Callao Affair

Callao affair
Part of the Peruvian War of Independence
The rebuilt USS Macedonian in Ireland during the Great Famine.
Date November 5–6, 1820 Location Callao, Peru, Pacific Ocean Result Spanish vow to punish those responsible for attacks on American shipping.
Belligerents
United States	Spain
Commanders and leaders
John Downes	Joaquin de la Pezuela
Strength
1 frigate 6 schooners	1 fort
Casualties and losses
2 killed 6 wounded 1 frigate damaged 2 schooners damaged	none

The Callao affair occurred in November 1820, during the Peruvian War of Independence. It began when a Spanish fort opened fire on the United States warship USS Macedonian. Though the ship was damaged, the Americans did not violate their neutrality by counterattacking. On the following day, a boat filled with United States Navy sailors was attacked, resulting in the deaths of two seamen and the wounding of eight others. Two days after that, an American merchant ship was attacked and her crew had to abandon ship. Ultimately, there was no significant response by the United States to the attacks on their shipping and their citizens, though the Spanish government vowed to punish the perpetrators.

Inspired by the French revolution in 1789, and the Peruvian revolution, the people of Chile joined forces with the rebel Peruvians and revolted against Spanish authority in 1820. As result, a rebel First Chilean Navy Squadron under Scottish Captain Thomas Cochrane attacked the Spanish fleet anchored off Callao on the night of November 5, during which the rebels captured the 44 gun frigate Esmeralda with heavy loss of life to the Spanish defenders. The capture of the ship crippled Spain's operational capabilities in the Pacific Ocean and infuriated the Royalist inhabitants of Callao. During the battle, the frigate USS Macedonian, under Captain John Downes, was also at port with the mission of protecting six American merchant schooners which were being harassed by both the Chilean fleet and the Spanish on shore. Because the Macedonian was so close to the battle area, the Spanish military in Callao assumed that she had supported Cochrane's fleet in the attack. So instead of aiming for the Chilean ships, the garrison opened fire on the frigate and one of the American merchantmen with hot shot from Fortaleza del Real Felipe. Multiple rounds ripped through the ships' rigging though the damage was repairable and no Americans were harmed.

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