THE BATTLES OF THE WEST INDIES

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From April 9th to 12th, 1782, the Battle of the Saintes between British and French fleets was fought as one of several major conflicts that occurred in the West Indies during the American Revolution.   A British victory saved Jamaica from invasion.


Battle of the Saintes 


Other major battles in the region were: the Battle of Dominica won by the French in September, 1778 enabled them to capture the British island; Battle of St. Lucia in December, 1778 in which a British victory led to their capture of the island; Battle of Grenada in July, 1779 when British fleet defeated by French; Battles of Martinique in which British and French fleets clashed in April,  1780; Battles of Martinique, St. Lucia,  and Tobago  during May through July, 1781 when French fleet engaged British failing to take St. Lucia and taking Tobago; Capture of the Bahamas when a Loyalist force led by Colonel Andrew Deveaux took the Bahamas in 1783 from the Spanish before war ended.


Colonel Andrew Deveaux 

The West Indies had tremendous economic value to the British for their sugar and rum exports. However,  they relied on the Royal Navy, which diverted it from actions along the American coast.  This became especially significant after France and Spain entered the conflict to support the rebels and contributed to the British defeat.

The most important British islands were Jamaica,  Barbados,  and the Leeward Islands that included Antigua. 

Jamaica

The highly prized colony and heavily defended in the West Indies was Jamaica. It was a massive producer of sugar, rum, and molasses. 

Kingston and Port Royal were vital ports on the island with strong British naval presence used to protect shipping lanes and combat French and Spanish fleets.

Barbados

Barbados was one of the wealthiest colonies in the British Empire due to its intensive sugarcane plantations. 

The island had a connection to George Washington, who visited the island as a 19 year old. While there, he contracted and survived smallpox. 

Antigua

A major British Naval Dockysrd was located at English Harbor (now known as Nelson's Dockyard). It served as the primary base for repairing and supplying British warships in the West Indies. 


Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour 


Nelson's Dockyard was built during the 1720s and later renamed after British Admiral Horatio Nelson who served there from 1784 to 1787. In 2016 it was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. 

It maintained a permanent garrison of troops to guard the sugar plantations. The plantation sugar cane economy ,like other islands in the West Indies, generated immense wealth. 


Further Reading:

Nelson's Dockyard National Park accessed October 30, 2026

The Royal Navy during the American Revolution accessed October 31, 2026




/ Descendant of Private James Humphrey of Jessup's Rangers in American Revolution, Grandson of Royal Irish Fusilier, 36th Ulster Division, in WW I

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