Capture of Tortuga: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
Line 39:
==Capture==
 
Turrillo and 50 infantry-men set off from Santo Domingo on 4 January 1635, with four ''baxeles'' in tow, to meet Fuenmayor and his 150 lancers at their rendezvous, [[Fort-Liberté|Port Bayaha]]. The officers coordinated their attack while watering here, and shortly thereafter sailed due northwest, coasting the [[Geography of Haiti|northern shore of Hispaniola]].{{sfn|''anon.''|1942c|p=393}} On 21 January 1635, under cover of night, Fuenmayor lead his ''armadilla'' or fleet across the Tortuga Channel, towards the island's southern port. The pilot, however, ran the ships aground, causing a ruckus which alerted four merchantmen to their presence. A loud and confused skirmish followed, as sailors rushed to man the fort and sound the alarm, while Spaniards simultaneously prepared their attack, with most taking to the ships' cannons, while a small contingent slipped away in canoes towards the beach. The kerfuffle resulted in the campaign's first casualties, for both sides.{{sfn|''anon.''|1942c|pp=393-394}}{{notetag|{{text and translation|[A]travesaron de noche para no ser sentidos[,] y no pudiendo tomar el Puerto [de Tortuga], donde avia tres urcas y un patache sin prebension y descuydo, al echar en tierra la gente en la parte que tomaron encallo la Almiranta y los barcos y con la confusion, oscuridad de la noche ruido y voces que causa echarse la gente al agua y aogarse algunos y entre ellos el Alferes del Capitan Camacho Po. de Vargas [...].|[T]hey crossed at night so as not to be noticed[,] and not being able to take the port [of Tortuga], where three urcas and a patache were anchored, unaware and unprepared [for a military engagement], when they [Fuenmayor] disembarked the men in the part [of Tortuga] where they sought to land, the flagship and the rest of the ships ran aground, and given this confusion, [the] darkness of the night, [and the] noise and voices caused by the people throwing themselves into the water[,] some drowned, among them the ensign of Captain Camacho [named] P[edr]o de Vargas [...].|Santo Domingo, 16 February 1635, Tajagrano and Nuñez de Peralta to Crown {{harv|''anon.''|1942c|p=393}}.}}}}{{notetag|Murphy purportedly led the Spanish charge on the Anglo-French fort with a shout 'for Santiago,' Castille's warrior patron saint {{harv|Block|Shaw|2011|p=45}}. The Spanish pilot purportedly lead the four ''bajeles'' into a reef off the harbour {{harv|Latimer|2009|p=84}}.}}
Turrillo and 50 infantry-men set off from Santo Domingo on 4 January 1635, with four ''baxeles'' in tow, to meet Fuenmayor and his 150 lancers at their rendezvous, [[Fort-Liberté|Port Bayaha]]. The officers coordinated their attack while watering here, and shortly thereafter sailed due northwest, coasting the [[Geography of Haiti|northern shore of Hispaniola]].{{sfn|''anon.''|1942c|p=393}}
 
