THE POLK COUNTY
Pulse
November 1, 2023
History 5
Polk County’s Revolutionary War connection: Battle of Arkansas Post
Written by Kathy Hagler
Please note, there is no direct connection between Polk County and Arkansas Post. However, the Battle of Arkansas Post is the only Revolutionary War Battle that took place in Arkansas, therefore bringing our history a little closer to home. Next month’s story will be the big reveal! The Battle of Arkansas Post is also known as the Colbert Raid or Colbert’s Raid. This battle took place at Arkansas Post, Louisiana, which is present day Arkansas County, Arkansas, on Apr. 18, 1783. The Colbert Raid was one of a series of small engagements fought between the Spanish and Great Britain in the Lower Mississippi River region. These engagements began in 1779 when Spain entered the American Revolutionary War on the side of the Americans. The attack and siege of Arkansas Post was led by Capt. James Colbert of the 16th Regiment of Foot. The event took place three months after a treaty between Spain and Britain was signed on Jan. 20, but word had not reached the Lower Mississippi. The Raid is the only American Revolutionary War battle fought in Arkansas. In the years leading up to the Battle of Arkansas Post, Spanish forces had won several victories in the Lower Mississippi Region. They had driven out the British from Manchac and Baton Rouge. By 1783, British forces in the region were scattered, almost non-existent, and consisted of
small partisan groups engaged in guerrilla warfare. British officer James Colbert was the leader of one of these groups. He targeted Arkansas Post
Post. The vessels and their goods were seized. On Apr. 16, nearing the post, Colbert ordered several Chickasaw to scout ahead. These scouts
“Counterattack!” depicts the sortie by Spanish troops during the Colbert Raid. (Sidney E. King, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
because of its strategic location at the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers. If the post could be captured, Colbert and his men could easily harass Spanish traffic on the Mississippi River. Arkansas Post was inhabited by a garrison of 33 soldiers of the Fixed Infantry Regiment of Louisiana and four Quapaw warriors, in addition to Jacobo du Breuil; his second-in-command, Lt. Luis de Villars; and Sgt. Alexo Pastor; plus, their combined families. In early April, Colbert and his flotilla set off from their encampment on the Wolf River. Once on the Mississippi, they encountered American vessels headed downriver to Natchez for settlement. These settlers were ordered ashore and told to wait six hours before continuing down the river. Near the mouth of the White River, Colbert encountered trading vessels from New Orleans and Arkansas
encountered the Quawpaw village, Ostouy. They told the local chief, Angaska, who was allied with the Spanish, that they were going upriver with a dozen Americans to meet with Capt. du Breuil. They gave the chief rum as a gift. As a result of this deception, Angaska did not report anything suspicious to du Breuil. The scouts joined the main party and proceeded upriver. By midnight, Apr. 17, the Loyalists had made it to the post village. The battle began about 2:30 a.m., with a Raid and occupation of the village. Although four families escaped, most were taken prisoner, including Luis de Villars and Alexo Pastor. Awakened by the commotion, the Spanish garrison launched a counterattack, led by du Breuil. Pastor escaped from the Loyalists, reaching the fort in the chaos of battle. At about 3 a.m., the attacking force began to entrench them-
selves in a ravine just outside the fort. The two sides exchanged gunfire for six hours, with neither doing much damage to the other due to their strategic positions. At 9 a.m., Commander du Brueil ordered Sgt. Pastor, nine soldiers and four Quawpaw warriors to prepare to make a sortie. Du Breuil suspected the Loyalists might be setting up artillery to breach the fort. At the same time, Colbert sent one of his officers under a flag of truce to deliver a peace offering demanding surrender. Marie Luisa Villars, the wife of the lieutenant and fellow prisoner, accompanied Colbert’s officer to ensure he wouldn’t be shot while approaching the fort. Colbert’s officer fled in fright and du Breuil received the peace offer from Madame Villars alone. Du Breuil refused to surrender and ordered Pastor and his force of 13 to sally out of the fort toward their 82 attackers. They did so, shouting Quawpaw war cries. The shock, mixed with war cries and musket fire, scattered the attacking force. They retreated to the river and boarded canoes with their prisoners. According to du Breuil, the Loyalists yelled “Let’s go! Let’s go! The Indians are upon us!” as they fled. Chief Angaska arrived at the post at noon the next day and was scolded by du Breuil for not warning the post. After explaining the deception, Angaska left with 100 Quawpaw and 20 Spanish soldiers to recover the prisoners; he recovered all but eight.
