Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
The last great battle under sail at Navarino, the wars of South American independence, the Opium Wars and the Crimean War, when steam and shell guns arrived.
This chapter of Naval Battles holds 132 battles. For each one we give when and where it was fought, who fought it, the ships that took part, what happened, how it ended and why it is remembered. See all 2,188 battles on one page.
Marea can build any of the ships that fought in these battles, as she was on the day, with the maximum detail the records permit. Many of these battles cost thousands of lives, and we build their ships with that in mind.
This database was put together by Ai Refloat™, Marea’s own artificial intelligence, from naval histories, museums, official records and encyclopaedias in many languages. Ai Refloat is still young & like any teenager, it can be a little volatile and unpredictable at times, but above all, it is learning fast. So this list may well contain mistakes and we welcome the input of everyone who knows these battles better than we do.
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The battles
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Suppression of Barbary slavery and piracy
Bombardment of Algiers (1816) Landing or siege
27 August 1816 · Algiers
Fought between Britain and the Netherlands against the Deylik of Algiers
Commanders Edward Pellew, Lord Exmouth, David Milne (Britain); Theodorus Frederik van Capellen (Netherlands); Omar Agha, Ali Khodja, Hussein Khodja (Algiers)
Forces 5 ships of the line, 10 frigates (5 of them Dutch), 1 corvette, 8 sloops, 4 bomb vessels and 1 aviso, against shore batteries of 224 seaward guns, 4 frigates, 5 corvettes and 40 gunboats
Ships HMS Queen Charlotte, HMS Impregnable, HMS Albion, HMS Minden, HMS Superb, HMS Leander, HMS Severn, HMS Glasgow, HMS Granicus, HMS Hebrus, HMS Belzebub, HMS Fury, HMS Hecla, HMS Infernal, Melampus, Diana, Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina, Dageraad, Amstel, Eendracht
Losses Britain: 141 killed, 742 wounded. Netherlands: 13 killed, 52 wounded. Algiers: 500 to 5,000 military and civilian casualties including 300 to 2,000 killed; 4 frigates and 5 corvettes destroyed, 28 gunboats sunk, 12 beached.
Result Anglo-Dutch victory
Exmouth anchored his flagship Queen Charlotte about 80 yards off the mole and opened fire as soon as an Algerian gun fired at 15:15. Forty gunboats tried to board the flagship and most were sunk. By 19:30 the shipping in the harbour had been destroyed, and Impregnable, anchored out of position, suffered 50 killed and 164 wounded. The fleet withdrew at about 22:15 after firing more than 50,000 round shot and 960 mortar shells.
Why it is remembered The Dey freed more than 3,000 slaves and signed a treaty against enslaving Europeans, though the practice did not end until the French conquest of Algeria. It is shown in paintings by George Chambers, Thomas Luny and Martinus Schouman.
Sources differ Algerine casualties are given only as a wide range, 500 to 5,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: George Chambers, Sen. (1803 to 1840), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Seminole Wars
Battle of Negro Fort Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Prospect Bluff; Battle of African Fort
27 July 1816 · Prospect Bluff, Apalachicola River, Spanish Florida
Fought between United States and Creek allies against fugitive slaves and Choctaw
Commanders Andrew Jackson, Edmund Gaines, Duncan L. Clinch (United States); Garçon (killed)
Forces American: 267 men and 2 gunboats, with Creek allies. Defenders: 334 people, including women and children.
Losses American: 3 killed, 1 captured. Defenders: 334 killed, wounded and captured, including women and children.
Result American and Creek victory; the fort was destroyed
The British had built the fort in 1814 to support operations against the United States, and it became a refuge for escaped slaves. On 27 July 1816 an American force with two gunboats attacked it, and a heated cannon ball landed in the magazine, causing a huge explosion that destroyed the fort. Colonel Clinch reported salvaging about 2,500 muskets, 50 carbines and 400 pistols, which were given to the Creeks.
Why it is remembered It is the only time in its history that the United States destroyed a community of escaped slaves in another country.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Seminole Wars
Battle of Ocheesee Convoy battle
15 December 1817 to mid March 1818 · Ocheesee bluffs, Apalachicola River, Spanish Florida (now Torreya State Park)
Fought between Red Stick Creeks against the United States
Commanders Neamathla (Red Sticks); Andrew Jackson (United States)
Result The convoy was released once the Creeks withdrew
Red Stick Creek marksmen fired from both banks on vessels carrying supplies upriver to Forts Gaines, Scott and Hughes. The sailors could not show themselves, so the convoy was halted, Fort Hughes was abandoned and the garrison of Fort Scott went on half rations. The vessels stayed pinned down until Jackson's advance into Florida in March 1818, by which time the Creeks had withdrawn.
Why it is remembered It is described as the longest sustained engagement of the Seminole Wars. Jackson built Fort Gadsden afterwards to prevent a repeat.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Bird King, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Venezuelan War of Independence
Battle of Pagallos Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla de Pagallos; Battle of Pagayos
8 July 1817 · Orinoco River, near the island of Pagallos, Venezuela
Fought between Venezuelan patriots against Spain
Commanders Antonio Díaz, Luis Brión, Fernando Díaz (Patriots); Antonio Ambaredes (Spain)
Forces Patriot vessels carrying supplies for Bolívar's army against 11 royalist ships
Losses Patriots: heavy losses; Fernando Díaz killed.
Result Patriot victory
Patriot ships under Antonio Díaz, carrying materiel for Simón Bolívar's army, were attacked on the Orinoco by eleven royalist ships. The patriots suffered heavily but drove the royalists out of the river.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alberto Urdaneta, Antonio Rodríguez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Chilean War of Independence
Battle of Talcahuano (1818) Convoy battle
Also known as Combate naval de Talcahuano; Capture of the frigate María Isabel
28 to 29 October 1818 · Bay of Concepción, near Talcahuano, Chile
Fought between Chile against Spain
Commanders Manuel Blanco Encalada (Chile); Dionisio Capaz (Spain)
Forces Chilean squadron of San Martín, Lautaro, Chacabuco and Araucano, later joined by Galvarino and Intrépido, against the frigate María Isabel and a convoy of about ten transports carrying some 2,000 troops
Ships María Isabel, San Martín, Lautaro, Chacabuco, Araucano, Galvarino, Intrépido
Losses Spain: María Isabel and five transports captured. Chile: 27 killed, 22 wounded.
Result Chilean victory
Warned through Buenos Aires after a mutiny aboard one of the transports, Blanco Encalada's squadron entered the Bay of Concepción. María Isabel fired a broadside, ran aground near Rocuant island and was boarded; a Spanish landing party from Concepción was driven off and the frigate was refloated on the next tide. Five transports were later taken as they arrived.
Why it is remembered María Isabel became the Chilean O'Higgins, and the victors received a commemorative badge.
Sources differ One account lists no Chilean casualties; another account gives 27 killed and 22 wounded. Same action as (Capture of the Cádiz Expedition).
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: probably: Contreras de la Cruz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Chilean War of Independence
Battle of Valparaíso (1818) Single-ship action
Also known as Combate naval de Valparaíso (1818)
27 April 1818 · Near Valparaíso, Chile
Fought between Chile against Spain
Forces The Chilean frigate Lautaro against the royalist frigate Esmeralda and the brig Pezuela
Ships Lautaro, Esmeralda, Pezuela
Result Both sides claimed victory; the royalist blockade of Valparaíso ended
The Chilean frigate Lautaro fought the royalist frigate Esmeralda and the brig Pezuela near Valparaíso. Both sides claimed a tactical victory, but the action ended the royalist blockade of the port.
Sources differ Chilean and royalist accounts each claim the victory.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: DesconocidoUnknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · West Indies anti-piracy operations
Capture of the schooner Bravo Single-ship action
31 August 1819 · Gulf of Mexico, off southern Florida
Fought between United States against Caribbean pirates
Commanders Jairus Loomis (United States); Jean La Farges (pirates)
Forces The revenue cutters USRC Alabama and USRC Louisiana, each with a single pivot gun, against the schooner Bravo
Ships USRC Alabama, USRC Louisiana, Bravo
Losses United States: the first officer and three crew of Louisiana wounded. Pirates: several killed, the rest captured, Bravo captured.
Result American victory
The new revenue cutters Alabama and Louisiana sighted Bravo off southern Florida and gave chase. Bravo resisted in a brief exchange of fire, then the Americans boarded her and took the crew prisoner.
Why it is remembered Bravo's commander, Jean La Farges, was a lieutenant of Jean Lafitte and was hanged in Louisiana on 25 May 1820.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Dr. John Tilley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Spanish American wars of independence
Los Andes vs Prueba Single-ship action
Also known as Combate naval de Cabo Manglares
12 to 13 May 1820 (Chilean sources) or 14 to 15 May 1820 (Spanish sources) · Off the Esmeraldas River, Cape Manglares and Gorgona island (present Ecuador and Colombia)
Fought between Chile against Spain
Commanders Juan Illingworth (Chile); Antonio Vacaro (Spain)
Forces The Chilean privateer corvette Los Andes, 24 guns, against the Spanish frigate Prueba, 48 guns
Ships Los Andes, Prueba
Losses Unknown on both sides; Illingworth wounded.
Result Indecisive
The Chilean privateer Los Andes fought the Spanish frigate Prueba over two days in two different places off the coast of present Ecuador and Colombia.
Sources differ Chilean and Spanish historians differ on the date, the starting place, the course of the action and its result. Chilean sources give 12 to 13 May 1820; Spanish sources 14 to 15 May 1820.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Chilean War of Independence
Capture of Valdivia Landing or siege
Also known as Toma de Valdivia
3 to 4 February 1820 · Corral Bay, near Valdivia, Chile
Fought between Chile against Spain
Commanders Thomas Cochrane, Jorge Beauchef, Guillermo Miller (Chile); Colonel Manuel Montoya, Fausto del Hoyo (Spain)
Forces The Chilean ships O'Higgins, Intrépido and Moctezuma with about 310 troops, against about 1,606 royalists with 110 guns in 15 forts and batteries
Ships O'Higgins, Intrépido, Moctezuma, Potrillo, Dolores
Losses Chile: 7 killed and 25 wounded (or 39 killed and wounded); the brigantine Intrépido lost aground. Spain: about 100 killed and 106 taken prisoner.
Result Chilean victory
Cochrane approached Corral Bay pretending to be part of an expected Spanish convoy and landed troops at Aguada del Inglés under fire. After dark Beauchef's men stormed the forts one after another, taking Castillo de Corral at midnight in hand to hand fighting. Next day Moctezuma and Intrépido entered the bay under fire, the remaining garrisons fell back, and the Spanish abandoned Valdivia.
Why it is remembered It removed an important Spanish naval base that could threaten the new Chilean republic.
Sources differ Chilean losses are given as 7 killed and 25 wounded and as 39 killed and wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unnamed painter (died 1891), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · West Indies anti-piracy operations
Action of 9 November 1822 Single-ship action
9 November 1822 · About 45 miles east of Matanzas, Cuba
Fought between United States against pirates
Commanders William Howard Allen (United States)
Forces The schooner USS Alligator and 3 boats against 3 pirate schooners
Ships USS Alligator, Revenge
Losses United States: 4 killed (Allen mortally wounded), 3 wounded. Pirates: about 14 killed, 1 schooner captured.
Result Indecisive; captured merchant ships recovered, pirates escaped
Pirates had seized several vessels near Matanzas and were holding them for ransom. The water was too shallow for Alligator, so Allen led her boats against the schooner Revenge and forced the pirates to abandon her. The other pirates fought their way out of the bay, and with Allen mortally wounded the pursuit stopped, but five captured merchant ships were freed.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Greek War of Independence
Burning of the Ottoman flagship off Chios Raid
18 June 1822 · Off Chios, Aegean Sea
Fought between Greece against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Konstantinos Kanaris, Andreas Pipinos (Greece); Nasuhzade Ali Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 2 Greek fire ships against 2 Ottoman ships of the line
Ships Mansur al-liwa
Losses Ottoman Empire: about 2,000 killed, including the Kapudan Pasha; 1 ship of the line destroyed. Greek losses unknown.
Result Greek victory
At night two Greek fire ships set fire to the 84-gun Ottoman flagship Mansur al-liwa, which blew up. About 2,000 men died, among them Kapudan Pasha Nasuhzade Ali Pasha.
Why it is remembered It was carried out in reprisal for the Chios massacre two months earlier.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Greek War of Independence
Battle of Nauplia (1822) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Spetses; Naval Battle of Nauplia
8 to 13 September 1822 (Old Style; 20 to 25 September New Style) · Gulf of Nauplia (Argolic Gulf), Greece
Fought between Greece against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Andreas Miaoulis (Greece); Kara Mehmet Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 56 Greek ships and 16 fire ships against 84 Ottoman ships
Losses Greece: 2 fire ships spent. Ottoman Empire: 1 brig lost.
Result Greek victory
The Ottoman fleet was sent to destroy the Greek forces at Hydra and Spetses and relieve the besieged garrison of Nauplia. Miaoulis split his fleet into three squadrons to lure it into narrow waters. In three attempts over six days the Ottomans failed to break through amid distant cannon fire; on 8 September a fire ship under Kosmas Barbatsis drove off the Ottoman flagship, and on 13 September a fire ship sank an Ottoman brig, after which the Ottoman fleet withdrew.
Why it is remembered The Ottoman vice admiral was beheaded for the defeat, and Nauplia's garrison surrendered in December. Miaoulis was given a hero's welcome.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Greek War of Independence
Battle of Patras (1822) Fleet battle
Also known as Naval Battle of Patras; Ναυμαχία της Πάτρας
20 February 1822 (8 February Old Style) · Off Patras, Greece
Fought between Greece against the Ottoman Empire and its North African vassals
Commanders Andreas Miaoulis, Lazaros Pinotsis, Giannis Vulgaris (Greece); Pepe Ali Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 63 Greek ships, mostly armed merchantmen from Hydra, Spetses and Psara, against about 108 Ottoman ships
Losses Greece: no ships lost, about 20 wounded. Ottoman Empire: one frigate put out of action and about 130 killed, according to Greek sources; two ships ran aground entering Zakynthos.
Result Greek victory
The Greek squadrons sailed through a storm and attacked at dawn as the Ottoman fleet tried to leave the roadstead of Patras. Miaoulis's brig engaged several frigates, one of which lost her mainmast. After about six hours a change of wind let the Ottoman fleet break away and take refuge at British-held Zakynthos.
Why it is remembered It was one of the first times the Greek fleet fought a line battle with guns rather than fireships, and historian Vakalopoulos called it the first real naval battle of the war. It also showed that Greek guns were too few and too light to defeat the Ottoman fleet.
Sources differ The main account calls it a Greek victory; historian Dimitris Fotiadis argues neither side clearly won.
Sources Wikipedia (RU)
Image: Иоаннис Алтамурас, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Brazilian War of Independence
Battle of 4 May Fleet battle
4 May 1823 · Open sea off Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Fought between Brazil against Portugal
Commanders Thomas Cochrane (Brazil); João Campos (Portugal)
Forces 1 Brazilian ship of the line, 2 frigates, 2 corvettes and 2 fire ships against 1 Portuguese ship of the line, 2 frigates, 3 corvettes, 3 troopships, 1 lugger, 1 brig, 1 schooner and 1 smack
Losses None on either side.
