Battle of Vuelta de Obligado

[john sefton]

The Battle of "Vuelta de Obligado"was commemorated on an Argentine stamp
issued in 1989.
This stamp reproduces a painting by an artist named Ulde Todo. The painting evidently shows the situation at sometime between 12.15 p.m. and 12.30 p.m., in my opinion, because the most prominent vessel in the painting appears to be the SAN MARTIN adrift; one must make allowances for artistic licence with this and the four or five other pictures made of this battle. A British print of the scene at approximately 12.40 p.m. places the SAN MARTIN in a similar position as the vessel in the Ulde Todo painting; it also shows the boats from HMS FIREBRAND being rowed up towards the barrier; the boats left the FIREBRAND "shortly after 12.30 p.m." to make a gap in the barrier of 24 vessels (about 20 of them are named, the largest, it seems, being a brigantine, of 145 tons, named VILLA TEREZA) ; the FULTON had steamed up in a position near the barrier to protect Captain James Hope and his men; one being George Tuck, the young engineer from the FIREBRAND who cut the chains.
The stern at the far right on the stamp is that of the brigantine REPUBLICANO, exSAN GIORGIC which was built in Sardinia, and purchased in Buenos Aires on June 4th, 1842; she was armed with two swivel 12‑pdrs and with four 9‑pdrs to begin with, but at Obligado she had a swivel 16‑pdr, a swivel 10pdr, and four 10‑pdrs. She was commanded by Captain Thomas Craig whose task was to protect the barrier. At approximately midday, having run out of ammunition, Craig blew up the REPUBLICANO and then in two launches he had with him, he crossed over and joined up with John B. Thorne who commanded No.4 battery.
The FULTON was a paddle despatch vessel, 1st class, built at Rochefort in 1832; she was 765 tons and 160 horse power; 151.25 feet between perpendiculars and 26.54 feet moulded breadth, she mounted two 80‑pdr guns as her main armament. The FULTON served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War.
E.J. Hogan Log Book October 1994
Argentina SG2187