Diamond Rock, Battle of

The Battle of Diamond Rock takes place between May 31, and June 2, 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars.

It is an attempt by Franco-Spanish force dispatched under Captain Julien Cosmao to retake Diamond Rock, at the entrance to the bay leading to Fort-de-France, from the British forces that had occupied it over a year before.

The French in Martinique have been unable to oust the defenders from the strategically important rock, and the British garrison is able to control access to Fort-de-France Bay, firing on ships attempting to enter it with guns they have placed on the cliffs.

The arrival of a large combined Franco-Spanish fleet in May changes the strategic situation.

The French commander, Pierre de Villeneuve, has vague orders to attack British possessions in the Caribbean, but instead waits at Martinique for clearer instructions.

He is finally persuaded to authorize an assault on the British position, and a Franco-Spanish flotilla is dispatched to storm the rock.

The defenders, already short of water, hold on in the summit for several days, while the French, who have neglected to bring scaling ladders, can make little headway.

The British, short of both water and ammunition, eventually negotiate the surrender of the rock after several days under fire.

As Diamond Rock is legally considered a Royal Navy vessel, and the commander is legally "captain" of it, after repatriation, he is tried by court martial (as the law dictates in any case where a captain loses his ship, regardless of the cause), but is honorably acquitted.

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