Virginia Argus

From the Virgin Islands Courier, received at the Office of the Freeman's Journal.

Tortola, May 27, 1816.

FIRST BULLETIN
Of the Emancipating Army of Venezuela.

The expedition from Aux Caves, planned by the Capt. Gen. Bolivar, and under the command of Admiral Louis Brion sailed on the 31st of March from that Port. After a very favorable voyage they made the Islands of Tertius on the 1st May, and the Heights of Margaretta, the day after, when a topsail schooner and a brig were descried, whereupon the Admiral ordered the squadron, for the purpose of detaching those vessels from the shore, and to ascertain from whence they sailed. to pursue them: this being effected, the line of battle was formed and the national flag nailed to the main mast. The commandant followed the brig and schooner. the latter being a better sailer hauled her wind, when the schooners Gen. Marino, Jupiter and Conejo chased her, the other vessels following the Admiral in chase of the brig. At 11, the schooner Constitution attacked the brig on the larboard side, and the commandant co-operated on the starboard. the brig making a vigorous defence with great guns and musketry; in a very short time the enemy was dismantled, but continued to resist with great tenaciousness. At this moment the admiral being wounded, the Admiral Renato Beluch took the command of the Commandant and of the squadron. That vessel, thereupon, under a dreadful fire, boarded the enemy, who unavailingly endeavored to repulse us, but our valiant sailors having taken possession of the quarter deck, obliged the enemy to retire to the hold, and struck the Spanish Flag. The captain was found dead in the cabin, having received a shot through the head, as were also the lieutenant and surgeon; on the decks and in the hold. there were 42 killed and 31 wounded, besides a number who jumped overboard and were drowned. The brig is a man of war, called the Intrepido, of 14 eight pounders, among which were 6 brass culverins, and she had on board 140 men; her commander was lieutenant of the Inglesia frigate.

At 5 P. M. after exchanging a few broadsides, the schooner struck her colors to the Gen. Marino, just as the latter was in the act of boarding her; the captain was badly wounded and we found 16 of the men killed and wounded. She is a king's schooner called the Rita, mounting one long 18 on a swivel. 2 24 lb. carronades, and 2 double fortified 18 pounders, with a crew of 90 men; her commander was second lieutenant of the frigate Mateo Campo.

On our side there were only on board the Commandant 7 killed and 8 wounded, among the former was that brave officer, Barthelemi. The general Marino had two men slightly wounded.

The admiral and capt. Beluch conducted themselves in this day's battle. with all that bravery and ability which were justly to be expected from their judgment and valor, and the captain general, highly satisfied therewith, has raised the former to the rank of admiral, and the latter to that of captain. The officers and the crews engaged in the actions acquitted themselves in a most satisfactory manner, and the remainder regretted their not having met any enemy to combat with.

The events of this day have terminated the blockade of the North side of this Island, the only forces which supported it. having fallen into our hands. which would have been the case with as many as might have attempted to oppose us.

Head quarters, North city of Margaretta, 3d May, 1816.

SANTIAGO MARINO,
Major General.

THE SECOND BULLETIN
Of the Emancipating army of Venezuela.

Gives an account of the flattering reception the squadron met with at North City, and of the visit paid them by Gen. Arismendi. It also states that the royalists evacuated the place on the 2d instant, with such precipitancy, that they left their arms and provisions, and our warriors occupied all their posts on the 3d, without firing a musket. The city of Assumption presents a melancholy spectacle of desolation; the royalists have not left one stone above another, every building has been consumed by fire.

On the 6th, the independent squadron commenced the blockade of Pampatar. The enemy were fortifying themselves but would soon have to choose the alternative of submitting or perishing.

Head Quarters, North City of Margaretta, 8th May, 1816.

SANTIAGO MARINO
Major General