| On July 14th of 1820 the longest blockade Cartagena de Indias would suffer in its entire history would begin.
During those days, the Granadinos rejected the Spanish Monarch Fernando III, who had had disdained the Democratic Constitution of Cadiz restoring absolute monarchy and for that was also repudiated in his own country. Spain was then in a very delicate situation and with difficulties to control its overseas colonies that kept fighting the troops of Morillo without backing down.
The Spanish policy was to dialogue with the rebel forces in America. Cartagena de Indias, one of the last places still under the power of the Royalists, decided to speak with the Venezuelan General Mariano Montilla when they were surrounded by land.
Brigadier Torres y Velasco, the governor of Cartagena de Indias and the commander of the plaza, not ready to surrender the city without a dialogue, he sent a note to Montilla telling him of his desire to talk. Montilla answered he would not agree to anything until the city had surrendered to him. Bolivar also had the chance to communicate with Torres but could not reach an agreement for both of them.
On January of 1821, the General José Prudencio Padilla obstructs the communication of the Spaniards with Bocachica, closing the siege around Cartagena de Indias and the maritime help they were receiving. The months went by and the situation of the Royalists became harder
On June 24th of 1821, on the memorable night of San Juan, Padilla assaults the Royalist fleet sheltered in the Bahía de las Animas, near the currently Muelle de Los Pegasos. At midnight in the fierce face to face battle the Royalists loose many men and Padilla leaves as winner taking 11 ships and armament.
A few days later, when Torres y Velasco realized he had lost and was abandoned to his luck, he surrendered the city. On October 10th of 1821 Cartagena de Indias is conquered again, but this time by the patriot cause. |