Result Inconclusive
The Imperial Brazilian Navy under the British admiral Thomas Cochrane met the Portuguese fleet at sea off Salvador. Neither side suffered losses.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Marinha do Brasil, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Brazilian War of Independence
Battle of Itaparica Landing or siege
7 to 9 January 1823 · Itaparica Island, Bahia, Brazil
Fought between Brazil against Portugal
Commanders Antônio de Sousa Lima, João das Botas (Brazil); Joaquim José da Cunha, João Félix Pereira de Campos (Portugal)
Forces 3,257 Brazilian soldiers and 2 gunboats against 1,200 Portuguese soldiers, 2 brigs, 1 schooner, 1 barque and 35 gunboats and small vessels
Losses Unknown on both sides.
Result Brazilian victory
A Portuguese force of 42 vessels under the fleet commander João Félix Pereira de Campos attacked Itaparica Island. The Itaparica Battalion under Antônio de Sousa Lima defended it from the São Lourenço Fort and a line of trenches and small batteries along the beaches, and the attack failed.
Why it is remembered The victory was important to Brazil's eventual success in Bahia, where fighting went on until 2 July 1823.
Sources differ One account says 42 Portuguese vessels; another account lists 39 (2 brigs, 1 schooner, 1 barque and 35 gunboats or small vessels).
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Marinha do Brasil, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Venezuelan War of Independence
Battle of Lake Maracaibo Fleet battle
Also known as Naval Battle of the Lake
24 July 1823 · Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela
Fought between Gran Colombia against Spain
Commanders José Prudencio Padilla, Nicholas Joly (Gran Colombia); Ángel Laborde (Spain)
Ships Independiente, Mars, San Carlos, Esperanza
Losses Gran Colombia: 44 killed (8 officers), 164 wounded (14 officers). Spain: 437 captured (69 officers), 1 brig-schooner destroyed.
Result Colombian victory
The royalist squadron lay at anchor in a line parallel to the shore. Padilla's ships closed in two wings without firing, cutting off retreat to the bay, and the royalists opened fire at 15:45. Padilla's brig Independiente ran into San Carlos, which decided the action; the brig-schooner Esperanza blew up and most of the larger royalist ships were captured, while three schooners escaped.
Why it is remembered It was the last battle of the Venezuelan War of Independence and of the Spanish American wars of independence; Spanish forces capitulated on 3 August and left Venezuela on 5 August. 24 July is Navy Day in Venezuela and Colombia and a regional holiday in Zulia.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: José María Espinosa Prieto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Brazilian War of Independence
Battle of Montevideo (1823) Fleet battle
Also known as Batalha Naval de Montevidéu
21 October 1823 · Río de la Plata, off Montevideo, Uruguay
Fought between Brazil against Portugal
Commanders Pedro Antônio Nunes (Brazil); José Maria de Sousa Tavares (Portugal)
Forces 1 Brazilian corvette, 3 brigs and 3 schooners against a Portuguese force of 2 corvettes, 1 brig and 1 schooner
Losses Neither side lost a ship.
Result Inconclusive
The Portuguese force at Montevideo, which had endured the Brazilian blockade, tried to break it on 21 October. After heavy fighting in which no ship was lost, the Portuguese returned to port.
Why it is remembered One of the few conventional naval battles of the war. Montevideo, the last Portuguese stronghold in the Cisplatina, surrendered a month later.
Sources differ One account describes the Portuguese force as a captured schooner and three armed transports; another account gives 2 corvettes, 1 brig and 1 schooner.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Trajano Augusto de Carvalho, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Peruvian War of Independence
Battle of Callao (1824) Fleet battle
Also known as Combate naval del Callao (1824)
7 October 1824 · Off Callao, Peru
Fought between Spain against Peru and Gran Colombia
Commanders Roque Guruceta (Spain); Martin Guisse (Peru and Gran Colombia)
Forces The Spanish naval division against the combined Peruvian and Gran Colombian squadrons blockading Callao
Result Spanish victory; the republican ships withdrew
The combined squadrons of Peru and Gran Colombia under Admiral Martin Guisse were blockading Callao. The Spanish naval division under Captain Roque Guruceta came out, fought them and put the republican ships to flight.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: Ángel Cortellini Sánchez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Greek War of Independence
Battle of Gerontas Fleet battle
Also known as Ναυμαχία του Γέροντα
10 September 1824 (29 August Old Style) · Off Leros, south east Aegean Sea
Fought between Greece against the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, Tunis and Tripoli
Commanders Andreas Miaoulis, Dimitrios Papanikolis (Greece); Koca Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 70 to 75 Greek warships, 9 of them fire ships, with 800 guns, against an Ottoman armada given as about 100 ships (the main account's most probable estimate lists 1 ship of the line, 18 frigates, 14 corvettes, 70 brigs and schooners, 30 small craft and 151 transports, not all engaged)
Losses Ottoman: one 44-gun frigate destroyed, 1,300 killed, the Tunisian admiral and an Egyptian colonel captured. Greek losses unknown.
Result Greek victory
A Greek fleet of about 75 ships under Miaoulis met an Ottoman armada with contingents from Egypt, Tunisia and Tripoli near Leros, and defeated it.
Why it is remembered One of the most decisive naval actions of the Greek War of Independence, it kept Samos under Greek control.
Sources differ One account gives 100 Ottoman ships; another account gives a much larger estimate including transports.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Greek War of Independence
Battle of Samos Fleet battle
Also known as Ναυμαχία της Σάμου (Greek)
5 to 17 August 1824 · Off the island of Samos, eastern Aegean
Fought between Greece against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Georgios Sachtouris and Konstantinos Kanaris (Greece); Koca Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Losses Greek: 6 fireships spent, 3 dead. Ottoman: 3 ships and 100 guns destroyed, about 1,000 killed
Result Greek victory
After the destruction of Psara, the Ottoman fleet and troops gathered on the Anatolian coast, apparently intending to take Samos, while the Greek fleet under Sachtouris guarded the island. After minor engagements on earlier days, the Ottomans tried to push the Greeks out of the straits. The first Greek fireship attack failed, but Kanaris's fireship reached an Ottoman frigate, whose crew abandoned her; her magazine blew up, damaging nearby ships and causing casualties ashore. When the Ottomans renewed the attack the Greeks destroyed two more vessels, a Tunisian brig of war and a Tripolitanian corvette.
Why it is remembered With the victory at the Strait of Gerontas nearby, it secured Samos for the time being. The island was later left out of independent Greece and became an autonomous principality under Ottoman suzerainty until the Balkan Wars.
Sources differ One account gives 5 August 1824 (Julian calendar); another account gives 5 to 17 August, with the decisive fighting on 17 August.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Panagiotis Zographos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Greek War of Independence
Battle of Andros (1825) Fleet battle
1 June 1825 (20 May Old Style) · Off Andros, Aegean Sea
Fought between Greece against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Georgios Sachtouris (Greece); Koca Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 20 Greek warships and 8 fire ships against 51 Ottoman vessels
Losses Greece: 3 fire ships expended, 3 fire ship crew killed and 4 wounded. Ottoman: flagship, 1 frigate and 1 corvette destroyed, more than 550 killed.
Result Greek victory
Two Greek fire ships set fire to the Ottoman flagship, a 66-gun double-banked frigate, and another fire ship burned a 34-gun frigate. The Ottoman fleet scattered, and the Greeks captured a sloop and five Austrian cargo ships carrying supplies for the siege of Missolonghi.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Dionysios Tsokos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Greek War of Independence
Battle of Sphacteria (1825) Landing or siege
8 May 1825 · Sphacteria, Messenia, Greece
Fought between Greece against Egypt
Commanders Anastasios Tsamados, Anagnostaras, Alexandros Mavrokordatos (Greece); Ibrahim Pasha (Egypt)
Forces 1,000 Greeks and 8 ships against 3,000 Egyptians and about 45 ships
Losses Greece: 350 killed, including Tsamados and Anagnostaras. Egyptian losses unknown.
Result Egyptian victory
Egyptian forces under Ibrahim Pasha, supported by about 45 ships, attacked the Greek force on the island of Sphacteria. The Greeks were defeated with heavy loss.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Konstantinos Volanakis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · West Indies anti-piracy operations
Capture of the sloop Anne Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of the Ana
5 March 1825 · Boca del Infierno, off Bahía de Jobos, between Salinas and Guayama, Puerto Rico
Fought between Denmark, Spain and the United States against Roberto Cofresí's pirates
Commanders John D. Sloat, Tomás Renovales, Garrett J. Pendergrast, Juan Bautista Pierety, Salvador Pastoriza (allies); Roberto Cofresí (pirates)
Forces 1 American schooner with 140 sailors and marines, 3 Spanish and Danish sloops and a supporting frigate, against 3 pirate sloops and 1 schooner
Ships Anne, USS Grampus, San José y las Animas, La Invencible
Losses Allies: about 2 wounded, 1 sloop damaged. Pirates: about 3 killed, 6 wounded, Anne captured.
Result Anne disabled and captured; the pirates fled ashore and were taken
An alliance of Spanish Puerto Rico, Danish Saint Thomas and the United States Navy hunted Cofresí's flotilla after repeated attacks on their shipping. A trap at Boca del Infierno caught his flagship, the sloop Anne. Surprised and outnumbered, the pirates abandoned her and escaped ashore, where they were captured and tried.
Why it is remembered Cofresí was executed and became known as the last of the West India pirates; his capture marked the success of the anti-piracy operations.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Paul Gerard Miller (1875 to 1952), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Sardinian-Tripolitanian war of 1825
Battle of Tripoli (1825) Landing or siege
Also known as Battaglia navale di Tripoli
26 to 27 September 1825 · Tripoli, Libya
Fought between Kingdom of Sardinia against Tripolitania
Commanders Francesco Sivori (Sardinia); Yusuf Karamanli (Tripoli)
Forces 2 Sardinian frigates, 1 corvette and 1 brig against 1 brig, 2 schooners and shore batteries
Losses Sardinia: 2 killed, 5 wounded. Tripoli: 60 killed, 80 wounded, 1 brig and 2 schooners destroyed.
Result Sardinian victory
Tripoli demanded more tribute, and the King of Sardinia sent a squadron to force a better treaty. When the demands stood, the squadron attacked the city, sank several vessels and landed a force to attack the town.
Why it is remembered After heavy naval losses Tripoli quickly agreed to a peace treaty favourable to Sardinia, ending the war.
Sources differ One account says the Sardinians sank several vessels; another account result line says two were destroyed, while the casualty line lists a brig and two schooners.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Banco de Ortiz Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Stuck Ships
2 May 1826 · Ortiz Bank, Río de la Plata
Fought between Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders James Norton (Brazil); William Brown (United Provinces)
Forces 1 Brazilian frigate, 3 corvettes and 9 schooners against 1 Argentine corvette, 4 brigs and 1 schooner
Result Indecisive
Brazilian and Argentine squadrons fought on the Ortiz Bank. Neither side gained a decisive result.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre y Alexandre Emile Lapie, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Colonia del Sacramento (1826) Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Colônia do Sacramento
26 February to 14 March 1826 · Colonia del Sacramento, Cisplatina (now Uruguay)
Fought between Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata and Uruguayan insurgents
Commanders Manuel Rodrigues, Frederico Mariath (Brazil); William Brown, Ramón Cáceres, Juan Antonio Lavalleja (United Provinces)
Forces 1,500 Brazilian soldiers with 1 brig, 1 brigantine and 2 schooners, against 400 besieging troops and 1 frigate, 1 barque, 3 brigs, 1 schooner, 1 pilot boat and 8 gunboats with over 110 guns
Losses Brazil: 32 killed, 52 wounded, 1 brig sunk. United Provinces: 200 to 500 killed, wounded and captured, 1 brig sunk, 3 gunboats captured.
Result Brazilian victory
Colonia del Sacramento was held by Brazil and besieged on land by Uruguayan insurgents. Admiral Brown made a series of attempts from the water to take the town between 26 February and 14 March 1826, and all of them failed.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Liam Quinn from Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Los Pozos Fleet battle
Also known as Combat de los Pozos
11 June 1826 · Río de la Plata, off Buenos Aires
Fought between Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders James Norton (Brazil); William Brown (United Provinces)
Forces 31 Brazilian warships against 1 Argentine frigate, 3 brigs and 8 gunboats
Losses Brazil: none. United Provinces: 1 killed.
Result Inconclusive
The larger Brazilian fleet tried to destroy the Argentine squadron, which had been raiding shipping around Montevideo and attacking isolated Brazilian warships. The action off Buenos Aires was indecisive.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Punta Colares Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Corales
9 February 1826 · Río de la Plata, off Punta Colares
Fought between Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders Rodrigo José Ferreira Lobo (Brazil); William Brown (United Provinces)
Forces 3 Brazilian corvettes, 5 brigs, 2 brigantines, 2 schooners and 2 gunboats with about 155 guns, against 1 Argentine corvette, 4 brigs, 2 schooners and 12 gunboats with about 126 guns
Losses Brazil: 3 killed, 5 wounded. United Provinces: 6 killed, 15 wounded. No ships lost on either side.
Result Inconclusive
The Brazilian fleet under Admiral Lobo and Brown's squadron fought for about seven hours from around 10 in the morning. Neither side lost a ship.
Why it is remembered It was the first major naval engagement of the Cisplatine War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: José Murature (died 1880), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Quilmes Fleet battle
Also known as Combate de Quilmes
29 to 30 July 1826 · Río de la Plata, off Quilmes, Argentina
Fought between Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders James Norton (Brazil); William Brown (United Provinces)
Forces 1 Brazilian frigate, 4 corvettes, 3 brigs, 4 schooners and 3 gunboats with 208 guns, against 1 Argentine frigate, 5 brigs, 3 schooners and 9 gunboats with 138 guns
Losses Brazil: 6 killed, 24 wounded. United Provinces: 1 frigate sunk, 30 to 100 killed, 70 to 100 wounded.
Result Brazilian victory
The Brazilian fleet under the British admiral James Norton engaged Brown's squadron at dawn on 30 July. The fighting lasted three hours and cost the Argentines a frigate.
Sources differ One account says the fighting began at dawn on 30 July; another account dates the battle 29 to 30 July. Argentine casualties are given only as ranges.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · British punitive expeditions against the Habr Awal
British attack on Berbera (1827) Landing or siege
10 to 11 January 1827 · Berbera, Isaaq Sultanate (now Somaliland)
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against the Isaaq Sultanate (Habr Awal)
Commanders Gordon Bremer, W. C. Jervoise (Britain); C. J. Maillard (East India Company); Farah Guled (Habr Awal)
Forces 250 men with 2 corvettes and 1 sloop against 2,000 to 2,500 men and several buggalows
Losses Britain: 1 killed. Habr Awal: unknown.
Result British victory
A Royal Navy and East India Company force with two corvettes and a sloop attacked Berbera.
Why it is remembered It was the culmination of earlier British punitive expeditions against the Habr Awal.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Lieutenant John Septimus Roe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Carmen de Patagones Landing or siege
Also known as Batalla de Carmen de Patagones
7 March 1827 · Carmen de Patagones, southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Fought between United Provinces of the Río de la Plata against Brazil
Commanders Martín Lacarra, Santiago Jorge Bynnon, Sebastián Olivera (United Provinces); James Shepherd, William Eyre, Joaquim M. Lisboa (Brazil)
Forces 1 brigantine, 1 smack, 2 schooners, 2 privateer whalers and about 500 men and militia, against 2 Brazilian corvettes, 1 brigantine, 1 schooner and 654 men
Losses United Provinces: 4 killed, 13 wounded, 4 guns destroyed. Brazil: 100 killed and wounded, 1 corvette sunk, 3 ships and 28 guns captured, 579 prisoners; Shepherd killed.
