Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor
Part of the Quasi-War
Capture of the French Privateer Sandwich by armed Marines on the Sloop Sally, from the U.S. Frigate Constitution, Philip Colprit
Date May 11, 1800 Location Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	France Spain
Commanders and leaders
Silas Talbot Isaac Hull Daniel Carmick	Unknown Unknown
Strength
100 marines and sailors 1 sloop	1 corvette 1 fort
Casualties and losses
Unknown	1 corvette captured 1 fort captured

The Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor was a fight that happened in 1800. It was part of the Quasi-War, which was a kind of undeclared naval war between the French First Republic and the United States. In this battle, American forces fought against ships from France and a fort belonging to Spain.

During the battle, about 100 American soldiers and sailors landed from a ship called USS Sally. They quickly took over a French warship named Sandwich that was anchored in Puerto Plata. After that, U.S. Marines attacked a Spanish fort called Fortaleza San Felipe. The fort was captured, and its cannons were made unusable. The Americans won this battle.

How the Battle Unfolded

In early May 1800, a brave American naval officer named Silas Talbot planned a special mission. He wanted to go to Puerto Plata, an important harbor on the island of Hispaniola. His main goal was to stop French privateers. These were private ships that France allowed to attack and capture American merchant ships.

Captain Talbot had already captured two small French ships, the Sally and the Ester. His main warship, USS Constitution, arrived near Puerto Plata. They knew a French privateer ship, the Sandwich, was waiting in the harbor.

Talbot decided to send a special landing team. About 100 marines and sailors from the USS Constitution boarded the captured sloop Sally. A sloop is a small ship with one mast. Lieutenant Isaac Hull was in charge of this team. They hid below the deck of the Sally so the French wouldn't see them.

The Sally sailed right into the harbor, getting very close to the Sandwich. The French on the Sandwich were completely surprised. They barely had time to fight back. The American forces captured the Sandwich in just a few minutes!

After securing the Sandwich, the Americans quickly turned their attention to Fortaleza San Felipe. This was a Spanish fort whose cannons could shoot at the ships in the harbor. After a short fight, the American marines took control of the fort. They then "spiked" the fort's cannons. This meant they made the cannons unusable so they couldn't be fired again.

After the Fight

Once the Sandwich was captured and the fort's cannons were disabled, the American forces returned to their ships. They then sailed back home. The Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor was one of the few times American forces fought on land during the Quasi-War.

Later, the United States government had to explain that Captain Talbot's attack on the Spanish fort was not officially approved. This was because Spain was considered a neutral country, meaning they weren't officially involved in the war between the U.S. and France.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla del puerto de Puerto Plata para niños