July 21st is the 188th anniversary of a victory over Cuban pirates at Cape Cruz by two schooners in Commo. David Porter’s squadron and a landing force commanding by Lt. David G. Farragut. Although unfamiliarity with the difficult terrain prevented Farragut’s party from capturing the pirates, they did take and destroy the pirate’s stronghold and their cache of loot.
The destruction of the pirate stronghold at Cape Cruz was one in a series of triumphs by Porter’s squadron against the buccaneers. These operations crippled the pirates, who had menaced shipping and trade in the area for years, but in the end it was Porter’s successor, Capt. Lewis Warrington, who ended the threat by securing cooperation from Spanish governing authorities and with their assistance eradicating the pirates. Thus, success at arms was only secured by diplomatic success.
