The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-28

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habit and inclination led him.
'Well,' said the General, 'rejoin your yes
sci with your commission in your poke I
| Whenever it is your wish to leave her, re
collect that you take rank as Captain in the
Columbian army
Notwithstanding the success that had
hitherto attended the republican banner
Maracaibo still held out for the royalists.
As this was place of no small Importance,
its fall was deemed essential to the safety Of
the Republic, and some months after the e.
vents we have above related, Sucre with a
strong force prepared to invest ito do
this effectually however, required a combin-
ed attack by sea and land. But this was a
work of no small difficulty, as the city on
the sea side was defended by a number OF
heavy batteries, and especially by bar
which rendered near approach of the
ships extremely angerous.-Several com
munications passed between Sucre and the
Commodore, and at last it was resolved to
hazard a night attack on the batteries with
the boats of the squadron. If they could be
carried, and the guns turned on the city, its
fall was Inevitable. In order to divert the
eneny's attention, a simultaneous attach was
TO be made on the land side, and it was an
ticipated that amid the darkness and confu-
sion, the batteries might be won. Ii so hap
pened that the privateer of which M ia had
recently obtained the command, was then at
anchor near the squadron; and he no sooner
heard of the contemplated attack, than he
volunteered with his crew to take part in
the desperate attempt.
The night was extremely dark when the
boats at given signal, pulled from the
squadron, and the damp and fitful gusts that
howled through the creaking cordage an
nounced that the tempest had begun. But
the pike and sabre were the weapons, and
though the darkness rendered it nearly i'm
possible to preserve that order so essential
to success, il screened them from observa-
ton, and the flash of their oars was lost Il
mid the patterng of rain. They had near
ly reached the object of attack, when the al
arm gun revealed that their approach was
discovered. But the flash of the enemy's
cannon, instead of disheartening the gallant
crew, served but to animate their exertions
and to light them to their prey.-With three
cheers they struck the house, and Nutta who
was the first to leap, dashed with his follow
ers for the nearest battery, which they en-
tered with the ferocity of tigers. The clash
of steel, the rattle of musketry, and the yellS
of the combatants, drowned at intervals the
bowls of the storm. At one moment the in
trepdity of Nutta had nearly proved fatal
to him. In the melee, he had separated
from his companions, when he was sudden
ly assailed by three of the enemy. Parrying
the blow of the foremost, he Glove MIN to
the brain, and instantly grasping him in his
arms he hurled him with such Herrulean
force upon the others, that they were pros
trated to the earth and ere they could recov-
err, two blows from his sabre gave them
their quietus. The conflict was too san
L. I'll f.Ffh he,
batteries were carried by Nutta, and the
other divisions being equally successful, the
morning light revealed their flag waving
triumphantly over all. The Royalists at
Maracabo satisfied that further opposition
was now useless, agreed TO an immediate
surrender, and at noon Sucre and his forces
took possession of the Plaza.
II is needless to add that the officers of
the squadron were received by him in the
most fiattering manner, and he requested
the Commodore to give him the names
those who distinguished themselves in the
late glorious attack. The latter in his com
munication did not forget as among the
bravest of the brave, the captain of the pri .
vateer. On being presented to the General,
he was recognized at glance. 'Ah! my
gallant trumpeter,' exclaimed Sucre, grasp
ing his hand, Il believe that if the war con-
will be more than she can discharge Then
turning to his officers. he exclaimed, this
brave seaman already holds a Captains
commission in the army, for his admirable
conduct in II former batile; from this day be
will take rank as colonel He concluded by
informing Nutta that he was not yet recon-
ciled to the services on land, he need not re-
port himself till il suited his convenience. Ii
is unnecessary TO remark, that Nutta did not
feel at ease till on the quarter deck, and in a
few days with his new commission, he sailed
on another cruise.
Several years after the events we have
Just related, the writer became acquainted
with Nutta at Carthagena, where he was
held in high estimation, being as distinguish
ed for his hospitality and kindness as he had
been for his undaunted courage. He was
still in command of a small armed vessel,
and il was from one of his officers that |
have gathered the particulars have now at
tempted to describe. Since the affair at Mar
acaibo he had experienced many evenIful
changes, but adversely, instead of depressing
seemed but 10 incite him to nobier efforts :
At one time he was so successful as to be
enabled to purchase large ship, and in
arming and equipping her, he had expended
all he was worth. She was mounted with
sixteen carrOnPueS. ana ne eNpecteI, III
sweeping the commerce of old Spain, to be
we'll remunerated for his extraordinary out
lay. But his hopes were disappointed. One
night while she lay at anchor, with her sails
bent aud all ready for cruise, the crew TAX
advantage of Nutta's absence on shore, sud
denly appeared on the quarter deck, forced
the officers into the cutter, and put to sea
with the ship. As the vessel was never at
forwards heard of, it is probable she found
cred with all on board. Pennyless, and un-
able to find immediate employin another yes
sci, Nutta stared for the interior to reloin
the army when he heard of the assassination
of his friend and patron, the illIstrious Su-
cre Fearful that he might meet with many
vexatious delays in obtaining that station to
which he was entitled, he turned once more
to the seaboard, and engaged in several ex-
petitions, in a subordinate capacity. In one
of these he carried by boarding corsair that
had long been the tell or of the seas. Among
the females whom he then rescued from
fate worse than death, was young lady oil
rare personal beauty, who with her attenh,
ants had that morning been taken from