Callao affair

Callao affair
Part of the Peruvian War of Independence
The rebuilt USS Macedonian in Ireland during the Great Famine.
Date November 5–6, 1820 Location Callao, Peru, Pacific Ocean Result Spanish vow to punish those responsible for attacks on American shipping.
Belligerents
United States	Spain
Commanders and leaders
John Downes	Joaquin de la Pezuela
Strength
1 frigate 6 schooners	1 fort
Casualties and losses
2 killed 6 wounded[1] 1 frigate damaged 2 schooners damaged	None

The Callao affair occurred in November 1820, during the Peruvian War of Independence. It began when a Spanish fort opened fire on the United States warship USS Macedonian. Though the ship was damaged, the Americans did not violate their neutrality by counterattacking. On the following day, a boat filled with United States Navy sailors was attacked, resulting in the deaths of two seamen and the wounding of eight others. Two days after that, an American merchant ship was attacked and her crew had to abandon ship. Ultimately, there was no significant response by the United States to the attacks on their shipping and their citizens, though the Spanish government vowed to punish the perpetrators.^[2]