Shocked by the surrender, Folch arrested the responsible officers and ignored the reasons for it. He maligned the officers and insisted they be tried for dereliction of duty. Although required to wait until the governor issued an order, Folch embarked with troops, supplies, and ships to recover San Marcos. Not knowing about Folch's activities, Governor Casa-Calvo dispatched his own expedition to recover the fort, but it moved slowly. Folch acted swiftly, failing to capture Bowles but seizing the fort with little fighting. Bowles's defenders were few. Folch also recovered the ships and...

Shocked by the surrender, Folch arrested the responsible officers and ignored the reasons for it. He maligned the officers and insisted they be tried for dereliction of duty. Although required to wait until the governor issued an order, Folch embarked with troops, supplies, and ships to recover San Marcos. Not knowing about Folch's activities, Governor Casa-Calvo dispatched his own expedition to recover the fort, but it moved slowly. Folch acted swiftly, failing to capture Bowles but seizing the fort with little fighting. Bowles's defenders were few. Folch also recovered the ships and correspondence that Bowles had captured, assigned troops to the fort, and returned to Pensacola. Apalache, however, remained restless because Bowles might attack again. Folch berated the Indians for supporting Bowles, which earned him a reprimand. Folch's recovery of the fort spared him further criticism for disobeying established procedures. Captain General Someruelos supported him.