The Battle of Rio Nuevo took place between 25 and 27 June 1658[a] on the island of Jamaica between Spanish forces under Cristóbal Arnaldo Isasi and English forces under governor Edward D'Oyley. In the battle lasting over two days the invading Spanish were routed. It is the largest battle to be fought on Jamaica.[3]
In 1655, an English force led by Admiral Sir William Penn, and General Robert Venablesseized the island, and successfully held it against two Spanish attempts to retake it. The former Spanish governor of Jamaica, Don Cristóbal Arnaldo Isasi, attempted to recapture the island with forces from Cuba in mid-1657, but the attack was repulsed at the Battle of Ocho Rios by acting governor Colonel Edward D'Oyley.[4]
On 20 May 1658, Isasi attempted another invasion with more men recruited from New Spain; the Tercios Mexicano (Mexican Regiment). Isasi also had at his disposal four troop transports and armed ships. In total, the invasion force consisted of 31 captains, 31 ensigns, 28 sergeants and 467 soldiers. While this force anchored for two days near the mouth of Rio Nuevo, three English coast guard vessels chanced upon the Spanish but were chased away by gunfire.[1] The English scouts reported back to D'Oyley, who mustered all available militia and soldiers who were fit to fight. The Spanish in the meantime fortified their camp and were joined by around 50 tattered Spanish guerrillas.[4]
Battleedit
On 25 June, D'Oyley mustered a total of 700 soldiers and militia and ten ships to transport them. The English troops disembarked near the Rio Nuevo. The English then captured the Spanish transports, sealing off any escape for the invaders. The Spanish, seeing this, attempted to make a stand behind their newly fortified redoubt.[3] The English declined to come to grips and fired on the Spanish position with cannon and muskets for two days.[4] Their superior firepower had a devastating effect, and when the surviving Spanish attempted to break out, most were killed or captured. What was left of the invasion force fled into the hills and jungle. They had lost over 300 dead and wounded, mostly killed, and 150 prisoners, as well as eleven flags, six guns, and most of their arms and ammunition. English casualties numbered around sixty. Most of the wounded on both sides died of tropical diseases.[1]
Aftermathedit
The victorious English conveyed the Spanish artillery back to 'The Point' and to Fort Cromwell, installing it into their defences. Isasi tried to keep up the struggle until he was defeated in 1660, escaping from what is now the area of the Tower Isle resort and fleeing to Cuba by canoe with his remaining supporters.[1] To dissuade further Spanish attempts to retake Jamaica, the English under Christopher Myngs launched attacks on Spanish ports such as Santa Marta and Tolu, forcing the Spanish to the defensive.[4]
The battle of Rio Nuevo was the last Spanish attempt to recapture Jamaica. Spain ceded the island to England in 1670 under the Treaty of Madrid.[3]
Battlefield todayedit
The Rio Nuevo Battle Site Heritage Park and Museum was opened in August 2009.[5]
British Civil Wars, Commonwealth and Protectorate website – The Anglo-Spanish War 1655–1660 2008-11-02 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
battle, nuevo, part, anglo, spanish, warsdatejune, 1658locationnear, nuevo, river, jamaica18, 4102, 0142, 4102, 0142resultenglish, victorybelligerents, spainenglandcommanders, leaderscristóbal, arnaldo, isasiedward, oyleystrength560, soldiers, spanish, guerril. Battle of Rio NuevoPart of the Anglo Spanish warsDateJune 25 27 1658LocationNear the Rio Nuevo river Jamaica18 24 37 N 77 00 51 W 18 4102 N 77 0142 W 18 4102 77 0142ResultEnglish victoryBelligerents SpainEnglandCommanders and leadersCristobal Arnaldo IsasiEdward D OyleyStrength560 soldiers 50 Spanish guerrillas4 transports 1 700 soldiers and militias10 shipsCasualties and losses300 killed or wounded150 prisoners4 ships captured60 casualties 1 class notpageimage Approximate location of battle The Battle of Rio Nuevo took place between 25 and 27 June 1658 a on the island of Jamaica between Spanish forces under Cristobal Arnaldo Isasi and English forces under governor Edward D Oyley