I represent Richard M. Sands, Captain of the 4th U.S. Regiment of Artillery, Company G. When we first arrived in West Florida, we were camped at the ranch of Manuel Gonzalez, but General Jackson moved us to the Galvez Springs. Early in the morning on July 17, 1821, the 4th Infantry and the 4th Artillery were marched into the public square, opposite the Spanish dragoons. We exchanged salutes, then four companies marched to Ft. Barrancas. Company G was one of the companies who marched to Barrancas. After the ceremony in Pensacola, Ft. Barrancas had its own changing of the flags: The Spanish flag was lowered to half-mast, then the American flag was raised level with it. Both flags were saluted by the Spaniards. Then the Spanish flag came down, the American flag was raised to full mast. The Americans saluted our flag, for Ft. Barrancas was now American.
In 1824, I married Adele Senac.