Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-28
BALTIMORE, MARCH 26.
NEWS FROM SOUTH AME-
RIGA.

With the following very important
intelligence.
On the 10th of Feb. last gen, b.
Ilivar with less than 1000 men, de-
feated the army Of ,heros alists' con
.istins of 5000. leaving on the heia
Of battle 1000 men, who we're killed,
wounded, aud taken prisoners anu
one general officer slain. The par
ltieuIars OF this action are as follows;
General Bolivar made 40 attack on
some of the outposts in the vicinity
lof Cumana on the 18th OF Feb. ana
Twas defeated. He re,reated towards
lBarcel ma with a force amounting 10
lt9Oo meu-the remainder were WIN
gen. Arr mendi, one or two hundred
miles in the interior, and incapable
of forming junction at Cumana'
Gen Bolivar dispatched an express 70
lArismendi. with directions to JON
him at Barcelona, where he intended
Ito risk an action with tue reyAlists'
In the mean time, the fleet com
lmsnded BY admiral Brian, lay oil the
|moatb OF the harbour. ready for the
reception of gen. Bolivar and his ar.
Inv. it the result Of the anticipated
faction should prove untayourable.
I'm the the 10th, gon. Bolivar gained
the convent about two miles from
Barcelona, where he lay concealed
with his forces. About three O'Clock
the royaiists entered Barcelona, and
began a dreadful massacre, supPos-
ling that gen. Bolivar had made good
Ibis retreat to tie mouth OF the river.
lAtt0 o'clock p. NJ. ger. Bolivar
entered the city abou. 1000 strong,
secured the gates and came upon the
royal party at an unsuspectins mo
meut. They were then committing
fhe most shocking barbarities; the
young and the old, men and children,
land even, women in "a state Of preg
nancy. were all put unfortunately
to the sword. The royalists were at
last compelled to force the gates OF
the city, and make their escape
leaving 1000 men and officers killed,
wounded and taken prisoners. DO
IIiyar lost in this engagement s colo
nels, 7 captains, and about 400 non
commissioned officers and soldiers
killed and wounded.
Gen, Bolivar with his remaining
forces followed the Lying enemy.
lat 5 o'clock in the morning o: the
nth, the royal army was again al
tackled by gen, Arismendi at the
head Of 1900 men. 500 of whom were
cavalry. by whom the royalists were
literally eat to pieees.-rhey fed
towards Cumaua, with the whole
patriotic force in full pursuit. and it
lis supposed that very few will reach
that city in safety. On the 18th,
gen. Bolivar by an express, ordered
Iadmira! Brian TO be in readiness with
1.-The second division of his feet, to
intercept any of his enemies if they
Ishould attempt an escape by water,
and to stop all supplies from that
|quarter, while he himself in the
rear deprives them Of all supplies
from the country. The royalists
have at Cumana, sloop of war, s
gun briggs and one schooner. not nalf
manned-I'he second division of the
patriotic navy consists OF the iHdian
! Lcbre, Off ~ pound carronades, Il
4 long 2 pound travelling gun /; the
Decatur, mounting two long Is poun-
ders and four IL pound carronades !;
the Diana. mounting Eve 9 Founders,
long guns prize brig called the
Republic, carrying IL carronades Of
lle pounds; the schooner Mary Ann,
of 4 guns, with all the prirateers
under the flag of Venezuela. all we'll
manned, and principally BY hmeri-
cans and French. The commanders
were all Americans or French.
men.
! A rumor was in circulation at st.
Thomas, tha; the feet had sailed
from Laguira, to the relief of Gu.
mana, or 10 blockade the port OF
marguerite. This it j, presumed
will avail nothing. as it is confidently
|expected that before the Spanish
fleet could work up to Cumana, il
will be in the possession of the pa.
triots. BY blockade ofMargaretts
the Spanish fleet will be compellet
t to divide their force into three