In the battle lasting over two days the invading Spanish were routed It is the largest battle to be fought on Jamaica 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 3 1 Battlefield today 4 See also 5 Notes 5 1 References 5 2 External linksBackground editIn 1655 an English force led by Admiral Sir William Penn and General Robert Venables seized the island and successfully held it against two Spanish attempts to retake it The former Spanish governor of Jamaica Don Cristobal Arnaldo Isasi attempted to recapture the island with forces from Cuba in mid 1657 but the attack was repulsed at the Battle of Ocho Rios by acting governor Colonel Edward D Oyley 4 On 20 May 1658 Isasi attempted another invasion with more men recruited from New Spain the Tercios Mexicano Mexican Regiment Isasi also had at his disposal four troop transports and armed ships In total the invasion force consisted of 31 captains 31 ensigns 28 sergeants and 467 soldiers While this force anchored for two days near the mouth of Rio Nuevo three English coast guard vessels chanced upon the Spanish but were chased away by gunfire 1 The English scouts reported back to D Oyley who mustered all available militia and soldiers who were fit to fight The Spanish in the meantime fortified their camp and were joined by around 50 tattered Spanish guerrillas 4 Battle editOn 25 June D Oyley mustered a total of 700 soldiers and militia and ten ships to transport them The English troops disembarked near the Rio Nuevo The English then captured the Spanish transports sealing off any escape for the invaders The Spanish seeing this attempted to make a stand behind their newly fortified redoubt 3 The English declined to come to grips and fired on the Spanish position with cannon and muskets for two days 4 Their superior firepower had a devastating effect and when the surviving Spanish attempted to break out most were killed or captured What was left of the invasion force fled into the hills and jungle They had lost over 300 dead and wounded mostly killed and 150 prisoners as well as eleven flags six guns and most of their arms and ammunition English casualties numbered around sixty Most of the wounded on both sides died of tropical diseases 1 Aftermath editThe victorious English conveyed the Spanish artillery back to The Point and to Fort Cromwell installing it into their defences Isasi tried to keep up the struggle until he was defeated in 1660 escaping from what is now the area of the Tower Isle resort and fleeing to Cuba by canoe with his remaining supporters 1 To dissuade further Spanish attempts to retake Jamaica the English under Christopher Myngs launched attacks on Spanish ports such as Santa Marta and Tolu forcing the Spanish to the defensive 4 The battle of Rio Nuevo was the last Spanish attempt to recapture Jamaica Spain ceded the island to England in 1670 under the Treaty of Madrid 3 Battlefield today edit The Rio Nuevo Battle Site Heritage Park and Museum was opened in August 2009 5 See also editHistory of Jamaica British military history Spanish EmpireNotes edit These are the Gregorian dates as used by the Spanish on Jamaica at the time The British dates were 15 17 June 1658 2 a b c d e Marley pg 151 Rio Nuevo Battle Site Jamaica National Heritage Trust 2011 Retrieved 25 June 2023 a b c Black pp 48 49 a b c d Long Edward 1774 Volume 1 of The History of Jamaica T Lowndes pp 274 77 Nuevo Battle Site Museum Opens with TEF Support Jamaica Information Service jis gov jm Retrieved 24 June 2022 References edit V Black Clinton The Story of Jamaica from Prehistory to the Present Collins London 1965 Marley David Wars of the Americas A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the New World 1492 to the Present ABC Clio 1998 Morales Padron Francisco Spanish Jamaica Kingston Ian Randle Publishers 1953 2003 External links edit British Civil Wars Commonwealth and Protectorate website The Anglo Spanish War 1655 1660 Archived 2008 11 02 at the Wayback Machine Opening of the Battle of Rio Nuevo battle site Plaque commemorating the site of the Battle of Rio Nuevo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Rio Nuevo amp oldid 1161920860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
