He was critical that Baratarian pirates led by Jean Lafitte were undertaking their operations from American soil, and had not been apprehended by the authorities, resulting in losses to Spanish citizens.

[13] In his letter dated August 24, Jackson criticized Manrique for allowing British agents to operate in Pensacola and warned him that he would consider him personally responsible for any depredations suffered by American citizens.

He appealed for assistance to his superior in Havana, Juan Ruiz de Apodaca the Captain General of Cuba and Florida, but none was forthcoming.

[16] This was a radical change from the existing policy of holding small populated enclaves with the meager garrison, and avoiding confrontation with either the Americans or the British.

[20] In a letter to Manrique dated September 9, Jackson expressed his consternation that the British flag was flown at Pensacola when Florida was 'under the most strict plea of neutrality'.

[23][24] At Bermuda, on July 4, 1814, Carron and Hermes embarked a company-strength force of Royal Marines, commanded by Edward Nicolls, for deployment on the Gulf Coast.

An anonymous letter sent from Havana, authored by American merchant and vice-consul Vincent Gray,[26] which found its way into the hands of the Governor of Louisiana William C. C. Claiborne,[8] mentioned that permission to land in Pensacola had been denied to the British.

The "numerous British and Spanish squadron of ships and vessels of war" he described comprised two sixth-rates and two sloops of the Royal Navy (Hermes, Carron, Sophie, Childers),[32] the "good train of artillery" comprised three cannon and twelve gunners, whilst the "battalion" was a company-strength group of 100 Royal Marines infantry, detached from Major George Lewis's battalion.

The looting of the Forbes Company store at Bon Secour was another manifestation that the rights of property ownership of Spanish nationals were not being upheld.

In this power struggle, the British threatened to withdraw their forces unless both the harbor and Fort San Carlos were placed under the joint control of Nicolls and Manrique.

Protesting his neutrality, Manrique retorted that it was not in the power of the Governor to declare war, as Gordon wryly noted in his correspondence with Cochrane.

Jackson then sent a second messenger, this time a Spaniard,[46] and offered to garrison the forts with Americans, who would hold them until relieved by Spanish troops; this would ensure Spain's neutrality in the conflict.

[45] The Americans flanked the city from the east to avoid fire from the forts and marched along the beachfront,[47] but the sandy beach made it difficult to move up the artillery.

Under the terms of the surrender, Jackson's troops would occupy the fort until such time as a relieving force dispatched from Spain were to arrive, thereby denying the British from further violating the neutrality of the Spanish.

[d][e][60] Jackson's letter to Manrique dated November 9 expresses his disappointment that the British blew up Fort San Carlos, in breach of what was promised, and as such he was no longer prepared to aid him with protecting Spanish neutrality with American troops.

Acknowledging that his attack was 'Not having the Sanction of my Government,' he decided against neither repairing Fort San Miguel, nor occupying it with an American garrison, but to withdraw his troops in order to protect the frontier.

[63] Whilst in Pensacola, Jackson received confirmation a week later of a British task force in Jamaica, destined for New Orleans, so he marched to Mobile,[6][64] arriving there on November 19.

[65] Jackson abandoned Pensacola to the Spanish and set out to Mobile, and upon reaching the town[42] he received requests to hurry to the defense of New Orleans.

[68] Admiral Cochrane remarked to General Lambert that the attack on Pensacola had a detrimentally big impact upon the momentum of the offensive against New Orleans.

[6] Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls stated there were no deaths among the British, and was of the opinion that the Americans suffered 15 fatalities and numerous casualties.