Raids of the Buccaneers
1670 to 1687
Important battles involving the Pirates of the Caribbean
| Battle of Nombre de Dios
Buccaneers victory
In June of 1572, a ship of buccaneers led by Francis Drake sacked the colony, but when Drake received a serious wound they were forced to withdraw. The following year, in league with several native tribes, Drake ambushed a mule convoy in the region. | ||
| Battle of Porto Bello
Buccaneers victory
This Spanish-American fortress was captured in 1665 by 460 Buccaneers, under Morgan. The walls were scaled, and the town sacked, unheard-of cruelties being perpetrated by the Filibusters. | ||
| Battle of Panama
Buccaneers victory
On December 16, 1670, Morgan the Buccaneer sailed from Hispaniola with 37 ships and about 2,000 men to plunder this town. Having captured the castle of San Lorenzo, at the mouth of the Chagre, an exploit which cost the assailants 170 out of 400 men engaged, while two-thirds of the garrison were killed, Morgan started to cross the Isthmus, at the head of 1,200 men, January 18, 1671. The garrison of Panama, 2,400 strong, met him outside the city, and were defeated with heavy loss, the Buccaneers losing 600 men. Morgan then sacked the place, and on February 24, withdrew with 175 mule loads of plunder, and 600 prisoners. | ||
| Battle of Panama
Buccaneers victory
Fought April 23, 1680, between the Buccaneers, with three ships, under John Coxon, and three Spanish vessels. The Spaniards were defeated, after a hard fight in which two Spanish vessels were captured by boarding. The Spanish commander was killed. The Buccaneers then entered the Bay, and captured six vessels lying in the roads. | ||
| Battle of Puna
Buccaneers victory
On April 27, 1687, three Buccaneering vessels, under Captain Davis, engaged two Spanish men-of-war off Puna. The action was entirely one of long-range firing, and lasted till May 3, when the Spanish commander withdrew his ships. In the seven days only three or four Buccaneers were wounded. |
| Nombre de Dios in | The Story of Sir Francis Drake by Mrs. Oliver Elton |
| Fort Diego in | The Story of Sir Francis Drake by Mrs. Oliver Elton |
| Captain Morgan attacks Puerto Bello in | The Buccaneers of America by John Esquemeling |
| Captain Morgan takes Maracaibo in | The Buccaneers of America by John Esquemeling |
| Captain Morgan takes the Castle of Chagre in | The Buccaneers of America by John Esquemeling |
| Captain Morgan Heads to Panama in | The Buccaneers of America by John Esquemeling |
| Drake and the Spanish Treasure Ships in | Historical Tales: Spanish American by Charles Morris |
| Morgan and the Raid on Panama in | Historical Tales: Spanish American by Charles Morris |
| Wonderful March of the Freebooters in | Historical Tales: Spanish American by Charles Morris |
| Henry Morgan and the Buccaneers in | Historical Tales: Spanish by Charles Morris |
| Drake's Voyage round the World in | The Awakening of Europe by M. B. Synge |
Image Links | ||
|---|---|---|
 Drake Wounded at Nombre de Dios in The Story of Sir Francis Drake |
 The Maroon Chief showing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from the tree-top in The Story of Sir Francis Drake |
 Pierre le Grand commanding the Spanish Captain to surrender the ship in The Buccaneers of America |
 Morgan commanded the religious men and women to place the ladders against the walls in The Buccaneers of America |
 The fire-ship sailing before the rest fell presently upon the great ship in The Buccaneers of America |
 Morgan dividing the treasure taken at Maracaibo in The Buccaneers of America |
 Sacking of Panama; Morgan re-entered the city with his troops in The Buccaneers of America |
 In a small boat filled with some of his trusty men, he rowed quietly into the port in Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts |
 Morgan began to upbraid them, and ordered them taken below in Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coasts |