The Battle of Punta Malpelo was a naval encounter between a Peruvian corvette and two Gran Colombian vessels on 31 August 1828, near the port of Guayaquil, and was the first major combat of the Peruvian Navy as an independent force of the newborn Peruvian nation.
In June 1828, Gran Colombia declared a state of war on Peru under allegations that it had fomented a rebellion against Colombian forces in Bolivia. Gran Colombia's leader, Simon Bolivar, also demanded the payment of a debt of several million pesos resulting from the Peruvian War of Independence; and the cession of the northern provinces of Jaén and Maynas. The consequent Peruvian declaration of war against Gran Colombia occurred on 3 July 1828 when the Peruvian government, under President Jose de La Mar, ordered a mobilization of its ground and naval forces.
Battleedit
On 2 July 1828, the Peruvian corvette Libertad armed with 24 guns and a crew of 124 men under Captain Carlos Garcia del Postigo (a Chilean-born officer under the service of the Peruvian Navy), sailed towards Guayaquil with orders to cross the Gulf and guard the entrance to the Guayaquil River. On 31 August 1828, the Peruvian vessel was intercepted by two Gran-Colombian warships, the schooner Guayaquileña and the corvette Pichincha, commanded by Irish-born Captain Thomas C. Wright. Captain Wright, aboard the Guayaquileña, inquired to the commander of Libertad about his activities in Gran-Colombian waters, but suddenly the Peruvian corvette opened fire, starting a close-quarter artillery duel, during which the Peruvians almost boarded the Guayaquileña; meanwhile, the Pichincha stayed away and didn't participate in the combat. At the peak of the struggle, the Gran-Colombians ships suddenly retreated towards Guayaquil and were pursued closely by the Libertad. The pursuit ceased when the Libertad was forced to return to tend the wounded and bury the dead. The Peruvians lost 15 killed and 28 wounded, while the Gran-Colombians suffered 24 killed and 36 wounded.
Ships involvededit
The Libertad was a corvette originally named General Brown, purchased from Chile in January 1826 for 25 thousand pesos under the name General Salom, that started its service for the Peruvian Navy as a transport vessel, and on 6 March 1827 was finally named Libertad. On 8 January 1828, the Commander-in-Chief of the Peruvian Navy, Rear Admiral José Pascual de Vivero, established a budget of 7,354 pesos to convert the Libertad into a warship, initially armed with 22 12-pounder guns taken from the corvette Limeña. On 14 May 1828 the Chilean officer Carlos García del Postigo Búlnes was assigned as commander of the vessel.
The schooner Guayaquileña was armed with twelve 12-pounder guns, and was under the command of Lieutenant Claudio Johnston. Among the officers on board were two future Ecuadorian presidents, ensign José María Urvina and midshipman Francisco Robles. The Pichincha was under the command of Captain Archibald Taylor.
Aftermathedit
After this encounter the Peruvian Navy, composed at that time of 16 warships and transports, among them the frigate Presidente, started a naval blockade ordered by the Peruvian government on 19 September 1828, of the entire Gran Colombian Pacific coasts. This was from Machala (Ecuador) to Panama. Thanks to this action the Gran Colombian Navy was unable to use its main ports in the Pacific.
