The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 8, Number 2, Winter 2019 | Page 117

and Spanish Navies on the American Revolution
5
the Mediterranean, save Gibraltar and
Minorca; now with the Spanish entry,
those two remaining possessions were
at risk, and they faced an invasion of the
British home islands. 35 This possibility
of invasion, however, may have saved
Great Britain in what was surely the
darkest stage of the war for the British.
Spain’s decision to throw off neutrality
and involve itself in the war came
about because of Spanish national interest
and pride. Spain had little concern
over the American rebellion, and in
fact, thought that a rebellion on a continent
where they maintained colonial
possessions a dangerous development. 36
What Spain desired was to humble Britain
and recover lost possessions. One
primary aspect of this revenge was an
invasion of Britain itself and this was
the price Spain demanded in agreeing
to France’s desire that Spain should enter
the war. France agreed to continue
the war until Spain regained Gibraltar
and also agreed to a joint invasion of
the British Isles. 37 This latter agreement
proved disastrous for France and Spain.
In preparation for the invasion,
the French sailed out of Brest on June 4,
1779 to the island of Cizarga, where they
were to join with the Spanish fleet. 38 The
Spanish, however, did not arrive until
July 23. The delay reduced the supplies
and health of the French fleet, which
was ill-equipped from the start, owing
to its hurried departure from Brest due
to fear that the British would blockade
them in port. 39
The invasion, while causing extensive
panic in Britain, was a dismal
failure, not due to British naval resis-