
At the end of the War of 1812 between the
United States and Great Britain, and the defeat
of the Creek Indian Nation at Horseshoe Bend
in Tennessee, General Andrew Jackson retired
to his home in Tennessee. Since Spain did
nothing to control the Florida Indians who were
raiding into South Alabama and Southwest
Georgia stealing the cattle and raiding the
plantations, Andrew Jackson was recalled from
retirement to lead a force of volunteers and
friendly Indians into West Florida in 1818.
Jackson captured the fort at Wakulla then
marched across North Florida to capture
Pensacola, seeking contact with the Indian
chiefs along the route. This area included the
land that would become Bay County. The
Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 allowed the U.S. to
purchase Florida from Spain for five million
dollars. Florida formally came under U.S.
control in 1821. Andrew Jackson was
appointed by President James Monroe to
become the first Military Governor of the Florida
Territory.
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