Result United Provinces victory
A Brazilian naval expedition attacked the town of Carmen de Patagones and was defeated by local militia and a small flotilla. The Brazilians lost a corvette sunk and three ships captured, and most of the force was taken prisoner.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Frans Van Riel (1879 to 1950), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Aegean anti-piracy operations of the United States
Battle of Doro Passage Single-ship action
16 October 1827 · Doro Passage, between Andros and Negroponte (Euboea), Aegean Sea
Fought between United States against Greek pirates
Commanders Benjamin Cooper, Louis M. Goldsborough (United States)
Forces 1 American schooner against 1 pirate brig and 5 mistikos
Ships Comet
Losses Pirates: about 85 killed or wounded, 1 brig captured.
Result American forces recovered the British brig Comet
Pirates seized the British merchant brig Comet in the Doro Passage. American sailors retook her.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: I. K. Vasdravellis, circa 1820, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Ensenada combat (1827) Fleet battle
Also known as Combate de Ensenada de Barragán
June 1827 · Ensenada de Barragán, Río de la Plata, Argentina
Fought between United Provinces of the Río de la Plata against Brazil
Forces The Argentine navy against the Brazilian squadron blockading Buenos Aires
A minor engagement at Ensenada de Barragán between the Argentine navy and the Brazilian squadron that was blockading the port of Buenos Aires.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: Unidentified photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Greek War of Independence
Battle of Itea Raid
Also known as Battle of Agali; Ναυμαχία της Ιτέας
30 September 1827 · Off Itea, Gulf of Corinth, Greece
Fought between Greece against the Ottoman Empire and Egypt
Commanders Frank Abney Hastings (Greece)
Forces 4 Greek ships against 3 schooners, 3 brigs, 3 transports and 1 gunboat
Losses Ottoman: 7 ships destroyed, 2 captured. Greek losses unknown.
Result Greek victory
A small Greek squadron under the British philhellene Frank Abney Hastings raided an Ottoman flotilla anchored near Itea and destroyed or captured nine of its vessels.
Sources differ One account places the battle in the Gulf of Corinth; another account says Aegean Sea.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ioannis Poulakas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Juncal Fleet battle
Also known as Batalha de Aquila; Batalha do Arbolito; Combat de Juncal
8 to 9 February 1827 · Juncal Island, Uruguay River
Fought between United Provinces of the Río de la Plata against Brazil
Commanders William Brown (United Provinces); Sena Pereira (Brazil)
Forces 1 Argentine brigantine, 5 schooners, 1 smack and 8 gunboats with 69 guns and 745 to 780 men, against 1 Brazilian brigantine, 11 schooners and 5 gunboats with 61 guns and 750 men
Losses United Provinces: no ships lost, 17 killed. Brazil: 12 ships captured, including the flagship with its admiral, and 3 burnt; casualties unknown.
Result United Provinces victory
Two squadrons of roughly equal strength fought over two days near Juncal Island. Better command and gunnery gave Brown a decisive win: of 17 Brazilian vessels, 12 were captured and 3 burnt, and no Argentine vessel was lost.
Why it is remembered It destroyed the Brazilian Third Division, which had controlled the Uruguay River, and was Argentina's greatest naval victory of the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Martín García (1827) Fleet battle
18 January 1827 · Río de la Plata, off Martín García Island
Fought between Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders Frederico Mariath (Brazil); William Brown (United Provinces)
Forces First engagement: 1 Brazilian corvette and 1 schooner with about 24 guns. Second engagement: 1 corvette, 3 brigs and 4 schooners with about 87 guns. United Provinces: 2 brigs, 5 schooners and 8 gunboats with about 45 guns.
Losses Brazil: 6 killed, 10 wounded. United Provinces: at least 1 brig damaged.
Result Brazilian victory
A small Argentine fleet attacked two Brazilian ships off Martín García and withdrew after an hour. The Brazilians were reinforced and the Argentines attacked again.
Sources differ One account calls the second action indecisive; another account gives a Brazilian victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Monte Santiago Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla de Monte Santiago
7 to 8 April 1827 · Ensenada coast, Río de la Plata, Argentina
Fought between Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders James Norton (Brazil); William Brown (United Provinces)
Forces 1 Brazilian frigate, 2 corvettes, 5 brigs, 8 schooners, 1 lugger and 1 patache with 229 guns, against 1 Argentine corvette, 2 brigs and 1 schooner with 65 guns
Losses Brazil: 30 to 40 killed or wounded. United Provinces: 2 brigs sunk, 1 schooner damaged, 54 killed, 160 wounded.
Result Brazilian victory
Norton's much larger Brazilian squadron fought Brown's ships off the Ensenada coast, and the Argentines lost their best ships. Captain Francis Drummond, engaged to Brown's daughter Elisa, died on deck firing the guns of his stranded ship rather than retreat.
Why it is remembered Argentine historians count it among the bravest naval actions in the country's history. Afterwards the Argentine navy could only raid commerce, and the Brazilian blockade of Buenos Aires hurt the economy badly.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Edoardo de Martino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
San Blas Expedition Other action
14 to 22 September 1827 · San Blas Bay, south-east of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fought between Empire of Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders William Eyre, captured (Brazil)
Forces Brazil: the corvette Maceió and the brigs Caboclo and Independência ou Morte
Ships Maceió, Caboclo, Independência ou Morte
Losses Brazilian: the corvette Maceió and the brig Independência ou Morte lost, 40 to 50 men drowned and 83 captured. Argentine: none
Result Victory for the United Provinces
During the Brazilian blockade of the Río de la Plata, Eyre was sent to San Blas Bay to destroy or capture the Argentine privateer Gaviota. On 20 September Maceió and Independência ou Morte ran aground on sandbanks but got off; the next day both grounded again, and strong tides wrecked them over the nights of 21 and 22 September. Caboclo rescued 41 men, while 83 who left the wrecks, Eyre among them, surrendered to the Argentine garrison at Patagones.
Why it is remembered The expedition failed mainly through the shallow seabed and strong tides of the bay rather than through enemy action.
Sources differ Drowned: 40 by one figure, 50 by another.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Gran Colombia-Peru War
Battle of Cruces Landing or siege
22 to 24 November 1828 · Las Cruces Castle, near Guayaquil, Ecuador
Fought between Peru against Gran Colombia
Commanders Martin George Guisse, José Boterín, Hipólito Bouchard (Peru); Thomas Charles Wright, Juan Illingworth (Gran Colombia)
Forces The Peruvian frigate Presidente, corvette Libertad and schooner Peruviana against the Gran Colombian schooner Guayaquileña, brig Adela and the Guayaquil batteries
Ships Presidente, Libertad, Peruviana, Guayaquileña, Adela
Losses Peru: 13 casualties; Guisse killed. Gran Colombia: 1 brig sunk, 1 schooner captured, batteries captured.
Result Peruvian victory
The Peruvian squadron fought the Gran Colombian ships and shore batteries at Las Cruces near Guayaquil over three days. Admiral Guisse was killed, but the Colombian brig was sunk, the schooner captured and the batteries taken.
Why it is remembered The blockade of Guayaquil that followed gave Peru command of the sea and ended the naval campaign of the war; the Peruvian army later occupied Guayaquil.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Spanish attempts to reconquer Mexico
Battle of Mariel Single-ship action
Also known as Bataille de Mariel
10 to 11 February 1828 · Near Mariel, Cuba
Fought between Mexico against Spain
Commanders David Henry Porter (Mexico); Melitón Pérez del Camino (Spain)
Forces The Mexican brig Guerrero against a Spanish frigate
Ships Guerrero
Losses Mexico: 80 killed, Guerrero captured; Porter killed. Spain: unknown, frigate damaged.
Result Spanish victory
The Mexican brig Guerrero fought a Spanish frigate near the Cuban port of Mariel. Guerrero was lost to the Spanish and her commander was killed.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cisplatine War
Battle of Ponta de Santiago Fleet battle
15 January 1828 · Ensenada de Barragán, Río de la Plata, Argentina
Fought between Brazil against the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata
Commanders James Norton (Brazil); William Brown (United Provinces)
Forces 2 Brazilian brigs and 1 schooner with about 40 guns against 5 Argentine schooners with about 30 guns
Losses Brazil: 2 killed, some wounded. United Provinces: 1 schooner damaged.
Result Indecisive
An Argentine flotilla under Brown was intercepted by Brazilian ships blockading Buenos Aires. No ship was sunk and the Argentines withdrew to port.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Gran Colombia-Peru War
Battle of Punta Malpelo Single-ship action
Also known as Combat de Punta Malpelo
31 August 1828 · Punta Malpelo, near Guayaquil
Fought between Peru against Gran Colombia
Commanders Carlos García del Postigo (Peru); Claudio Johnston, Archibald Taylor (Gran Colombia)
Forces 1 Peruvian corvette against 1 Gran Colombian corvette and 1 schooner
Losses Peru: 43 killed and wounded. Gran Colombia: 60 killed and wounded, 1 corvette captured.
Result Peruvian victory
A Peruvian corvette fought two Gran Colombian vessels near Guayaquil and captured the Colombian corvette.
Why it is remembered It was the first major action of the Peruvian Navy as an independent force.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Tripolitanian-Neapolitan War
Bombardment of Tripoli (1828) Landing or siege
23 to 29 August 1828 · Tripoli, Libya
Fought between Kingdom of the Two Sicilies against Tripoli
Commanders Baron Alphonso Sosi de Caraffa (Two Sicilies); Yusuf Karamanli (Tripoli)
Forces 1 Neapolitan ship of the line, 2 frigates, 2 corvettes, 1 brig, 1 schooner and 12 gunboats and mortar boats, against 20 Tripolitanian vessels and shore batteries
Result Tripolitanian victory
When Naples refused the Pasha's demand for money, he declared war and the Neapolitan squadron blockaded the coast from 23 August. Its attempts to enter the harbour and bombard the city were repelled by the Tripolitanian fleet over several days. Having suffered losses and made no progress, the squadron sailed for Naples on 29 August.
Why it is remembered Through French mediation in October, Naples finally accepted Tripoli's demands.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Austrian expedition against Morocco (1829) Raid
Also known as Attack on Larache
3 June 1829 (expedition to 19 March 1830) · Larache, Morocco, with bombardments of Asilah and Tétouan
Fought between Austrian Empire against Morocco
Commanders Franz Bandiera, Paul Zimburg von Reinerz (Austria); Abd al-Rahman (Morocco)
Forces The Austrian corvettes Carolina and Adria, brig Veneto and schooner Enrichetta, with a landing party of 136 men, against Moroccan forces of about 2,000 and several warships
Ships Carolina, Adria, Veneto, Enrichetta, Veloce
Losses Austria: 22 killed, 14 wounded. Morocco: about 150 men; 2 brigs burnt.
Result Austrian victory
Morocco had seized an Austrian merchant ship and her crew. Bandiera's squadron bombarded Larache on 3 June 1829 while a landing party of 136 men went into the harbour and set fire to two anchored Moroccan brigs; most Austrian losses came during the withdrawal. Asilah and Tétouan were also bombarded.
Why it is remembered A preliminary peace was signed at Gibraltar on 2 February 1830, and on 19 March 1830 the old treaties were renewed and the merchant ship Veloce returned.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexander Kircher (1867 to 1939), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Suppression of the Atlantic slave trade (West Africa Squadron)
Capture of the Veloz Passagera Blockade and raiding
7 September 1830 · Near Prince's Island (Príncipe), West Africa
Fought between Britain against a Spanish slave ship
Commanders William Broughton (Britain); Jozé Antonio de la Vega (Veloz Passagera)
Forces The 18-gun sloop of war HMS Primrose against the 20-gun slave ship Veloz Passagera
Ships HMS Primrose, Veloz Passagera
Losses Britain: 3 killed, 12 wounded, Primrose damaged. Veloz Passagera: 43 killed, 20 wounded, ship captured.
Result British victory
HMS Primrose, patrolling against the slave trade, engaged and captured the more heavily armed Spanish slave ship Veloz Passagera near Prince's Island.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Liberal Wars
Battle of the Tagus (1831) Landing or siege
Also known as Combat du Tage
11 July 1831 · Mouth of the Tagus, Lisbon, Portugal
Fought between France against the Miguelite government of Portugal
Commanders Albin Roussin (France)
Forces 6 French ships of the line, 3 frigates and 3 corvettes against forts and a Miguelite squadron of 1 ship of the line, 3 frigates, 3 corvettes, 3 brigs and 1 brigantine
Losses France: 3 killed, 11 wounded. Miguelites: casualties unknown; 1 ship of the line, 3 frigates, 3 corvettes, 3 brigs and 1 brigantine captured.
Result French victory
A French fleet forced the entrance of the Tagus, subduing the forts that defended it, and arrived off Lisbon. The Miguelite squadron was captured.
Why it is remembered It forced the regime of Miguel I to recognise the July Monarchy and accept French demands, and cost Miguel most of his navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre-Julien Gilbert (1783 to 1860), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Anti-piracy operations
First Sumatran expedition Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Quallah Battoo; Battle of Kuala Batu
6 to 9 February 1832 · Kuala Batee (Quallah Battoo), Aceh, Sumatra
Fought between United States against the Chiefdom of Kuala Batee
Commanders Commodore John Downes (United States); Ulèebalang Po Muhammad (Kuala Batee)
Forces The frigate USS Potomac with 282 sailors and marines landed in boats; about 500 warriors in 5 forts with 3 proas
Ships USS Potomac, Friendship
Losses United States: 2 killed and 11 wounded. Kuala Batee: about 150 warriors and about 300 civilians killed or wounded, 5 forts destroyed and 3 proas sunk.
Result American victory
In February 1831 three proas attacked the American merchantman Friendship off Kuala Batu, killing her first officer and two crew and plundering her cargo. In reprisal Commodore Downes brought the frigate Potomac and landed 282 men in boats, who stormed the five forts while the frigate bombarded the town. US troops looted and killed civilians, and Downes was criticised for making no attempt to negotiate.
Why it is remembered It stopped attacks on American shipping on that coast for six years, until the Second Sumatran expedition of 1838.
Sources differ The main account gives about 300 civilians killed or wounded and also says about 300 more were killed in the final bombardment, so the totals are inconsistent.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Suppression of the Atlantic slave trade (Blockade of Africa)
Capture of the brig Brillante Blockade and raiding
About 1832 · Off West Africa
Fought between Britain against slave traders
Commanders Homans (Brillante)
Forces Four Royal Navy vessels against the slave brig Brillante, 10 guns and 60 men
Ships Brillante
Losses About 600 enslaved Africans murdered by Brillante's captain before capture; Brillante captured.
Result British victory; Brillante captured
Brillante had beaten off British patrols at least twice, once forcing a cruiser's crew to abandon ship and once repulsing a sloop's boats. Four naval vessels finally surrounded her. Before they reached her, Captain Homans had about 600 enslaved people tied to the anchor and thrown overboard, and the British took the ship without resistance.
Why it is remembered It was considered a significant feat of the Blockade of Africa. Homans had landed 5,000 enslaved people in Brazil and Cuba over ten voyages.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Liberal Wars
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1833) Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille du cap Saint-Vincent (1833)
5 July 1833 · Off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal
Fought between Portuguese Liberals against the Miguelites
Commanders Charles Napier (Liberals); Manuel Marreiros (Miguelites)
Forces 3 Liberal frigates, 1 corvette, 1 brig and 1 schooner with 176 guns, against 4 Miguelite ships of the line, 1 frigate, 1 xebec, 3 corvettes and 1 brig with 372 guns
Ships Rainha de Portugal
Losses Liberals: 90 killed or wounded. Miguelites: 300 killed or wounded; 4 ships of the line, 1 frigate and 1 corvette captured.
