Star.
London, England, 1818-06-16 00:00:00

MONTILLA :

" Head-quarters, Calabozo, Feb. 23, 1818.
" MY DEAR THOMAS—Since my last, written at
the passage of the Urbana, it has been impossible for
me to advise you of what occurred, so much have I
been fatigued and occupied with my duty in disci-
plining my brigade. I consider you, however, per.,
fectly informed of our arrival at Payara—the organi-
zation of the army—our progress to, and passage of
the Apure ; which I therefore omit repeating, and
will confine myself to a succinct detail of what has
subsequently occurred.
" On the 9th we marched from Apure to this
place, leaving San Fernando masked by two squa-
drons of cavalry, and also Nutrias (in which were
Calzada and Aldama), by the division of Rengel,
quartered at Apurito. The day before we marched
two detachments of cavalry were ordered to occupy
Guayabal and Camaguan, which they effected, beat-
ing back the enemy, which was posted there, and
they then returned and joined. After a very severe
march we formed in front of this place at day-light
on the 12th, where we found Morillo with the regi-
ments of Castile, Union, and Navarra, and two squa-
drons of hussars.

" Till that moment Morillo supposed we were at
Apure, and you may judge of his surprise and con-
fusion to see all at once the plains of Calabozo co-
vered with a numerous and well-appointed Repub-
lican army. He was effectually panic-struck—the
hussars, and two companies of Navarra, which were
posted at the Upper Mission, about a league from
the fort, attempted to get in, under cover of a sortie
by two companies of Navarra and the Union, but in
vain. In less than twenty minutes above 500 cf the
Peninsular tyrants were stretched on the field—a
very few only having succeeded, with Morillo in
person, who very narrowly escaped.
" During the affair, it so happened that the regi-
ment of Castile, which was posted at the Lower
Mission, about the same distance from the fort, made
good its entrance (while we were engaged with the
other column) without being perceived—a few were
killed, and some prisoners taken. You may rely on
it, however, that the Pacifier of America lost nearly
six hundred men in this his first essay. The rest of
the day passed in skirmishing, endeavouring to pro-
voke the enemy to action, but he never dared to
chew himself without the walls.

" The following day the Commander in Chief
posted a brigade of cavalry of observation, and the
army marched to Rastro, two leagues distant. a vil.
lage well supplied with forage for the cavalry, and
well situated to intercept supplies for the enemy.—
Thus his Excellency Don Pablo Morillo, General in
Chief of the Army of Expedition, with his brave Ge-
nerals, Morales, Real, and Correa, are reduced to
the possession of Calabozo, besieged by a brigade of

tavairr74nd thus has been humbled the presutbp•!,
tion of this vain-glorious man and his associates.
" The 15th, at seven in the morning, intelligence
was received that the enemy had evacuated Cala-
bozo during the night. taking the road of Sombrero.
To ascettain the fact, the army was marched there,
by orders of the Commander in Chief, when, having
received the necessary information, it was deter-
mined to pursue him ; and having passed through
the town, at noon we were on full march on Som-
brero, by the road the enemy had token.
" At five in the evening the cavalry of the van
had come up with his rear in the savannaof A uriosa,
where he formed in hollow square—the cavalry re-
peatedly charged, killing and wounding numbers,
having taken previously about seventy prisoners. Un-
fortunately the infantry and cavalry of the reserve
got astray in the path, and did not get up till nine
at night; and the enemy continued his retreat in co-
lumn, and at night-fall the army reunited, conti-
nued the pursuit till two in the morning, when it
halted to take some rest.

" At five we again marched ; at nine came np with
the enemy at the river Sombrero, whose woody banks
he occupied. The Commander in Chief immediately
ordered me to find out the upper ford of the river,
and to attack the enemy. I could not find the ford,
but charged with the cassadores of the line, the bri-
gade not having got up. I had just advanced on a
guerilla of seventy men, posted in a narrow lane,
when an ambuscade opened on my right, and I found
myself between three fires.
The whole of the enemy's force defended the
river and forest, and the action was becoming ge-
neral, a great part of those posted in the woods
having been driven back ; but the Commander iu
Chief observing the great loss of men we were sus-
taining, and knowing that a more favourable ford of
the river had been discovered, ordered the guards
to retire (the only corps that had been engaged) sup-
ported by the regiments of Barlovento and N'aleroso,
which was performed with the greatest order—the
upper ford was then passed without opposition, and
the army formed in front of the village.
" In the night, the enemy, under cover of the
obscurity and woods, retreated on Barbacoa, leaving'!
behind his most severely rounded in the church of
the parish, together with some of our own, who had
been sent there to be cured ; and from Ba7lrtcoa he
went on to Camatagua.--Our loss in killed and
wounded is not less than 80 men, and of these 22
are Officers of the guards. Among the killed are
the brave Pasoni, Arevalo, Ramirez, Girardot, Sar-
raga, Rosales, Sanches, Urbina, and I3ustillos ; and
of the wounded are Ponce, Gil Flores, Colmenarez,
Pulido, Mimes, Nava, Meliancito, &c. I received
a slight wound in the left knee, and would have been
seriously hurt, had not the force of the ball been
broken by its striking my pistol between the muzzle
and rammer.

