Henry Morgan's Panama expedition also known as the Sack of Panama, was an expedition that took place between 16 December 1670 and 5 March 1671 during the later stage of the Anglo-Spanish War. English privateers and French pirates commanded by notable Buccaneer Henry Morgan launched an attack with an army of 1,400 men with the purpose of capturing the rich Spanish city of Panama off the Pacific coast.
The expedition was set up in April 1670 and nine months later set off from Tortuga island off Hispaniola.
The first port of call was Old Providence island which was captured from the Spanish after a ruse. After leaving a small garrison, a part of Morgan's force then sailed to the Panama Isthmus where Fort San Lorenzo on the mouth of the Río Chagres stood. The fort was captured after a bloody assault, following which Morgan and the rest of the force arrived a week later. Using the fort as a base of operation and communication, the Privateers set off across the Isthmus. After nearly a week's march across the jungle, with many starving, they managed to repel a number of Spanish ambushes, and then arrived at the outskirts of Panama itself.
Outside the city, Morgan's privateer army routed a force of Spanish militia at the Battle of Mata Asnillos. They subsequently swept in capturing the city, which then led to it being sacked, plundered and burned. Morgan's privateer army subsequently raided the entire area including the off shore islands in the Gulf of Panama. Although the booty was high, with such a large force the net income for every privateer was lower than expected. The privateer army then set off on the return journey across the isthmus without incident, razing Fort San Lorenzo to the ground.
On his arrival in Jamaica, Morgan was informed of a peace treaty that had been signed by England and Spain in March 1670, ending the war. Morgan insisted he was unaware of the treaty, and was subsequently arrested and sent back to England. Nevertheless, he was hailed a hero and released, then Knighted by King Charles II and eventually become Governor of Jamaica.
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