The 50-gun HMS Salisbury had sailed for Jamaica in January 1779 under the command of Charles Inglis.[3] On 12 December she was sailing in the Bay of Honduras off the coast of the Punta Sal when at daybreak a large ship was sighted ahead.[1] Inglis gave chase, a pursuit which lasted all day until Salisbury came in range at 6.30pm. The fleeing ship hoisted Spanish colours and an action began, which lasted until 8.30 pm when the Spanish ship had her mainmast shot away. Having sustained heavy casualties and suffered considerable damage, she struck her colours.[1] She was found to be the 50-gun privateerSan Carlos under Don Juan Antonio Zavelleta, carrying stores; mainly 5,000 stand of arms heading from Cadiz to Fort Omoa, which had recently been captured and then abandoned by British forces.[4]
In the battle the San Carlos had a complement of 397 men with 60 men killed or wounded and the rest being captured.[1] Four men were killed on Salisbury and fourteen wounded of which five were mortal.[1] Inglis then sailed to Jamaica carrying the San Carlos in and then distributed the prize money before heading to North America by the summer of 1780.[2][3]
^ ab"Inglis, Charles (1731?–1791)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14398. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Schomberg, Isaac (1802). Naval Chronology, Or an Historical Summary of Naval and Maritime Events from the Time of the Romans, to the Treaty of Peace 1802. Bavarian State Library. pp. 476–77. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
Further Reading
Allen, Joseph (1852). Battles of the British Navy, Volume 1. Bohn's illustrated library. ASIN B009ZMMQ56.
January 01, 1970
action, december, 1779, part, american, revolutionary, wardate12, december, 1779locationoff, punta, present, hondurasresultbritish, victorybelligerents, great, britainspaincommanders, leaderscharles, inglisjuan, antonio, zavelletastrength1, ship, line, salisbu. Action of 12 December 1779Part of the American Revolutionary WarDate12 December 1779Locationoff Punta Sal present day Bay of HondurasResultBritish victoryBelligerents Great BritainSpainCommanders and leadersCharles InglisJuan Antonio ZavelletaStrength1 ship of the line HMS Salisbury 1 ship of the line San Carlos Casualties and losses9 killed9 wounded1 ship of the line captured60 killed or wounded337 captured 1 The action of 12 December 1779 was a minor naval engagement that took place in the Bay of Honduras during the American Revolutionary War between a British Royal naval Fourth rate fifty gun ship and a fifty gun Spanish privateer 2 The 50 gun HMS Salisbury had sailed for Jamaica in January 1779 under the command of Charles Inglis 3 On 12 December she was sailing in the Bay of Honduras off the coast of the Punta Sal when at daybreak a large ship was sighted ahead 1 Inglis gave chase a pursuit which lasted all day until Salisbury came in range at 6 30pm The fleeing ship hoisted Spanish colours and an action began which lasted until 8 30 pm when the Spanish ship had her mainmast shot away Having sustained heavy casualties and suffered considerable damage she struck her colours 1 She was found to be the 50 gun privateer San Carlos under Don Juan Antonio Zavelleta carrying stores mainly 5 000 stand of arms heading from Cadiz to Fort Omoa which had recently been captured and then abandoned by British forces 4 In the battle the San Carlos had a complement of 397 men with 60 men killed or wounded and the rest being captured 1 Four men were killed on Salisbury and fourteen wounded of which five were mortal 1 Inglis then sailed to Jamaica carrying the San Carlos in and then distributed the prize money before heading to North America by the summer of 1780 2 3 References editNotes a b c d e Allen 1853 p 255 a b Inglis Charles 1731 1791 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press 2004 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 14398 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b Winfield 2007 p 148 Schomberg Isaac 1802 Naval Chronology Or an Historical Summary of Naval and Maritime Events from the Time of the Romans to the Treaty of Peace 1802 Bavarian State Library pp 476 77 Retrieved 18 June 2014 Further Reading Allen Joseph 1852 Battles of the British Navy Volume 1 Bohn s illustrated library ASIN B009ZMMQ56 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Action of 12 December 1779 amp oldid 1224531227, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
