The news of this defeat spread consternation among the Spaniards.
Thousands of the royalists in the cities hastened to leave the country,
fearing the vengeance of the patriots, the Spanish commanders lost all
spirit, and three months later the strong fortress of Carthagena
surrendered to the Colombians. Maracaibo was held till 1823, when it
surrendered, and in July, 1824, Porto Cabello capitulated and the long
contest was at an end.
This final surrender was due in great measure to General Paez, who thus
sustained his military service to the end. Though not gaining the renown
of Bolivar, and doubtless incapable of heading an army and conducting a
campaign, as a cavalry leader he was indispensable, and to him and his
gallant llaneros was largely due the winning of liberty.
THE HANNIBAL OF THE ANDES AND THE FREEDOM OF CHILI.
At the end of 1816 the cause of liberty in Chili was at its lowest ebb.
After four years of struggle the patriots had met with a crushing defeat
in 1814, and had been scattered to the four winds. Since then the viceroy
of Spain had ruled the land with an iron hand, many of the leading
citizens being banished to the desolate island of Juan Fernandez, the
imaginary scene of Robinson Crusoe's career, while many others were
severely punished and all the people were oppressed.
Pages:
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310