Capture of the Bahamas (1783) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Capture of the Bahamas (1783) |
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| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
 Map of New Providence and Nassau |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Great Britain |
 Spain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Andrew Deveaux |
 Don Antonio Claraco Sauz |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 227 regulars, militia & volunteers 7 ships |
600 regulars, sailors & marines 7 ships 50 guns |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| none | 600 captured (later repatriated) 50 cannons captured 7 ships captured |
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The Capture of the Bahamas happened in April 1783. This was near the end of the American Revolutionary War. A group of American Loyalists led by Andrew Deveaux decided to take back the Bahamas from Spain. They were successful, and the city of Nassau was captured without any fighting. This was one of the very last actions of the entire war.
Why the Bahamas Were Captured
The Bahamas had been taken by Spanish forces in May 1782. But Saint Augustine in East Florida was still held by the British. The Spanish thought Saint Augustine was too strong to attack.
So, a plan was made to get the Bahamas back. The idea was to attack Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. Andrew Deveaux was a Loyalist. Loyalists were American colonists who stayed loyal to Britain during the war. He was also a skilled soldier who had fought in the southern parts of the American Revolution.
How the Bahamas Were Recaptured
Major Deveaux left Saint Augustine with 70 of his followers. Two days later, more ships joined him at sea. These included the Perseverance, a ship with 26 guns, and the Whitby Warrior, which had 16 guns and 120 men.
On April 6, the group anchored near Harbour Island and Eleuthera. Here, they found 170 more volunteers. These new volunteers wanted to help attack the Spanish soldiers in New Providence.
Just four days later, a Spanish ship arrived in New Providence. It carried a message from the governor of Cuba. The message said that peace talks had begun in Europe. It also said that the Bahamas would be given back to British rule. In return, Britain would give East Florida to Spain.
When Deveaux's ships got close to New Providence on April 13, the Spanish commander, Claraco, thought they were just smugglers. But the next morning, his customs patrols were surprised. A large group of armed men stormed ashore. They quickly took over Fort Montagu and three guardboats.
Claraco and his men went back to their main fort. A short break in fighting was agreed upon. But Deveaux ended it the next day. On April 16, the Spanish sank their remaining warships. They then stayed inside their main fort. Two days later, they decided to surrender.
What Happened After
More than 600 Spanish soldiers surrendered. The British also captured 50 cannons and seven ships. Some of the ships that had been sunk were later brought back up. The Spanish soldiers were sent back to Cuba.
By this time, Britain had already agreed to give up East Florida for the Bahamas. This was part of the early peace talks for the Treaty of Paris. As a reward for his efforts, Deveaux was given a large piece of Cat Island. He built a big house there, and you can still see parts of it today.
See also
In Spanish: Conquista de las Bahamas (1783) para niños