Referencesedit
Bibliographyedit
Restrepo, José Manuel (1858). "Chapter XIV". Historia de la revolución de la República de Colombia en la América Meridional (in Spanish). Vol. Tome IV (1st ed.). Grand-Rue nº 14, Bezasón: Imprenta de José Jacquin. p. 145. Retrieved 2009-09-04.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
. Peruvian Navy Website (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
. Juan del Carpio. Archived from the original on 2003-01-21. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
battle, punta, malpelo, naval, encounter, between, peruvian, corvette, gran, colombian, vessels, august, 1828, near, port, guayaquil, first, major, combat, peruvian, navy, independent, force, newborn, peruvian, nation, part, gran, colombia, peru, wara, paintin. The Battle of Punta Malpelo was a naval encounter between a Peruvian corvette and two Gran Colombian vessels on 31 August 1828 near the port of Guayaquil and was the first major combat of the Peruvian Navy as an independent force of the newborn Peruvian nation Battle of Punta MalpeloPart of Gran Colombia Peru WarA painting depicting the naval battle of Malpelo from the collection of the Peruvian Naval MuseumDate31 August 1828LocationPunta Malpelo near GuayaquilResultPeruvian victoryBelligerents Gran Colombia PeruCommanders and leadersThomas WrightCarlos Garcia del PostigoStrength1 corvette1 schooner1 corvetteCasualties and losses25 killed36 wounded1 corvette damaged15 killed28 wounded1 corvette damaged Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 2 1 Ships involved 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 BibliographyBackground editMain article Gran Colombia Peru War In June 1828 Gran Colombia declared a state of war on Peru under allegations that it had fomented a rebellion against Colombian forces in Bolivia Gran Colombia s leader Simon Bolivar also demanded the payment of a debt of several million pesos resulting from the Peruvian War of Independence and the cession of the northern provinces of Jaen and Maynas The consequent Peruvian declaration of war against Gran Colombia occurred on 3 July 1828 when the Peruvian government under President Jose de La Mar ordered a mobilization of its ground and naval forces Battle editOn 2 July 1828 the Peruvian corvette Libertad armed with 24 guns and a crew of 124 men under Captain Carlos Garcia del Postigo a Chilean born officer under the service of the Peruvian Navy sailed towards Guayaquil with orders to cross the Gulf and guard the entrance to the Guayaquil River On 31 August 1828 the Peruvian vessel was intercepted by two Gran Colombian warships the schooner Guayaquilena and the corvette Pichincha commanded by Irish born Captain Thomas C Wright Captain Wright aboard the Guayaquilena inquired to the commander of Libertad about his activities in Gran Colombian waters but suddenly the Peruvian corvette opened fire starting a close quarter artillery duel during which the Peruvians almost boarded the Guayaquilena meanwhile the Pichincha stayed away and didn t participate in the combat At the peak of the struggle the Gran Colombians ships suddenly retreated towards Guayaquil and were pursued closely by the Libertad The pursuit ceased when the Libertad was forced to return to tend the wounded and bury the dead The Peruvians lost 15 killed and 28 wounded while the Gran Colombians suffered 24 killed and 36 wounded Ships involved edit The Libertad was a corvette originally named General Brown purchased from Chile in January 1826 for 25 thousand pesos under the name General Salom that started its service for the Peruvian Navy as a transport vessel and on 6 March 1827 was finally named Libertad On 8 January 1828 the Commander in Chief of the Peruvian Navy Rear Admiral Jose Pascual de Vivero established a budget of 7 354 pesos to convert the Libertad into a warship initially armed with 22 12 pounder guns taken from the corvette Limena On 14 May 1828 the Chilean officer Carlos Garcia del Postigo Bulnes was assigned as commander of the vessel The schooner Guayaquilena was armed with twelve 12 pounder guns and was under the command of Lieutenant Claudio Johnston Among the officers on board were two future Ecuadorian presidents ensign Jose Maria Urvina and midshipman Francisco Robles The Pichincha was under the command of Captain Archibald Taylor Aftermath editAfter this encounter the Peruvian Navy composed at that time of 16 warships and transports among them the frigate Presidente started a naval blockade ordered by the Peruvian government on 19 September 1828 of the entire Gran Colombian Pacific coasts This was from Machala Ecuador to Panama Thanks to this action the Gran Colombian Navy was unable to use its main ports in the Pacific References editBibliography editRestrepo Jose Manuel 1858 Chapter XIV Historia de la revolucion de la Republica de Colombia en la America Meridional in Spanish Vol Tome IV 1st ed Grand Rue nº 14 Bezason Imprenta de Jose Jacquin p 145 Retrieved 2009 09 04 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link La Marina de Guerra en la Republica Siglo XIX Peruvian Navy Website in Spanish Archived from the original on 2009 09 17 Retrieved 2009 09 26 1828 The Navy in action The War with Gran Colombia Juan del Carpio Archived from the original on 2003 01 21 Retrieved 2009 09 26 3 30 02 S 80 29 31 W 3 5005 S 80 4920 W 3 5005 80 4920 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Punta Malpelo amp oldid 1148221552, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
