battle lake battle lake single ship action september fought british sloop war hms west florida schooner waters british province patrolling encountered morris set new_orleans spanish american crew headed captain larger crew morris successfully boarded inflicting mortal wound captain lieutenant capture west florida eliminated major british naval presence lake weakening british control western reaches background significant military activities american revolutionary war occur gulf_coast spain entered war new_orleans capital spanish louisiana served semi secret source money patriot cause cause quietly supported spanish governors prominent new_orleans businessman effectively acted agent negotiating spanish governor taking actions including spending fortune patriot activities lower mississippi_river led raiding expedition directed targets british west florida prize captured mississippi_river british ship brought new_orleans brought uss morris honor philadelphia british province extended mississippi_river west east hms west florida cruising command stopping searching manner shipping including spanish merchants destined new_orleans annoyance spanish unsuccessful tracking willing raid returned pensacola capital refit repair late january replaced helm lieutenant engaged survey duty coast knew area sloop war armed according captors pound cannons carrying crew complement british accounts place crew size prelude cruised waters august august sent boat men contact detachment lieutenant colonel men boat returned day governor spanish louisiana launched expedition gain control british military posts mississippi boat captured men successfully took garrison september negotiated surrender remaining british forces mississippi september unaware activities commissioning authority granted congress command morris captain destroyed hurricane delayed departure expedition provided ship use variously called morris morris tender according report lieutenant second command ship schooner armed small pound cannons swivel guns lacked protect men deck gunfire furthermore crew prepared close action lacking axes tools useful boarding action instructed harass british military shipping lake recently increased activity battle sailed new_orleans crew americans second command commissioned hide intentions flew british ensign false flag spotted september ships closed hailed morris discover intentions told merchant bound pensacola shortly false colors hauled replaced american flag americans threw hooks bring ships opened fire swivel guns lieutenant prepared boarding party unlikely ship fired larger guns small crew spirited resistance twice boarding attempt succeeded went mortal wound fighting described violent successfully overwhelmed british wounding men addition suffering killed wounded aftermath captain took prize new_orleans fitted cruised west florida waters governor march mississippi assisted resulted capture mobile sailing philadelphia sale battle commemorated historic marker louisiana marker credits ending revolutionary war louisiana british individuals north shore evidently surrendered captain mid october weeks context louisiana means future state louisiana larger area spanish louisiana took place
Battle of Lake Pontchartrain