Begining of battle
On the morning of March 13, 1741, an imposing fleet of 195 British ships (about 135 transport containers and about 60 smaller ships and frigates), along with a contingent of about 32,000 men (between infantry and sailors) in command of the Vice Admiral D. Edward Vernon appears before the coast of the Spanish Cartagena de Indias. A city whose military commander in charge of its defense was the already experienced Lieutenant General of the Navy D. Blas de Lezo, with troops that barely reached 3,600 (including infantry, sailors and native troops), 6 ships (the Dragon, the Conqueror, Galicia, San Felipe, Africa and San Carlos).
Despite the evident numerical inferiority of the Spanish troops, the Plaza de Cartagena was a place where an effective defense could be planned, as it was garrisoned by a series of forts and castles with cannon batteries that closed the two entrances (Bocagrande and Bocachica) to the Inner and outer bay of the port of Cartagena.
During the first days of the battle, the English did not initiate hostilities, as they scrupulously studied the forts that garrison the city in order to find the ideal place to land their troops. Arrived on March 20, and faced with the difficulty of entering the bay through Bocagrande (manned by the Conquistador and Dragon ships), the English decided to go to Bocachica, where they began a heavy bombardment of the Spanish artillery batteries "Santiago" and " Chamba ”already strong in San Felipe de Bocachica. Then, with the Spanish defenses softened, the English landed most of their ground contingent in the vicinity of the Santiago battery (March 20-21).
British entry into the bay (March 20-April 5)
During these days, most of the Spanish ships are sunk in order to make it difficult for English ships to enter the outer bay. However, and due to the overwhelming superiority in firepower of the english navy (the strength of the troops already landed was added to the guns of the ships), the English navy attack the Spanish battery of Varadero and the battery of Punta Abanicos (defended in its final stage by the Spanish captain Campuzano and thirteen soldiers against 14 English ships of the line).
After the fall of these two batteries, the English army focus on the destruction of the two imposing Spanish forts that were defending Bocachica (the one in San José and the one in San Luis de Bocachica). The latter was subjected to an intense artillery fire on April 4 and 5, leaving its guns unusable and its walls reduced to rubble. Through this gap, a large contingent of English infantry entered the fort with an open bayonet. Given the impossibility of resisting in the fort, the Spanish command orders that the few survivors retreat to Cartagena on the night of April 5 to 6.
With the capture of the castle of San Luis de Bocachica, and despite the sinking of the Spanish ships from Bocachica, the English ships triumphantly enter the outer bay of Cartagena, making the Spanish situation much more delicate. Despite this difficult situation, English officers grew concerned about the staunch resistance of the Spanish soldiers. Since to continue like this, the conquest of Cartagena would result in a high cost for his troops.
Siege of Cartagena and final outcome (April 13-May 9)
After the English troops entered the outer bay, the Spanish repeated their tactic and sunk the Dragon and Conqueror ships at the entrance to the inner bay to hinder the advance of the English ships. Parallel to this, and for lack of strategic relevance at that time, the few Spaniards who remained in the castle of San José (Bocachica) are withdrawn in small boats to the city of Cartagena.
On April 11, the English troops take the fort of Santa Cruz, very close to the city and which had previously been abandoned by the Spanish army. After this, the siege of the urban core of the city of Cartagena begins two days later (day 13). It is in this situation perhaps when the situation of the Spanish bottoms, since food began to be scarce, the wounded from the previous fighting began to accumulate and, as if that were not enough, the English naval and land artillery did not give truce either day or night. This cannonade seriously damaged the last Spanish defenses and some buildings in the city itself. Despite this, the city was still dominated by the majestic castle of San Felipe de Barajas, with a garrison of 1000 highly motivated Spaniards
On the 14th, Admiral Vernon affirmed to his General Staff that the city would surrender in two or three days, since according to him: "few defenders could not resist so much pressure for much longer".
On April 16, Vernon ordered the taking of Cartagena by storm, with a force of more than 10,000 men (including Jamaican macheteros, English and American troops). In this way, the English capture the Cerro de la Popa (just 1 kilometer from the castle of San Luis de Barajas)
Vernon knew that if this castle fell, the city of Cartagena would be almost completely unprotected and would soon fall. So he prepared a final assault on the castle, concentrating all his troops at that point.
Blas de Lezo, aware of the importance of this last bulwark, decides to dig a moat around his castle (since he knew that the English had prepared ladders for the walls studying the height of its walls) and zigzag trenches to reduce the effectiveness of the english gunner fire.
The final assault (April 19-20)
The night of April 19 to 20, and after an intense British artillery fire, Vernon ordered 10,200 men, grouped into 3 columns of infantry supported by Jamaican troops, to advance towards the castle.
Despite the Spanish fire, the English arrived at the castle walls in the middle of the night, where they found with horror that their scales were not high enough to climb the walls of the Spanish fortress. The Spanish, aware of the English situation, begin an intense rifle fire on the British troops. After this butchery, and in order to exploit success, the Spanish drew the bayonets of their rifles, abandoned their positions under cover, and launched a fierce charge against the English. The English, unable to react to the violent counterattack, flee to their ships.
This failed assault profoundly demoralized the English. And between the 22nd and 25th, the fighting decreased in intensity, without ceasing to bomb the city (bombing on the 26th).
By May 9, the casualties of the British had been so high that Admiral Vernon was forced to sink several of his ships (not having enough men to rule them on the high seas). This is why the English high command already considers the possibility of taking the Spanish plaza in Cartagena an illusion and decides to withdraw with the remaining fleet to the British island of Jamaica.
Shortly before retiring Vernon sent a letter to Blas de Lezo in which he said the following: "we have decided to retire, but to return to this place soon after we have reinforced ourselves in Jamaica". To which Admiral Blas de Lezo replied: "to come to Cartagena it is necessary for the King of England to build a larger fleet, because this has only been left to transport coal between London and Ireland".
Among the final balance of casualties, the English had 9,500 dead, 7,500 wounded and lost 50 ships. The Spanish had 800 dead, 1,200 wounded and lost the 6 ships they had.
In England, unaware of this decisive defeat, they listened to the initial reports that Admiral Vernon sent to the English king in which a fast victory was predicted. This is why in England coins began to be minted showing the figure of Blas de Lezo kneeling before Vernon. Nothing is further from reality, since those ragged and hungry Spanish soldiers that Vernon predicted that they would surrender in two or three days, resisted in conditions of frank disadvantage and demonstrated once again the courage and audacity of the soldiers of the Spanish Empire Army. An empire that would continue to be the main power in the Caribbean for many years, and an empire whose army was already prominent on all continents of the globe.