Battle of Martín García

The Battle of Martín García was fought from 10 to 15 March 1814 between the forces of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata under the command of then-Lieutenant Colonel Guillermo Brown, and the royalist forces commanded by frigate captain Jacinto de Romarate, defending the region.

Battle of Martín García
Part of the Second Banda Oriental campaign
Date10 to 15 March 1814
Location
Martín García island, Río de la Plata
Result United Provinces victory
Belligerents
United Provinces of South America Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
William Brown Jacinto de Romarate
Strength
1 frigate
1 corvette
1 brigantine
2 schooners
1 felucca
1 sloop
[91 cannons] 415 sailors and 177 troops.		 2 brigantines
1 brigantine
1 sloop
3 gunboats
1 landing craft and 4 minor vessels
[39 cannons (2 in battery)] 430 troops.
Casualties and losses
One vessel damaged, 23 dead, 35 wounded One minor vessel captured, 10 dead, 47 prisoners, 17 wounded

After a small naval engagement where the running aground of the leading revolutionary vessel gave the royalists a small victory, but suffering numerous casualties, the United Provinces troops took the island by assault forcing Romarate's squadron to retreat.

Brown's victory divided the enemy's forces, and secured the United Provinces' control of access to the interior waterways, and made possible their advance on Montevideo. After the decisive victory at the Buceo engagement, they could also blockade the city to the open sea completing the land blockade by the army, causing the city's surrender.

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