Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor

Capture of the French privateer Sandwich by U.S. Marine infantry, Copy of painting by Philip Colprit, 1960.

Date	May 11, 1800
Location	Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo (now Dominican Republic)
Result	American victory

Belligerents

United States

France

Spain

Commanders and leaders

Silas Talbot

Isaac Hull

Unknown

Strength

Land:
~100 Marines and sailors
Sea:
1 frigate
1 sloop

Land:
1 Spanish fort
Sea:
1 French corvette

Casualties and losses

Unknown

1 Corvette captured
1 Fort destroyed

The Battle of Puerto Plata Harbor was small battle in 1800 between a French privateer, a Spanish fort and the United States Navy and Marine Corps during the undeclared Quasi War between France and the United States.

In early May 1800, Captain Silas Talbot organized a naval expedition to Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo. His object was to harass French shipping around the colony of their Spanish ally. After capturing the small French sloop Sally, USS Constitution arrived at Puerto Plata. A French corvette was seen at anchor in the harbor.

Unwilling to take fire from Spanish defenses, USS Constitution sailed around to a beach, out of the Spanish fort's range. There she off loaded a landing force of about 100 marines and sailors. The landing party then marched on Sandwich while the prize sloop Sally was sent in to attack by way of sea. No doubt shocked at the approaching American force, the French hardly put up a fight and Sandwich was captured. Then the Americans turned their attention on Spain's Fortaleza San Felipe. After another brief fight, the Spanish defenses were overrun and the marines spiked the fort's cannons.

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Wikipedia