Battle of the Black River
Battle of the Black River | |||||||
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Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
Portrait of Colonel Edward Marcus Despard | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Spain | Great Britain | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Edward Despard James Lawrie | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
1,400 regulars, marines and sailors |
1,180+ regulars, militia & Miskitos[3] 12 ships | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
60 killed 100 wounded 750 captured[4] 400 due to disease, 1 ship captured[5] |
Approx. 50 casualties unknown losses due to disease |
The Battle of the Black River was a series of conflicts between April and August 1782 during the
Background
Matías de Gálvez, the
In March 1782 more than 800 Spanish troops led by Gálvez had
The British governor of
Battle
Lawrie was able to regroup a force of about 800 locals (known as the Rattan (Roatan) and Black River Volunteers) and Miskitos in the Cape Gracias a Dios area.[9] These men harassed the Spaniards in guerilla-style warfare. Despard, coming from Jamaica, landed at Cape Gracias a Dios and reached the mouth of the Plantain River with men of the Loyalist company known as the Loyal American Rangers; these eventually met up with Lawrie and his force. Combined with the supporting force that now consisted of 80 Loyalist Americans, 500 settlers (shoremen and freed slaves) and 600 Miskitos, there were 1,200 men in total. A squadron of Royal Navy and armed merchant ships stood by in support. Despard wasted no time in attacking the Spanish to gain the element of surprise.
Meanwhile, the Spanish garrison on Black River had been reduced by disease since its capture in early April.[9] At Quipriva where Fort Dalling was located, a small Spanish contingent of 75 Spaniards was surprised, and all but one were either killed or taken prisoner: a survivor by the name of Manuel Rivas escaped to warn the other soldiers at Caribe.
Finally on 22 August,
Aftermath
Lawrie and
Juan de Cagigal, Governor of Havana, had learned of the defeat, had fallen into disfavour with Gálvez, and was about to remove him from command altogether. Nevertheless, Gálvez requested reinforcements but none were coming from the governor. However, this time the Spanish with their French allies were on the defensive, their strategy having changed somewhat after the Battle of the Saintes. Paranoia swept through the Spanish command and set back their task of defending Havana and San Juan, Puerto Rico, which took priority over any offensive operations. Further military operations by the Bourbon allies in the Americas were also placed on hold due to the concentration of military operations in Europe (particularly at Gibraltar), and peace talks in Europe were taking place.[7] British forces were able to take advantage of this inaction by recapturing the Bahamas in 1783. Lawrie and Despard held the British settlements in the Mosquito Coast until the end of the war.
For his efforts, Despard was rewarded with the honour of Superintendent of the Bay of Honduras, and for a number of years ruled the territory that became Belize.
References
- ^ Dawson, p. 702
- ^ Jay, p. 96. "Despard's reconquest of the Black River settlements ensured through various treaties over the next decade that Great Britain would have a presence in Central America which would last until September 1981 with the independence of Belize."
- ^ Beatson pg. 338 (Appendix)
- ^ Beatson pg. 338 (Appendix). "27 officers, 715 rank and file. With this detachment were taken 1 stand of colours, 2 twelve-pounders, 7 six-pounders, 11 fourpounders, iron – 4 four-pounders brass; 1 eight-inch howitzer, and 1,000 firelocks, which, together with the artillery in Fort Balling, amount to 31 pieces of cannon, 1 cohorn, 1 howitzer, 1000 firelocks, a quantity of ammunition, and 2 stand of colours."
- ^ Jay, p. 94
- ^ Chávez, p. 151
- ^ a b c d Chavez, p. 165
- ^ Jay, p. 93
- ^ a b c Dawson, p. 701
Bibliography
- Beatson, Robert. Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, from 1727 to 1783, Vol. I; Vol. III, Appendix, London, 1804.
- Dawson, Frank Griffith (November 1983). "William Pitt's Settlement at Black River on the Mosquito Shore: A Challenge to Spain in Central America, 1732–87". The Hispanic American Historical Review. 63 (4). Duke University Press: 677–706. JSTOR 2514901.
- Chávez, Thomas E (2004). Spain and the Independence of the United States: An Intrinsic Gift. UNM Press. OCLC 149117944.
- Jay, Mike (2004). The Unfortunate Colonel Despard. Bantam Press ISBN 0-593-05195-5
- Nichols, John (1782). The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 52. London.