British invasions of the River Plate
British invasions of the River Plate | |||||||
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Part of Santiago de Liniers (1806) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Spain
| United Kingdom | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Home Riggs Popham William Beresford John Whitelocke Samuel Auchmuty Charles Stirling George Murray | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
First invasion:
Second invasion:
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First invasion:
Second invasion: | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
First invasion: 205 dead and wounded[6] Second invasion (Montevideo): 1,500 casualties Second invasion (Buenos Aires): 600 killed and wounded[1][7] |
First invasion: 157 dead and wounded, 1,300 captured[8] Second invasion (Montevideo): 600 casualties Second invasion (Buenos Aires): 311 killed, 208 missing, 679 wounded, 1,600 captured[1][7] |
The British invasions of the River Plate were two unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colony of the
Overview
The invasions occurred in two phases. A detachment from the British army occupied Buenos Aires for 46 days in 1806 before being expelled. In 1807, a second force stormed and occupied Montevideo, remaining for several months, and a third force made a second attempt to take Buenos Aires. After several days of street fighting against the local militia and Spanish colonial army, in which half of the British forces were killed or wounded, the British were forced to capitulate and withdraw from Montevideo two months later.
The social effects of the invasions are among the
Background
Pedro de Mendoza founded the Ciudad de Nuestra Señora del Buen Ayre (The City of Our Lady of the Fair Winds) on 2 February 1536 as a Spanish settlement. The site was abandoned in 1541, but it was re-established in 1580 by Juan de Garay with the name Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María del Buen Ayre (City of the Most Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds), and the city became one of the largest in the Americas. A Portuguese colony was founded at Colonia del Sacramento, on the opposite bank of the Río de la Plata, in 1680. To deter Portuguese expansion, the Spanish founded Montevideo in 1726, and Colonia was finally ceded to Spain under the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1777, one year after the creation of the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, the forerunner of modern Argentina.
The
The Napoleonic Wars played a key role in the Rio de la Plata conflict and since the beginning of the European conquest of the Americas, the British had been interested in the riches of the region. The Peace of Basel in 1795 ended the war between Spain and France. In 1796, by the Second Treaty of San Ildefonso, Spain joined France in its war with the United Kingdom, thus giving the United Kingdom cause for military action against Spanish colonies. In 1805 the United Kingdom judged it the right moment after the defeat of the Franco-Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. This battle forced Spain to reduce to a minimum its naval communications with its American colonies. Historically, Buenos Aires had been relatively neglected by Spain, which sent most of its ships to the more economically important city of Lima. The last time a significant Spanish military force had arrived in Buenos Aires had been in 1784.[2]
British interest in the region
Great Britain had long harboured interests in taking control of the region from the Spanish before the invasions. Attempts had been made by the British in past conflicts to establish a foothold in South America, like in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias, at the peak of the War of Jenkins' Ear.[9]
In 1711, John Pullen stated that the Río de la Plata was the best place in the world for making a British colonial trading base.[10] His proposal included Santa Fe and Asunción, and would have generated an agricultural area with Buenos Aires as the main port. Admiral Vernon also declared the benefit of opening markets in those areas in 1741. By 1780 the British government approved a project of colonel William Fullarton to take the Americas with attacks from both the Atlantic (from Europe) and the Pacific (from India). This project was cancelled.[11]
In 1789 war between Great Britain and Spain seemed imminent after the
All these proposals were discussed in 1804 by William Pitt, Lord Henry Melville, Francisco de Miranda and Sir Home Riggs Popham. Popham did not believe a complete military occupation of South America was practical but argued for taking control of key locations to allow the main objective, to open new markets for the British economy. Although there was consensus for weakening Spanish control over its South American colonies, there was no agreement as to the system and the moment to take such action. For instance, it was not even agreed whether the cities be turned into British colonies after their capture or just be made into British protectorates.[13]
First invasion
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
In 1805 Popham received orders to escort the David Baird-led expedition against the Dutch colony of the Cape of Good Hope, which was allied with Napoleon. With nearly 6,300 men they took it in January 1806. Popham received new orders from the admiralty to patrol the east coast of South America, from Rio de Janeiro to the Río de la Plata, in order to detect any attempt to counterattack the Cape. However, Popham had the idea of taking the Río de la Plata with a military action similar to the one made at the Cape. His agent William White had informed him about the local politics of the city[citation needed], such as the discontent among some groups about the restrictive regulations enforced by Spain about international commerce. Popham manifested Baird his will to take the zone, with or without his help. Baird gave him the 71st Regiment of Infantry, artillery and 1,000 men to attempt the invasion. Baird promoted William Carr Beresford to general and designated him vice governor of the zone if it was taken. The expedition got reinforcements of 300 men from the Artillery and [St Helena] Regiment.[14]
The Spanish Viceroy, Marquis
The British took
Initially the British forces were met with a lukewarm welcome by the residents of the city, with some wealthy families throwing feasts in honour of the British officers.[16] Nevertheless, some political figures remained antagonistic. Manuel Belgrano said "Queremos al antiguo amo o a ninguno" (we want the old Master or none at all) before leaving to Uruguay. Religious leaders swore loyalty as well, after the promise that the Roman Catholic religion would be respected. The Royal Audience ceased its activities. Some merchants were displeased by the repeal of the Spanish monopoly and the opening to British trade, as it harmed their interests; one of their leaders was Martín de Álzaga.
