Louis Perthuis dit Lajanvry , Jean Baptiste Dardenne . Pierre Perthuis dit Chevalier , Jean Baptiste Duchassin . Antoine Pinot , Andre Fagot . Joseph Stillwell , Jean Baptiste Grabert . Louis Souligny le Duc , (father) . Charles de Vilemont , Jean Baptiste Grabert (son) , Three Nations Converge: Both land and water approaches were used by France, Spain, and Great Britain while contending for control of this region., [Map caption] , France, Spain, and Great Britain contended for the junction of the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers -- gateway to Indian trade, key to control of the rivers.