Maritime archaeologists from East Carolina University have uncovered a remarkable collection of four colonial-era shipwrecks along the historic Brunswick Town shoreline in North Carolina, including what seems to be the remains of the Spanish privateer La Fortuna that exploded during a daring 1748 attack. This extraordinary discovery provides unprecedented insights into 18th-century maritime warfare and colonial port operations along the Cape Fear River.
The groundbreaking find represents one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries in recent years, offering a rare glimpse into the violent conflicts that shaped colonial America’s coastal communities.
The Spanish Privateer’s Final Battle
Historical records document that La Fortuna launched an audacious assault on Brunswick Town in September 1748, during the closing days of King George’s War, explains an East Carolina University press release on the discoveries. The Spanish vessel from Cuba exploded near the colonial wharves, likely due to a direct hit to its powder magazine during fierce combat with British colonial defenders. Dr. Jason Raupp, assistant professor in ECU’s Department of History and maritime studies program, explained that wood species analysis revealed construction materials sourced from either Monterey cypress or Mexican cypress, indicating Spanish Caribbean origins.