" I was brought here in a hammock—am now
much better, and hope to join the brigade in eight
days. The enemy's loss exceeds 200 men, not in-
cluding 100 prisoners, and sit Officers killed, of
whom the Colonel of Navarra is one, and many more
wounded. The Pretorian band behaved with adrn!-
rable bravery, many having fallen within the enemy's
line. Moriilo's force, which exceeded 2,000 comba.
tants, is now reduced to about 800, and these full of
terror and dismay. To-day the army has returned
here to increase its numbers, organize the villages,
remount the cavalry, and march. Ortiz is employed
with one of our squadrons, and Alvarez wi.h another.
" Calzada has evacuated Nutrias, and retreated on
Varinas, keeping in the mountains, no doubt, to
reach Valencia, or the kingdom (New Grenada).
Rengel is at his heels in pursuit. The Lieutenant of
St. Juan de los Morros, has come to offer his services
and that of the village—the Creole Godos Officers
are coming in in lots—the war is nearly over with
the Spanish and Creole Officers, these last having
refused to continue in the service. Paez marches dm
day with his division, to take possession of St. Fer-
nando. A priest is just arrived from Caracas in three
days journey, who says that some of the enemy who
were defeated in the first affair had readied that city
with the account of Morillo's deroute—that four
alarms were rung in one day, but nobody turned
out-300 artizans were then pressed by Quero, ard
bound, to be conducted by 100 Spaniard; of the.
battalion of Burgos (the only regiment in garrison
at Caracas and La Guayra) to Victoria, to assist Mo-
rino. The confusion is extreme in Caracas, and the
wallies of Aragau are anxiously waiting for us.
" In Sombreros Rastro, Guardatinajas, and Ca-
maguan, squadrons of cavalry volunteers are form-
ing for the service of the Republic. In a short time
Venezuela will be liberated of tyrants, and in a month
the three-coloured standard will be displayed on the
walls of La Guayra. Adieu, my dear Thomas, your
servant and friend. (Signed) ANZOATIGUI."

OFFICIAL DISFATCH OF DON NICOLAS PUMAR, SF.CRE-
TART OF GENF.RAL PAEZ, ADDRESSED TO GENERA 1.
BERMUDEZ, t:OVERNuR OF CUAYANA.
" San Fernando, March 8, 11118.
" SlR—After sixteen days rigorous siege, and se-
veral severe attacks, in the night of the Gth inst. the
enemy abandoned the town and fortress of San Fer-
nando, losing one-fourth of their forces, who, passing
over to us, joined our cause, and now defend it in
the most heroic manner. Fifteen pieces of artillery
have also fallen into our hands, besides a large quan-
tity of warlike stores, 400 muskets, six vessels of war,
and the whole of the enemy's hospital.
" The brave General Paez yesterday set off in pur-
suit cf the evacuating enemy, and at noon had
overtaken and brought them to action, in the moun-
tains of Biruaca, three leagues distant from this
place. In this action our arms have acquired fresh
lustre. I have not yet received the official details,
but I positively know that, with killed, prisoners,
and deserters, the enemy have now no more than
200 out of the 600 with whom they evacuated this
place ; and these it is utterly impossible for them to
save. as each soldier had scarcely more than 70
rounds with him, which must have been consumed
by the quick fire of yesterday.
" San Fernando has completed the possession of
the plains by the Republic, and this important posi-
tion will again sevive the relations which united
Guayana with this province.
(Signed) " NICIIOLAS PUMAR."
" Besides the above, we have taken three war-
boats (flecheras), five launches, three pirogue:, 70
flat-bottomed boats, some other pieces of cation, and
70 roore muskets."