Second Carib War
The Second Carib War (1795–1797) was a fierce and intense anti-colonial struggle on the island of Saint Vincent. It pitted the indomitable Black Carib (ancestors of the modern Garifuna people), backed by French revolutionary advisers, against a determined but repeatedly thwarted British military effort.
| Second Carib War | |||||||||
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| Part of French Revolutionary Wars and the Carib Wars | |||||||||
Map of Saint Vincent after the First Carib War (1773), showing Black Carib territories and areas of British control. | |||||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||||
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Saint Vincent (No longer are the Modern Descendants) Jamaica Maroons Indirectly Involved France French Republican allies | Great Britain | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer († 1795) Revolutionary military agents sent by France |
General Ralph Abercromby Governor James Seton Major-General John Knox | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
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Black Caribs (Garifuna): |
British forces: | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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~3,000–5,000 Garifuna warriors Hundreds of Maroon fighters Dozens of French officers and advisers Light artillery and small arms (French-supplied) |
~10,000+ British soldiers and colonial militia Royal Navy support (ships, cannons, logistics) Artillery units and experienced officers | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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Estimated 400–600 Garifuna killed in direct combat Chief Joseph Chatoyer killed during a British feint near Dorsetshire Hill (1795) Over 4,000 Garifuna forcibly exiled to Roatán after British occupation Civilians displaced and villages destroyed |
Over 5,800 British soldiers killed — majority due to ambushes, tropical diseases, and environmental attrition At least 5–7 British soldiers captured and paraded by Garifuna fighters as psychological warfare, diseases later impacted the total armies population to 70% of the army affected. Multiple British detachments annihilated | ||||||||
| Despite eventual British military victory, Garifuna forces inflicted heavy casualties, captured multiple British soldiers, and sustained fierce resistance until their forced deportation. | |||||||||
Location within Caribbean | |||||||||
The war reignited tensions following the earlier First Carib War (1769–1773), when British expansion into Carib lands was repelled by guerrilla-style resistance. Carib forces emerged victorious, maintaining their autonomy.
Beginning in March 1795, Carib warriors launched a widespread uprising. Their swift and strategic offensives expelled British forces from almost the entire island, restricting them to Kingstown and a few coastal enclaves. British attempts to advance inland were met with repeated ambushes and crushing defeats due to rugged terrain, tropical diseases, and the Caribs’ deep understanding of the land.
One particularly stunning encounter took place at Owia in September 1795. A joint Carib–French force overran the British garrison, killing Major Ecuyer, four other officers, and over thirty soldiers, forcing the survivors into a disorderly flight, with some escaping by sea. Following the victory, the Caribs dispatched a canoe to St. Lucia to request French reinforcements, who soon arrived to reinforce the Caribs’ hold.
Another major blow to the British came during the Battle of Vigie Ridge (late September 1795). A force of 1,650 British troops launched a day-long assault, only to be beaten back. By early January 1796, renewed Carib attacks on Vigie forced a full British withdrawal to Kingstown—British casualties were high, with many officers wounded and some taken prisoner.
These persistent defeats and the capture of British soldiers became a hallmark of Carib resistance. One poignant episode involved Garifuna fighters enslaving seven British soldiers, a dramatic example of their tactical daring and psychological dominance over colonial forces (though specific archive citations for this exact figure remain under research, it is a commonly told part of Garifuna oral history and regional folklore).
By 1796, frustrated by continued setbacks, British Commanders launched a large-scale expedition under General Ralph Abercromby. They captured Saint Lucia, weakening French support, and sent overwhelming forces to Saint Vincent. Despite the Caribs’ exceptional resilience, the superior British numbers and logistics finally forced them to their last mountain redoubts in early 1797.
In the aftermath, the British executed a policy of mass deportation. Over 4,300 Black Caribs were captured; nearly half died on Baliceaux Island from disease and exposure. Around 2,200 survivors were forcibly relocated to Roatán off the coast of present-day Honduras in April 1797—their descendants became the modern Garifuna people.
Summary of Carib Military Achievements
- Decisive ambushes and garrison assaults, such as Owia, killed dozens of British soldiers and officers. - Carib forces relentlessly reclaimed territory, confining the British to coastal forts. - Carib fighters captured and held British prisoners, symbolizing their tactical and psychological upper hand. - Their prolonged defense and humiliating colonial defeats compelled the British to respond with mass enforcement and deportation—recognizing the Garifuna as a formidable, unwilling adversary.
Conclusion
The Second Carib War was not a minor rebellion—it was a sustained, high-intensity guerrilla war. The Garifuna commanders and warriors showcased remarkable military skill, capturing prisoners, commanding the terrain, and inflicting severe losses on the British. Only through overwhelming force and exhaustive measures did the British break their resistance—and only after resorting to genocidal deportation did they suppress this potent defiance.