CROATIANS IN THE AMERICAS

Adam S. Eterovich

American Revolution 1776

German Hessian Troops, French Ships, Spain and Holland

and

Croatians from Dalmatia

The thirteen American colonies wanted to be free from rule by Great Britain. Freedom would make it possible to create a new kind of government without a king. In the democracy envisioned by the country's earliest leaders, Americans would govern themselves based on certain principles or ideals. The British decided to use Hessian soldiers to fight against the colonists. Hessians were mostly German mercenaries who fought for anyone who paid them. The French decided to enter the war on the American side. The government recognized American independence. In 1779 Spain entered the war against the British. And the next year, the British were also fighting the Dutch to stop their trade with America. The French sent gunpowder, soldiers, officers, and ships to the Americans. However, neither side made much progress in the war for the next two years. The Americans were fighting at home, while the British had to bring troops and supplies from across a wide ocean. The peace treaty ending the American Revolution was signed in Paris in 1783. The independence of the United States was recognized. Western and northern borders were set. Thirteen colonies were free.

Croatian-Dalmatians to Fight in American Revolution of 1776

VESCOVICH COUNT: Letter to Lt. General [James] Murray, informing him that he has received the English King's approbation of what has been done 'with ample authority to exert every means in my power for the very important object in question' adding that it makes him 'tremble however for the safe arrival of the Vessels that may be sent down, nevertheless all risk must be run', reporting that General Paoli recommends that the Corsicans be incorporated 'in some English, or German Hanoverian Regiment, in consideration of whatever future Events may happen', stating that he daily expects the return of Count Vescovich from Venice to raise a number of Dalmatians (Croatians). and wishing Murray 'compleat Success in the noble Exertions You are making for the defence of your Castle and for the Honour of His Majesty's Arms', In 1781, Minorca, where Murray was Governor, was threatened with a siege. (Mann, H. 1781)

In the book by Pjera del Negro, Il Mito Americano Nell Venezia del Settecento, 1975, Padova, on page 200-201, it is reported that 3000 Venetians (Dalmatians) went to the Garrison at Port Mahon, island of Minorca.

In Frederick Lane’s book, Venice a Maritime Republic, 1973, on page 425 it is reported that 3000 Venetian sailors were taken into the British Fleet during the American Revolution as reported by the French Consul. The majority were Dalmatian as per Lane. (Eterovich, A. 2003)

Dalmatia in the New World-New England 1523

Giovanni Verrazano traveled to the New World in 1523-24 in the name of the King of France and is credited with the discovery of parts of Canada and the New England coast down to New York and the Carolinas. New England was first called New Dalmatia.

Dalmatia in the New World: In a book by Jacques Habert on the voyages of Verrazano in French, a chapter heading Is entitled: "La Dalmate Da Nouveau Monde," A book by Carlos Pazzini in Italian on the adventures of Verrazano we have "La Dalmazia del Nuovo Mondo.” The American Scenic and Historical Society in a description of the American coast also has a heading; "Dalmatia of the New World." This is New England today.

"The Verrazano letter, found in French archives, was widely quoted and discussed by historians and cartographers, Ganong, one of the most respected, quotes the letter as follows: "Departing from this place, skirting between east and north a coast where no intercourse was had with the natives, the land was found very beautiful, open and bare of forests, with high mountains back inland, growing smaller toward the shore of the sea. In fifty leagues we discovered XXXII islands, all near the continent, small and of pleasing appearance, high, following the curving of the land, among which were formed most beautiful ports and channels, as in the Adriatic Gulf, in the Illyrias, and Dalmatia" (Croatia).

B. F. DeCosta in his book on Verrazano in 1880 states: " Again, In speaking of, the resemblance of the American coast to the shores of the Adriatic,“ the Carli version reads, 'the Adriatic Gulf near Illyria and Dalmatia,' while the Ramusio version reads, 'Sclavonia and Dalmatia.' Scythia was included in Tartary, and Illyria, was inhabited by Sclavonians (Croatians), who were widely distributed. The terms employed are such as might properly be used by two translators, while those of Ramusio are manifestly not the terms that would have been substituted by a critic engaged in making improvements. "The Slavonians (Croatians) were spread far and wide, but the true country of Sclavonia formed a part of Hungary then as now. It is depicted on Verrazano's map, and is not depicted as extending to the coast. Illyria was called Slavonia, only because occupied by a Slav population.” (De Costa 1880)

