In a letter dated October 4th 1778, George Washington wrote: “If the Spaniards would but join their fleets to those of France, and commence hostilities, my doubts would all subside. Among the many Hispanos who answered Washington’s call to fight the British were Juan de Mirrales and Jorge Ferragut. Juan de Mirrales, the first Diplomat to the colonies, not only financed, supplied and repaired several US ships from South Carolina, but also fought the British in New York. Ferragut, father of civil war hero Admiral David Glasgow Ferragut, fought courageously in the Continental Army and Navy. He fought the British at Savannah, Cowpens and Wilmington as well as in the War of 1812 alongside his son. Both men helped establish the United States of America.