On 4 August 1806, Liniers landed at Las Conchas, north of Buenos Aires, and advanced with a mixed force of Buenos Aires line troops and Montevideo Militia toward the city. On 10 August he took control of the strategic points of Miserere and El Retiro, holding the north and west entries to the city. Beresford finally surrendered on 14 August. An open cabildo decided afterwards to depose Sobremonte from having military authority, and giving such authority, instead, to the victorious Liniers. As written above, Sobremonte's departure at the beginning of the war made him highly unpopular among the peoples of Buenos Aires. Sobremonte would not return to Buenos Aires, and moved to Montevideo instead. The open cabildo also decided to prepare the city against the possibility of a British counter-attack.
Foreseeing the possibility of a second invasion, militias were formed by the Spanish and
On this first invasion, the
Second invasion
Battle of Montevideo
History of Uruguay |
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Uruguay portal |
On 3 February 1807 Montevideo, defended by approximately 5,000 men, was besieged at 2:00am by a 15,000 strong British force in a joint military and naval operation under
Swiftly breached, the city was then assaulted by the
On 10 May,
Second Battle of Buenos Aires
On 1 July, the force led by Liniers engaged the British but was overwhelmed by superior numbers at
By the end of 5 July, the British controlled Retiro and Residencia[22] at the cost of about 70 officers and 1,000 other ranks killed or wounded,[23] but the city's centre was still in the hands of the defenders, and the invaders were now demoralized. At this point, a counter-attack by the militias and colonial troops present, defeated many important British commanders, including Robert Craufurd and Denis Pack. Then Whitelocke proposed a 24-hour truce, which was rejected by Liniers, who ordered an artillery attack.
After suffering 311 killed, 679 wounded and 1,808 captured or missing,[1] Whitelocke signed an armistice with Liniers on 12 August; the local marines playing an important part in defeating Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd and his two thousand troops at the Battle of Plaza del Mercado which is now recalled by the people of Buenos Aires as 'The Defence'.[3] In the confusion of defeat, many British soldiers deserted their units and more than 50 were returned to the British and were court-martialed,[24] while others were allowed to stay and would form part of the 1,200-strong British contingent[25] that would help in the liberation of Chile.[26] Whitelocke left the Río de la Plata basin taking with him the British forces in Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and
According to Uruguayan journalist Juan José de Soiza Reilly, some 3,000 British dead are today buried in a mass grave under passageway Cinco de Julio near Avenida Belgrano in downtown Buenos Aires.[31][32]
In commemoration of the 1806 victory and, by extension, of the campaign as a whole, 12 August is celebrated in Argentina as the day of the "Reconquista de Buenos Aires".[33][34]
Towards independence
After having to fight the British invasions by themselves with little direct help from Spain that at the moment was involved in the
See also
Bibliography
- Hughes, Ben (2014). The British Invasion of the River Plate 1806–1807 : How the Redcoats Were Humbled and a Nation Was Born. South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Book Ltd. ISBN 978-178-159-066-9.
- Fletcher, Ian (2006). The Waters of Oblivion: The British Invasion of the Rio de la Plata, 1806–1807. Staplehurst, Kent, UK: Spellmount. ISBN 186-227-342-1.
- ISBN 950-742-415-6.
- ISBN 950-49-1123-4.
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1576070277. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ a b Invasiones Inglesas Archived 11 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- ^ a b c "'With the Gurkhas in the Falklands' – A War Journal's Postscript By Mike Seer July 2003". Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ The growth and culture of Latin America, Donald Emmet Worcester, Wendell G. Schaeffer, p. 404, Oxford University Press, 1971 [ISBN missing]
- ^ Britain and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History, Will Kaufman; Heidi Slettedahl Macpherson, p. 833, ABC-CLIO, 2005
- ISBN 978-1576070277. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ a b Britain's 'forgotten' invasion of Argentina
- ISBN 978-1576070277. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Pares 1963, pp. 66, 68, 92–93. Also, Le Fevre & Harding 2000, p. 168, "...by taking and holding some of her (Spain's) important colonies.". Similarly, Richmond 1920, p. 16.
- ^ "Buenos Aires – British Invasions of the Rio de la Plata (1806–7) – Manuscript Map & Portrait Collection : A fine collection relating to the British Invasion of the Río De La Plata (1806–7), highlighted by an original contemporary manuscript map of the Seco". Antiquarat Dasa Pahor GbR.