Result Liberal victory
After an exchange of fire Napier judged that his smaller squadron could not last and steered straight at the Miguelite fleet. His crews, mostly discharged Royal Navy men, boarded and won in hand to hand fighting. Four ships of the line, a frigate and a corvette were taken, and the rest of the Miguelite fleet withdrew.
Why it is remembered It destroyed Dom Miguel's last naval force, and Lisbon, cut off from supply by sea, soon capitulated. Napier was made Viscount and later Count of Cape St Vincent.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Ingham incident Single-ship action
Also known as Montezuma Affair
14 June 1835 · Gulf of Mexico, off Brazos Santiago, Texas
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Ezekiel Jones (United States); Juan Calvi (Mexico)
Forces The revenue cutter USRC Ingham against the Mexican warship schooner Montezuma
Ships USRC Ingham, Montezuma, Martha, Columbia
Losses None on either side; Montezuma run aground.
Result United States victory
The Mexican warship Montezuma, patrolling against smuggling into Texas, had captured the American merchant ship Martha and the Texan ship Columbia. The revenue cutter Ingham went after her, and after a bloodless engagement Montezuma was deliberately run aground to avoid capture.
Why it is remembered It was the first naval battle between Mexico and the United States.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Texas Revolution
San Felipe incident (1835) Single-ship action
1 September 1835 · Off Brazoria, Texas, Gulf of Mexico
Fought between Texian rebels against Mexico
Commanders William A. Hurd (Texians); Thomas Thompson (Mexico)
Forces The armed merchant ship San Felipe and the Laura against the Mexican Navy schooner Correo de Mejico
Ships San Felipe, Laura, Correo de Mejico
Losses Mexico: Correo de Mejico captured with her captain and crew.
Result Texian victory
Thomas McKinney armed the merchant ship San Felipe and sent her from New Orleans with munitions for the Texian rebels, with Stephen F. Austin aboard. As she transferred cargo to the Laura, the Mexican warship Correo de Mejico approached; both ships fired on her and captured her after a day-long chase. Captain Hurd took Thompson and his crew to New Orleans as pirates.
Why it is remembered It was the first naval battle of the Texas Revolution, and removing Thompson, who had been seizing smugglers, opened the way for more arms to reach the rebels.
Sources differ One account lists the Texian force as a schooner and a steamer; another account calls San Felipe a merchant ship.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · War of the Confederation (prelude)
Capture of Confederate ships (1836) Raid
Also known as Captura de Buques de la Confederación
21 August 1836 (night) · Callao, Peru
Fought between Chile against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation
Commanders Pedro Angulo Novoa (Chile)
Forces Chilean sailors aboard the brig Aquiles against the unarmed barque Santa Cruz, brig Arequipeño and schooner Peruviana at anchor
Ships Aquiles, Santa Cruz, Arequipeño, Peruviana
Losses Confederation: Santa Cruz, Arequipeño and Peruviana seized.
Result Chilean success
Without a declaration of war, Chilean sailors from the brig Aquiles seized three Confederation ships anchored at Callao. Only the Santa Cruz had a crew aboard, and it resisted.
Why it is remembered Protector Santa Cruz had the Chilean envoy arrested. A treaty arranged through a British diplomat was rejected by the Chilean minister Portales, who was seeking a reason for war.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Texas Revolution
Battle of Matamoros (1836) Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 3 April 1836
3 April 1836 · Off Matamoros (Los Brazos de Santiago), Tamaulipas, Gulf of Mexico
Fought between Texas against Mexico
Commanders Jeremiah Brown (Texas)
Forces The Texas Navy schooner Invincible against the Mexican Navy brig Montezuma
Ships Invincible, Montezuma
Losses Mexico: Montezuma lost. Texas: Invincible damaged.
Result Texan victory
Invincible outmanoeuvred the Mexican brig Montezuma off Matamoros and hit her repeatedly. Montezuma ran aground and was abandoned.
Why it is remembered Matamoros was the main supply base for Santa Anna's army, which was defeated at San Jacinto later that month.
Sources differ One account says Montezuma ran aground and was abandoned; another account records her as sunk.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Texas and Mexico naval conflict after the Texas Revolution
Battle of the Brazos River Single-ship action
Also known as Action of 17 April 1837
17 April 1837 · Brazos River, off Velasco, Texas
Fought between Mexico against the Republic of Texas
Commanders Francisco López (Mexico); George Wheelwright (Texas)
Forces 2 Mexican brigs against 1 Texan schooner
Losses Mexico: 2 killed, 2 brigs damaged. Texas: 1 wounded, schooner captured.
Result Mexican victory
Two Mexican Navy brigs engaged a Texian Navy schooner off Velasco and captured her with her commander.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Texas and Mexico naval conflict after the Texas Revolution
Battle of Galveston Harbor (1837) Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of Galveston Bay
26 August 1837 · Off Galveston, Texas
Fought between Mexico against the Republic of Texas
Commanders Henry L. Thompson (Texas)
Forces 2 Mexican brigs against 2 Texan schooners
Losses Mexico: 1 brig damaged. Texas: 1 schooner sunk, 1 schooner grounded.
Result Mexican victory
Two Mexican brigs fought two Texan schooners off Galveston. One schooner was sunk and the other grounded.
Why it is remembered It ended the First Texas Navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · War of the Confederation
Battle of San Lorenzo Island Single-ship action
Also known as Combate de la Isla San Lorenzo
· Off San Lorenzo Island, Peru
Fought between Peru-Bolivian Confederation against Chile
Forces The Confederation schooner Yanacocha against the Chilean brig Aquiles
Ships Yanacocha, Aquiles
A naval skirmish off San Lorenzo Island between the Confederation schooner Yanacocha and the Chilean brig Aquiles.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: Unknown artist (Armada de Chile), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · War of the Confederation
Battle of Callao (1838) Fleet battle
24 November 1838 · Callao, Peru
Fought between Chile against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation
Commanders Santiago J. Bynnon (Chile); Jean Blanchet, San Julián (Confederation)
Forces 2 Chilean schooners and 1 brig against 1 Confederation corvette, 1 schooner and 3 gunboats
Losses Unknown on both sides.
The Chilean ships blockading Callao under Commander Bynnon fought the Confederation privateer squadron under Jean Blanchet.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · War of the Confederation
Battle of Islay Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla de Islay; Combate Naval de Islay
12 to 13 January 1838 · Off Islay, southern Peru
Fought between Chile against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation
Commanders Roberto Simpson (Chile); Juan José Panizo (Confederation)
Forces Chile: 1 frigate, 2 corvettes and 2 brigantines. Confederation: 1 corvette and 2 brigantines
Ships Monteagudo, Libertad, Valparaíso, Aquiles, Arequipeño (Chile); Socabaya, Junín, Fundador (Confederation)
Losses No casualties, damage or ship losses are recorded in the sources used
Result Inconclusive; both sides claimed victory
A Chilean squadron, sent after Peru rejected the Treaty of Paucarpata, surprised the Confederate squadron near Islay. The Confederate ships made off to the north and Simpson chased them through the night. Panizo repeatedly brought his ships round to fire on the pursuers, slowing the chase so that the slower brig Junín could escape, and darkness ended the action. The Chilean squadron reached Callao on 17 January.
Why it is remembered Peruvian historians count it a Confederate success because Panizo saved every ship from a stronger enemy; Chilean historians treat it as a minor action that did not change the course of the war.
Sources differ The Wikipedia text calls the Chilean force five battleships, while the main account gives one frigate, two corvettes and two brigantines.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · War of the Confederation
Capture of the schooner Peruviana Raid
Also known as Captura de la goleta Peruviana
3 January 1838 · Callao, Peru
Fought between Peru-Bolivian Confederation against Chile
Ships Peruviana
Result Peruviana recaptured by the Confederation
The schooner Peruviana was retaken at Callao and returned to the Confederation squadron. She had been seized at her anchorage the year before in a night raid made without a declaration of war.
Sources differ The main account says the earlier raid was made by a Chilean squadron under Victorino Garrido; the main account on the 1836 seizure names Pedro Angulo Novoa aboard the brig Aquiles and dates it 21 August 1836, not the year before 1838.
Sources Wikipedia (ES)
Image: Álvaro Casanova Zenteno, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Pastry War
Battle of Veracruz (1838) Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of San Juan de Ulúa
27 November to 5 December 1838 · San Juan de Ulúa and Veracruz, Mexico
Fought between France against Mexico
Commanders Charles Baudin, François d'Orléans, Prince de Joinville (France); Antonio López de Santa Anna, Mariano Arista, Antonio Gaona, Manuel Rincón (Mexico)
Forces 4 French frigates, 2 corvettes, 8 brigs and 2 bomb ketches with about 3,000 men, against a garrison of 3,229 and the fortress of San Juan de Ulúa
Ships Néréide, Iphigénie, Gloire, Médée, Créole, Naïade, Vulcain, Cyclope
Losses France: 4 killed, 29 wounded in the bombardment; 8 killed, 56 wounded in the raid. Mexico: over 220 killed in the fortress; 31 killed, 26 wounded in the raid by Santa Anna's account; Arista captured, Santa Anna badly wounded.
Result French victory
After talks failed, Baudin's frigates and bomb ketches opened fire on San Juan de Ulúa at 14:30 on 27 November and kept it up until 20:00. Shells from the mortars and Paixhans guns silenced the citadel, which surrendered on 28 November. When Mexico still refused French demands, about 1,500 men landed at Veracruz on 5 December, captured General Arista and wounded Santa Anna.
Why it is remembered The rapid fall of the fortress to light warships stunned observers and marked the start of the era of shell artillery. It also raised Santa Anna's standing and added to Mexico's political instability.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · British conquest of Aden
Aden Expedition Landing or siege
19 January 1839 · Aden and Sira Island, Yemen
Fought between Britain (East India Company) against the Sultanate of Lahej
Commanders Henry Smith (Britain); Muhsin ibn al-Fadl (Lahej)
Forces 700 infantry with 1 frigate, 1 corvette, 1 brig and 1 schooner, against 700 infantry, 33 guns and the fort on Sira Island
Losses Britain: none, 1 corvette damaged. Lahej: 150 killed or wounded, 139 captured, 33 guns and the fort captured.
Result British victory
Britain wanted Aden as a coaling station on the new Suez to Bombay steamer route, and the Sultan of Lahej resisted. A small force of warships and East India Company troops defeated the defenders of the fortress on Sira Island and occupied the port.
Why it is remembered The Sultan and his family fled to Lahej, and Aden passed under British control.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · War of the Confederation
Battle of Casma Fleet battle
Also known as Combat de Casma
12 January 1839 · Bay of Casma, Peru, about 370 km north of Callao
Fought between Chile against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation
Commanders Roberto Simpson (Chile); Jean Blanchet (Confederation)
Forces The Chilean Confederación (22 guns), Santa Cruz (20) and Valparaíso (20) against the privateers Mexicana (12), Peru (10), Arequipeño (6) and Edmond (5)
Ships Confederación, Santa Cruz, Valparaíso, Mexicana, Peru, Arequipeño, Edmond
Losses Chile: 8 killed, 8 wounded. Confederation: 13 killed, 70 prisoners, Arequipeño captured; Blanchet killed.
Result Chilean victory
The Confederation offered 200,000 pesos for the destruction of the Chilean fleet, and four privateers manned by Peruvian infantry and mostly French sailors attacked the Chilean squadron while it was taking on firewood in Casma Bay. The Chileans inflicted heavy losses, captured Arequipeño and killed Blanchet. The other privateers escaped under French colours, were stopped by a French warship, and the squadron was disbanded.
Why it is remembered It gave Chile naval supremacy in the south east Pacific, and Simpson was promoted to commodore.
Sources differ Both sides claimed victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Álvaro Casanova Zenteno, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
First Battle of Chuenpi Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Chuenpee; Battle of Chuanbi; 穿鼻之戰
3 November 1839 · Entrance of the Humen strait (the Bogue), Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain against Qing China
Commanders Charles Elliot, Henry Smith (Britain); Lin Zexu, Guan Tianpei (China)
Forces 1 British frigate and 1 sloop against 16 war junks and 13 fire rafts
Ships HMS Volage, HMS Hyacinth
Losses Britain: 1 wounded, both ships lightly damaged. China: 15 killed, 1 junk blown up, 3 junks sunk, 1 fire raft sunk, several junks damaged.
Result British victory
The British frigates HMS Hyacinth and HMS Volage opened fire on Chinese ships at the mouth of the Bogue that they took to be hostile. One junk blew up and three were sunk.
Why it is remembered A minor action near the start of the First Opium War, named after Chuenpi island.
Sources differ One account calls both British ships frigates; another account lists 1 frigate and 1 sloop.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Battle of Kowloon Single-ship action
Also known as 九龍海戰
4 September 1839 · Off the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong (then Guangdong province), China
Fought between Britain against Qing China
Commanders Charles Elliot, Henry Smith, Joseph Douglas (Britain); Lai Enjue (China)
Forces 4 British boats, the cutter Louisa, the schooner Pearl and a pinnace from HMS Volage among them, against 3 war junks and a shore fort
Ships Louisa, Pearl
Losses Britain: 3 wounded. China: 2 killed, 6 wounded.
Result Stalemate
Chinese war junks were enforcing a ban on food sales to the British after a Chinese man died in a brawl with British sailors. Elliot sailed to Kowloon in the cutter Louisa and demanded provisions; when his ultimatum expired the British opened fire on three junks, which replied with support from a fort onshore. The British boats ran short of ammunition and withdrew, then returned and re-engaged, and the junks went back to their station.
Why it is remembered It was the first armed clash of the First Opium War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John H. Collins, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Battle of the Barrier Landing or siege
Also known as 澳門之戰
19 August 1840 · The Barrier (Portas do Cerco), Macao, China
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against Qing China
Commanders Henry Smith (Britain); Yi Zhongfu (China)
Forces 2 British sloops, 1 frigate, 1 steamer and 1 transport with a 380-man landing force, against 2,000 troops, a 17-gun battery and 8 junks
Ships HMS Hyacinth, HMS Larne, HMS Druid, Louisa, Enterprise, Nazareth Shah
Losses Britain: 4 wounded. China: 50 to 60 killed, 100 to 120 wounded.
Result British victory
Hyacinth, Larne, the cutter Louisa and the steamer Enterprise anchored in Fisherman's Bay and fired over 600 shot at a 17-gun battery about 600 yards away, silencing it in under an hour. A brigade of 380 marines, seamen from Druid and Bengal Volunteers then landed and routed the Chinese, burning their barracks. The British re-embarked that evening.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: "Drawn on wood by E. T. Wigan", p. xviii, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Battle of Amoy Landing or siege
26 August 1841 · Amoy (Xiamen) and Gulangyu Island, Fujian, China
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against Qing China
Commanders Hugh Gough, William Parker (Britain)
Forces 15 British ships and 2,500 troops against 26 junks and 5,600 to 10,000 troops
Losses Britain: 2 killed, 15 wounded. China: more than 60 killed, 500 guns and 26 junks captured.
Result British victory
A British fleet and landing force attacked Amoy and captured the forts on Xiamen and on nearby Gulangyu Island.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Battle of the Bogue Landing or siege
Also known as 虎門之戰
23 to 26 February 1841 · Humen strait (the Bogue), Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against Qing China
Commanders Gordon Bremer, Charles Elliot (Britain); Guan Tianpei, Qishan (China)
Forces 12 British ships and 1,037 men against 30 junks, 2,000 men, more than 506 guns and 3 forts
Losses Britain: 5 wounded. China: more than 500 killed or wounded, 506 guns and 3 forts captured; Guan Tianpei killed.
