Santa Cruz v Admiral Nelson, 1797
Return: 111 [Las Americas] to Las Chafiras then taxi to Los Abrigos.
The year is 1797, the date is 25th July, it is the Feast of Santiago. The wooden houses of the town of Santa Cruz protected by a few small forts along the seafront are besieged by Admiral Nelson's fleet. A small contingent of local militias, civilians and 300 soldiers managed to ward off and defeat over 3000 trained seamen and marines of Admiral Nelson fleet as he attempted to take the city. It is the battle where he lost his arm and his (I believe) his only defeat. General Gutierrez treated wounded sailors and marines in the town hospital and, in honour of the fair and
honourable treatment his troops received after the surrender, Nelson presented the general a cheese and a beer, the gesture was repaid with a bottle of wine. To commemorate the event a week long exhibition was held at the museum of Nature and Mankind and a re-enactment of the battle took place on Saturday 21st at the 'Castillo de San Juan' next to the Auditorio. It became to dark to take photos of the battle as it raged along the pier but the exhibitions and start of the battle give a flavour of life at the time and how hot it must have been for the men in uniform of both sides. It is unfortunate that Castillo de San Agustin, situated on the other side of the Auditorio is now in ruins with only the foundations and the base of some walls remaining as we walked past, because this must also have played an important part in the battle. This event 215 years ago has led to the good relationship maintained with the UK ever since. The album starts with an overview of the exhibition then proceeds to the fort for the 'battle', unfortunately not many people wanted to be on Nelson's team!
(playing as a slideshow will show some of the drill movements to advantage)
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