Combate de Martín García, Naval battle site at Martín García Island, Argentina

The Battle of Martín García was fought on 11 October 1838 when a French squadron of eight ships, four French and four under Fructuoso Rivera, bombarded the island with about 40 cannon. The garrison of 110 men under Colonel Jerónimo Costa, reinforced by Captain Juan Bautista Thorne, rejected the surrender demand. Around 500 allied troops landed in three columns and took the position after the trenches, unfinished, and the 12-pounder guns, poorly mounted, failed to stop them.

The engagement occurred in 1838 when French naval forces blockading the Río de la Plata attacked the Argentine-held island. The defenders mounted a determined resistance against overwhelming firepower before the French forces ultimately secured control of the location.

The battle represents a pivotal moment when Argentina resisted foreign military intervention during a turbulent period of the nation's development. Today, the island serves as a reminder of this struggle for sovereignty and independence.

The island lies in the Río de la Plata off the Uruguayan coast, near the mouth of the Uruguay River, and is reached by boat; the crossing is exposed to river weather. The 1838 fighting showed how much the surrounding water and currents shaped access to the island. Allow time for the crossing and check conditions before setting out.

After the capture, French commander Hipólito Daguenet asked Juan Manuel de Rosas for a truce so the 97 prisoners could be landed in Buenos Aires, arguing they should not be held for their heroic conduct. Rosas granted it, and on 14 October the boats of the D'Assas carried them ashore, with the Argentine flag allowed at the bow.