- ^ Luna, pp. 12–13
- ^ Luna, pp. 13–15
- ^ Luna, pp. 15–17
- ^ The National Archives (United Kingdom), Returns of soldiers and officers, document reference: WO 1/161
- ^ Luna, Breve..., p. 52
- ^ Tavani Pérez Colman, Oscar. Martínez de Fontes y la fuga del General Beresford. Editorial Dunken, 2005, p. 49. "The lack of identification with the Spanish government in Buenos Aires began to express itself on the friendly welcome extended to the enemy by ladies who, smiling, gave them welcome. Moreover, the 1 July, Sarratea Martin – father-in-law of Liniers – and his brother-in-law Leon Altolaguirre offered a reception to the British leaders, attended by Santiago de Liniers and his wife's brother-in-law Lázaro de Rivera." – "La ausencia de identificación con el gobierno español en el pueblo de Buenos Aires comenzó a exteriorizarse en la simpática acogida brindad al enemigo por parte de señoritas que, sonrientes, les daban la bienvenida. Es más aún, el día 1º de julio, Martín de Sarratea – suegro de Liniers – y su cuñado León de Altolaguirre ofrecieron una lucida recepción a los jefes británicos a la que concurrieron Santiago de Liniers y su concuñado Lázaro de Rivera."
- ^ Compañía de Granaderos de Infantería o Provinciales
- ^ Chris Brooks. "Argentina: The Path to Independence". Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ISBN 978-0521290104. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The firing now opened from the tops of the houses, whence we also received grenadoes and earthen pots, filled with composition, which burnt several of our party." An authentic narrative of the proceedings of the expedition under the command of Brigadier-Gen. Craufurd, until its arrival at Monte Video; with an account of the operations against Buenos Aires under the command of Lieut.-Gen. Whitelocke, p. 157, G. E. Miles, 1808
- ^ "Invasiones inglesas. La defensa". 1 September 2003. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ An authentic narrative of the proceedings of the expedition under the command of Brigadier-Gen. Craufurd, until its arrival at Monte Video; with an account of the operations against Buenos Aires under the command of Lieut.-Gen. Whitelocke, p. 164, G. E. Miles. 1808. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "In El Retiro, discipline collapsed and desertion soared. On 9 July eleven men of the 45th disappeared, the next day twelve 9th Light Dragoons went missing ... informed of the problem by Whitelocke, Liniers ordered the deserters rounded up and returned to El Retiro. 'Above fifty' were discovered and embarked in chains to stand trial at Monte Video. Many more were never found." The British Invasion of the River Plate 1806–1807: How the Redcoats were Humbled and a Nation was Born, Ben Hughs, p. 212, Praetorian Press, 2013
- ^ José de San Martín y Su tiempo, Luis Navarro García, p. 69, Universidad de Sevilla, 1999
- ^ Historia General de Chile: Parte séptima: La Reconquista Española, de 1814 a 1817, Diego Barros Arana, p. 225, Editorial Universitaria, 2000
- ^ "By midday on 12 July the evacuation was complete. As well as the hostages and their servants, 400 of the most seriously wounded and a number of medical officers were left behind." The British Invasion of the River Plate 1806–1807: How the Redcoats were Humbled and a Nation was Born, Ben Hughs, p. 212, Praetorian Press, 2013
- ^ Walter Frewen Lord, Lost Possessions of Great Britain (London, 1896)
- ^ "A suitable punishment was long debated. To be beaten by the South Americans was so humiliating that desperate measures were called for and Brigadier-General Craufurd 'strove hard to have [Whitelocke] shot.'" The British Invasion of the River Plate 1806–1807: How the Redcoats were Humbled and a Nation was Born, Ben Hughs, p. 219, Praetorian Press, 2013
- ^ "The Foundation of British Strength": National Identity and the British Common Soldier, Steven Schwamenfeld, p. 179, ProQuest,2007
- ^ "El lugar donde yacen 3.000 John Doe". viajes.elpais.com.uy (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ de Soiza Reilly, Juan José (27 May 1939). "En una calle central tenemos tres mil ingleses enterrados". Caras y Caretas (in Spanish). Vol. 2120.
- ^ "Se conmemora un nuevo aniversario de la Reconquista de Buenos Aires". Radio Nacional (in Spanish). 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ TÉLAM. "La 'Reconquista' se celebra este sábado con actividades para todos". www.telam.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "Buenos Aires celebrates routing of British invasion, MercoPress, South Atlantic News Agency, August 12th 2006". MercoPress. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
Works cited
- Le Fevre, Peter; Harding, Richard, eds. (2000). Precursors of Nelson: British admirals of the eighteenth century. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0811729017.
- ISBN 0714619434.
- ISBN 978-1107611641.
External links
- Bad day for the empire by Richard Gott. The Guardian, 13 July 2007
- (in Spanish) History of the Argentine foreign relations Archived 4 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- (in Spanish) British Invasions Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- (in Spanish) Buenos Aires militia uniforms
- Britain's 'forgotten' invasion of Argentina, BBC News, 10 August 2006
- An Authentic Narrative of the Proceedings of the 1807 Expedition Under the General Craufurd by an officer of the 36th Foot. 1808
- (in Spanish and English) Grenadier company, Tercio de Cantabros Historical reenactment group that represents a militia group which had a courageous performance in Buenos Aires in 1807.
- (in Spanish and English) La Expedición Británica de 1806–07 al Rio de la Plata, Según el Diario del Tte. John Bent Archived 25 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine British Expedition of 1806–07 to the Rio del la Plata, Diary of Lieutenant John Bent.