The Naval Battle of the Fireships in Dragamesto (November 21, 1825)

The Naval Battle of Dragamesto took place on November 21, 1825, in the present-day Bay of Astakos in the Ionian Sea, during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829). The Greek fleet, consisting of 33 ships led by Admiral Miaoulis, sought to defend the supply line to the city of Missolonghi, which at that time was besieged by the Ottomans. Meanwhile, about 120 Egyptian ships under Ibrahim Pasha arrived to tighten the siege. The two fleets clashed, and the Greeks successfully repelled their opponents. This article examines the events of the battle mainly through primary sources, such as the ship logs of Captains Sachtouris, Sachinis (both eyewitnesses), and Tsamados, as well as other supplementary historical evidence. The Naval Battle of Dragamesto was the only naval engagement of the Greek War of Independence that took place along the Ionian coast, between the shores of Acarnania, Lefkada, and Ithaca. To date, no synthesis of the primary sources concerning this event has been attempted. Thus, this article constitutes the first comprehensive study of the battle, including an examination of a relevant aquarelle as a potential historical source. A comparison between the aquarelle depicting the battle and the primary written sources reveals a remarkable level of accuracy in the geographical representation, fleet formations, and key figures. However, certain discrepancies, such as the omission of specific captains and the possibility of subjective artistic interpretation of the events, highlight the need for a cautious approach when using the painting as historical evidence.