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Pierre Antoine Fruge, son of Pierre Francois Augustin Fruge and Catherine Dumoulin, is recognized as a Patriot by the Daughters of the American Revolution.[1]
His year of birth is uncertain, reports varying from 1753, based on listed age at death,[2] to 1755,[1] and up to 1762.[3] However, note this 1762 date is based on age at death where the death year is incorrect. There are undocumented reports that his birthday was June 27, 1762.
"Fruget," his father, is listed as a head of household in the September 1763 census of Pointe Coupee. Pierre Antoine is counted as one of the three boys under the age of 14.[4]
First, some background information:
After 1763 the Louisiana Colony was under Spanish control. The governor was Bernard de Galvez, who had spent some time in France and was fluent in the language. This helped him a great deal. As governor, he practiced an anti-British, pro-France policy. Prior to Spain declaring war on Great Britain in 1779, he had smuggled supplies to the American forces and allowed the Americans passage through New Orleans. Sometime between June 21 and a date in August (sources vary), the Spanish declared war on Great Britain.[5][6][7]
Pierre Antoine Frugier appears on the April 15, 1776 Muster Roll for the Opelousas Militia.[8] His brother Francois also appears on the list. Under men exempt due to age or sickness is another Pierre Frugier, probably their father.
The following year, on June 8, 1777, he and Francois appear again... this time as "Fuseliers," or riflemen.[9] According to one source[10] this muster roll is the only one accepted by the Daughters of the American Revolution as documentation of those men who fought with Galvez in the Battle of Baton Rouge in 1778.
Soon after the Spanish declared war on Great Britain, Galvez intercepted a British letter outlining an attack on New Orleans. Galvez began preparations, but then his entire fleet was destroyed in a hurricane.[10]
With word that Galvez’s fleet had been destroyed, militias from throughout the area headed to meet up with Galvez. The militias included those from Opelousas, Attakapas, Point Coupee and German Coast Militia, as well as Indians and free men of color willing to fight in the conflict. The approximate 500 militia men joined Galvez’s army of 600. By the time the militia met up with Galvez, Galvez had lost nearly one third of his men.[10]
The campaign of Galvez and his soldiers and militia has been named the Galvez Expedition. Here are the activities of the Expedition, and by extrapolation, those of Pierre Antoine Fruge.
September 7, 1779
Capture of Fort Bute:[11]
This older fort at Bayou Manchac (south of Baton Rouge) was captured from the British rather quickly. The British considered the fort indefensible, so the majority fled, leaving about 20 behind.
September 21, 1779
Battle of Baton Rouge:[6][10][12][13]
Galvez and his men were unable to directly advance their artillery, so Galvez ordered a feint to the north into the woods. The detachment sent into the woods created disturbances and the British responded strongly, but those in the woods were easily able to avoid being shot. Meanwhile, Galvez dug siege trenches and established secure gun pits within musket range of the fort. He placed his artillery forces there and opened fire on this day. After three hours of fighting the British commander offered surrender; however, Galvez demanded more than Baton Rouge’s Fort New Richmond. He demanded and was granted that Fort Panmure of Natchez also be handed over. This battle freed the lower Mississippi Valley of British forces and relieved the threat to New Orleans, Louisiana’s capitol.
March 1, 1780
The Battle of Fort Charlotte:[5][6][10][14] Galvez arrived with forces of about 2000 to attack via both land and sea. This led to a 2-week siege during which both Galvez and the British commander exchanged polite letters regarding surrender and vantage points. Meanwhile Galvez continued to dig trenches and bombard the fort, and succeeded in breaching the fort on the 13th. The British surrendered the next day. The British had been delaying in hopes that their reinforcements from Pensacola would arrive. But they had been delayed.
May 9, 1781
Capture of Fort George and Fort Crescent in Pensacola:[5][6][10] Galvez’s troops attacked the British from both land and sea in this important battle for Fort George and its nearest redoubt, Fort Crescent. The siege had been 2 months long and Galvez led 7000 men until he himself was injured. During the siege, the Spaniards and militias endured attacks from the Choctaw and Creeks in support of the British. On May 8 Fort Crescent was hit and taken. The British general surrendered Fort George and the Prince of Wales Redoubt two days later. The loss of Mobile and Pensacola left the British without bases in the Gulf of Mexico.
July 30, 1785
Pierre Fruge is listed as a rifleman on a muster list of the Opelousas Militia. This is the last muster roll known for the Opelousas Militia.[15][16]
If the British had been allowed to take control of New Orleans, they would have gained control of the mouth of the Mississippi River and the Port of New Orleans. Most trade and reinforcements were received at this port and the lack of these would most likely have led to the British taking hold of all of Louisiana, including the eastern side of the river. If this had occurred, Britain would have opened a back door into the colonies and could then attack the colonies from the west. The outcome of the war could have changed if the British could surround the colonies from the south or if their vital conduit for supplies (the Mississippi) was compromised.
George Washington and Congress recognized this. Washington had Galvez to his right during the July 4th parade, and the American Congress cited him for his aid to the Revolution.[5][6][10]
Pierre Antoine married Susanne Burns in Opelousas, Louisiana sometime around 1790, based on the baptism of their firstborn twin children in July 1791.[17]
They were still in Opelousas at the time of the 1810 Louisiana Census.[18]
Pierre Antoine Fruge died on July 25, 1819 in Bayou des Cannes, Louisiana, and was buried the next day at St. Landry Parish Cemetery. According to his burial record, he died without the sacraments, as the priest did not know he had been ill.[2][19]
Thanks to Donna Storz for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Donna and others.
Original--pre merge WikiTree profile Fruge-78 created through the import of Rider_Deshotel Family 040809.ged on Jul 21, 2011 by Nadine Rider. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Nadine and others.
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Categories: Galvez Expedition | Battle of Baton Rouge | Spanish Militia, Poste des Opelousas, American Revolution | Spanish Louisiana | Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana | Opelousas, Louisiana | Saint Landry Church Cemetery, Opelousas, Louisiana | 1777 Census, Opelousas, Louisiana