Bombardment of Algiers (1783)

The Bombardment of Algiers in August 1783 was a failed attempt by Spain to put end to the Algerine privateering against Spanish shipping. A Spanish fleet of 70 sail under Rear admiral Antonio Barceló bombarded the city eight times between 4 and 8 August but inflicted only minor damages to the Algerine military. Both Spaniards and Algerines fought poorly, but Barceló, apologizing in unfavorable weather conditions, gave the order to withdraw. His expedition was judged a failure at the Spanish court, being described as a "festival of fireworks too costly and long for how little amused the Moors and was used by who paid it".

Background
The Algerine privattering against Spanish vessels increased following the disastrous invasion of Algiers in 1775. Spain tried to reach a peace agreement with the Ottoman Regency with the aim of secure their trading along the Mediterranean. Don Juan de Bouligny was sent to Istanbul in 1782 and managed to obtain a friendship and commercial agreement of Sultan Abdul Hamid I. The Regency, nevertheless, denied to accept the treaty. The Dey, influenced by several of his officers, the fasnachi, the treasurer, the focha, the Codgia of cavalry and the Aga of infantry, opted for war ignoring the recommendations of his naval officers. The Spanish chief minister, the Count of Floridablanca, tried then to bribe the Dey with gold to open negotiations for peace, but obtaining no result.

King Charles III, feeling the national pride of Spain offended by the Algerines, resolved to punish them bombarding their town. Rear admiral Antonio Barceló was the man appointed to carry out the attack. Though he was by far the most capable naval officer of Spain and one of the few who had risen through the ranks by merits of war, Barceló's designation was coldly received both by the Spanish court and military. The Rear admiral was old and illiterate and of humble exctraction, which, together with his naval victories, earned him the envy of most the senior Spanish officers.

Bombardment
Barceló sailed from Cartagena on 2 July ahead of 4 ships of line, 4 frigates and 68 small vassels, including gunboats and bomb vessels. The Algerines had to oppose them no more than 2 demi-gallies of 5 guns each, a felucca of 6, two xebecs of 4 guns each, and 6 gunboats carrying a 12 and a 24 pounder. On 29 July the Spanish fleet came in sight of the town and two days later Barceló formed his line of battle and made the necessary dispositions for the attack. The bomb-ketches and gunboats, supported by xebecs and other vessels, composed the van, the whole being covered by the ships of line and frigates.

The cannonade and bombardment were commenced at half-past two o'clock, and were continued without intermission till sunset. The attack was renewed on the following, and on every succeeding day util the 9th, when it was resolved at a council of war, for sufficient reasons, to return immediately to Spain. In the course of these attacks 3732 shells and 3833 shot were discharged by the Spaniards, and were returned by the Algerines with 399 shells and 11,284 shot. This vast expenditure of ammunition produced no correspondent effect on either side: the town was repeatedly set on fire, but the flames were soon subdued.

The example of Gibraltar was followed by the garrison in the use of red-hot balls, but they did not produce a similar effect. The Algerines made several bold sallies with their small vessels, but were constantly repulsed by the superiority of fire from the fleet. While de Dey had refuged at his citadel, the weight of the defense was sustained by an improvised militia composed mostly of teenagers. 25 Algerine heavy guns purchased at Denmark blown up during the battle due to misuse or because its poor conditions. In addition, 562 buildings were destroyed or damaged by the bombardment, an insignificant figure given that Algiers consisted of 5,000 buildings and that the whole town was exposed to the Spanish fire. Otherwise, only a gunboat was lost by the defenders. The Spanish casualties were also minimum: 26 killed and 14 wounded.

Aftermath
According to the official version released by the Spanish government, the withdrawal was due to bad weather, an excuse not credible, given that the weather conditions in the Mediterranean were favorable in summer. Among the measures used to present the bombing as a success, the most significant was that of numerous promotions among the participants. The Spanish 'victory' was sung by numerous poems, most of them exaggerated and of bad taste, but in fact nothing had been achieved. Two months later five Algerian privateers captured two Spanish merchant vessels near Palamós as a gesture of defiance, and a new, far bigger expedition had to be assembled to attack Algiers again.