Search
Close this search box.

1797 Battle of San Juan: 2023 Reenactment

1797 Battle San Juan

This years events will take place on Friday April 21 – Sunday April 23, 2022  

On April 17, 1797, a fleet of 60 British ships reached the coast of San Juan with the purpose of besieging the city and taking possession of the Island of Puerto Rico.

They disembarked along the shores of Boca de Cangrejos and seized Cangrejos (now Santurce), sustaining a strong attack on the island of San Juan from the east side of Laguna del Condado.

The military forces of the Puerto Rico Regiment, the Disciplined Militias and hundreds of Puerto Rican civilians came to defend the homeland from all parts of the Island.

After just 15 days they defeated the invading enemy, provoking their decisive withdrawal on May 2.

The battle became known as the 1797 Battle of San Juan.

On April 21 – 23, 2022 you can relive history with the Regimiento Fijo de Puerto Rico as they re-enact various battles that took place during 1797.

Period costumes, weapons and battle strategies will be on display as living history volunteers reenact life in 1797.

Schedule for 2023 (subject to change)

Friday, April 21, 2023

Morning and afternoon: Museum of San Juan
Demonstrations of military and civilian life in Old San Juan at the end of the 18th century with: Exhibitions, Rifle Firing, Artillery exercises, Interactive Cooking including the preparation of the stew known as the “rotten pot”, Conference on the defense buildings of San Juan and much more.

At Sunset – San Juan Cathedral and El Morro Fort
Remembering the Legend of La Rogativa, a religious procession that takes place from San Juan Cathedral to El Morro grounds. Here there will be musket and artillery firing demonstrations.

Reenactment 1797 Battle of San Juan

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Morning and Afternoon – Boca de Cangrejos Beach, Pinones
Reenactment of the battle of the British landing on the beach of Boca de Cangrejos. There will be a Ceremonial act remembering the militia fighters in front of the 1797 mural under the Boca de Cangrejos bridge.

Dusk – Courtyard of the Ballajá Barracks
Cultural event and fraternization, inlcluding: Boy’s Scout Eagle Ceremony,. Concert and traditional dance with the Municipal Band of Bayamón, Evening at Ballajá Barracks patio (jollification and music event)

Sunday, April 23

Morning and Afternoon – Ballajá Barracks to Castillo San Felipe del Morro

There will be a march form Ballajá Barracks to Castillo San Felipe del Morro, followed bt  Artillery and Infantry firing demonstrations in and around El Morro Fort.

1797 Battle of San Juan Reenactment

When: April 21 – 23, 2023
Where: Old San Juan, Ballajá Barracks to Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan Museum, Boca de Cangrejos Beach, Pinones
More Info: Website

This is a great event for all the family but note that the main event includes loud noises from the canon and gun fire

Explore More

4 Responses

  1. The number of British regulars, marines, engineers, royal artillery, cavalry and West Indian militia, together with the Regiment of Lowenstein chasseurs who landed during the siege was not 600 men, as stated in this article. The land force which debarked amounted to closely 8,000 troops. Another 4,000 men, mostly sailors, remained on board the naval squadron and support ships to man the same while the two weeks siege lasted. No British general or enemy force in his right mind would have conceived of besieging a fortified city like San Juan with 600 men. Please correct the information presented in your article.

    1. Hi Rafael, that was a typo, was meant to be 6000. Thanks for pointing out the error and for the extra info.

  2. I recently traveled to Puerto Rico for spring break and happened to find an awesome artifact- what seems to be a VERY OLD button from a millitary jacket. When I visited Old San Juan, I found a way down to the shoreline in front of Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery (a route that the locals use to go surfing). While looking for shells in the small craters of the shoreline’s jagged sandstone, I found the completely intact button. It is green and slightly corroded, but completely intact. There is some sort of insignia on the front that I cannot make out because of the corrosion, but I believe that an expert could reveal the details of the symbol on the button. I showed this button to many of the locals and they all said it could be as many as 500 years old. I would love to talk to an expert about this, but I am having trouble finding anyone who can help me. I can send detailed photos of the button. Please respond. Thanks!

Comments are closed.