Synopses & Reviews
[FRONT COVER]
“One rollicking good book.”—Jay Winik, author of April 1865 and The Great Upheaval
[FRONT FLAP]
$28.00
Higher in Canada
“History at its best, replete with intrigue, colorful individuals, governmental machinations, murder, and mayhem. It is storytelling at its finest and a pleasure to read.”—Jeffry D. Wert, author of General James Longstreet and A Glorious Army
In 1810 the wilds of West Florida—what is now parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida—were populated by a mix of former British colonials, Spanish royalists, and American frontier settlers looking for freedom and opportunity. Though the territory seemed a natural candidate for American expansion, the young nation was not ready to confidently stake a claim. So it was left to settlers bristling at Spanish misrule to establish a foothold.
Enter the Kemper brothers and a small band of American residents, whose decision to take matters into their own hands culminated in their drafting a constitution and establishing a new government. By the time President Madison sent troops to formally occupy the territory, assert U.S. authority under the Louisiana Purchase, and restore order, West Florida’s settlers had already announced their independence, becoming our country’s shortest-lived—seventy-eight-day—rogue “republic.”
Meticulously researched and populated with fiery characters, this is the story of a young country testing its power on the global stage and a lost chapter in how the frontier spirit came to define our nation’s legacy.
Review
"A significant study of an obscure but highly revealing moment in American history . . . Not only does Davis cast a bright light into these murky corners of our national past, he does so with a grace and clarity equal to the best historical writing today." and#8212;
Kirkus (starred)
"[A] compelling story . . . well written and deeply researched." and#8212;Library Journal "Here [Davis] recounts the brief but interesting chronicle of the events and men who triggered the uprising against Spain, the establishment of a short-lived republic, and rapid annexation by the U.S. This is a well-done recounting of an obscure but ultimately important episode in our history." and#8212;Booklist "Davis presents a well-documented account of and#8216;America's second and smallest rebellion,and#8217; led by a simple storekeeper named Reuben Kemper . . . Davis tells this story with nuance and panache. This book exposes a nearly forgotten piece of America's history and character." and#8212;Publishers Weekly "The Rogue Republic is one rollicking, good book. With his customary panache and eye for the telling detail, William Davis has deftly brought to life the too little-known but endlessly absorbing story of the short-lived West Florida Republic. What a treat for history buffs."and#160;
and#8212;Jay Winik, author of April 1865 and The Great Upheaval
"During the brief existence of the Republic of West Florida, the United States occupied territory owned by another nation. Finally, after two centuries, a prominent writer provides us with a fascinating account of this important, but little-known rebellion against Spanish rule. William C. Davis, a master of narrative history, presents us inand#12288;The Rogue Republic with a cast of some of the most colorful, and sometimes shady, characters in the American Westand#8212;adventurers who promoted Manifest Destiny before expansionism bore that label."and#160;
and#8212;John D. W. Guice, editor of and contributor to By His Own Hand?: The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis; and coauthor with Thomas D. Clark of The Old Southwest, 1795and#8211;1830: Frontiers in Conflict
"The Rogue Republic is a story of a long-forgotten revolution when America marched westward. Impeccably researched and finely written, Mr. Davis's book is history at its best, replete with intrigue, colorful individuals, governmental machinations, murder, and mayhem. It is storytelling at its finest and a pleasure to read."and#160;
and#8212;Jeffry D. Wert, author of General James Longstreet and the forthcoming A Glorious Army "The Rogue Republic skillfully tells the remarkable story of the rogues and dreamers who founded the Republic of West Florida in 1811 and then saw it absorbed by the United States. William C. Davis has salvaged for modern readers the pivotal moment when American expansionism evolved from Jeffersonand#8217;s passive idealism into something a good deal more muscular, on the way to becoming downright larcenous."