Result British victory
The British made an amphibious attack at the Bogue and captured the forts on Anunghoy and North Wangtong islands.
Why it is remembered It opened the Pearl River to the British fleet, which went on to capture Canton the following month.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Adolphus Knell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Battle of Canton (May 1841) Landing or siege
Also known as Second Battle of Canton
21 to 30 May 1841 · Canton (Guangzhou), Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain (with the East India Company) against Qing China
Commanders Hugh Gough (Britain); Yishan and Yang Fang (China)
Forces Britain: 6,000 men, 2 steamers and 7 other ships. China: 45,000 men and 4 forts
Losses British: 15 killed, 112 wounded. Chinese: 1,000 killed, 1,750 wounded, 4 forts captured
Result British victory
In May 1841 a British force under Hugh Gough, with two steamers and seven other ships, fought Qing forces at Canton from 21 to 30 May; on 24 May British ships sailed toward the besieged city. Four Chinese forts were captured.
Why it is remembered It was the second battle for Canton in the First Opium War and ended with four Chinese forts in British hands.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Battle of First Bar Landing or siege
27 February 1841 · First Bar Island, Pearl River, Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain (with the East India Company) against Qing China
Commanders Gordon Bremer and Thomas Herbert (Britain); Hsiang-fu, killed, and Yung-fu (China)
Forces Britain: 2 steamers, 4 corvettes and 1 bomb ketch. China: over 2,000 troops, over 40 war junks, the former East Indiaman Cambridge and batteries mounting 47 guns
Ships HMS Calliope, HMS Herald, HMS Alligator, HMS Sulphur, HMS Modeste, the steamers Madagascar and Nemesis (Britain); Cambridge (China)
Losses British: 1 seaman killed by the accidental discharge of a musket, 8 wounded. Chinese: about 300 killed, 98 guns captured and the Cambridge destroyed
Result British victory
HMS Modeste closed to within 300 yards of the shore and fired broadsides before the rest of the squadron joined in, while the steamers Madagascar and Nemesis set much of the Chinese camp alight with shells and rockets. After about an hour the batteries were nearly silent, and seamen and marines landed and stormed the works. A boarding party under Lieutenant Watson of HMS Calliope took the Cambridge, a former East Indiaman of 34 guns flying a Chinese admiral's flag; she was set on fire and blew up after dark. More than 40 war junks upriver stayed out of range.
Why it is remembered It is remembered for the capture and burning of the Cambridge, a former British East Indiaman serving as a Chinese flagship, in one of the Pearl River actions of the First Opium War.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Second Battle of Chuenpi Landing or siege
Also known as Second Battle of Chuenpee; 第二次穿鼻之戰
7 January 1841 · Humen strait (the Bogue), Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain and the East India Company against Qing China
Commanders Gordon Bremer, Charles Elliot (Britain); Guan Tianpei, Qishan (China)
Forces 3 British ships of the line, 3 frigates, 2 paddle frigates, 1 corvette, 2 sloops and 1 bomb ketch with 1,500 men, against 15 junks, 2,000 men and 2 forts
Losses Britain: 38 wounded. China: 277 killed, 467 wounded, 100 captured, 11 junks destroyed, 191 guns and 2 forts captured.
Result British victory
The British made an amphibious attack at the Bogue and took the forts on the islands of Chuenpi and Taikoktow, destroying eleven junks.
Why it is remembered The talks that followed produced the Convention of Chuenpi on 20 January, under which Elliot announced the cession of Hong Kong Island; Britain took possession on 26 January 1841 and held it until 1997.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Battle of Whampoa Landing or siege
2 March 1841 · Whampoa Island (now Pazhou Island), Pearl River, near Canton, China
Fought between Britain (with the East India Company) against Qing China
Commanders Gordon Bremer and Edward Belcher (Britain); Chinese commander unknown
Forces Britain: 1 ship of the line, 2 corvettes and 1 bomb ketch. China: 250 troops and 25 guns
Ships HMS Sulphur, HMS Wellesley
Losses British: 1 killed. Chinese: 15 to 20 killed
Result British victory
HMS Sulphur under Captain Edward Belcher, towed by three boats of HMS Wellesley under Lieutenant Richard Symonds, was reconnoitring when a Chinese battery opened fire. The tow was cast off, the boats' crews landed, and Sulphur's guns drove the defenders into the jungle. The British took the forts, destroyed the guns and blew up the works and magazines; one Wellesley seaman died of grapeshot wounds.
Why it is remembered It was one of a series of British attacks on the Qing defences of the Pearl River in early 1841, coming a few days after the Battle of First Bar.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Drawn by Thomas Allom. Engraved by W. A. Le Petit., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · African Slave Trade Patrol
Ivory Coast expedition Landing or siege
Also known as Liberia expedition
June to December 1842 · Ivory Coast and Liberia, West Africa
Fought between United States against the Bereby people
Commanders Matthew C. Perry (United States); Ben Crack-O (Bereby)
Forces 1 American frigate, 2 sloops of war and 1 brigantine with 50 marines and 150 sailors
Losses Bereby: 8 villages destroyed, including Little Bereby; Ben Crack-O killed.
Result American victory
After attacks on the American merchant ships Mary Carver and Edward Barley, Congress approved a punitive expedition under Commodore Perry. His force destroyed the fortified town of Little Bereby and killed the chief held responsible.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: United States Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Mary Carver Affair Raid
24 April 1842 · Near Little Bereby, Côte d'Ivoire
Fought between Bereby against an American merchant ship
Commanders Eben Farwell (Mary Carver); Ben Crack-O (Bereby)
Forces Bereby warriors in canoes against the American merchant schooner Mary Carver
Ships Mary Carver
Losses Mary Carver: 5 killed, ship captured and plundered.
Result Bereby victory
Bereby warriors in canoes attacked the American merchant ship Mary Carver near Little Bereby, killed her crew and plundered the ship.
Why it is remembered It provoked the United States Navy's Ivory Coast expedition later that year.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: United States Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Capture of Monterey Landing or siege
19 to 21 October 1842 · Monterey, Alta California, Mexico (now California, United States)
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Thomas ap Catesby Jones, James Armstrong, Cornelius Stribling (United States); Mariano Silva, Juan B. Alvarado (Mexico)
Forces 150 American marines and sailors from the Pacific Squadron against 29 soldiers, 25 militia, 11 guns and a fort
Losses None on either side; the fort was surrendered.
Result Inconclusive; the town was returned to Mexico the next day
Acting on false news that the United States and Mexico were at war, Commodore Jones sailed from Lima to Monterey to take the capital before any British cession. He landed, received the Mexican surrender and took the fort. The next morning a newspaper showed the two countries were at peace, and Jones handed the town back.
Why it is remembered Jones went to Los Angeles to apologise to the governor and was temporarily relieved of command.
Sources differ One account says Jones sailed with three warships; another account lists 1 frigate and 1 sloop of war.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Opium War
Battle of Woosung Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Wusong
16 June 1842 · Mouth of the Wusong River (now the Huangpu), Jiangsu, China
Fought between Britain (with the East India Company) against Qing China
Commanders Hugh Gough and William Parker (Britain); Chen Huacheng, killed (China)
Forces Britain: 14 ships. China: 19 ships and 4,000 to 5,000 troops
Ships HMS Cornwallis
Losses British: 3 killed, 25 wounded. Chinese: hundreds killed or wounded, 250 guns captured
Result British victory
British warships, HMS Cornwallis among them, moved close inshore and bombarded the forts while the troop transports stood about four miles off. Within two hours British fire had silenced the Chinese guns, and Royal Marines and seamen landed, seized the works and spiked the guns. Most of the garrison fled, but Chen Huacheng fought on until he was killed.
Why it is remembered The capture of Woosung and Baoshan opened the way to Shanghai, which the British took with little resistance on 19 June.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rundle Burges Watson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Franco-Moroccan War
Bombardment of Mogador Landing or siege
15 to 17 August 1844 · Mogador (Essaouira) and Mogador island, Morocco
Fought between France against Morocco
Commanders François d'Orléans, Prince de Joinville (France); Laarbi Torres, Omar Laalaj, Ahmed ben al-Shiker (Morocco)
Forces 15 French warships and 1,200 soldiers against 400 to 500 troops and about 120 guns
Losses France: 14 killed, 64 wounded. Morocco: 200 killed, 160 captured; Omar Laalaj killed.
Result French victory
French naval forces under the Prince de Joinville attacked the city of Mogador and the island facing it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Sarkis Diranian, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Franco-Moroccan War
Bombardment of Tangier Landing or siege
6 August 1844 · Tangier, Morocco
Fought between France against Morocco
Commanders François d'Orléans, Prince de Joinville (France); Ben Abbou (Morocco)
Forces 15 French warships and 13 other ships against 1,000 cavalry and 105 guns
Losses France: 3 killed, 17 wounded. Morocco: 150 killed, 400 wounded.
Result French victory
A French squadron under the Prince de Joinville bombarded Tangier after Morocco refused to end its support for Abd El-Kader in Algeria.
Why it is remembered It was followed by the Battle of Isly on 14 August and the bombardment of Mogador by the same fleet.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Dominican War of Independence
Battle of Tortuguero Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla de Tortuguero
15 April 1844 · Puerto Tortuguero, Azua Province, Dominican Republic
Fought between Dominican Republic against Haiti
Commanders Juan Bautista Cambiaso, Juan Bautista Maggiolo, Juan Alejandro Acosta (Dominican Republic)
Forces 3 Dominican schooners, Separación Dominicana, María Chica and San José, against the Haitian brigantine Pandora and the schooners La Mouche and Le Signifie
Ships Separación Dominicana, María Chica, San José, Pandora, La Mouche, Le Signifie
Losses Dominican Republic: none. Haiti: 1 brigantine and 2 schooners sunk.
Result Dominican victory
Three Dominican schooners under Juan Bautista Cambiaso met three Haitian vessels at Tortuguero and sank all three.
Why it is remembered It was the first naval battle of the Dominican War of Independence and gave the Dominican Republic naval supremacy over Haiti for the rest of the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alejandro Bonilla, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Uruguayan Civil War (Great Siege of Montevideo)
USS Congress incident Other action
29 September 1844 (confrontation); diplomatic incident to 25 May 1845 · Río de la Plata
Fought between United States against the Argentine Confederation
Commanders Philip Voorhees, John Tyler, John C. Calhoun (United States); Juan Manuel de Rosas, Felipe Arana, Juan Fitton O'Connor (Argentine Confederation)
Forces United States: a frigate and a brigantine, 64 guns. Argentine Confederation: a frigate, a brigantine and a schooner, 35 guns
Ships USS Congress
Result Status quo ante; the Argentine blockade of Montevideo resumed and Voorhees was prosecuted
During the Great Siege of Montevideo, United States Navy ships under Philip Voorhees confronted the Argentine naval squadron blockading the city in the Río de la Plata on 29 September 1844. The confrontation became a diplomatic dispute that lasted into 1845.
Why it is remembered The Argentine blockade of Montevideo was resumed and Voorhees was prosecuted.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Flagstaff War
Battle of Kororāreka Landing or siege
Also known as Burning of Kororāreka
11 March 1845 · Kororāreka (now Russell), Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Fought between British colonial forces against Māori led by Hōne Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti
Commanders David Robertson-Macdonald, wounded, George Phillpotts, Edward Barclay, John Campbell and Cornthwaite Hector (British side); Hōne Heke, Te Ruki Kawiti and Pūmuka, killed (Māori)
Forces About 90 sailors and marines (HMS Hazard and Royal Marines), about 52 soldiers of the 96th Regiment and about 70 armed civilians, against about 600 Māori warriors
Ships HMS Hazard
Losses British military: 11 killed and about 22 wounded on 11 March. Civilians: about 13 killed and more than 13 wounded between 11 and 17 March. Māori: about 34 killed
Result Māori victory; the town fell
War broke out between the British authorities and a small group of Māori after the establishment of British control. On 11 March 1845 Māori warriors under Hōne Heke, Te Ruki Kawiti and Pūmuka attacked Kororāreka, defended by sailors and marines of HMS Hazard, soldiers of the 96th Regiment and armed townsmen. The defence failed and the town fell to the Māori.
Why it is remembered It is remembered as the burning of Kororāreka, present-day Russell, and for Hōne Heke's removal of the British colours from Flagstaff Hill.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Moriori at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Anglo-Bruneian War (anti-piracy operations)
Marudu expedition Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Marudu Bay; Langkon War
17 to 20 August 1845 · Marudu Bay, northern Borneo
Fought between United Kingdom against the Kingdom of Marudu under Sharif Uthman
Commanders Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane and Captain Talbot (United Kingdom); Sharif Uthman, wounded, with Sharif Rum, Sharif Yassin and other leaders (Marudu)
Forces A Royal Navy squadron of eight ships, of which Vixen, Pluto, Nemesis, Wolverine and Cruiser entered the bay, with nine gunboats, 24 guns and fewer than 1,000 men; about 1,000 Marudu warriors with 11 guns in two forts behind a river boom
Ships Vixen, Pluto, Nemesis, Wolverine, Cruiser
Losses Marudu: about 240 killed or wounded, including 5 leaders. Britain: 6 to 8 killed and about 20 wounded.
Result British victory
Talbot's boats reached a boom of wood and iron about 200 m from the forts and cut through it with axes under fire. Rocket parties landed on the right bank damaged the stockade, and once the British broke through most defenders fled. The Marudu forces burned their town and vessels, and the British looted and burned the fort.
Why it is remembered James Brooke and Cochrane justified the attack by calling Marudu a pirate base, a charge later questioned. Sharif Uthman was carried off wounded and his fate is uncertain.
Sources differ One account lists one fort with 11 guns; another account describes two forts with three and eight guns. Accounts that Sharif Uthman died of a neck wound are questioned.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Bethune, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata
Battle of Vuelta de Obligado Landing or siege
Also known as Bataille de la Vuelta de Obligado
20 November 1845 · Vuelta de Obligado, Paraná River, San Pedro district, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Fought between Argentine Confederation against Britain and France
Commanders Lucio Norberto Mansilla, Francisco Crespo (Argentina); Samuel Inglefield (Britain); François Tréhouart (France)
Forces 11 British and French warships against 2,160 men, 4 shore batteries, 1 brigantine and 2 gunboats, with three chains across the river on 24 boats
Ships Gorgon, Firebrand, Philomel, Comus, Dolphin, Fanny, San Martín, Fulton, Expéditive, Pandour, Procida, Republicano, Restaurador, Lagos
Losses Argentina: 150 killed, 90 wounded, brigantine Republicano lost, 21 guns and 20 barges taken. Britain and France: 28 killed, 95 wounded, several warships badly damaged.
Result Anglo-French tactical success; the passage was forced
Rosas's forces stretched three chains across the Paraná on 24 boats, guarded by four batteries and the brigantine Republicano and two gunboats. The allied squadron opened with heavy gunfire and rockets at dawn; the chain barges were burnt and Republicano was blown up by her commander. Fulton passed through a gap in the barrier, and landing parties took the bluff and its guns.
Why it is remembered The allies won the passage but not their aims, and treaties later recognised Argentine authority over its rivers. 20 November is commemorated in Argentina as the Day of National Sovereignty, a national holiday since 2010.
Sources differ The English account gives no clear result.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War
First Battle of Tabasco Landing or siege
24 to 26 October 1846 · Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Matthew C. Perry and French Forrest (United States); Juan B. Traconis (Mexico)
Forces United States: 7 ships and a landing force of 700. Mexico: 253
Ships USS Mississippi (Perry's flagship)
Losses American: 2 killed, 2 wounded, 2 drowned. Mexican: 5 killed
Result Mexican victory
In October 1846 Commodore Perry's squadron tried to capture towns along the Tabasco coast. From 24 to 26 October seven ships and a landing force of 700 attacked Villahermosa, defended by 253 Mexican troops under Juan B. Traconis, and the attack ended in a Mexican victory.
