Kentucky Gazette

SOUTH AMERICAN WAR.

Official accounts have been received at Buenos Ayres from the squadron of Admiral Brown, cruising in the Pacific Ocean. In February last, he captured the fort of Punta de Piedras, before a reinforcement which had been sent from Puca, (on the appearance of his fleet) could reach it. Brown then attacked with the Trinidad brig, (on board of which he had proceeded from one of his large ships) and a galliot, a battery of four guns, which had been hastily thrown up in advance of the one taken. After a firing of two hours, the admiral's vessel unfortunately grounded, in consequence of the sudden ebbing of the tide, and was compelled to surrender. Brown's force consisted of two large 24 corvettes, the brig taken, and two small schooners. They had in company several captured vessels ; among them the brig Consequencia of Cadiz, with more than 800,000 dollars, and the Gobernadora, of do. The number of prizes which the squadron had taken since its appearance in the Pacific, was said to be fifty, several of which were armed, and manned, with disaffected Spaniards, obtained from the neighboring ports. A new governor for Guayaquil, and another person of distinction, were prisoners on board the fleet, and the inhabitants of Guayaquil were soliciting to exchange the former for the admiral. The fleet had been at Callao, Guayaquil, and the intermediate ports; one of the corvettes had entered the former port, and after firing 100 shot, sunk the Fuente Hermosa, lying at an anchor. and greatly injured another vessel. This occasioned so much confusion, that the people began to unload some ships which were ready to depart for Europe, with much money and other valuables. A squadron of five vessels, under Commodore Castreyo, mounting 123 guns, with 1038 men, had sailed from Lima in quest of the enemy. The above information is contained in the Lima Gazette of February 23. At the last dates Brown's fleet had returned upon the coast of Chili, and were blockading Valparaiso and Coquimbo. There was a report that the Lima squadron had been taken. All Chili was in confusion and alarm Late accounts from the Pacific ocean mention, that Admiral Brown had been exchanged. His second in command, it appears, sent a flag of truce to Guayaquil, offering to effect an exchange by giving up the governor, all the Spanish prisoners, and four of the prizes must be given up; and that 100,000 dollars would be given to the captors and the means furnished the fleet to return to Buenos Ayres. This would not be complied with ; and the fleet having then fired on the town, the governor agreed to exchange the admiral, who took command of the ships again.