The Battle of San Félix was an engagement Hostile_encounter in the of the War of Independence of Venezuela occurred Presence on 11 April 1817 , on the mesa of Chirica in Province of Guayana , over the course of just half an hour .

The Republican forces Military_operation had been campaigning Military_operation against Guayana from late 1816 , though hindered Hindering by lack of a navy .

Their goal was to occupy Control the towns of Angostura and Old Guayana , which would allow Preventing_or_letting them to dominate Control traffic along the river Orinoco .

It had about 1,600 infantry , 200 cavalry and 2 guns with him , and traveled Motion to the missions through the castles of old Guayana .

Thanks to the Battle of San Félix , the Venezuelan patriots won not only the rich territory of Guayana , but also the critical tool of transportation and commerce , the Orinoco .