Naval Battle of Campeche

Naval Battle of Campeche
Naval Battle of Campeche
Part of Texas-Mexican Wars and Yucatan Rebellion
Texan schooner Austin.jpg
The sloop-of-war Austin.
Date April 30–May 16, 1843
Location near Campeche, Mexico
Result Texas and Yucatan tactical victory, Mexican strategic victory
Belligerents
 Republic of Texas
 Republic of Yucatán
 Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Republic of Texas Edwin Ward Moore
Republic of Yucatán James D. Boylan
Mexico Tomas Marin
Strength
1 sloop-of-war
1 brig
2 schooners
5 gunboats[1]
3 steamers
2 brigs
2 schooners[2]
Casualties and losses
7 killed
24 wounded
30 killed
55 wounded

The Naval Battle of Campeche took place on April 30, 1843 and May 16, 1843. The battle featured the most advanced warships of its day, including the Mexican steamer Guadalupe and the equally formidable Moctezuma which engaged a squadron of vessels from the Republic of Yucatan and the Republic of Texas. The latter force consisted of the sloop Austin, commanded by Commodore Edwin Ward Moore, the brig Wharton, and a couple of schooners and five gunboats from the Republic of Yucatán, commanded by former Texas Navy Captain James D. Boylan. Texas had declared its independence in 1836 but Mexico did not recognize its independence, in Yucatán, a similar rebellion had begun and was fought off-and-on from 1836 to 1846. The battle ended in a combined Yucatecan and Texan victory.[3]

Contents

Background

Commodore Edwin Ward Moore had been waging a campaign against Mexican fishing vessels in the Gulf and disrupting commerce, because it was mistakenly thought in Texas that the Mexicans were planning some type of amphibious assault on Texas in order to retake the rebellious province. During these operations, Moore's fleet lost several ships to open rebellion and mutiny. He could not fully retrofit and rearm his ships when he put in at New Orleans, and the government of Texas refused him any more funds and subsequently ordered him back to Texas so that the fleet could be scrapped or sold. Moore himself mutinied against the Texas government, and disregarding their direct orders, allied himself with the Yucatan government, who at the time was in open rebellion against the tyrannical central Mexican government. The Yucatan government reportedly paid Moore $8,000 a month for his services. Moore, now fully funded, set sail to lift the Mexican naval blockcade of the port of Campeche.

Battle

The brig Wharton depicted on Texan currency.

The battle began on April 30, and involved the Texas-Yucatan force that had been attacking and clearing the Gulf of Mexico of small Mexican fishing boats, against a small Mexican squadron which consisted of small sailing ships and one small steamer, the "Regenerator". The initial battle lasted only a few hours and was a draw as both sides retired. After rearming, the Texan ships sailed out and encountered the much stronger Mexican squadron on May 16, which included the modern steamships Guadalupe and the Moctezuma, commanded by British officers and manned by both British and Mexican seamen. After approaching the Mexican fleet with extreme caution and trepidation, Moore engaged the Mexicans and British. After three hours of broadsides, the battle was more or less a draw, with both sides withdrawing after sustaining considerable damage and casualties. The Texans suffered the most physical damage to their ships, while the Mexicans and British suffered more casualties. In the aftermath, both sides claimed victory. The battle scene was memorialized in an engraving on the cylinder of the famed Colt Navy Revolver.[4]

The Mexican steamship, "Regenerator" and its battered attendant squadron rejoined the Guadalupe and the Moctezuma flotilla on or about May 19, and in the face of this overwhelming force, the Texas squadron retreated to Galveston. After their return, they were acclaimed as heroes, even though Texas President Sam Houston had declared the ships' captains and crew pirates for sailing to the Bay of Campeche against his wishes. Having fought the superior Mexican squadron to a draw was an admirable achievement for Commodore Moore, whose own principal ships were wholly sail-powered while the Mexican fleet had deployed three modern British built and commanded steam-powered warships. Most previous sea battles between the two sides had ended in victories for the Mexicans, including the disastrous taking of the Texan schooner Independence, in 1837.

Order of Battle

Texas Navy:

Yucatecan Navy:

Mexican Navy:

  • Guadaloupe, 7 guns, steamer, flagship
  • Moctezuma, 4 guns, steamer
  • Regenerator, steamer
  • Yucateco, 12 guns, brig
  • Iman, 7 guns, brig
  • Eagle, 7 guns, schooner
  • Campechano, 3 guns, schooner

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.texasnavy.com/combat.htm
  2. ^ http://www.texasnavy.com/combat.htm
  3. ^ Jordan, Jonathan W., Lone Star Navy: Texas, the Fight for the Gulf of Mexico, and the Shaping of the American West (Potomac Books 2007)
  4. ^ Handbook of Texas


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • First Texas Navy — Naval operations of the Texas Revolution Part of the Texas Revolution …   Wikipedia

  • Texan sloop-of-war Austin — The Texan sloop of war Austin was the flagship of the Second Texas Navy from 1840 1846. Commanded by Commodore Edwin Ward Moore, she led a flotilla in the capture of Villahermosa in 1840. After a period of inaction in port, Austin participated in …   Wikipedia

  • Mexican Navy — (Armada de México) Mexican Navy Emblem Active January 19, 1821 Countr …   Wikipedia

  • Texan brig Wharton — The Texan brig Wharton was a two masted brig of the Second Texas Navy from 1839 1846. She was the sister ship of the Archer . Accompanying the Texas flagship, Austin , she defeated a larger force of Mexican Navy steamships in the Naval Battle of… …   Wikipedia

  • Texas Navy — The Texas Navy was the official navy of the Republic of Texas.There were three Texas Navies. The second was re established in 1958 by Governor Price Daniel. This re established navy became the third navy of Texas. The purpose of the third Navy… …   Wikipedia

  • Texan schooner San Antonio — The Texan schooner San Antonio was a two masted schooner of the Second Texas Navy from 1839 1840. She was the sister ship of the San Jacinto and the San Bernard . In 1840, San Antonio was part of the Texas Navy flotilla led by Commodore Edwin… …   Wikipedia

  • Cornelis Jol — Cornelius Jol 1597 – 1641 Nickname Pie de Palo Type Corsair Place of birth Scheveningen, Netherlands Place of …   Wikipedia

  • Mexico City — This article is about the capital of Mexico, coterminous with the Federal District. For other uses, see Mexico City (disambiguation). Mexico City   City   Ciudad de México City of Mexico …   Wikipedia

  • October 23 — << October 2011 >> Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 …   Wikipedia

  • Edwin Ward Moore — (July 15, 1810 ndash; October 5, 1865), sailor/commodore (1839 ndash;1843) of the Second Navy for the Republic of Texas. Early lifeMoore was born in Alexandria, Virginia to a family with a rich naval tradition. His grandfather and uncle had… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”