PREFACE

This report has been undertaken to provide a documented narrative of the Colbert Raid, its background, and sufficient collateral information to enable an artist to prepare an interpretive painting of this Anglo-Spanish engagement in the trans-Mississippi West. In view of Condition 2 of the donation agreement with the Daughters of the American Revolution, it was mandatory to determine the approximate site of Fort Carlos III and the location of the April 17, 1783, engagement.

The report, in accordance with suggestions made by management, consists of three parts--Section I, recommendations, Section II, a documented narrative; and Section III, data useful to the painter.

A number of persons have assisted with the preparation of this report. Particular thanks are due Superintendent D. L. Huggins and Ranger Gregorio S. A. Carrera of Arkansas Post National Memorial for their assistance, interest, and encouragement. My colleagues and friends Jack Walker of the Southeast Archeological Center, Ricardo Torres-Reyes of the North Atlantic Regional Office, and Dr. Harry Pfanz and Barry Mackintosh of Park Historic Preservation read the manuscript in draft, and shared with me their knowledge. Dr. William Sturtevant of the Smithsonian Institution and Mrs. Carol Irwin Mason of Appleton, Wisconsin, discussed with me the likely garb of Colbert and his partisans. My friend Historical Architect John Garner of the Southeast Region prepared the sections on the Fort Carlos III stockade.

To my friends in Arkansas County, I, as always, owe a debt of gratitude for assistance. Those who were especially helpful were: Bill Norsworthy, Johnny Gunnell, and Bruce Kendall at the Arkansas County Courthouse in DeWitt; Mrs. Norman Core of Almyra; Garner Allen of the Stuttgart News-Leader; and Mrs. Thelma Mattmiller of the Arkansas County Museum. Dr. John Ferguson and the staff of the Arkansas History Commission went out of their way to be helpful, as did Mrs. Margaret Ross of the Arkansas Gazette.

Mike Rumbaitis of the Denver Service Center's Southwest Team had the difficult task of coordinating and integrating this project in the comprehensive development program at Arkansas Post, while Barbara Hudson had the most difficult task of all--turning my scrawl into a typed manuscript.