Why it is remembered Perry returned in June 1847 and took the town in the Second Battle of Tabasco.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Battle of Punta Quebracho Landing or siege
Also known as Combate de la Angostura del Quebracho
4 June 1846 · Quebracho narrows of the Paraná River, Puerto General San Martín, Santa Fe, Argentina
Fought between Argentine Confederation against an Anglo-French naval squadron
Commanders General Lucio Norberto Mansilla (Argentine Confederation)
Forces Argentine artillery and troops on the high river banks against a larger Anglo-French squadron
Result Argentine Confederation victory
An Anglo-French squadron, sent to impose free trade on the interior of the country, was attacked on the Paraná by Mansilla's forces, who used the high cliffs and the narrowness of the river at the Quebracho narrows against the larger enemy force.
Why it is remembered It is commemorated every 4 June at Puerto General San Martín, where the site is a national historic place and a school, a cultural centre and a stadium are named after the battle.
Sources lacapital.com.ar
Image: Carlos Pellegrini, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War
First Battle of Tuxpan Landing or siege
18 April 1847 · Tuxpan River and town of Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Matthew C. Perry (United States); Martín Perfecto de Cos (Mexico)
Forces Perry's Mosquito Fleet with a landing force of 1,519 men and 4 field guns, against 300 to 400 defenders in five batteries
Losses United States: 3 killed, 11 wounded. Mexico: unknown.
Result United States victory
Perry's small craft towed 30 barges up the Tuxpan River on 18 April. By 3 p.m. they had taken two downriver forts and the forts at the edge of the town, which surrendered by 4 p.m. Perry removed the guns, destroyed the works and left the town on 22 April, keeping two craft to blockade the river.
Why it is remembered It was the only major battle of the war at Tuxpan.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Sarony & Major., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War
Bombardment of Guaymas Landing or siege
20 October 1847 · Guaymas, Sonora, Gulf of California, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Elie A. F. La Vallette (United States); Antonio Campuzano (Mexico)
Forces The first-class frigate USS Congress and the sloop USS Portsmouth against a coastal fort and shore batteries
Ships USS Congress, USS Portsmouth
Losses None known on either side.
Result United States victory; the Mexican garrison evacuated Guaymas
Faced with the threat of bombardment, Colonel Campuzano secretly withdrew the garrison and its guns by night. Next morning the two ships bombarded the fort and town, and La Vallette landed to find them abandoned. Lacking men to hold the town, he demolished its seaward defences and left Portsmouth off the harbour to dominate it and collect duties.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War
Battle of Mulegé Landing or siege
2 October 1847 · Mulegé, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Thomas O. Selfridge and Tunis Craven (United States); Manuel Pineda Muñoz (Mexico)
Forces United States: 17 marines and 54 seamen from USS Dale. Mexico: about 100 militia
Ships USS Dale
Losses American: 2 wounded. Mexican: none
Result Mexican victory
On 2 October 1847 marines and sailors from USS Dale landed at Mulegé and fought the Mexican militia. They took a hill near the town, but the action is counted a Mexican victory.
Why it is remembered It was one of several small actions fought by American sailors and marines on the coast of Baja California during the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William H. Meyers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War
Bombardment of Punta Sombrero Landing or siege
31 October 1847 · Punta Sombrero, Mulegé, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Tunis Craven (United States)
Forces The schooner Libertad against a Mexican shore battery
Ships Libertad
Losses United States: schooner damaged. Mexico: unknown.
Result United States victory; the shore battery was silenced
After a Mexican attack on a United States Navy warship, the schooner Libertad bombarded the Mexican shore battery at Punta Sombrero and silenced it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Henry Meyers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War
Second Battle of Tabasco Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Villahermosa
15 to 16 June 1847 · San Juan Bautista (now Villahermosa), Tabasco, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Matthew C. Perry and David D. Porter (United States); Domingo Echagaray and Claro Hidalgo (Mexico)
Forces United States: 8 vessels, 1,050 marines and 7 field guns. Mexico: over 600 soldiers
Losses American: 6 wounded, 3 missing. Mexican: about 30
Result United States victory
As part of the blockade of Mexico's Gulf ports, Perry returned to Tabasco with eight vessels and over a thousand marines, landed at San Juan Bautista, now Villahermosa, and defeated the Mexican defenders on 15 and 16 June 1847.
Why it is remembered It reversed the American failure at Villahermosa in October 1846.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War
Second Battle of Tuxpan Landing or siege
June 1847 (exact date unknown) · Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Matthew C. Perry (United States); Mexican commander unknown
Forces A landing force of marines, sailors and artillery from Perry's Mosquito Fleet against Mexican infantry and militia
Losses American: 1 sailor killed, 6 wounded (2 severely). Mexican: unknown
Result United States victory
During the American occupation and blockade of Tuxpan, a landing force from Perry's Mosquito Fleet fought Mexican soldiers or militia at the town. One American sailor was killed and six were wounded.
Why it is remembered It was the second of three small battles at Tuxpan; another skirmish there on 30 June is known as the Third Battle of Tuxpan.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Bombardment of Tourane (1847) Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille de Tourane
15 April 1847 · Off Tourane (Da Nang), Vietnam
Fought between France against Vietnam (Đại Nam)
Commanders Augustin de Lapierre, Charles Rigault de Genouilly (France); Nguyễn Tri Phương (Vietnam)
Forces The French warships Gloire and Victorieuse against 6 Vietnamese corvettes
Ships Gloire, Victorieuse
Losses France: 1 killed, 1 wounded. Vietnam: 40 killed or drowned, 90 wounded, 104 missing, 4 corvettes sunk, 1 damaged.
Result French victory
Gloire and Victorieuse had been sent to Tourane to negotiate the release of two French Catholic missionaries. Several Vietnamese vessels made a surprise attack, and the French ships fought back, sinking four corvettes and badly damaging a fifth.
Why it is remembered It worsened relations between France and Vietnam, and a decade later France launched the Cochinchina Campaign of 1858 to 1862, beginning French colonial rule.
Sources differ One account calls both French ships frigates; another account lists 1 frigate and 1 corvette. One account gives just under 230 Vietnamese casualties; another account figures add up to 234.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War
Siege of Veracruz Landing or siege
9 to 29 March 1847 · Veracruz, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Winfield Scott, David Conner and Matthew C. Perry (United States); Juan Esteban Morales (Mexico)
Forces United States: 8,600. Mexico: 3,360
Losses American: 13 killed, 55 wounded. Mexican: 80 to 350 killed, 50 wounded and 3,000 captured; 1,000 to 10,000 civilians killed
Result American victory; the port surrendered
On 9 March 1847 United States forces made an amphibious landing near Veracruz, Mexico's key seaport, and laid siege to it, with Winfield Scott, David Conner and Matthew C. Perry among the commanders. The port surrendered twenty days later.
Why it is remembered The capture opened the way for the American march inland to Mexico City.
Sources differ Mexican military dead are given as 80 to 350, and civilian dead as 1,000 to 10,000.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Adolphe Jean-Baptiste Bayot / After Carl Nebel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Mexican-American War (Pacific Coast campaign)
Siege of San José del Cabo Landing or siege
22 January to 14 February 1848 · San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Fought between United States against Mexico
Commanders Charles Heywood, wounded (United States); Manuel Pineda Muñoz (Mexico)
Forces United States: 27 marines, 15 seamen and 20 Californio militia, relieved by 102 sailors and marines from USS Cyane. Mexico: about 300
Ships USS Cyane
Losses American: 3 killed, 4 wounded, 8 captured. Mexican: 13 to 35 killed
Result American victory; the siege was lifted
Mexican militia besieged a small garrison of American marines, sailors and Californio militia in San José del Cabo for over three weeks. In the final engagement half of the garrison, together with a landing party from the reinforcing warship Cyane, broke the siege.
Why it is remembered It is remembered for the three-week defence by a small mixed garrison, relieved by a landing party from USS Cyane.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Spanish-Moro conflict (anti-piracy operations)
Spanish expedition to Balanguingui Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Balanguingui
16 to 22 February 1848 · Balanguingui Island, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines
Fought between Spain and the Captaincy General of the Philippines against the Moro pirates of Balanguingui
Commanders Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa, Brigadier José Ruiz de Apodaca (Spain); Moro commander unknown
Forces 19 Spanish warships, including 2 steamers with the flagship Reina de Castilla, 2 schooners, 3 brigs, gunboats and feluccas, with infantry, artillery, engineers, about 150 Zamboanga auxiliaries and Filipino vintas; about 1,000 Moros with 124 guns in 4 forts and about 150 proas
Ships Reina de Castilla
Losses Spain: 22 killed according to one account, 229 to 237 killed or wounded according to another account. Moros: about 450 killed, 6 captured, about 150 proas destroyed and 124 guns taken.
Result Spanish victory
The fleet sailed from Manila, gathered more forces at Zamboanga and reached Balanguingui on 12 February 1848. On 16 February troops landed at low tide and took Fort Balanguingui after a naval bombardment; Fort Sipac fell to a bloody assault on 19 February and the last fort was surprised on 21 February. The Spanish then burned about 150 proas and seven villages and dismantled the forts.
Why it is remembered It broke a main base of the Sulu sea raiders, freed several hundred captives and brought a decline in piracy against Spanish and Dutch possessions. Clavería was made Count of Manila.
Sources differ Spanish losses: 22 killed in one account, 229 to 237 killed or wounded in another account. Captives freed: about 550 in the introduction, about 250 in the aftermath section.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Fernández Muñoz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Schleswig War
Battle of Eckernförde Landing or siege
5 April 1849 · Eckernförde Bay, near Kiel, Schleswig
Fought between Schleswig-Holstein against Denmark
Commanders Eduard Julius Jungmann, Ernest II (Schleswig-Holstein); Frederik Paludan, Christian Krieger (Denmark)
Forces 91 artillerymen with 10 shore guns against the ship of the line Christian VIII (84 guns), the frigate Gefion (48 guns), the steamers Hekla and Geiser and 3 smaller vessels
Ships Christian VIII, Gefion, Hekla, Geiser
Losses Schleswig-Holstein: 4 killed, 14 wounded. Denmark: 231 killed, 89 wounded, 936 captured; 1 ship of the line destroyed and 1 small ship captured; Krieger killed.
Result Schleswig-Holstein victory
A Danish squadron led by the ship of the line Christian VIII and the frigate Gefion attacked the shore batteries at Eckernförde. The batteries defeated it, and the Danes lost two ships, with their surviving crews taken prisoner.
Sources differ One account says two Danish ships were lost; another account lists one ship of the line destroyed and one small ship captured.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Marinelieutenant Th. Vilh. Pedersen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · First Schleswig War
Battle of Heligoland (1849) Fleet battle
4 June 1849 · Off Heligoland, German Bight, North Sea
Fought between German Confederation against Denmark
Commanders Karl Rudolf Brommy (German Confederation); Andreas Polder (Denmark)
Forces 1 German steam frigate and 2 steam corvettes against 2 Danish sailing frigates, 1 sailing corvette and 1 steamer
Ships Barbarossa, Lübeck, Hamburg, Valkyrien, Rota, Thetis, Gejser
Losses None on either side.
Result Inconclusive
Brommy took his three serviceable ships out to attack the Danish blockaders off the Weser and exchanged heavy but harmless fire with the corvette Valkyrien. Valkyrien entered Heligoland's waters and British gunners fired a warning shot to stop the action. When Rota, Thetis and Gejser came up, the Germans withdrew to Cuxhaven, and the blockade went on.
Why it is remembered It was the only battle fought by the German Reichsflotte. Later German naval advocates cited the British warning shot as proof of British untrustworthiness.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Piracy in Asia
Battle of Tonkin River Fleet battle
20 to 22 October 1849 · Mouth of the Tonkin River, near Hai Phong, Vietnam
Fought between Britain, Qing China and the Nguyen dynasty against the pirates of Shap Ng-tsai
Commanders John C. Hay (Britain); Admiral Wong (China); Shap Ng-tsai (pirates)
Forces 2 British sloops of war, 1 brig and 8 Chinese war junks against 64 pirate war junks and about 1,400 pirates
Losses Britain: none killed, 2 sloops and 1 brig damaged. Pirates: about 2,400 killed or wounded, about 300 captured, 58 junks sunk.
Result British, Chinese and Tonkinese victory
A British expedition with Qing naval support and Tonkinese help attacked Shap Ng-tsai's pirate fleet at the mouth of the Tonkin River. Over three days the pirate fleet was destroyed.
Sources differ One account gives over 2,000 pirate losses; another account gives about 2,400 killed or wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Piracy in East Asia
Battle of Tysami Fleet battle
28 to 29 September 1849 · Off Tysami, Harlaim Bay, China
Fought between Britain against the pirates of Chui A-poo
Commanders John C. Hay (Britain); Chui A-poo (pirates)
Forces 1 British brig, 1 sloop of war and 1 steamer against 14 war junks
Losses Britain: 3 killed, 7 wounded, a brig and a steamer damaged. Pirates: about 250 killed or wounded, 4 war junks sunk.
Result British victory
A British China Squadron force engaged Chui A-poo's pirate fleet of fourteen war junks off Tysami and sank four of them.
Why it is remembered It led to the larger Battle of Pinghoi Creek, in which Chui A-poo's fleet was destroyed.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · African Slave Trade Patrol
Johanna Expedition Raid
Also known as Anjouan Expedition
August 1851 · Matsamudu, Johanna Island (Anjouan), Comoros, Indian Ocean
Fought between United States against the Sultanate of Johanna (Anjouan)
Commanders William Pearson (United States); Sultan Selim (Johanna)
Forces 1 American sloop of war with sailors and marines against 1 fort and 1 blockhouse
Losses United States: none. Johanna: 1 fort and 1 blockhouse damaged; loss of life unknown.
Result American victory; the Johannans surrendered property to the United States and signed a most favoured nation treaty
The merchant ship Maria and her captain were seized at Johanna Island. The United States Navy sent a sloop of war to free the captain, who was still being held, and to demand compensation. When Sultan Selim refused, the Americans briefly bombarded the island's fortifications.
Why it is remembered It took place during the American anti-slavery patrols off Africa but had nothing to do with slavery, and it ended with a treaty between the United States and the sultanate.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William H. Meyer, United States Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Capture of Manuel Briones Single-ship action
1851 or 1852 · Off the coast of Ecuador, Guayaquil
Fought between Sweden and Ecuador against the pirates of Manuel Briones
Commanders Christian Adolf Virgin (Sweden); Barroterán (Ecuador); Manuel Briones (pirates)
Forces 1 Swedish frigate with Ecuadorian soldiers against pirates
Losses Ecuador: at least 4 soldiers executed. Pirates: 1 whaler and 1 smaller vessel captured, 6 executed including Briones.
Result Swedish and Ecuadorian victory
Manuel Briones's pirates set out to attack the coming Flores expedition. Swedish and Ecuadorian forces caught them in a brief action and captured their vessels.
Sources differ The date is given only as 1851 or 1852.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Bombardment of Salé (1851) Landing or siege
Also known as Bombardement de Salé
26 to 27 November 1851 · Salé, Morocco
Fought between France against Morocco
Commanders Louis Dubourdieu (France); Abdelhadi Zniber (Morocco)
Forces 5 French warships against about 40 batteries at Salé and Rabat
Losses France: 4 killed, 18 wounded, 2 ships damaged. Morocco: 18 to 22 killed, 47 wounded, two thirds of them civilians.
