The term Filibusters sounds unique to American history but is just a less ‘negative’ term for the actions of adventurers that was taking place in Europe, Asia and Africa. In those regions adventurers had been seeking fortunes and establishing independent kingdoms for centuries. The Crusader adventurers were some of the first notable adventurers with the actions in Romania, the Middle East and the Baltic areas. Native men of charisma and strong character had established themselves as Warlords in China and Africa. European Trading companies enforced their ‘rights’ through military force and even ruled vast stretches of land in Asia and Africa.

It should be unexpected that such independently minded adventurers would be found in the Americas. The Pirate ‘Brotherhoods’ established some of the first ‘private empires’ in the Americas and the term Filibusters are thought to originate with these private holdings. However the Conquistadors, though authorized’ by the Spanish Crown, founded several ‘private empires’ until the Spanish Viceroy system was firmly established. Even later adventurers with personal goals headed many of the Independence movements of the early 1800s.

From the beginning, men from the foundling United States of America were involved in Filibuster adventuring. Even the Vice-president Aaron Burr became involved in trying to create an independent country between the Gulf of Mexico and up the Mississippi River to the area around St Louis with its capital at New Orleans. Filibuster efforts were made into Florida (covered in an earlier issue) and Texas in the early 1800s. Many Filibuster efforts were conducted by men acting as ‘agents’ of the American government with ultimate hopes of merging the territory with the United States.

Probably the most successful of the Filibuster efforts was the creation of the Republic of Texas. The effort was the first in its area. Many early Filibuster efforts coincided with Creole efforts to gain self-rule from the Spanish Crown.

Early Filibusters in Texas were associated with the Hildelgo Independence movement in Mexico. These Filibusters wore no formal uniform and fought under the Green Flag of Mexican Independence. Several efforts occurred between 1810 and 1819 to gain freedom from Spain’s rule. Some of these were crushed without a significant battle. Other resulted in bloody clashes between Republican (as Filibuster and Independence supporters were called) and Royalist forces. American filibusters attacked other countries almost every year between the mid-1830s and 1860.

One of the best-known filibusters was William Walker, who invaded Mexico with a private army in 1853 but was repulsed. In 1855 he attacked Nicaragua, soon gaining control of the country. The next year, he became Nicaragua's president.. After losing power in 1857, he attacked Central America again in 1860 but was executed by a Honduran firing squad.

Some filibusters were well-known figures. John Quitman, Mississippi governor in the 1830s and 1850s and a U.S. general in the Mexican-American War of the 1840s, supported Lopez’s attack on Cuba. The Filibuster movement was the strongest in the Southern States where many supporters used the activity to promote the expansion of territory where slavery would be allowed. Filibuster activities were frequent until the American Civil War. Afterwards such activity received less attention and significant efforts were few. Many ‘independent’ minded adventurers were swallowed up by the wide-open American West.

This issue will contain several articles on specific Filibuster Operations. Some I have covered in past issues such as the Georgia ‘Patriot’ effort into Florida and even attempt to establish a Muskogee (Creek) FREE State in the Southeastern USA. Some operations which were crushed without a key battle are also not included.

Early Filibuster Operations in America

Introduction
Filibuster Battles in the Texas Region
The Crabb Venture into Mexico 1857