346 SPANISH AMERICA, 



Marino having followed up his success 

 at Maturin by obtaining several victories 

 in the eastern provinces, the v^hole of Ve- 

 nezuela v^as thus again in the possession of 

 the patriots, with the exception of the 

 town and fort of Puerto Cabello, which 

 were held by Monteverde. Actuated by 

 considerations of humanity, Bolivar sent a 

 flag of truce to Monteverde, proposing an 

 exchange of prisoners; although the cap- 

 tive royalists were more numerous than the 

 patriots who had been taken by Monte- 

 verde. The latter, however, obstinately 

 persisted in refusing to treat with Bolivar ; 

 and having received a reinforcement from 

 Spain, of about one thousand two hundred 

 troops, he attacked the patriots at Agua- 

 caliente. In this action he was completely 

 defeated ; a great number of the Spaniards 

 were killed or taken prisoners; and Mon- 

 teverde himself was severely wounded, and 

 in that state conveyed back to Puerto Ca- 



