Battle of Cape Palos (1815) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Cape Palos |
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| Part of Second Barbary War | |||||||
 Sail plan of the United States Navy brig |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Regency of Algiers |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Stephen Decatur, Jr. | Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 sloop 1 brigantine 2 schooners |
1 brig | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 23 killed ~80 captured 1 brig captured 1 boat sunk |
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The Battle of Cape Palos was the final battle of the Second Barbary War. This war was fought between the United States and the Regency of Algiers. The battle happened when an American naval group, led by Stephen Decatur, attacked and captured an Algerine ship called a brig.
What Led to the Battle?
After a previous victory, Stephen Decatur and his American ships were sailing towards Algiers. On June 19, 1815, they spotted a 22-gun Algerine brig named Estedio. This ship was part of the Algerine navy.
The Battle at Cape Palos
Decatur's ships began to chase the Estedio. The chase led them into shallow waters near the coast of Spain, close to Cape Palos. Because his larger ships might get stuck, Decatur sent his smaller, faster vessels forward. These ships included the USS Epervier, USS Spark, USS Torch, and USS Spitfire.
These smaller American ships fought the Estedio for about 30 minutes. The Algerine sailors soon began to leave their ship and give up. As the crew of the Estedio tried to escape in their boats towards the cape, the American ships fired at them. One of the Algerine boats sank. About 80 Algerine sailors were captured, and at least 23 were killed.
What Happened After?
After the battle, the captured Estedio was taken to Cartagena. Spanish officials kept the ship there. It was supposed to be returned to Algiers when the war ended. However, Algiers declared war on Spain shortly after. Because of this, the Spanish government took control of the Estedio and another captured Algerine ship, the frigate Mashouda.
Decatur's American fleet then continued its journey. Their goal was to reach Algiers and make Omar Agha, the ruler of Algiers, agree to peace terms.
Sources
- From Bunker Hill to Manila Bay
- The End of Barbary Terror
See also
In Spanish: Batalla del cabo de Palos (1815) para niños
