Battle of San Fernando de Omoa

Battle of San Fernando de Omoa
Part of the American Revolutionary War

Exterior view of the fort at San Fernando de Omoa. Photo taken in 2006
Date16 October–29 November 1779
Location
Result

British victory

  • Subsequent withdrawal on the 29 November.[1][2][3][4]
  • The fortress was later reoccupied by Spain.[5]
Belligerents
 Great Britain Spain Spain
Commanders and leaders
William Dalrymple
John Luttrell
Matías de Gálvez
Simón Desnaux
Juan Dastiex
Strength
885 regulars, marines, militia, & natives[6]
12 ships
365 regulars & militia
2 ships
Casualties and losses
6 killed
14 wounded
additional casualties to disease[7]
1 frigate damaged
2 wounded
360 captured
2 ships captured[4]

The Battle of San Fernando de Omoa was a short siege and battle between British and Spanish forces fought not long after Spain entered the American Revolutionary War on the American side. On the 16 October 1779, following a brief attempt at siege, a force of 150 British soldiers and seamen assaulted and captured the fortifications at San Fernando de Omoa in the Captaincy General of Guatemala (now Honduras) on the Gulf of Honduras.

The British forces managed to overwhelm and capture the Spanish garrison, consisting of 365 men. The British only held the fort until November 1779. They then withdrew the garrison, which tropical diseases had reduced, and which was under threat of a Spanish counter-attack.

  1. ^ Marley, p. 324
  2. ^ Fernández Duro, p. 283
  3. ^ Ortiz Escamilla, p. 104
  4. ^ a b Fortescue p. 309
  5. ^ Chávez (2004), p. 158
  6. ^ Journal of Rear-Admiral Bartholomew James, 1752-1828
  7. ^ Beatson, p. 167