Battle of Puerto Tortuguero
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Tortuguero, was the first naval battle
of the Dominican War of Independence
and was fought on April 15, 1844 at Tortuguero, Azua Province
. A force of 3 Dominican schooners led by Commander Juan Bautista Cambiaso, defeated a force of 3 vessels of the Haitian Navy. Though it was a minor naval battle engagement, it determined the naval supremacy of the Dominican Republic over Haiti until the end of the war.
Admiral De Moges from the frigate La Neréide, warned of a flotilla of Haitian vessels that had been raiding the coast of the Ocoa Bay and tranporsting supplies to the Haitian Army in Azua
. He recommended President Tomás de Bobadilla y Briones of the Junta Central Gubernativa
, to order all ships in Santo Domingo be used for war. Conscripts for the new navy gathered at Puerta de la Misericordia, among them were Juan Alejandro Acosta, José Antonio Sanabia, Joaquín Orta, Teodoro Ariza, Pedro Tomás Garrido y Fermín González.
Juan Alejandro Acosta together with some fellow merchants, armed two schooners. Acosta received the schooner Eleonore (renamed San José) from the British
merchant Abraham Cohen and was followed by the Italian merchant Juan Bautista Maggiolo whom received the schooner María Chica from the Catalan
merchants José and Francisco Ginebra. Both schooners set sail in early April to Aguas de la Estancia, Baní
to meet there with Commander Juan Bautista Cambiaso, another Italian merchant.
Two days later, on April 15, Commander Cambiaso sighted three vessels off shore bombarding Tortuguero, Azua
. The three vessels were the Pandora, La Mouche and Le Signifie. Cambiaso quickly decided to engage the fleet and after a combination of manoeuvres the enemy succumbed. All three enemy vessels were sunk. Almost all sailors died in the battle and there is no record of any survivor from the sinkings.
, and Commander Cambiaso was appointed Admiral. Haitian presence at sea vanished after this engagement, which ensured naval supremacy for the newborn nation.
Naval battle
A naval battle is a battle fought using boats, ships or other waterborne vessels. Most naval battles have occurred at sea, but a few have taken place on lakes or rivers. The earliest recorded naval battle took place in 1210 BC near Cyprus...
of the Dominican War of Independence
Dominican War of Independence
The Dominican Independence War gave the Dominican Republic independence from Haiti in 1844. Before the war, the whole island of Hispaniola had been under Haitian rule for 22 years when Haiti occupied the newly independent state of Haití Español in 1822....
and was fought on April 15, 1844 at Tortuguero, Azua Province
Azua Province
Azua is a province of the Dominican Republic.-Municipalities and municipal districts:The province as of June 20 2006 is divided into the following municipalities and municipal districts within them:...
. A force of 3 Dominican schooners led by Commander Juan Bautista Cambiaso, defeated a force of 3 vessels of the Haitian Navy. Though it was a minor naval battle engagement, it determined the naval supremacy of the Dominican Republic over Haiti until the end of the war.
Prelude to Battle
On March 31, 1844 news from FrenchFrench people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
Admiral De Moges from the frigate La Neréide, warned of a flotilla of Haitian vessels that had been raiding the coast of the Ocoa Bay and tranporsting supplies to the Haitian Army in Azua
Azua
Azua may refer to:Places:* Azua Province in the Dominican Republic* Azua de Compostela, capital of Azua province in the Dominican RepublicThe Basque surname Azúa:* Goizeder Victoria Azúa Barríos* Félix de AzúaOther:...
. He recommended President Tomás de Bobadilla y Briones of the Junta Central Gubernativa
Congress of the Dominican Republic
The Congress of the Dominican Republic is the bicameral legislature of the government of the Dominican Republic, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Both senators and deputies are chosen through direct election...
, to order all ships in Santo Domingo be used for war. Conscripts for the new navy gathered at Puerta de la Misericordia, among them were Juan Alejandro Acosta, José Antonio Sanabia, Joaquín Orta, Teodoro Ariza, Pedro Tomás Garrido y Fermín González.
