Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797)

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Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797)

The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was a British amphibious attack on the Spanish port of Santa Cruz in the Canary Islands, fought from 22 to 25 July 1797 during the War of the First Coalition. The British, led by Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson, aimed to seize the island by landing troops and taking the town and its ships.

Forces and plans
- British: about 4,000 sailors and soldiers, with four ships of the line, three frigates, a cutter and a mortar vessel, mounting around 400 guns.
- Spanish: about 1,700 regulars, militia and sailors, with 91 guns, commanded by General Antonio Gutiérrez de Otero y Santayana.
- Nelson planned a two-stage night attack: first land 1,000 men at Valleseco to capture Fort Paso Alto, then the main assault on the harbour at dawn to seize merchant ships and strike the town. A second option involved a direct assault on the San Cristóbal castle.

The first attempted assault fails
- On the night of 23 July, currents and strong batteries hindered the landing at Valleseco. A second landing near the Bufadero area faced heavy fire and waterborne difficulties.
- The British suffered setbacks and began to doubt their chances as the Spaniards reinforced the shore defenses. Nelson then shifted to a bold plan to attack the harbour directly.

The main assault and Nelson’s wound
- On the night of 24 July, about 700 British soldiers landed in the harbor area in two groups, supported by boats and frigates. Spanish artillery and batteries from Paso Alto, San Miguel, San Antonio and San Pedro kept up a fierce defense.
- The British pushed into the city, but are repeatedly checked by well-defended positions and close-quarters fire. The cutter Fox was sunk, and Nelson was wounded in the right arm, later amputated.
- The Spaniards, under Gutiérrez, held firm at key points around the harbour and town. British attempts to break through near La Consolación convent and the San Cristóbal fortress were repulsed.

Withdrawal and aftercare
- By the early morning of 25 July, a truce allowed the remaining British forces to abandon the attack and return to their ships with honours.
- Spanish casualties were light: about 30 dead and 40 wounded. British losses were substantial: around 250 dead, about 128 wounded, and roughly 300 captured. The British also lost the cutter Fox.
- Nelson, badly wounded, had his arm amputated. Despite the failure, Gutiérrez allowed the British to withdraw and even lent ships to help them sail home.

Aftermath
- The British never again tried to capture Santa Cruz. The defeat led to anger in London, and Admiral Jervis criticized the lack of preparation and resources.
- The battle is remembered locally with annual reenactments in Santa Cruz. The city honors the defender’s resistance, and a cannon believed to have wounded Nelson is displayed in a local museum. Nelson later described Tenerife as the worst hell he had endured, partly because of losing his arm.