Peru issued a nice miniature sheet of stamps in 2005 with naval battles of the Peruvian Navy. I believe all stamps are designed after paintings, but could not find the original painting of the Battle of Punta Malpelo on the net.
When in June 1828 the Confederation composed by present day Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama and Columbia declared war on Peru, the Peruvian President Jose la Mar ordered the naval squadron of Peru under command of Rear-Admiral Martin Jorge Guise to be ready.
At that time the Peruvian Navy had 16 warships and transports.
02 July 1828, the Peruvian corvette LIBERTAD armed with 24 guns and a total crew of 124 men, under command of Captain Carlos Garcia del Postigo received orders to cross the Gulf and guard the entrance to the Guayaquil River.
31 August 1828 the LIBERTAD was intercepted by two warships from the Confederation, the GUAYAQUILEÑA and PICHINCHA with a combined firepower of 40 guns, commanded by the Irish-born Captain Tomas C. Wright.
The LIBERTAD was attacked by the two other ships and in the battle the crew of the LIBERTAD almost boarded the GUAYAQUIEÑA.
When at the peak of the battle, the two Confederation warships withdrew and retreated towards Guayaquil, pursued by the LIBERTAD.
The pursued ended when the LIBERTAD returned to Peru for repairs, and take proper care of the wounded.
In the battle the LIBERTAD lost 15 men and had 28 injured. The Confederation ships had 24 dead and 36 wounded.
I found on the same web-site that on 22 November 1828 the LIBERTAD in the squadron of Rear-Admiral Guise bombarded Cruces, and the Peruvian forces occupied the Cruces Castle. In this battle the LIBERTAD received 23 hits.
On the stamp must be LIBERTAD the ship in the foreground of the stamp.
Have not more information on the ships, so all info welcome.
Source: copied mostly from http://members.lycos.co.uk/Juan39/War_W ... ombia.html