1. preparation and financing.
From New York to the Caribbean.
After decades of lobbying in European courts and after participating in the independence of the United States and the French Revolution (where he reached the rank of general), Sebastian Francisco de Miranda devised a direct naval expeditionary action:.
Building the ship (1805-1806).
In New York harbor, with the covert support of American merchants and political associates, Miranda assembled the 200-ton corvette named Leander (after his youngest son, Leandro). He equipped the ship with cannons, rifles, ammunition and a mobile printing press to publish revolutionary proclamations.
The oath in Jacmel (Haiti).
On March 12, 1806, anchored off the coast of Jacmel in Haiti, Miranda hoisted the tricolor flag (yellow, blue and red) for the first time aboard the Linder, pledging allegiance and service to her multinational crew of Americans, British, French and West Indians.
2. The first failure.
The naval battle of Ocumera de la Costa.
At the end of April 1806, the fleet of the expedition - which consisted of the Linder and two unarmed support ships, the Bee and the Bacchus - attempted an initial landing on the shores of Ocumara de la Costa (present-day Aragua state).
The realistic ambush. Alerted by colonial spies, two Spanish naval warships (Argos and Cheloso) intercepted the expedition at dawn on April 28.
The loss of the schooners. Royalist forces seized the two assisting schooners and imprisoned about 60 men (ten of whom were hanged shortly afterwards at Puerto Cabello). Miranda managed to break the blockade aboard the Linder and retreat to the British Antilles (Trinidad and Grenada) to reorganize and reinforce his division.
3. The landing at La Valle de Coro (August 1806).