September 21, 1779

The Battle of Baton Rouge September 21 ends British
hopes of controlling the Mississippi Basin.
The Spanish governor of Louisiana Bernardo de Galvez has moved upriver from
New Orleans with a force of Spaniards, Frenchmen, Germans, Acadians,
free blacks, Indians, and Americans.
He tricks British forces under Lieut. Col. Dickson at Fort New Richmond
into thinking he is preparing an attack from the east,
he opens fire at dawn with a roundshot volley from the south,
and the British surrender within a few hours.