Raid on Matina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on Matina
Part of the War of Jenkins' Ear
Date 13 August 1747 Location Matina, Captaincy General of Guatemala present day Costa Rica Result British victory
Belligerents
Britain	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Owen	Francisco Rodriguez
Strength
45 British & Indians	80 soldiers & militia
Casualties and losses
Light	All killed, wounded or captured

The Raid on Matina was a small but important battle. It happened on August 13, 1747. British traders (called Baymen) and Miskito people fought against Spanish soldiers. The fight was over a Spanish fort in Matina, which is now part of Costa Rica. This battle was part of a bigger war known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. The British and Miskito fighters won. They destroyed the fort and took valuable goods from the area. This region was famous for its cacao crops.

The Matina Raid: What Happened?

Why Was Matina Important?

Near the Río Matina in a Spanish-controlled area, there was a wooden fort. It was called Fuerte de San Fernando de Matina. The Spanish built it between 1741 and 1742. About 34 soldiers and 20 local armed people guarded it.

This fort was built to stop illegal trade. People in Costa Rica were trading with British Jamaica and British traders from the Mosquito Coast. The fort made it hard for them to do this.

In April 1747, some British traders and Miskito people captured about ten prisoners near Matina. They threatened to burn farms and attack Cartago. This was their way of trying to restart the trade. Because of this, the Spanish governor sent 50 more soldiers to the area. The fort's commander, Don Francisco Rodriguez, ordered guards to watch for British troops. He wanted to avoid any surprises.

How Did the Attack Unfold?

In early August 1747, Captain Thomas Owen led 45 British and Miskito soldiers. The English governor of Jamaica, Edward Trelawny, ordered them to attack the fort.

The soldiers traveled from Jamaica in small boats called Pirogues. They landed in Moin, near Limón. This area had a large swamp. The Spanish thought no one could get through it, so they had no guards there. The British landed without being seen. They walked through the jungle towards the fort. Tall Canebrake plants hid them. They watched the fort for five days, planning their attack.

On August 13, at 11 a.m., the British attacked. They completely surprised the Spanish soldiers. The main door of the fort was open because the soldiers were preparing a meal. Only two soldiers were guarding the barracks. Just four men were on the fort walls. When the attack started, only two of those four guards made it inside before the door closed. The English had two hand grenades each. They threw them at the door, but it did not break. Then, they surrounded the wall and fired through the gun holes. The British quickly found weak spots. They could shoot their guns from close range, causing confusion inside the fort.

After only about fifteen minutes, the fort's commander, Rodriguez, decided he could not fight anymore. He surrendered.

What Happened After the Battle?

Four Spanish soldiers died, and several were hurt. Those who survived were taken prisoner.

After the battle, the British and Miskito fighters damaged the area around the fort. They took cocoa from farms. They also took cannons, guns, and ammunition from the fort. Then, they burned the barracks and destroyed the fort. They went back to their boats in Moin and sailed safely back to Jamaica.

The fort was supposed to stop attacks by pirates and smugglers. But it failed. After the fort was destroyed, smuggling continued for many years. Fuerte de San Fernando was the only fort the Spanish built in the Costa Rican Caribbean. It was never rebuilt. The Spanish tried to remove the British and Miskito people from the area many times, but they never succeeded.