Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

From the Philadelphia Aurora.
VENEZUELA.

Copy of the official dispatch of the admiral Brion, to the general of brigade, Lano Clementi, commandant of the marine at Margaritta, dated 19th July, on board the Victoria, at anchor in the bay of Cumana.

SIR—I have the satisfaction to inform you of the capture of Barcelona, and the Moro, by our forces. On the 16th at midnight, the squadron came to anchor in the Porto de Pazuelos—next day at six in the morning, the troops were landed with two field pieces—and at two o'clock on the morning of the 18th, they moved upon Barcelona, which it was found had been evacuated in the night. A part of the Spanish army marched in the direction of Piritu, and another to the Moro. The republican troops occupied Barcelona at 10 o'clock, A. M. At 8 o'clock, I dispatched a flechera to reconnoitre the Moro, with my aid-de-camp and the major of marines, Graham, with orders to ascertain the circumstances of three different points at which a landing might be effected—but having ascertained and with much difficulty, the situation of only two points, and these presenting many difficulties, I resolved to take the different posts by assault. With this intention, I detached 1600 men under the command of colonel Jackson, and another detachment of equal number under colonel Garsain. The first column was ordered to proceed by a forced march against the old castle, and the second to gain the summit of a height where there was a circular intrenched battery. At the same time, the schrs. Franklin and Favorite were ordered to attract the attention of the enemy in the new castle at the foot of the Moro, upon the peninsula, in order to facilitate the passage of the fleet into the port. At 5 o'clock, P. M. our marines and seamen were landed under the cover of our ships, and nothing could retard the ardor of those gallant men. At 5, all the forts and intrenchments of the enemy were in our possession. The enemy making their escape by the peninsula—but experiencing a brisk fire from our schooners and flecheras, the fleet entered the port in succession, keeping up so brisk a fire on the forts, that they only returned our fire twice, and then made their flight with so much precipitation, that they did not wait to spike their guns.

We had an officer and three seamen wounded, the commandant of the enemy's artillery, Mayo, and nine of his corps were killed. We made a great number of prisoners, and the fugitives are now returning to the town—every individual has distinguished himself in this affair—and by the enclosed return you will find what has fallen into our hands.

The troops could not reach Barcelona until nine o'clock the next morning—a great number of the enemy have passed the river in the direction of Piritu. The Spanish flotilla, composed of two sloops, the Nympha and Descubierta, a brig, three schooners, two sloops, two feluccas and eight large flecheras, were at anchor at Pazuelos, with many other small crafts, laden with troops, and moved upon the northern part of the island, with the intention of effecting a landing and re-inforcing the royal army—but the arrival of 400 men of our expedition, intercepted them and defeated that design.

General Marino has defeated a second time, the Spanish gen. Arana, and he is now at Clarines. When we took possession of the Moro, the Spanish flotilla was in sight—the troops on board were intended as succors for Barcelona, but after seeing us in possession of the place, they made sail to the eastward.

After landing 150 men, I made sail in pursuit of this flotilla, and pursued them into the port of Cumana, but when within two gun shot of them, a calm coming on at 6 in the evening, deprived our country of the glory of capturing them, a disappointment which has caused no small mortification in our squadron. I consider the Spaniards at Cumana as very much confounded, but the people of the country manifest much exultation at our approach, and their prospect of deliverance. I must confess to you that I am very much disappointed in my expectations from this enterprise

This morning I had calculated that before this hour my flag would be hoisted on board the Nymph. God preserve you, &c.

LUIS BRION.

A return of the stores, &c. captured in the ports of the Moro and Barcelona.

Artillery—mounted iron 18 pounders 4
do do 24 4
Q
do do 8 1
field piece brass 6 2
do iron 6 2
do dismounted 6 & 4 pound'rs 8
do brass 4 1
Total guns 20

A magazine with powder and various implements of war.

Another magazine, containing 32 barrels of flour, 43 bags bread, a quantity of cassava, maize, salt fish, and jerked beef.

At anchor in the port, a Danish built schr. the Maria, laden with cotton, cocoa, and dry goods belonging to the Spaniards.

An hermaphrodite brig, with fugitives was captured going to sea—and several smaller vessels.

In the town was found in the magazines a quantity of cocoa, hides, and numerous other articles.

L. B.

THE SQUADRON
Of the navy of Venezuela, under the command of Admiral Brion, which sailed from the harbor of St. Juan Griego, in Margaritta, on the 14th of July, 1819, engaged in the capture of Barcelona.

Corvette	Victoria	1
Brigantines	Libertador Admira Brón Orinoco General Urdaneta—4 Bruno	4
Hermaphrodite brigs,	Gen. English Caronti. Franklin— Espartana Brion Belona	5
Schooners,	Brion Selon Sosiçada Favorita— Armed Transports.	1
Ship Brigs	Francis & Eliza— Tom Pepper Mariana—	2
Hermaphrodite brig,	Jupiter—	1
Schooner Sloop Five flecheras carrying heavy artillery.	Mediterranean—	1