370 



SPANISH AMERICA. 



sion he was also unfortunate. Sir Gregor 

 McGregor, subsequently well known, who 

 commanded the vanguard, took Maracay 

 and La Cabrera, and marched against La 

 Vittoria. Morales, who had been sent with 

 troops, by Morillo, to Venezuela, taking 

 advantage of the separation, attacked the 

 division commanded by Bolivar ; who after 

 a severe action, and losing two hundred men 

 and some of his best officers, was com- 

 pelled to re-embark. McGregor, in conse- 

 quence, altered the intended destination of 

 his force, and marched along the plains 

 towards Barcelona : he was pursued by 

 Morales, but succeeded in repulsing the 

 latter in the action of Alacran ; and com- 

 pletely defeated him at the battle of Tuncal. 

 He thus obtained possession of Barcelona 

 early in October, and was enabled to open 

 a communication with the patriot generals, 

 in the provinces of Cumana and Angos- 

 tura. 



