The Capture of the Bahamas in May 1782 was part of Spain's aggressive campaign against British possessions in the Caribbean and Gulf region during the final phase of the war. Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez — who had already captured British posts along the Mississippi, Mobil…
The Capture of the Bahamas in May 1782 was part of Spain's aggressive campaign against British possessions in the Caribbean and Gulf region during the final phase of the war. Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez — who had already captured British posts along the Mississippi, Mobile, and Pensacola — coordinated a combined operation against Nassau in the Bahamas.
Spanish forces under Juan de Cagigal landed on New Providence Island and moved against Nassau. The British garrison was heavily outnumbered and chose not to make a prolonged defense. The islands were surrendered and briefly came under Spanish control.
The Bahamas were subsequently returned to Britain in the 1783 peace settlement as part of the overall negotiated settlement. De Gálvez's remarkable campaign across the Gulf South — capturing British post after British post with a multiracial force of Spanish regulars, Louisiana Creoles, free Black soldiers, and Native American allies — was one of the most successful military operations of the entire war and a significant contribution to American independence that is often overlooked in American historical memory.
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