First Battle of Angostura

The First Battle of Angostura was a battle in the Venezuelan War of Independence. The battle saw Patriot forces attempt to capture the city of Angostura, but retreat after being unable to penetrate Spanish defenses.

First Battle of Angostura
Part of the Venezuelan War of Independence
Date18 January 1817
Location
Angostura, now Ciudad Bolívar
Result Royalist victory
Belligerents
Third Republic of Venezuela Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
Manuel Piar
Manuel Cedeño		 Lorenzo Fitzgerald
Guarnición
Strength
~2,000 soldiers ~3,200 soldiers

Background

A previous attempt in the Venezuelan War of Independence to capture Angostura happened in 1812, when revolutionary González Moreno and 400 soldiers attempted to negotiate with authorities. Negotiations broke down and fighting ensued, which failed to yield any gains for the rebels.[1]

Manuel Piar had organized many Patriot revolutionaries to fight two battles: one to fight Spanish fortifications in the Guyana for the purpose of cutting communication, and the other to capture Angostura.[1]

Battle

Arriving at Angostura on 18 January 1817, Manuel Piar's force, 2,000 strong, were unable to defeat the entrenched Royalist forces, which numbered at about 3,200.[2] He turned the command over to Manuel Cedeño and left along with the rest of the army on 24 January.[1]

Aftermath

After the initial defeat, many officers left Piar to join Simón Bolívar who would take Angostura in the Second Battle of Angostura.[3]

References
  1. González, Edgar Esteves (2004). Batallas de Venezuela, 1810-1824 (in Spanish). El Nacional. ISBN 978-980-388-074-3.
  2. "Batallas 1817 - 1819". Auyantepui.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2000. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. José Manuel Restrepo. Historia de la revolución de la República de Colombia en la América meridional.

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