Result Disputed: a French military success but a Moroccan political one
People of Salé had looted goods saved from a capsized French merchant ship, and France demanded repayment. When none came, Dubourdieu's squadron opened fire on 26 November. After seven hours the Moroccan batteries were badly damaged, and the French went on shelling the city into the next day, damaging the Great Mosque.
Why it is remembered Morocco agreed on 29 November to pay 100,000 francs. Both sides claimed victory, since the revolt against the governor that France had hoped for did not happen.
Sources differ Both sides claimed victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Platine War
Battle of the Tonelero Pass Landing or siege
Also known as Passage of the Tonelero
17 December 1851 · Near the cliff of Acevedo, Paraná River, Argentina
Fought between Brazil against the Argentine Confederation
Commanders John Pascoe Grenfell (Brazil); Lucio Norberto Mansilla (Argentine Confederation)
Forces 8 Brazilian warships: the steam corvettes Dom Pedro, Dom Pedro II, Dom Afonso and Recife towing the sailing corvettes Dona Francisca and União, with the brig Calíope, carrying half the 1st Imperial Infantry Division; against 2,000 soldiers with 16 guns
Ships Dom Afonso, Dom Pedro, Dom Pedro II, Recife, Dona Francisca, União, Calíope
Losses Brazil: 4 killed, 5 wounded, several ships damaged. Argentina: 8 killed and 20 wounded by Brazilian accounts, 1 killed by Argentine accounts.
Result Brazilian victory
Grenfell's squadron ran past Mansilla's batteries at the Tonelero pass with troops aboard. For an hour the Argentines fired more than 450 rounds, and the ships replied. The troops were landed at Diamante, Entre Ríos, and Mansilla, expecting a landing at his position, abandoned his guns.
Why it is remembered Bartolomé Mitre and Domingo Faustino Sarmiento were aboard Grenfell's flagship Dom Afonso.
Sources differ Some sources say the Argentine guns did little damage to the ships, others that they caused heavy damage. Argentine losses are 8 killed and 20 wounded in Brazilian accounts and 1 killed in Argentine accounts.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Eduardo de Martino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Anti-piracy operations in China
Battle of Nam Quan Single-ship action
10 May 1853 · Off Nam Quan, China, South China Sea
Fought between Britain and Qing China against Chinese pirates
Forces 1 British sloop of war, helped by an unknown number of armed Chinese civilians ashore, against 1 lorcha, 7 war junks and about 500 pirates
Losses British: 3 killed, the sloop damaged. Chinese civilians: unknown. Pirates: about 500 killed or wounded; 3 war junks sunk, 4 war junks and 1 lorcha captured.
Result British and Chinese victory
A Royal Navy sloop of war came upon eight pirate vessels near Nam Quan and defeated them, with help from armed Chinese civilians on land. Several merchant ships the pirates had captured were present, and all but one were retaken.
Why it is remembered A small but decisive action in the British campaign against piracy on the China coast.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War
Battle of Pitsunda Single-ship action
Also known as Combat de Pitsounda
9 November 1853 · Off the port of Pitsunda, eastern Black Sea
Fought between Russia against the Ottoman Empire
Forces The Russian frigate Flora against 3 Ottoman steam frigates
Ships Flora
Result Russian victory
Off Pitsunda the Russian frigate Flora was attacked by three Ottoman steam frigates. She drove off their attacks.
Why it is remembered A Crimean War action in which a single Russian sailing frigate held off three steam frigates, three weeks before the Battle of Sinop.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Alexeï Bogolioubov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War
Battle of Sinop Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Sinope
30 November 1853 (18 November Old Style) · Sinop harbour, northern coast of Anatolia, Black Sea
Fought between Russia against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Pavel Nakhimov (Russia); Vice Admiral Osman Pasha, captured, and Adolphus Slade (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 6 Russian ships of the line, 2 frigates and 3 armed steamers against 7 Ottoman frigates, 3 corvettes, 2 armed steamers and coastal artillery
Losses Russia: 37 killed, 229 wounded, no ships lost. Ottoman Empire: 3,000 to 5,000 killed; 1 frigate and 1 steamer sunk, 6 frigates and 3 corvettes run aground, about 2 shore batteries destroyed. Only one steamer escaped.
Result Russian victory
A Russian squadron under Admiral Nakhimov attacked an Ottoman squadron at anchor in Sinop harbour. The Russians used guns firing explosive shells, and every Ottoman frigate and corvette was sunk or forced aground. Only one steamer escaped and the Russians lost no ships. Nearly 3,000 Turks were killed when Nakhimov's ships fired on the town after the battle.
Why it is remembered The battle helped bring France and Britain into the war on the Ottoman side, and it showed the power of explosive shells against wooden hulls, leading to their wide adoption and indirectly to the ironclad warship. Russia commemorates it as one of its Days of Military Honour, and Alexey Bogolyubov painted it.
Sources differ One account says nearly 3,000 Turks were killed in the firing on the town; another account gives 3,000 to 5,000 Ottoman killed.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexey Bogolyubov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Anti-piracy operations in China
1854 expedition to Coulan Raid
Mid-November 1854 · Coulan Bay, Pearl River Delta, China
Fought between Britain, Qing China, Portugal and the United States against Chinese pirates
Commanders Douglas O'Callaghan (Britain); Zhang Yutang (Qing China); Eduardo Scarnichia (Portugal); George Henry Preble (United States)
Forces 1,000 troops, 3 warships and 3 steamships against an unknown pirate force
Losses Coalition: 1 killed. Pirates: 50 to 60 killed, 13 captured, 53 junks destroyed, 50 guns captured.
Result Coalition victory
An international force under the British Captain Douglas O'Callaghan attacked pirates in Coulan Bay. It destroyed three batteries and 53 junks.
Why it is remembered It marked a high point of cooperation between the Western powers and China against piracy before the Second Opium War.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War (Åland War)
Battle of Bomarsund Landing or siege
3 to 16 August 1854 · Bomarsund, Åland Islands, Baltic Sea
Fought between Britain and France against Russia
Commanders Charles Napier (Britain); Alexandre Deschenes (France); Jakob Bodisco (Russia)
Forces Anglo-French: 32,000 men and 25 paddle sloops. Russian: 3,000
Ships HMS Hecla, HMS Odin, HMS Valorous
Losses Anglo-French: 85 killed and wounded. Russian: 53 killed and wounded, 2,000 captured
Result Anglo-French victory; the fortress was captured and destroyed
An earlier bombardment on 21 June 1854 by HMS Hecla, Odin and Valorous was indecisive. In late July the British fleet surrounded the fortress, and on 8 August about 7,000 French troops landed south of Bomarsund and about 2,000 French troops and 900 British marines to the north. Batteries were set up ashore; the French took the tower of Brännklint, which then blew up under Russian fire, and British guns destroyed the tower of Notvik. After about eight hours of bombardment had opened a breach, the commandant surrendered on 16 August with about 2,000 men.
Why it is remembered Charles Davis Lucas earned the first Victoria Cross here by throwing a live shell overboard before it exploded. Bricks from the demolished fortress were used for the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki, prisoners held at Lewes are commemorated by the Russian Memorial there, and the Treaty of Paris of 1856 demilitarised the Åland Islands.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Bombardment of Greytown Raid
Also known as Bombardment of San Juan del Norte
13 July 1854 · Greytown (San Juan de Nicaragua), Mosquito Coast, Caribbean coast of Central America
Fought between United States against the town of Greytown, Mosquitia
Commanders George N. Hollins (United States)
Forces 1 American sloop of war against no defenders
Ships USS Cyane
Losses None on either side; the town was destroyed.
Result American victory
The sloop of war USS Cyane was sent to demand $24,000 in reparations for damage to an American steamboat company and an apology for an insult to the American minister Solon Borland. When the town could not pay within 24 hours, Captain Hollins fired 177 rounds into it and sent marines ashore to burn what was left. The residents had fled into the woods, so no one was killed or injured.
Why it is remembered A minor incident with a major effect on American foreign policy: it enforced the Monroe Doctrine and began the decline of Mosquitia as a British protectorate.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War
Bombardment of Odessa (1854) Landing or siege
22 April 1854 · Odessa, Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire
Fought between Britain and France against Russia
Commanders James Dundas (Britain); Dmitri Osten-Sacken (Russia)
Forces 8 steam paddle frigates, 1 screw frigate, 1 screw corvette, 1 sailing frigate, 1 screw ship and 6 rocket-firing ship's boats against shore batteries and troops
Losses Britain and France: 5 killed, 15 wounded. Russia: not stated.
Result British and French victory
A joint British and French squadron of warships attacked the Russian port of Odessa. A picture of the bombardment shows the explosion of the Imperial Mole.
Why it is remembered An early Allied attack on the Russian Black Sea coast in the Crimean War, about six months before the siege of Sevastopol began.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: George Greatbach; H W Nicholls, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War
Siege of Petropavlovsk Landing or siege
30 August to 5 September 1854 (18 to 24 August Old Style) · Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka peninsula, Russia
Fought between Britain and France against Russia
Commanders David Price, killed, and Frederick Nicolson (Britain); Febvrier Despointes (France); Vasily Zavoyko and Yevfimy Putyatin (Russia)
Forces 6 British and French warships with about 2,600 men and 218 guns against 920 to 1,013 Russian men, 40 shore guns, the frigate Aurora (22 guns) and the transport Dvina (5 guns)
Ships Aurora, Dvina, Anadyr, Sitka
Losses Britain: 26 killed and missing, 79 wounded. France: 26 killed and missing, 78 wounded (official Allied figures). Russia: 37 killed, 78 wounded; the cargo ship Anadyr and the transport Sitka lost.
Result Russian victory
British and French naval forces in the Pacific tried to capture the Russian port of Petropavlovsk on Kamchatka. The attack failed and the squadron withdrew.
Why it is remembered The main action of the Crimean War in the Pacific, and an Allied defeat in which the British commander, David Price, died. Cannon used in the defence are preserved in the town.
Sources differ One account gives 105 British and 104 French casualties; another account totals 209 by official Allied figures, while a Russian estimate puts Allied killed and wounded at up to 400. Allied strength is given as 1,700 or 2,600 men including the landing party.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War
Siege of Sevastopol (1854 to 1855) Landing or siege
Also known as Siege of Sebastopol
17 October 1854 to 11 September 1855 · Sevastopol, Crimea, Russian Empire
Fought between France, Britain, the Ottoman Empire and Sardinia against Russia
Commanders Saint-Arnaud, Canrobert and Pélissier (France); Lord Raglan, Lord Lyons, James Simpson and William Codrington (Britain); Alfonso La Marmora (Sardinia); Totleben, Gorchakov, Menshikov, and the admirals Kornilov, Nakhimov and Istomin, all three killed (Russia)
Forces Allies: 67,000 in October 1854, 175,000 by July 1855. Russia: garrison of 36,600 in October 1854 and 43,000 in May 1855, with 42,000 more in the Crimea and 8,886 naval gunners.
Losses France: 10,240 killed in action, 20,000 died of wounds, 50,000 died of disease. Britain: 2,755 killed in action, 2,019 died of wounds, 16,323 died of disease. Sardinia: 2,050 dead from all causes. Russia: 102,000 killed, wounded and dead of disease.
Result Allied victory
The Allies landed at Eupatoria on 14 September 1854 and marched on Sevastopol, home of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The siege lasted from October 1854 to September 1855, with battles at Balaklava, Inkerman, the Tchernaya, the Redan and the Malakoff. The Allied fleets bombarded the city six times: on 17 October 1854 and on 9 April, 6 June, 17 June, 17 August and 5 September 1855.
Why it is remembered One of the last classic sieges in history and the final episode of the Crimean War. It inspired Tolstoy's Sebastopol Sketches, the first Russian feature film Defence of Sevastopol, Franz Roubaud's panorama and the name of the Boulevard de Sébastopol in Paris.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Valentin Ramirez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War (Åland War)
Skirmish of Halkokari Landing or siege
7 June 1854 · Cape Halkokari, Kokkola, Gulf of Bothnia, Finland
Fought between Britain against Russia (Grand Duchy of Finland)
Commanders James Hanway Plumridge, squadron commander (Britain); Alexander Jakob von Wendt and Anders Donner (Finland)
Forces A British landing force in nine gunboats from Vulture and Odin against two infantry companies, two guns and about 100 local volunteers behind a palisade
Ships Vulture, Odin
Losses British: 52 casualties including captured, of whom 16 or 18 died; 2 of the 9 gunboats lost. Finnish and Russian losses: not stated.
Result Finnish and Russian victory; Kokkola was saved
Rear Admiral Plumridge's paddle frigates had been burning ships, shipyards and tar stores along the Finnish coast. Vulture and Odin could not come within about 11 kilometres of Kokkola, so they sent a landing force in boats. Defenders hidden behind a palisade at Halkokari ambushed it, and in a fight of 45 minutes the British lost two of their nine gunboats. A second British attack on Kokkola in 1855, the Battle of Davidsberg, was also repelled.
Why it is remembered Nine British dead are buried in the Maria graveyard in Kokkola, a monument stands at Halkokari, and a captured British launch is displayed in the town, in 2020 apparently the only captured Royal Navy boat on show anywhere.
Sources differ British dead are given as 16 or 18.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Wladimir Swertschkoff, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War
Battle of Kinburn (1855) Landing or siege
17 October 1855 · Kinburn Spit, south shore of the Dnieper and Bug estuary, Black Sea, now Ukraine
Fought between France and Britain against Russia
Commanders Armand Joseph Bruat (France); Edmund Lyons (Britain); Maxim Kokhanovitch (Russia)
Forces 10 ships of the line, 3 French ironclad floating batteries and 8,000 soldiers against 1,500 Russian soldiers and 80 guns
Losses France and Britain: 2 killed, 25 wounded. Russia: about 400.
Result French and British victory
An Anglo French ground force besieged the Russian forts on the tip of the Kinburn Peninsula while a combined fleet bombarded them. Three French ironclad batteries made the main attack. Although hit often, they destroyed the main Russian fortress in about three hours with very few casualties.
Why it is remembered It was the first use of modern ironclad warships in action. It persuaded navies to build armoured warships and began a naval arms race between France and Britain that lasted more than a decade.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: 1855 anonymous print, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Anti-piracy operations in China
Battle of the Leotung Fleet battle
19 August 1855 · Gulf of Leotung, Pearl River Delta area, China
Fought between Britain against Chinese pirates
Commanders Charles Turner and Edward W. Vansittart (Britain)
Forces 1 British brig and 1 steamer against 2 lorchas and about 37 war junks
Losses Britain: none killed; the brig and the steamer damaged. Pirates: about 300 killed or wounded; 2 lorchas and 6 war junks sunk, about 5 war junks damaged.
Result British victory
In 1855 the Royal Navy carried out a series of operations in the Gulf of Leotung to suppress piracy. In this action a brig and a steamer defeated a much larger pirate fleet.
Why it is remembered One of several battles in the 1855 British campaign against piracy in the area, in which hundreds of pirates were killed.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War (Åland War)
Bombardment of Sveaborg Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Sveaborg
9 to 11 August 1855 · Sveaborg (Suomenlinna), off Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland
Fought between Britain and France against Russia
Commanders Richard Dundas (Britain); Charles Pénaud (France); Aleksei Sorokin (Russia)
Forces 80 British and French ships against 15,000 Russian soldiers and 1,500 guns
Losses Russia: 260 killed or wounded. Britain and France: 1 killed, 15 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
A joint British and French fleet bombarded the Russian fortress of Sveaborg from beyond the range of its guns. After 48 hours of bombardment the attackers withdrew without trying to land.
