Battle of the Black River

For a battle of the Crimean War, see Battle of the Chernaya.
Battle of the Black River
Part of the American Revolutionary War

Portrait of Colonel Edward Marcus Despard
Date13 April – 23 August 1782
Location
Black River settlement on the Mosquito Coast
15°56′46″N 84°55′48″W / 15.9462°N 84.9299°W / 15.9462; -84.9299 (Black River settlement)
Result British victory[1][2]
Belligerents
Spain Spain  Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Spain Matías de Gálvez
Spain Don Tomás Julia		 Kingdom of Great Britain Edward Despard
Kingdom of Great Britain 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 American War of Independence. They were fought between British and Spanish forces for control of the Black River settlement, located on the Mosquito Shore. Spanish forces forced out a small British garrison and most of the settlers in April 1782. The British responded in August, regrouping the settlers and reinforcing them with troops from Jamaica. They successfully recaptured the settlement from the disease-depleted Spanish force.

  1. ^ Dawson, p. 702
  2. ^ 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."
  3. ^ Beatson pg. 338 (Appendix)
  4. ^ 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."
  5. ^ Jay, p. 94