BOLIVAR SIMON: (1783-1830)

BOLIVAR SIMON: (1783-1830)

‘I trust in the courage and patriotism of my soldiers,  and I promise myself a certain victory’

 

BOLIVAR SIMON: (1783-1830) Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire. Bolivar served as the first President of Colombia 1819-30, the sixth President of Peru 1824-27 and the first President of Bolivia 1825. An interesting, rare A.L.S., Bolivar, three pages, 4to, Headquarters of Carupano, 27^th June 1816, to Benoit Chasseriau, on Bolivar's printed stationery as Supreme Chief of the Republic, Captain General of the Armies of Venezuela etc., in Spanish. Bolivar forwards his correspondent a collection of bulletins which 'will instruct you of the operations we have executed, and of the advantages gained over the enemy wherever we have appeared', remarking 'If fortune, which has protected us hitherto in spite of the scarcity of means with which we have undertaken the first operations, continues to favour us in the future when we already have a very considerable body of troops, the campaign will be decided very soon in our favour'. Boliver further adds that he has been at Carupano for a month, busily raising and organising his army, and informs Chasseriau, 'At present, the only thing that stops me is General Marino, who should arrive at any moment with a large body that he brings me from Guiria. I expect it within two days to begin my marches immediately on Cumana. Although the enemy has concentrated there or in its vicinity, I trust in the courage and patriotism of my soldiers, and I promise myself a certain victory. The plains have been abandoned by the Spaniards who have brought to Cumana the troops with which they covered them, against the innumerable guerrillas who fight in that part for freedom. To take advantage of these circumstances, I have sent General Piar to Maturin with orders to put himself at the head of the army that must be formed from the meeting of our guerrillas. Their marches will be fast and they will go where it suits us best.' Bolivar concludes his letter by writing 'Friend, everything conspires to assure us the fruit of our efforts. The Spaniards are so disappointed that they cannot succeed and that their situation is desperate that although they appear to defend themselves, they only try to flee and save themselves. The generosity of the conduct that I have proposed towards them, I believe, goes to influence a lot to facilitate the freedom of my country'. A letter of excellent content and good association. Some light overall age wear and a few small tears and holes to the edges, G

 

Benoit Chasseriau (1780-1844) French diplomat and spy, a comrade in arms of Simon Bolivar whom El Libertador appointed Minister of the Interior and the Police at Cartagena, Colombia. In 1816, the year of the present letter, Chasseriau helped finance Bolivar's expedition to los Cayos in the southwestern part of Haiti.

 

Manuel Piar (1774-1817) General-in-Chief of the Army fighting against Spain during the Venezuelan War of Independence. In 1817, following his military victories, Pilar, a mesitzos, came into conflict with Bolivar. In what is one of the independence struggle's darkest episodes, Bolivar gave orders for Piar to be arrested and tried for desertion, insubordination, and conspiring against the government. On 16^th October 1817 Piar was executed by a firing squad.