Thanks to the chronicles of the historian Fray Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra and the official Pedro Tomás de Córdova , we know the details of the petty attack and the glorious defense that the island carried out against the children of distant Albion. In those days, the governor of the island was Ramón de Castro , who for the defense of the island had:
“The plaza had 376 cannons, 35 mortars, 4 howitzers and 3 stone mines, 10,209 quintals of gunpowder, 189,000 cartridges and 3,367 rifles. Its works were not completed, its veteran garrison was scarce and reduced to the Fixed Regiment with 938 men; but the decision to defend themselves was extreme and the enthusiasm typical of the loyalty of the Puerto Ricans…..The entire force reached 4,029 individuals and the urban ones, who entered from the countryside, 2,442. In addition there were 180 convicts, who were employed in the service indiscriminately. Grand total 6,471. In addition, the flying fields of Río-piedras and Palo-seco and the artillery and fortification workshops with their respective dependents. The veteran troop could consist of, at most, 300 men, since the rest were from the Militia added to the Fixed Regiment…. To defend the bay, two pontoons, four ganguiles (fishing boats), eleven gunboats, seven aid boats, four boats, a felucca and eighteen canoes were assembled, with 27 pieces, 11 grinding wheels, 204 rifles and 546 men. of crew. “
“The leaders of the plaza were immediately summoned and with the presence of the defense plan that the Governor had formed in advance, each of these and other named officers were given the destination indicated therein. The general was called and all the existing troops, garrison in the castles, forts, batteries and other positions of the interior and exterior works of this square were distributed in a timely and proportional manner. Weapons were given to the enlisted civilians, placing them in convenient positions. The four ganguiles (fishing boats), two pontoons and twelve armed and manned gunboats were enabled and placed in the sites that were detailed under the direction of the frigate captain D. Francisco de Paula Castro. A flying body proportioned to the number of the garrison was sent with four field guns under the command of Lieutenant Colonel D. Isidoro Linares, captain of this Fixed Regiment, in order to prevent the landing. . . . . Orders were issued for the cavalry company, the townspeople and useful people of the districts to take up arms and go to this Capital immediately, and circulars to do the same in all the districts of the Island. all the posts of the enclosure and garrison, exterior and advanced works, with weapons, ammunition, tools and other effects necessary for the defense of this square... It was ordered that the Artillery Warden be maintained day and night in the General Park to supply the supplies and effects that were requested. An order was issued to the parties of this Island, so that their neighbors who were free from the service of arms would attend the City with provision of the fruits of the island for the subsistence of the garrison.
“The flying corps left under the command of Lieutenant Colonel D. Isidoro Linares with those of equal rank D. José Vizcarrondo and D. Teodomiro del Toro, this assistant of the disciplined militias of this Island and that captain of the Valencia Infantry Regiment. D. Isidoro Linares was stationed with one hundred men in the place called the Plaza, next to one of the beaches of Cangrejos; D. José Vizcarrondo on the beach of San Mateo and D. Teodomiro del Toro in La Torrecilla with the same number of people each as Linares had. Being the situation posts, the most advantageous and protected to reject the landing attempted by the enemy and to be able to protect each other. “Each of these commanders entrenched themselves as the situation and time allowed, opportunely placing the two field guns that Linares and Vizcarrondo carried.”
At the same time this was happening in Cangrejos , the English sent a boat with officers on a “ diplomatic ” mission to San Juan , offering the “ honorable ” surrender of the island. Ramón de Castro , who had already defeated the English in the Battle of Pensacola (Florida 1781), responded:
“I have received the document from VV EE. of this day urging me to surrender the plaza of Puerto Rico, which I have the honor of commanding. I will defend my Catholic King as I must, until I lose the last drop of blood. This circumstance prevents me from accepting the generous offers that VV.EE. They serve me in it. Particularly to me, my garrison and inhabitants. who, like their Chief, are willing to sell their lives dearly and I hope that in their defense I will obtain the glory that I have achieved for the British Nation at the post of Wiiage, near Pensacola in the last year of 1781.”
https://xn--laviejaespaa-khb.es/ataque-ingles-a-puerto-rico-en-1797
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