Battle of Mariel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Mariel
Part of Spanish attempts to reconquer Mexico
Date 10–11 February 1828 Location Mariel, Cuba Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Mexican Republic	Spain
Commanders and leaders
David Henry Porter  †	Melitón Pérez del Camino
Strength
1 brig	1 frigate
Casualties and losses
80 killed 1 brig captured	unknown 1 frigate damaged

The Battle of Mariel was a sea fight between the new country of Mexico and Spain. It happened near the Cuban town of Mariel in 1828. Spain won this battle, and Mexico lost one of its ships, a brig called the Guerrero.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

Mexico used to be a Spanish colony called New Spain. From 1808 to 1821, Mexico fought for its freedom in the Mexican War of Independence. Mexico won and became an independent country.

However, Spain did not accept Mexico's independence. Spanish soldiers still held onto some areas along the Mexican coast. In 1825, Mexico took over the important port city of Veracruz. But Spain kept sending ships and soldiers from Cuba to try and take Mexico back. Cuba was also a big naval base for Spain. This allowed Spain to bother Mexican trade ships and show its power in the area.

The Battle at Sea

To challenge Spain's control, the Mexican Navy began sending its ships out in the mid-1820s. In early 1828, a group of three Mexican ships, led by Commodore David Porter, sailed into the Gulf of Mexico. Their goal was to stop Spanish ships from moving goods.

One of these ships was the Guerrero. It was a brig, a type of sailing ship, with 22 guns. The Guerrero had a new crew of American volunteers. It was commanded by Captain David Henry Porter, who was Commodore Porter's nephew.

On the morning of February 10, Captain Porter saw many merchant ships in the port of Mariel. He decided to attack the port. When he got closer, he found and attacked a Spanish brig called Marte, an armed schooner (another type of sailing ship), and several merchant ships. Captain Porter managed to scatter the Spanish ships.

But news of his attack quickly reached Havana, a nearby city. Around 5:00 in the afternoon, a large Spanish warship, a frigate called Lealtad, arrived. It began to chase the Guerrero. Captain Porter tried to escape towards Key West. But by the morning of February 11, it was clear that the Lealtad was faster. So, Captain Porter decided to fight.

Around 6:00 in the morning, the Guerrero turned to face the Lealtad. A battle began that lasted for two and a half hours. The Spanish warship was bigger and had more powerful guns. It slowly wore down the Mexican ship. Captain Porter and over eighty of his crew were killed during the fight. The Guerrero also caused a lot of damage to the Lealtad.

Eventually, the Mexican brig was forced to give up. The surviving crew members, including a future US admiral named David Dixon Porter, were taken prisoner in Havana. The Battle of Mariel was the last time Mexican and Spanish warships fought each other directly.

What Happened Next?

The Spanish repaired the Guerrero and added it to their own navy. They renamed it El Cautivo. The Spanish praised the bravery of the Guerrero's crew. They treated the captured sailors well and buried Captain Porter with full military honors.

Even though Mexico lost the Guerrero, its navy kept sailing in the Gulf of Mexico. However, losing the Guerrero was a big setback for the Mexican navy's strength.

See Also

In Spanish: Batalla de Mariel para niños