Battle of Portmán

Battle of Portmán
	Part of the Cantonal Rebellion
	; The battle as depicted in an engraving published by The Illustrated London News on 1 November 1873.
Date	11 October 1873
Location	Mediterranean Sea off Cartagena, Spain37°33′00″N 000°51′00″W / 37.55000°N 0.85000°W
Result	Withdrawal of the Cantonalist squadron
Belligerents
First Spanish Republic	Canton of Cartagena
Commanders and leaders
Miguel Lobo y Malagamba	Juan Contreras y Román
Units involved
Spanish Navy	Cantonal Squadron
Strength
• 1 armoured frigate; • 3 screw frigates; • 2 paddle gunboats; • 2 screw schooners	• 2 armoured frigates; • 1 armoured corvette; • 1 paddle gunboat
Casualties and losses
• 11 dead; • 32 wounded	• 12 dead; • 38 wounded
	Location off Spain

Miguel Lobo y Malagamba (1821–1876).

Juan Contreras y Román (1807–1881).

The Battle of Portmán, sometimes referred to by other names such as the Battle off Cartagena and the Battle of Escombrera Island, was a confrontation during the Cantonal Rebellion between the naval forces of the Canton of Cartagena and those of the central government of the Spanish First Republic on 11 October 1873 in which a Cantonal squadron attempted to break a central government blockade of Cartagena. The battle took place in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Palos near Portmán, Spain. Although no ships were lost on either side, the Cantonal squadron failed to break the blockade and retreated into port at Cartagena.