battle spelled american war independence battle fought march british spanish forces control island caribbean coast present day honduras spanish expeditionary force captain general spanish guatemala gained control british held island bombarding main defences british garrison surrendered day spanish evacuated captured soldiers civilians slaves destroyed settlement claimed base piracy assault larger plan eliminate british influence central_america met temporary successes british able maintain colonial presence area background following entry spain american war independence spain great_britain contested territories central_america territory spanish general guatemala british established logging rights southern coast present day belize established informal settlements lacking formal colonial authority present day honduras nicaragua governor moved quickly declaration war arrived seizing principal british island settlements coast british fled occupation island british controlled island miles coast british commander base style operations extend maintain british influence operations spanish shipping sources indicate present time spanish attack probably captured continued active area suggests jamaica time ordered english hidden settlements began planning offensive operations british mainland settlements early british abandoned failed expedition nicaragua raised militia received financial logistical support parts spanish colonial empire americas logistical diplomatic reasons operations launched american victory october british loss opened possibility british able deploy troops central_america better defend area plans called assaults british presence principally followed sweep coast eliminate british mainland troops central guatemala staged early assault additional forces moved overland nicaragua honduras principal british settlement arrived march organise assault leaving force harass british partisan allies embarked troops transports sailed march escorted frigates number smaller armed naval vessels command commodore british residents aware ongoing spanish military activities main settlement new port royal defended mounted guns island white non slave population small appealed british commander support able send additional weapons add significantly island defenses battle spanish fleet arrived early march defenders fired cannon shots anchored range sent party request surrender island defenders defenders asked hours consider options granted time defenders indicated prepared stand ground refused surrender immediate attack possible high winds rough seas held council plan attack formulated march spanish guns opened guarded mouth new port royal harbour british guns began landing troops forts secured spanish warships entered harbour began town cannon fire british artillery fired positions hills town exchange continued sunset point british defenders spanish killed wounded battle slaves wounded aftermath terms surrender agreed day men remained island days collecting weapons rounding slaves run away destroying buildings agriculture island burning ships harbour assumed smuggling illicit trade spanish left island march carrying prisoners war british soldiers slaves british civilians prisoners sent havana slaves auctioned held exchanged able temporarily partially eliminate british influences area followed success capture early april attempt advance commander successfully recaptured able hold end war
Battle of Roatán