Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Curracoa, Nov. 15.

FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

Extract of a letter from Margarita, dated the 18th of October.

With respect to the late political occurrences in this island, I will only say, that it is scarcely possible to conceive the bravery which was, for the second time, displayed in repelling the furious invasion of general Morillo. Our situation was really very desperate, as we could not look for any assistance from our brethren on the Main, who were themselves surrounded by dangers of every description. Under such circumstances, only the inimitable heroism of this people could have undertaken to withstand the colossal forces of the enemy—only a people of heroes could have beheld with disdain an infinite number of barriers opposing their design of a brave resistance.

By one of the many contingencies which frequently occur in war, the commander of St. Juan Bautista was unable to prevent Morillo from landing on the shores of the Berales with 8,500 men, of the choicest troops of the line. Notwithstanding some advantages obtained by him, we were forced to come to an engagement, which was bold and bloody, and, after four hours of a well directed and uninterrupted fire, we had the inexpressible pleasure of seeing the enemy give way in all directions with the loss of 400 men: our loss did not exceed 7 killed and 27 wounded.

General Morillo having collected fresh forces, advanced now to Pampatar, and though this fort could not check his audacity, for want of military trains, he received considerable damage from different corps of infantry and cavalry, which had gone out to meet him, and made a terrible havoc among his troops.

On the 31st July Morillo attacked, with his whole forces, the environs of the capital: the superiority of his troops flattered him with the hope of an easy conquest, but here his disappointment was equal to his disgrace, for the valor and intrepidity of 280 infantry and 200 horses, with a piece of artillery situated on a height, compelled him in nine hours to fly disgracefully and precipitately, with the loss of 600 men killed and wounded, when ours amounted to only 26 of the former and 70 of the latter.

On the 8th of August the whole of the Spanish army invaded the port of Juan de Uriego, whose little fort was defended only by a gun and 150 troops; the half of which were unfit for service. A navy of 28 vessels protected the attack and facilitated its operations; but here they were met by our modern Spartans with so much enthusiasm, that they were thrice beaten off, with great slaughter.—However, their fort taking fire, and being already enveloped in flames, our people saw themselves under the necessity of breaking through the enemy's line with stones, and in the best manner they could, on which hardy attempt but 60 escaped.
Several [ships?] half consumed, and a few wounded, the rest having remained on the field.

In the late contest this has been the only misfortune which it fell to our lot to endure; but this very misfortune has shed new lustre on the glory already acquired by the people of Margarita, at the same time that it has covered their oppressors with ignominy. The enemy have lost no less than 600 men; and their leader, undeceived in his plan of destroying what the Master of the universe has created, embarked precipitately, thereby preventing the poor remnant of his powerful army from finding a grave in the illustrious island of Margarita, which he has so often intended to raze, and which posterity will hail with the appellation of modern Sparta.

It is not improper to add, that the Spaniards have destroyed every thing within their reach—houses, plantations, trees—all were converted to ashes; and even those unfortunate inhabitants who constantly followed their banners, and those who went over to them during their invasion, have been victims of their ferocity.