Spain had officially entered the American Revolutionary War on May 8, 1779, with a formal declaration of war by King Charles III.

This declaration is followed by another on July 8 that authorizes his colonial subjects to engage in hostilities against the British.

When Bernardo de Gálvez, the colonial Governor of Spanish Louisiana, receives word of this on July 21, he immediately begins to secretly plan offensive operations to take British West Florida.

Gálvez, who has been planning for the possibility of war since April, intercepts communications from the British at Pensacola indicating that the British are planning a surprise attack on New Orleans; he decides to launch his own attack first.

To this end, he conceals from the public his receipt of the second proclamation.