On 21 January 1635, under cover of night, Fuenmayor lead his ''armadilla'' or fleet across the Tortuga Channel, towards the island's southern port. The pilot, however, ran the ships aground, causing a ruckus which alerted four merchantmen to their presence. A loud and confused skirmish followed, as sailors rushed to man the fort and sound the alarm, while Spaniards simultaneously prepared their attack, with most taking to the ships' cannons, while a small contingent slipped away in canoes towards the beach. The kerfuffle resulted in the campaign's first casualties, for both sides.{{sfn|''anon.''|1942c|pp=393-394}}{{notetag|{{text and translation|[A]travesaron de noche para no ser sentidos[,] y no pudiendo tomar el Puerto [de Tortuga], donde avia tres urcas y un patache sin prebension y descuydo, al echar en tierra la gente en la parte que tomaron encallo la Almiranta y los barcos y con la confusion, oscuridad de la noche ruido y voces que causa echarse la gente al agua y aogarse algunos y entre ellos el Alferes del Capitan Camacho Po. de Vargas [...].|[T]hey crossed at night so as not to be noticed[,] and not being able to take the port [of Tortuga], where three urcas and a patache were anchored, unaware and unprepared [for a military engagement], when they [Fuenmayor] disembarked the men in the part [of Tortuga] where they sought to land, the flagship and the rest of the ships ran aground, and given this confusion, [the] darkness of the night, [and the] noise and voices caused by the people throwing themselves into the water[,] some drowned, among them the ensign of Captain Camacho [named] P[edr]o de Vargas [...].|Santo Domingo, 16 February 1635, Tajagrano and Nuñez de Peralta to Crown {{harv|''anon.''|1942c|p=393}}.}}}}{{notetag|Murphy purportedly led the Spanish charge on the Anglo-French fort with a shout 'for Santiago,' Castille's warrior patron saint {{harv|Block|Shaw|2011|p=45}}. The Spanish pilot purportedly lead the four ''bajeles'' into a reef off the harbour {{harv|Latimer|2009|p=84}}.}}
 
Startled awake by the fort's bugles, the settlement was likewise a scene of frenzied chaos as French and English residents collected their valuables to make a hurried escape. At the Governor's residence, Wormeley likewise set upon retreat, managing to scurry away before Fuenmayor arrived. At this point, Fuenmayor, Turrillo, and Frías, with a unit of 24 men, disembarked near the settlement, at once marching towards the Governor's house. An unidentified resident (presumed to be the 'Governor' by Fuenmayor) put up a fight, but was quickly despatched with two well-aimed spear-throws. The 'Governor' now slain, Fuenmayor set about methodically sacking and burning the settlement, killing all whom they encountered. Meanwhile, the ''armadilla'' eventually took the fort, and thereby the port, forcing the merchant vessels to retreat.{{sfn|''anon.''|1942c|p=394}}{{sfn|Crouse|1940|p=83}}{{sfn|Galvin|1991|pp=201-202}}
 
By daybreak (on 22 January 1635), most or some of the settlers had made their escape, reportedly aboard rickety canoes towards Hispaniola. Fuenmayor's men now ventured further into Tortuga, under instructions 'that all the fields and houses be put to fire.'{{notetag|It has been suggested that English refugees subsequently made their way to Providence Island ({{harvnb|Lane|2016|p=102}}, {{harvnb|Schmitt|2017|p=589}}).}} The campaign's last engagement came on 23 January 1635. Some 190 of the island's residents had resolved to oppose the Spanish, rather than flee. Consequently, they had determined to march towards Fuenmayor's camp on this day. The Spanish general, however, discovered their plot, and met the musket-armed settlers halfway into their march. The engagement was reportedly quick and bitter, with the Spaniards exacting a substantial toll, themselves suffering only minimal casualties.{{sfn|''anon.''|1942c|pp=394, 397 ''misprinted as'' 497}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2017|pp=588-589}}{{notetag|Though some arriving merchantmen, unaware of the campaign, engaged Fuenmayor's ''armadilla'' at port on 24 January (cf previous citations).}}
 
The campaign's last engagement came on 23 January 1635. Some 190 of the island's residents had resolved to oppose the Spanish, rather than flee. Consequently, they had determined to march towards Fuenmayor's camp on this day. The Spanish general, however, discovered their plot, and met the musket-armed settlers halfway into their march. The engagement was reportedly quick and bitter, with the Spaniards exacting a substantial toll, themselves suffering only minimal casualties.{{sfn|''anon.''|1942c|pp=394, 397 ''misprinted as'' 497}}{{sfn|Schmitt|2017|pp=588-589}}{{notetag|Though some arriving merchantmen, unaware of the campaign, engaged Fuenmayor's ''armadilla'' at port on 24 January (cf previous citations).}}
 
==Aftermath==