Spanish Admiral Casto Mendez Núñez now sends…

Spanish Admiral Casto Mendez Núñez now sends two of his most powerful ships south to destroy the combined Chilean-Peruvian fleet.

Informed about the location of the Peruvian-Chilean fleet, he has ordered that the steam frigates Villa de Madrid and Reina Blanca, lift the blockade on Valparaiso and sail towards Abtao to intercept the enemy fleet.

On January 16, 1866, the combined Peruvian-Chilean fleet, composed of the Peruvian frigates Apurímac and Amazonas and the recently captured and refurbished Chilean schooner Covadonga, had convoyed from the port of Ancud towards the shipyards on the little island of Abtao, on a well protected inlet at the head of the southern Chiloé Archipelago.

On Abtao island, the Chileans have also built some military fortifications, which are strategically located at the end of a shallow and treacherous channel.

During the difficult trip, the thirty-six-gun steam frigate Amazonas, suffering from the force of currents, had collided with a submerged rock near Punta Quilque and sank.

The rest of the allied ships had arrived without problems, and remain in Abtao with orders to wait for the arrival of the Peruvian corvettes Unión and América in order to start the offensive against the Spanish force.

These ships had arrived on February 4, 1866 without being detected by the enemy ships.

Meanwhile, the Spanish force, informed by the aborigines about the presence of other ships near Abtao, had immediately set course to the island.

On February 7, 1866, the Spanish squadron appears at the entrance, but the Spaniards are afraid to risk their ironclads in shallow water.

A cannonade lasting several hours is exchanged with very little effect.

In spite of being at anchor, without steam, and some ships even with their engines under overhaul, the Allies fight with energy and determination.

The Covadonga, under the command of Lieutenant Manuel Thomson, manages to fire over an island and scores several hits on the frigate Blanca.

The battle ends indecisively without further developments.

Afraid of the shallow water and realizing that a long range gun duel serves no purpose but to waste ammunition, the Spanish commanders retreat.

Chilean captain Juan Willliams Rebolledo and the Esmeralda are not at the anchorage that day.

The commodore had sailed to Ancud for coaling.

On the way back to Valparaiso, the Spanish squadron captures the Chilean steamboat Paquete del Maule that is transporting part of the crew for the new Peruvian ironclads Huáscar and Independencia.