Juan Alejandro Acosta together with some fellow merchants, armed two schooners. Acosta received the schooner Eleonore (renamed San José) from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
merchant Abraham Cohen and was followed by the Italian merchant Juan Bautista Maggiolo whom received the schooner María Chica from the Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
merchants José and Francisco Ginebra. Both schooners set sail in early April to Aguas de la Estancia, Baní
Baní
Baní is a capital town of the Peravia Province, Dominican Republic. It is the commercial and manufacturing center in a region producing bananas and coffee.- Overview :...
to meet there with Commander Juan Bautista Cambiaso, another Italian merchant.
The battle
On April 13, three schooners led by Commander Juan Bautista Cambiaso set sail from Aguas de la Estancia. Cambiaso leading the schooner Separación Dominicana (flagship), the Captain Juan Bautista Maggiolo led the María Chica and Lieutenant Juan Alejandro Acosta led the San José.Two days later, on April 15, Commander Cambiaso sighted three vessels off shore bombarding Tortuguero, Azua
Azua Province
Azua is a province of the Dominican Republic.-Municipalities and municipal districts:The province as of June 20 2006 is divided into the following municipalities and municipal districts within them:...
. The three vessels were the Pandora, La Mouche and Le Signifie. Cambiaso quickly decided to engage the fleet and after a combination of manoeuvres the enemy succumbed. All three enemy vessels were sunk. Almost all sailors died in the battle and there is no record of any survivor from the sinkings.
Aftermath
News from this victory travelled fast and on April 23, 1844 the Junta Central Gubernativa authorized to incorporate these three schooners in the newly created Dominican NavyDominican Navy
The Navy of the Dominican Republic or Marina de Guerra Dominicana , is one of the three branches of the Military of the Dominican Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force.-History:...
, and Commander Cambiaso was appointed Admiral. Haitian presence at sea vanished after this engagement, which ensured naval supremacy for the newborn nation.
See also
- Battle of Cabeza de Las MaríasBattle of Cabeza de Las MaríasThe Battle of Cabeza de Las Marías and Las Hicoteas, were the first military engagements of Dominican War of Independence and were fought between March 13 - March 18, 1844, at Cabeza de Las Marías, near Neyba, Baoruco Province and Las Hicoteas, near Azua de Compostela, Azua Province...
(March 13–18, 1844) - Battle of March 19Battle of March 19The Battle of Azua , was the first major battle of the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on March 19, 1844, at Azua de Compostela, Azua Province...
(March 19, 1844) - Battle of March 30Battle of March 30The Battle of Santiago , was the second major battle of the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on March 30, 1844, at Santiago de los Caballeros, Santiago Province...
(March 30, 1844) - Battle of El MemisoBattle of El MemisoThe Battle of El Memiso, was the third major battle of the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on April 13, 1844, at El Memiso, Azua Province. A force of Dominican troops, a portion of the Army of The South, led by General Antonio Duvergé, defeated an outnumbering force of the Haitian Army...
(April 13, 1844) - Battle of EstrelletaBattle of EstrelletaThe Battle of Estrelleta, was a major battle of the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on September 17, 1845 at the site of Estrelleta, near Las Matas de Farfán, San Juan Province...
(September 17, 1845) - Battle of BelerBattle of BelerThe Battle of Beler, was the last major battle of the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on November 27, 1845 at the Beler savanna, Monte Cristi Province...
(November 27, 1845) - Battle of El NúmeroBattle of El NúmeroThe Battle of El Número, was a major battle during the years after the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on April 19, 1849, nearby Azua de Compostela, Azua Province. A force of Dominican troops, a portion of the Army of The South, led by General Pedro Santana, encountered an outnumbering...
(April 19, 1849) - Battle of Las CarrerasBattle of Las CarrerasThe Battle of Las Carreras, was a major battle during the years after the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on April 21, 1849, nearby Baní, Peravia Province. A force of Dominican troops, a portion of the Army of The South, led by General Pedro Santana, defeated an outnumbering force of...
(April 21, 1849)