Naval Battle of the Lake: 202 years since the final seal of Venezuelan independence
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Published at: 24/07/2025 06:30 AM
At dawn on July 24, the commanders of the Republican ships were called to the Independent brig, where Admiral Padilla gave them the last instructions for combat, making some changes and not yet satisfied. At 10:30 he went personally aboard the entire squad, in order to harangue his crew and encourage them in an effective way so that, when the time came to attack the realists, they would do so with the greatest fearlessness and enthusiasm.
At 10:40 the wind rolled to the northwest and 10 minutes later the signal was made to prepare to give the sail. But having loosened up, calling to the south, he reserved the decision to carry anchors until the breeze came out wherever it was favorable, despite the fact that everything invited him to attack the realistic squad that was anchored in front of him on a line parallel to the coast and very close to it.
The Republican ships advanced rapidly on the realistic squadron, which remained anchored waiting for the attack; the southern wing of the squadron was carried by Admiral Padilla and the north wing was under the command of ship captain Nicolás Joly, cutting off the retreat to the bay. At 15:04, they placed the sign to approach the adversary, leaving it hoisted despite having been answered by all the ships, to indicate that there was nothing left to do.
At 15:45, the royalist fleet opened fire on the patriotic squads, but the Colombian La Grande squad continued to advance without firing a shot, until close by, they broke out cannon and rifle fires. When the Baupreses broke up, the Independent brig threw himself on the San Carlos and the approach began, a phase with which the victory was decided for the Republicans.
As a result of the patriotic attack, many realistic ships were destroyed and others captured. The realists in the most distressing situation chopped up the cables and tried to escape by going under sail, but they failed in their attempt, as their larger ships were taken prisoner. Most of the crew of the San Carlos threw themselves into the water and the same fate befell that of the other ships, except that of the brigantín-schooner Esperanza, which was destroyed by an explosion. In short, only three schooners managed to escape and took cover of the castle of San Carlos.
The Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo represents the final seal for independence, since the last stronghold of the Spanish empire was defeated and as a result, the realists were able to stop stepping on their homeland forever.
Mazo News Team