Gold Fleet "The 12 Apostles” 1588

OHMUCHIEVICH, DON PEDRO: Don Pedro d'Iveglia Ohmuchievich, obtained fame as a Spanish admiral. He was in command of the first Hispanic-Ragusan squadron, organized by him under Philip II of Spain. The Hispanic-Ragusan squadron which operated in the American Indies and the Atlantic in the service of the kings of Spain under the supreme command of Admiral Don Pedro d'Iveglia Ohmuchievich, had exactly 12 big galleons. The ships were heavily armed,'' built with three masts, and large enough to accommodate an imposing fighting force. To mark the significance assigned to the 12 ships of Don Pedro's squadron, Philip II called them "The 12 Apostles”. The ships carried a complement of 3,200 men, mostly from the territory of Dubrovnik-Ragusa, Croatia. The first appearance of Don Pedro's squadron at 1588 which would indicate that the Hispanic-Ragusan flotilla, the constant aid of the Spanish crown in the defense of its dominions in America. In the course of ceaseless, voyages across the Atlantic over a period of twenty-six years Don Pedro gained for his original squadron and for all the other Hispanic-Ragusan squadrons which followed in its wake the widely recognized and still remembered title "Squadra del' Indie " and "Squadra del Mar Oceano". Simeon Ohmuchievich was capellan with the rank of predicador in Don Pedro's squadron. The Maritime Museum in Dubrovnik has a highly decorative original canvas painted in oil by an unknown artist, entitled "Ohmuchievich of Slano, admiral in foreign navies, dressed in rich uniform, with family coat of arms, ship, globe, and compass." (Gavrilovich, S. 1962) Don Pedro also chased and almost caught Sir Francis Drake in the Caribbean. (Corbett, J. 1897)

Marine’s Hymn-Barbary Pirates 1785

“To the shores of Tripoli”

ULOVICH, LUCO Captain: The Barbary Pirates in North Africa from Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli continuously attacked Christian ships from the 16th to 19th centuries, playing havoc on the seas. The New American Republic in the late 18th century started to ship and trade in the Mediterranean area and in 1785, Algiers seized the American schooner Maria and the ship Dauphin, holding their men for ransom of $2,800 apiece. The United States would not pay. in 1793, Algiers seized 11 more American vessels and increased the number of slaves to 119. The U.S. Government paid $642,000 for their release. The pirates continued to raid American shipping and in 1803, the frigate, Philadelphia, was sent to Tripoli to blockade the port. The Philadelphia ran aground and surrendered as the crew was taken into slavery. While the sea war simmered down, a remarkable campaign began on land. The American consul, William Eaton, began to recruit a mercenary army in Egypt. There were 300 Arabs, an English soldier of fortune named Farquhar, 107 camels, 38 Greek mercenaries and various officers of shady pedigree, including Capt. Luco Ulovic, Capt. Vincenzio, Col. Santuari, Lt. Roco and 25 cannoneers of mixed nationalities. A doctor, Francisco Mendrici, was also in the party along with eight U. S. Marines commanded by Lt. Presley Neville O’Bannon. This band of mercenaries under the command of the U. S. Marines traveled over 500 miles of desert coastline before capturing the coastal town of Derna, controlled by the Bey of Tripoli. This ended their campaign. The campaign is commemorated in the second line of the Marine’s Hymn, “To the shores of Tripoli” and the dress sword of the Marine Corps officer has, to this day, a curved Arabian hilt as a nod to Lt. Presley O’Bannon. The first act of piracy in 1785 to the conclusion of the above campaign caused the young American nation under President George Washington to create officially the United States Navy in 1794. Our Navel archives would certainly shed more information on the names of the mercenaries, but it is beyond a doubt that Capt. Luco Ulovic was a Croatian and perhaps Dr. Medrici. Colonel Santuari was identified as an “Austrian”.

There were actually two main groups of pirates in the Mediterranean--the Barbary pirates and the Dalmatian pirates in the Adriatic. They practiced their trade for several centuries (1200-1850). The Croatians, as subjects of the Ottoman Turks, were in direct contact with North Africa as fellow Moslems and the Dalmatian Croatians were either Venetian citizens or subjects of Venice. They actually appeared on both sides of the question in the piracy conflict. The North African Arabs never had a tradition of ships or seamanship and it is easily understood how many would have been in the service of the pirates or used as mercenaries by many powers of groups. Yes, Croatians fought with the new United States Navy and Marines. Another interesting fact is that of all the pirates and pashas, Piala Pasha, a Croatian, was one of the Barbary rulers! (Eterovich, A. 1976)