Other names: Providence, Nassau, Fort Montague

What:
3/3/1776 Fort Montagu, New Providence, Bahamas. *Commodore Ezekial Hopkins, Capt. Samuel Nicholas vs. Fort Montague commander?
3/4/1776 Fort Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. *Capt. Samuel Nicholas vs. Fort Nassau commander?
5/1/1777 Nassau Harbor, New Providence, Bahamas. ????
1/25/1778 New Providence, Bahamas, *Capt. John Peck Rathburn, Continental Navy Sloop Providence vs. fort commanders
1782 *Don Juan de Cagigal, Governor General of Cuba and Havanna captured New Providence
Early Apr 1783 Col. Deveaux recruited on Harbour Island
4/14 - 19/1783 New Providence, Bahamas, fort commanders vs. *Col. Andrew Deveaux

Where:
25.073684, -77.306655, Fort Montagu, New Providence, Bahamas
25.078298, -77.346101, Fort Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
25.0797, -77.3322, Nassau Harbor, New Providence, Bahamas.
25.504, -76.635, Harbour Island, Bahamas.

Maps: [map notes]

• 25.073684, -77.306655, Fort Montagu, New Providence, Bahamas.
• Multimap
• Google Aerial or hybrid at 2nd closest, recommended.
• Mapquest. Aerial view recommended
• Confidence: 5

• 25.078298, -77.346101, Fort Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas.
• Multimap
• Google Aerial or hybrid at 2nd closest, recommended.
• Mapquest. Aerial view recommended.
• Confidence: 4

• 25.0797, -77.3322, Nassau Harbor, New Providence, Bahamas.
• Multimap
• Google Aerial or hybrid at 5th closest, recommended.
• Mapquest. Aerial view recommended
• Confidence: 5

• 25.504, -76.635, Harbour Island, Bahamas.
• Multimap
• Google Aerial or hybrid at 5th closest, recommended.
• Mapquest. Aerial view recommended
• Confidence: 5

Sources:

• Boatner:
  p.768. 3-4 Mar 1776. Capt. Samuel Nicholas, senior marine officer of the Revolution.
  p.768. 27 Jan 1778. Capt. John Peck Rathburn, sloop Providence landed and seized forts. First flying of stars and stripes over foreign stronghold.

• Map showing location of Fort Montagu

• Map showing location of Nassau Harbor

• Map of New Providence.

• Map of Eleuthra & Harbour Island

• CIA map: Central America and the Caribbean

• "History of the Andrew Doria". Account of the 1776 action.

• "History of the Providence". Account on the 1778 landing by Rathburn.

• "Historic Forts Of Nassau", Commonwealth of The Bahamas:

  "Fort Nassau was built two years later [1697] on the site now occupied by a western portion of the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, and 22 cannon mounted. The large well under the Hotel was in the fort's southwest bastion." ...

  " In 1776, during the war between Great Britain and the American Colonies, a fleet of eight vessels was sent by the Colonies to capture the munitions believed stored at Nassau. This force, under Commodore Ezek Hopkins, landed a detachment on the foreshore of the eastern end of New Providence and marched on Nassau.

  Forts Montagu and Nassau surrendered without resistance, and the new Grand Union Flag, designed with the Union Jack and the first quarter and thirteen red and white stripes to represent the independent States was hoisted over Fort Nassau. However, most of the munitions had been shipped to Boston the day before the arrival of the American Naval Force. The invaders departed shortly after, taking with them 100 guns and the Governor as a hostage.

  Fort Nassau was captured by the Spaniards for the last time in 1782 when Don Juan de Cagigal, Governor General of Cuba, and the Havanna, attacked New Providence with 5,000 men. The Spaniards retained nominal possession of The Bahamas until the conclusion of the war between Spain and Great Britain in 1783.

  [1783] Before news of peace had crossed the Atlantic, Andrew Deveaux, a loyalist Colonel of the South Carolina Militia, invaded New Providence to defeat the Spaniards and regain the Island for Great Britain. In a despatch describing this exploit the gallant Colonel states:

  "I undertook this expedition at my own expense, and embarked my men, which did not exceed sixty-five, and sailed for Harbour Island, where I recruited for four or five days, from thence I set sail for my object, which I carried about daylight, with three of their formidable galleys on the 14th. I immediately summoned the grand fortress to surrender, which was about a mile from the fort I had taken. On the 16th I took possession of two commanding hills, and erected a battery on each of them, of 44-, 24, 12, and 9 pounders. At daylight on the 18th, my batteries being complete, the English colours were hoisted on each of them, which were within musket shot of their grand fortress. His Excellency, finding his shots and shells of no effect, thought fit to capitulate.

  “My force never, at any time, consisted of more than 220 men, and not over 150 of them had muskets. I took on this occasion one fort consisting of thirteen pieces of cannon, three galleys, carrying 24 pounders, and about fifty men. His Excellency surrendered four batteries, with about severity [seventy?] pieces of cannon, and four large galleys (brigs and snows), which I have sent to Havannah with the troops as flags."

  Colonel Deveaux's gallant expedition brought the military history of Fort Nassau to an honourable close. The Spaniards never again returned to attack the Islands. When Lord Dunmore took over the governorship of The Bahamas in 1787 he considered Commodore Hopkins' operations and 'Colonel Deveaux's attack on the fort evidence that such a site could not withstand bombardment from up-to-date artillery, especially when the siege guns could be mounted on overlooking heights. "

• NBBAS:One 3/3-3/1776 Fort Montagu, New Providence, Bahamas. Not found.
• NBBAS:One 3/3-4/1776 Fort Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. Not found.
• NBBAS:One 5/1/1777 Nassau Harbor, New Providence, Bahamas. Not found.
• NBBAS:One 1/25/1778 New Providence, Bahamas, Continental Navy Sloop Providence. Not found.
• NBBAS:Four 4/14 - 19/1783 New Providence, Bahamas. Not found.

• Sherman's Calendar.... These dates not included in this work.

• RevWar75  
• listing 3/3/1776 Fort Montagu, New Providence, Bahamas. American victory.
• listing 3/4/1776 Fort Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. American victory.
• listing 5/1/1777 Nassau Harbor, New Providence, Bahamas. Insufficient data.
• listing 1/25/1778 New Providence, Bahamas, Continental Navy Sloop Providence American victory.
• listing 5/8/1782 Fort Nassau, Bahamas, New Providence capitulated to the Spaniards. American (Allied) victory.
• listing 4/14 - 19/1783 New Providence, Bahamas. Insufficient data.

  Related sites:

  Confidence level: See above.