expedition charles town expedition september combined french spanish attempt captain capture capital queen anne war north american theater war spanish succession known organized funded primarily french launched havana cuba expedition reached early september stopping pick reinforcements brief encounter expedition ships separated rest fleet troops landed near charles town quickly driven militia called governor word fleet reached area improvised flotilla commanded colonel successfully captured arrived ships sailed away defeat background news start war spanish succession come southeastern north_america officials acted immediately failing december capture capital spanish florida launched series destructive raids spanish indian settlements northern florida french authorities small settlement mobile gulf coast alarmed developments allies spanish territory come attack idea combined franco spanish expedition arose governor florida discussed idea french naval captain means revenge raids concrete action came discussion founder mobile experienced previously wrought havoc english colonial settlements years war developed plan assaulting minimal french resources planned small french fleet join large spanish fleet havana descend capital known expedition paid holding english colonial communities hostage destroying late secured permission expedition king provided ships troops required bear cost expedition prelude small fleets headed lead expedition left france january totalling ships carrying french troops sailed west_indies additional troops recruited martinique successfully english held released squadron sailed havana attempted interest spanish authorities supporting expedition limited success raging epidemic yellow fever addition expedition troops spanish governor died disease july succumbed july died handed control expedition captain sailed havana ships carrying french soldiers command general spanish volunteers led fleet governor provided sixth ship infantry christian indians tribes french fleet sailed august passage sloop spotted gave chase consequently separated rest squadron sloop sent governor intercept spanish supply ships captain quickly returned word fleet movement countryside town suffering yellow fever epidemic rallied response governor johnson calling militia exact number militia mustered known non slave population estimated men served colonial militia anticipating landing attempted guarded southern approach harbor johnson posted militia command lieutenant colonel northern point fortified housed cannon range inadequate prevent ships entering harbor militia improvised small flotilla ships included fire ship attacks spanish fleet arrived harbor bar september date recorded contemporary english documents histories august differences julian calendar use english colonies modern calendar despite absence carried french force including campaign guns shells land commander general captain fleet crossed bar september delivered ultimatum day demanded ransom spanish threatening destroy paid governor johnson dismissed demand claiming town worth million cost blood let come september invaders landed separate forces large force numbering plundered plantations near charleston neck recalled governor johnson sent militia boats oppose second smaller force landed driven away threat opposition late night johnson received word party neck active sent lieutenant colonel men investigate arriving 10th apparently surprised invaders invaders fled brief skirmish captured invaders killed defenders september lieutenant colonel sailed colonial flotilla find invaders discover sailed day showed unaware captain distance landfall north turning general landed troops east captured colonial fleet men surrendered suffering killed brief battle english militia prisoners included indians sold slaves aftermath officials declared october day thanksgiving successful defense large number prisoners caused trouble sent virginia expecting transported england time prisoners arrived virginia annual merchant fleet sailed virginia authorities unhappy hold prisoners set free ship arrived response franco spanish expedition led indian raiding expeditions besieged pensacola remaining spanish outposts florida mobilized indian forces attack mobile efforts frustrated french diplomatic activities indian communities false rumors franco spanish expedition
Charles Town expedition