Battle of Campêche

The naval Bataille of Campêche is delivered the May 16th 1843 in front of Campeche, Mexico, between a fleet texano-yucatane and the Mexican navy.

The Republic of Texas, chaired by Mirabeau B. Lamar, in conflict with Mexico, receives a request for naval assistance of the République of Yucatán, in rebellion since the beginning of the year 1841 against the central government of Mexico City. Its ports being subjected to a narrow blockade by the governmental marine, Yucatán could not receive the least provisioning any more what did not fail to have annoying effects on the course of its insurrection.

Yucatán had helped Texas at the time of its war of independence of 1835-1836, also its request, matched it is true of a financial counterpart of 8000$ (of the time) per month, it is accepted on September 18th, 1841 and the navy texane was sent to Campêche, with the help of the rebels.

In front of the port, the Mexican navy maintained several units, including two vapors: the Montezuma and the Guadalupe .

On their side Texans oppose to these ships the Sloop Austin (Moore captain) and the brig Wharton (Lothrop captain), to which came to be added the flotilla yucatane ordered by an officer texan, the captain James D. Boylan and composed of disparate fishing vessels transformed as far as possible, in warships. The two fleets clash in not very conclusive skirmishes during several days (in particular on April 27th), but on May 16th, the two Mexican vapors, assisted by the Schooner Eagle pass resolutely to the attack.

In spite of the undeniable advantage that their mode of propulsion gets to them, the Mexican vapors are put in rout by the unfavourable sailing ships after a hard confrontation. Side texan, Austin is very damaged, 3 of its sailors being killed and 21 others wounded whereas Wharton loses two men. Mexican side, sudden Montezuma of gross average and Guadalupe is almost dématé. According to a British deserter who was used for edge of the Mexican buildings, the latter have moreover important human losses which it quantifies with 183 men. The flotilla yucatáne did not intervene in the battle, the Mexican ships being out of the range of its artillery.

Notwithstanding the defeat, the Mexican government made strike a medal glorifiant in these terms the battle: " a great naval victory for Mexique". But it is true that the general-president Santa Anna, who directed the country, hardly appreciated the defeats: thus, a few years earlier at the time of the Guerre of pastry making and whereas it lost its leg at the time of an unhappy combat with the French with Veracruz, it sent to the Parliament its member amputee while being prided to have gained the battle (what testifies all the same to an extraordinary spirit of by the way).

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