Why it is remembered A long-range bombardment of the fortress of Sveaborg in the Baltic theatre of the Crimean War, which ended without a landing or a decision.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Crimean War
Siege of Taganrog Landing or siege
3 June to 24 November 1855 · Taganrog, Sea of Azov, Russian Empire
Fought between Britain and France against Russia
Commanders Edmund Lyons (Britain); Armand Joseph Bruat and Béral de Sedaiges (France); Yegor Tolstoy, Ivan Krasnov and Yevgeny Pfeilizer-Frank (Russia)
Forces Britain: 2 paddle gunboats, 1 armed raft, 1 paddle tug, 1 steam packet and 12 armed launches; France: 2 paddle gunboats and 4 launches. Russia: 3,200 men, 3 warships, 2 barges and 3 armed launches.
Ships Unylaya, Sekstant, Akkerman
Losses Russia: 470 killed and wounded, including civilians; 3 warships destroyed. Britain and France: 1 wounded, 3 taken prisoner, 1 gunboat destroyed.
Result Disputed; the military depot at Taganrog was destroyed
British and French ships in the Sea of Azov set out to destroy the supply lines of the Russian army. Taganrog, a major supply hub, was attacked on 3 June 1855 and its military depot destroyed, part of a series of raids on every Russian supply base in the area except Rostov-on-Don, which shoals kept out of reach.
Why it is remembered Some Russian histories give the name siege of Taganrog to the whole Anglo French naval campaign in the Sea of Azov from June to November 1855.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Anti-piracy operations in China
Battle of Ty-ho Bay Fleet battle
4 August 1855 · Off Tai O, Hong Kong
Fought between Britain, the United States and Portugal against Chinese pirates
Commanders William Fellowes (Britain); William McCluney (United States); José da Silva Carvalho (Portugal)
Forces 1 steamer, 1 sloop, 1 screw frigate and about 6 armed boats with sailors and marines against 36 war junks
Losses Coalition: 9 killed, about 6 wounded. Pirates: about 500 killed or wounded, about 1,000 captured, 20 war junks sunk.
Result Coalition victory
A British, American and Portuguese force attacked a pirate fleet of armed war junks off Tai O to rescue merchant vessels the pirates had captured. The coalition defeated the pirates. Seven captured merchant ships were freed; two were badly damaged and burned.
Why it is remembered One of the last major battles between Chinese pirate fleets and Western navies, and one of the first joint operations by British and American forces.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Second Opium War
Battle of the Barrier Forts Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of the Pearl River Forts
16 to 22 November 1856 · Pearl River near Canton (Guangzhou), China
Fought between United States against Qing China
Commanders Andrew Hull Foote and James Armstrong (United States); Ye Mingchen (China)
Forces 50 marines and 237 sailors ashore, 2 sloops and 1 steam frigate, which was not engaged, against 5,000 garrison troops and 3,000 others
Ships USS Portsmouth, USS Levant, USS San Jacinto
Losses United States: 10 killed, 22 wounded, 2 sloops damaged. China: 250 to 500 killed or wounded, 176 guns lost, 4 forts captured.
Result American victory
The United States Navy made an amphibious assault on four forts, the Barrier Forts, guarding the Pearl River near Canton. The sloops Portsmouth and Levant attacked on 21 November with men from the steam frigate San Jacinto, and all four forts were taken.
Why it is remembered The British, who wanted to capture Canton, considered it an important battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: A. Poinsett; John Henry Bufford (1810, 1870), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Second Opium War
Battle of the Bogue (1856) Landing or siege
12 to 13 November 1856 · Humen strait (the Bogue), Pearl River, Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain against Qing China
Commanders Michael Seymour (Britain); Ye Mingchen (China)
Forces Britain: 6 ships. China: 2,000 men in four forts (500 in each) with 410 guns
Losses British: 1 killed, 5 wounded. Chinese: unknown; 410 guns lost and 4 forts captured
Result British victory
Seymour's ships attacked the forts guarding the Humen strait, capturing the forts on the Wangtong Islands on 12 November and those on Anunghoy Island the next day.
Why it is remembered It was one of the first British operations of the Second Opium War, following the attacks on Canton in October and November 1856.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: The Illustrated London News, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Second Opium War
Battle of Canton (1856) Landing or siege
23 October to 5 November 1856 · Canton (Guangzhou) and the Pearl River, Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain against Qing China
Commanders Michael Seymour (Britain); Ye Mingchen (China)
Forces Britain: 9 ships and 580 men. China: unknown
Ships Coromandel, Barracouta, Encounter, Sampson
Losses British: 2 killed, 12 wounded. Chinese: 18 to 19 killed and wounded
Result British victory
On 23 October Coromandel and Barracouta took the four Barrier Forts in the Pearl River with little opposition, and Sampson and Barracouta then took the Blenheim and Macao forts. Over the next days the Dutch Folly, Bird's Nest and Shameen forts were taken and marines landed to guard the foreign factories. From 27 October Encounter shelled the yamen of Commissioner Ye Mingchen, and on 29 October about 400 marines and seamen breached the city wall, entered Canton and re-embarked at sunset. The bombardment of government buildings went on daily until 5 November.
Why it is remembered The first shot of the Second Opium War was fired from Coromandel in this action.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Filibuster War (National War against William Walker)
Battle of San Juan del Sur Single-ship action
Also known as Bataille de San Juan del Sur; Seegefecht vor San Juan del Sur
23 November 1856 · Off San Juan del Sur, Pacific coast of Nicaragua
Fought between American filibusters of William Walker against Costa Rica
Commanders Callender Irvine Fayssoux (filibusters); Antonio Valleriesta, a Peruvian (Costa Rica)
Forces The filibuster schooner Granada, 2 six-pounder guns and 28 men, against the Costa Rican brig Once de Avril, 4 nine-pounder guns and 114 men
Ships Granada, Once de Avril
Losses Filibusters: unknown. Costa Rica: the brig destroyed, about 70 killed, most survivors wounded.
Result Filibuster victory
The Costa Rican brig and the filibuster schooner fought for four hours. With the brig in a hopeless position, her magazine exploded and threw the crew into the sea. The filibusters picked up about forty survivors, most badly burned, among them Valleriesta, and soon released them.
Why it is remembered It is the only naval battle Costa Rica has ever fought. Fayssoux was made captain and given a hacienda near Rivas as a reward.
Sources differ Sources differ on the brig's end: some say her captain fired the magazine rather than surrender, others that an American shot hit it.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Auteur inconnuUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Puget Sound War (Yakima War)
Battle of Seattle (1856) Landing or siege
26 January 1856 · Seattle, Elliott Bay, Puget Sound, Washington Territory
Fought between United States settlers and Navy against a coalition of Native American tribes
Commanders Guert Gansevoort (United States); Chief Leschi, allegedly (tribal coalition)
Forces Settlers supported by the guns and marines of the sloop of war USS Decatur against a coalition of tribes, possibly including the Nisqually, Klickitat, Yakama and Puyallup
Ships USS Decatur
Losses United States: 2 or 3 killed. Native Americans: unknown; they later admitted, according to T. S. Phelps, to 28 dead and 80 wounded.
Result United States victory
A coalition of Native American tribes attacked the four-year-old settlement of Seattle. The settlers were backed by artillery fire and marines from USS Decatur, anchored in Elliott Bay. The fighting lasted a single day.
Why it is remembered An episode of the Puget Sound War in the early history of Seattle; Lieutenant Phelps of Decatur drew a map of the town during the battle.
Sources differ One account gives two settler deaths; another account gives 3 killed, counting a deserter from the ship killed by a settler.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Second Opium War
Capture of the French Folly Fort Fleet battle
6 November 1856 · French Folly Fort, Pearl River, near Canton (Guangzhou), China
Fought between Britain against Qing China
Commanders Michael Seymour (Britain); Ye Mingchen (China)
Forces Britain: 2 steamers and 14 small boats (2 launches, 2 barges, 3 pinnaces, 6 cutters and a gig). China: 23 war junks and the fort
Ships Barracouta, Coromandel
Losses British: 6 killed, 15 wounded. Chinese: unknown; the fort captured
Result British victory
Chinese war junks gathered under the French Folly Fort on the Pearl River near Canton. The British attacked with the steamers Barracouta and Coromandel and the boats of the squadron, dispersed the 23 junks and captured the fort in an action of nearly an hour.
Why it is remembered The British consul Harry Parkes reported a very hot Chinese resistance and praised the bravery of both sides.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860
Battle of Tres Forcas Landing or siege
Also known as Gefecht von Tres Forcas
7 August 1856 · Cape Tres Forcas, Rif coast of Morocco
Fought between Prussia against Moroccans of the Rif coast
Commanders Prince Adalbert of Prussia, wounded; Eduard von Knorr, wounded (Prussia)
Forces The corvette SMS Danzig with 2 boats and a landing party of 14 officers and 53 petty officers, sailors and marines
Ships SMS Danzig
Losses Prussia: 7 killed, 22 wounded, 2 boats damaged; three of the dead were left ashore. Moroccans: not stated.
Result Moroccan victory
On her way to the Danube, Danzig explored the Rif coast, where pirates had fired on the Prussian warship Flora in 1852. Her two boats came under fire, and Danzig closed to 600 metres of the shore to support them. Prince Adalbert led a landing party up a rock face nearly 40 metres high and drove the Moroccans back to a plateau, but their reinforcements forced him to withdraw to the shore.
Why it is remembered One of the first examples of Prussian or German gunboat diplomacy. The Prussian Navy raised an eagle monument to the dead at Gibraltar in 1863, and the landing was praised for decades in the Prussian and German navies despite its failure. Alexander Kircher painted it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexander Kircher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Second Opium War
Battle of Escape Creek Fleet battle
25 to 27 May 1857 · Escape Creek (East River), Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain against Qing China
Commanders Commodore Charles Elliot (Britain); Admiral Sonhay (China)
Forces 13 gunboats and 7 cutters and gigs against 41 war junks
Losses Britain: 31 killed or wounded, 1 gig destroyed. China: 27 junks captured or destroyed.
Result British victory
Commodore Elliot's squadron chased the Chinese war junks up Escape Creek. When the British ships grounded as the river narrowed, the crews continued the chase in the ships' boats until all the junks had been overhauled.
Why it is remembered It cleared the Chinese war junks from Escape Creek a few days before the Battle of Fatshan Creek.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Second Opium War
Battle of Fatshan Creek Fleet battle
Also known as 佛山水道之戰
1 June 1857 · Fatshan Creek, Foshan, Guangdong, China
Fought between Britain against Qing China
Commanders Rear Admiral Sir Michael Seymour (Britain)
Forces Over 1,900 marines and sailors, 1 screw sloop, 1 paddle steamer and 7 gunboats against 1 fort with 25 guns and 100 war junks
Losses Britain: 13 killed, 44 wounded, 1 launch destroyed, 1 gunboat damaged. China: the fort and its 25 guns captured, 2 war junks destroyed, 70 to 80 war junks captured.
Result British victory
Rear Admiral Seymour sought out the Cantonese fleet of Qing China and destroyed it, advancing in the ships' boats against a fort and about a hundred war junks. He then moved on towards Canton.
Why it is remembered It destroyed the Cantonese fleet before the capture of Canton. Oswald Walters Brierly painted the advance of the British boats.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Edmund Walker after Oswald Walters Brierly, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Second Opium War
First Battle of Taku Forts (1858) Landing or siege
Also known as 第一次大沽口之戰
20 May 1858 · Taku Forts, mouth of the Hai River, Tianjin, China
Fought between Britain and France against Qing China
Commanders Michael Seymour (Britain); Charles Rigault de Genouilly (France); Tan Ting-siang (China)
Forces 1,032 British and 700 French (land force) with a squadron of gunboats against 1,000 Chinese
Losses Britain: 5 killed, 16 wounded. France: 6 killed, 61 wounded. China: unknown.
Result British and French victory
A British and French squadron of gunboats under Rear Admiral Seymour attacked the Taku Forts on the Hai River and took them.
Why it is remembered The forts were handed back to the Qing army after the Treaties of Tianjin, which led to the Second Battle of Taku Forts in 1859. Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio painted the attack in 1867.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Cochinchina campaign
Siege of Tourane Landing or siege
1 September 1858 to 22 March 1860 · Tourane (Da Nang), Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Fought between France and Spain against Vietnam (Đại Nam)
Commanders Charles Rigault de Genouilly and François Page (France); Nguyễn Tri Phương, Lê Đình Lý and Đào Trí (Vietnam)
Forces 1 frigate of 50 guns, 2 corvettes of 12 guns, 5 steam gunboats, 5 steam transports, 1 despatch vessel, 1,000 French marine infantry, 550 Spanish infantry and 450 Filipino chasseurs against 2,000 Vietnamese, rising to 10,000
Losses France and Spain: 128 killed or wounded, about 300 dead of cholera. Vietnam: more than 1,000 killed.
Result Vietnamese victory
A joint French and Spanish expedition under Admiral Rigault de Genouilly captured Tourane in September 1858. The Vietnamese then besieged the force in the city, and it was eventually forced to evacuate in March 1860.
Why it is remembered A Vietnamese success at the start of the French and Spanish Cochinchina campaign: the invaders took the city but could not hold it.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Second Opium War
Second Battle of Taku Forts (1859) Landing or siege
Also known as 第二次大沽口之戰
24 to 26 June 1859 · Taku Forts, mouth of the Hai River, Tianjin, China
Fought between Britain and France, with American help, against Qing China
Commanders James Hope, wounded (Britain); Josiah Tattnall III (United States); Sengge Rinchen (China)
Forces 1,160 British troops ashore, 11 gunboats and 4 steamships against 4,000 Chinese, 60 guns and 6 forts
Losses Britain: 3 gunboats sunk and 3 grounded; 81 to 519 killed, 345 to 456 wounded. France: 12 killed, 23 wounded. United States: 1 killed, 1 wounded, 1 launch damaged. China: 32 killed or wounded.
Result Qing victory
A British and French force tried to seize the Taku Forts on the Hai River and failed. A chartered American steamship arrived and helped the British and French in the attack.
Why it is remembered A defeat for Britain and France in the Second Opium War, notable for the help given to them by a chartered American steamship.
Sources differ British killed are given as anywhere from 81 to 519 and wounded as 345 to 456.
Sources Wikipedia
Sail to Steam, 1816 to 1860 · Reform War
Battle of Antón Lizardo Single-ship action
6 March 1860 · Off Antón Lizardo, Veracruz, Gulf of Mexico
Fought between United States and the Mexican Liberals against the Mexican Conservatives
Commanders Thomas Turner (United States); Tomás Marín Sabalza (Mexican Conservatives)
Forces 1 American sloop of war and 2 steamers with 280 men of the Navy, Army and Marines against 1 sloop of war and 1 steamer
Losses United States: 1 killed, 3 wounded, the sloop and a steamer damaged. Conservatives: about 30 wounded, the sloop of war captured and the steamer run aground.
Result American and Liberal victory
Rear Admiral Tomás Marín, a Mexican Navy officer, mutinied, escaped to Havana and formed a squadron there to attack merchant ships and blockade Veracruz. The Liberal government of Benito Juárez declared him a pirate and allowed foreign navies to attack his ships. American warships already patrolling the Gulf of Mexico engaged his squadron off Antón Lizardo, captured his sloop of war and drove his steamer aground.
Why it is remembered An intervention by the United States Navy on the side of the Juárez government in Mexico's civil war between Liberals and Conservatives.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: published by 東洋文化協會 (The Eastern Culture Association), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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