Spanish in The American Revolution
My sister qualified for DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution ) through several lines. Last summer I discovered she qualified through her Spanish line.
Every American learns that the French saved Washington's army in the north. But Spain was also in the war against the British, and Spanish Louisiana struck from the south.
In about 1777 Spain recruited yeoman settler/militiamen and their families to settle some of the thinnest colonies. In my case these were from the Canaries and were called Los Islenos. Shiploads were dispatched to Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Texas, Argentina, and some other colonies. Recruits were given land, tools, guns, and a stipend. If you were over 5' 2" you got the premium package.
Galvez combined his home force, The Louisiana Regiment of Infantry, with Isleno militia, other colonial forces, regular troops from Cuba, and an impressive collection of shipping. He drove north from New Orleans pushing the British out of Baton Rouge and St. Louis. Moving east he defeated forces at Mobil then lay siege to the 9,000 man redcoat force at Pensacola, defeating them.
Further, Spanish ports were open to service American privateers, and the Spanish fleet forced the British navy to dilute their efforts in the Revolution.
So if one can prove up an ancestor who served with Galvez, DAR status might follow. This could also mean that a Mexican colonial soldier, speaking only Spanish, gets listed as an American patriot!