Battle of Mobile (1781) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 2nd Battle of Mobile
Part of the Gulf Coast campaign
Detail from a 1776 showing British West Florida
Date January 7, 1781 Location Spanish Fort, then British West Florida, now Alabama Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spain	Great Britain Waldeck-Pyrmont mercenaries
Commanders and leaders
Ramon de Castro	Johann von Hanxleden  † Philip Barton Key Robert Deans
Strength
200 regulars	100 60th Royal American Regiment of Foot 261 Pennsylvania, West Florida Forester, & Maryland loyalist militia 420 Indians 60 Waldeckers 2 frigates 1 bilander
Casualties and losses
14 killed 23 wounded (January 5 action) 12 captured	20 killed

The 2nd Battle of Mobile, also known as the Battle at the Village, was a fight during the American Revolutionary War. It happened on January 7, 1781, in what is now Alabama. This battle was a British attempt to take back the town of Mobile from the Spanish. The Spanish had captured Mobile in March 1780. During this battle, a British attack on a Spanish outpost failed, and the German leader of the British forces was killed.

Why the Battle Happened

Spain Joins the War

After Spain declared war on Great Britain in 1779, the Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Gálvez, began attacking British areas. He wanted to control British West Florida, which included parts of today's Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Spanish Victories

In September 1779, Gálvez took control of the lower Mississippi River. He captured Fort Bute and won the Battle of Baton Rouge. Then, on March 14, 1780, he captured Mobile after a short siege.

The Spanish Outpost

After taking Mobile, the Spanish built a strong outpost on the east side of Mobile Bay. This outpost was important because it controlled Mobile's water supply. About 200 Spanish soldiers, led by Ramon de Castro y Gutierrez, guarded this outpost.

Preparing for Battle

British Forces in Pensacola

The closest British army was in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida. General John Campbell was their commander. He had about 500 soldiers, including British troops, German soldiers from Waldeck, and American Loyalist militia.

Native American Allies

The British also had good relationships with Native American tribes like the Creeks, Chickasaw, and Choctaw. Hundreds of Choctaw warriors came to help the British in Mobile.

British Plan to Attack

In late 1780, a hurricane damaged a Spanish expedition led by Gálvez. This made General Campbell feel confident. He decided to try and take Mobile back. On January 3, 1781, he sent over 700 men to attack. This force was led by Captain Johann von Hanxleden from Waldeck.

The Battle of the Outpost

Hanxleden's force arrived near the Spanish outpost on the evening of January 6. They planned a surprise attack for dawn the next morning.

The Attack Begins

When the British attacked, about 40 Spanish soldiers tried to run to a boat nearby. The British fired their muskets, hitting many of them. Native American warriors then followed the Spanish into the water.

Spanish Defense

The remaining Spanish soldiers at the outpost stayed calm. They fired back at the British, killing Captain Hanxleden and nineteen other soldiers. Don Ramon de Castro then led a brave attack with bayonets. Even though they were outnumbered, the Spanish pushed back the British. The British troops then stopped fighting and retreated.

What Happened Next

British Withdrawal

The British forces went back to Pensacola. They did not try to attack Mobile again. When Spanish leaders in Cuba heard about the attack, they sent more soldiers to help protect Mobile.

Spanish Victory in West Florida

Later that year, Spanish Field Marshal Gálvez captured Pensacola. This completed his conquest of British West Florida. This meant Spain had taken control of the entire region.

Ramon de Castro's Legacy

Ramon de Castro y Gutiérrez, the Spanish commander at Mobile, later used his experience to plan defenses for San Juan, Puerto Rico. He became the Captain General there in 1795. A few months after the invasion of Trinidad, the English attacked San Juan, but Castro's defenses helped protect the city.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Mobila para niños