The Final Coda of the Venezuelan War of Independence

After the battle of carabobo in 18 21, the last royalist garrisons had retreated to porto cobea. This last rump of spanish holdouts was general moralis. While after nearly two years of forced captivity, he was ready to break out. He charged out of portucabeo and headed west towards lake maracaibo. But with moralis now trapped around lake meracaibo, something was going to have to be done about his navy. So on july 20 fourth 18 23, a patriot navy of 22 ships cornered the small royalist fleet and brought them to battle. They were led by brigadier general jose prudencio pad