[3] He visited Baton Rouge in 1777 bringing an offer from the Continental Congress for West Florida to join the rebellion against the British monarchy and a proposal to become the fourteenth state.
Although many West Floridians had sympathy with the cause of the American independence, they were content with their situation which included an elected assembly, and were far more concerned about the Spanish presence in nearby New Orleans from which they required British protection.
[4] Willing reported back to Congress that West Florida was a threat to American independence and was authorized to take a force of troops down the Mississippi River and compel the settlers to take an oath of neutrality.
After occupying Natchez and plundering the nearby plantations, Willing was eventually defeated by a force of Loyalists and was later captured by the British.
He received tacit cooperation from Bernardo de Gálvez, the Governor of Spanish Luisiana and Commander of the troops of his Catholic Majesty.