and#8212;David O. Stewart,and#12288;author of The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitutionand#12288;
"The Rogue Republic is an absolutely enthralling story, with a cast of magnificent, unforgettable characters and a dramatic narrative that will keep you reading from first word to last. Based on exhaustive research in primary sources, this brilliant book is a must read for all literate Americans."and#160;
and#8212;Stephen B. Oates, author of With Malice Toward None: A Biography of Abraham Lincoln
"Davis continues to turn out books on topics both significant and relatively unknown. All are superbly researched and written. Rogue Republic continues that tradition with a compelling history of how West Florida became a part of the United States. It provides a thorough, accurate, and readable history of a part of Americaand#8217;s past of which few people are aware."and#160;
and#8212;Robert M. Utley, author of Lone Star Justiceand#160;
Synopsis
When Britain ceded the territory of West Floridaand#8212; what is now Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Floridaand#8212;to Spain in 1783, America was still too young to confidently fight in one of Europeand#8217;s endless territorial contests. So it was left to the settlers, bristling at Spanish misrule, to establish a foothold in the area. Enter the Kemper brothers, whose vigilante justice culminated in a small band of American residents drafting a constitution and establishing a new government. By the time President Madison sent troops to occupy the territory, assert U.S. authority under the Louisiana Purchase, and restore order, West Floridaand#8217;s settlers had already announced their independence, becoming our countryand#8217;s shortest-lived rogue and#8220;republic.and#8221;and#160;
Meticulously researched and populated with the colorful characters that make American history a joy, this is the story of a young country testing its power on the global stage and a lost chapter in how the frontier spirit came to define American character. The first treatment of this little-known historical moment, The Rogue Republic shows how hardscrabble frontiersmen and gentleman farmers planted the seeds of civil war, marked the dawn of Manifest Destiny, and laid the groundwork for the American empire.
Synopsis
Theand#160;story of how American settlersand#160;led aand#160;rebellion in 1810 against Spanish rule and created the Republic of West Florida, which was shortly annexed by the United States just 78 days later.
Synopsis
PRAISE FOR THE ROGUE REPUBLIC
“With his customary panache and eye for the telling detail, William Davis has deftly brought to life the too little-known but endlessly absorbing story of the short-lived West Florida Republic. What a treat for history buffs.”—Jay Winik, author of April 1865 and The Great Upheaval
“An absolutely enthralling story, with a cast of magnificent, unforgettable characters and a dramatic narrative that will keep you reading from first word to last. Based on exhaustive research in primary sources, this brilliant book is a must-read for all literate Americans.”—Stephen B. Oates, author of With Malice Toward None: A Biography of Abraham Lincoln
“Davis continues to turn out books on topics both significant and relatively unknown. All are superbly researched and written. The Rogue Republic continues that tradition with a compelling history.”—Robert M. Utley, author of Lone Star Justice
“The Rogue Republic skillfully tells the remarkable story of the rogues and dreamers who founded the Republic of West Florida.”—David O. Stewart, author of The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution
About the Author
The author of more than forty books, WILLIAM C. DAVIS is the director of programs at the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies. He is also chief consultant for the AandE television series Civil War Journal and teaches history at Virginia Tech.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS
and#160;and#160;Dramatis Personaeand#160;ix
and#160;and#160;Preface: Revolutionsand#160;xiii
and#160;1and#160;Realm of Happinessand#160;1
and#160;2and#160;Kemper and His Madly Deluded Partyand#160;21
and#160;3and#160;The Late Insurrection at Baton Rougeand#160;38
and#160;4and#160;Birds of a Featherand#160;53
and#160;5and#160;You Have Ruined Our Countryand#160;69
and#160;6and#160;Live Hogs, Bees-Wax, Coffee, Etc.and#160;84
and#160;7and#160;A Second Edition of the Kemper Attemptand#160;98
and#160;8and#160;Our Tribunal Cannot Be Men of Businessand#160;112
and#160;9and#160;The Spirit of Independenceand#160;125
and#160;10and#160;A New Order of Thingsand#160;142
and#160;11and#160;Thus Has Terminated the Revolutionand#160;155
and#160;12and#160;A Battle for the Freedom of the Worldand#160;172
and#160;13and#160;The Commonwealth of West Floridaand#160;188
and#160;14and#160;Our Infant but Beloved Countryand#160;201
and#160;15and#160;The Star Will Rise and Shineand#160;216
and#160;16and#160;Vive la West Floridayand#160;229
and#160;17and#160;The Whole of the Mississippi Is Now Americanand#160;247
and#160;18and#160;The Star of Florida Is Not Setand#160;257
and#160;19and#160;The Old Heroand#160;275
and#160;and#160;Acknowledgmentsand#160;299
and#160;and#160;Notesand#160;301
and#160;and#160;Bibliographyand#160;373
and#160;and#160;Indexand#160;387
and#160;