Bolívar's campaign to liberate New Granada: Difference between revisions

[[File:Bolivar's troops in the Cordillera Oriental.jpg|thumb|Bolívar's troops ascend the Cordillera Oriental|154x154px]]

 

[[File:AgenciaDeNoticias-20190219-01 04.jpg|left|thumb|265x265px|Bolivar crossing the Paramo de Pisba by Francisco Antonio Cano]]

Despite some intelligence that Bolívar was on the move, the Spanish doubted Bolívar's army could make the trip, and therefore, they were taken by surprise when Bolívar's small army emerged from the mountains on 5 July. Bolívar rebuilt his forces by placing a [[Conscription|levy]] on the local population. In a series of battles the republican army cleared its way to [[Bogotá]]. First at the [[Battle of Vargas Swamp]] on 25 July, Bolívar intercepted a royalist force attempting to reach the poorly defended capital. After the Battle of Vargas Swamp, Bolivar reorganized his men, resting them until 4 August, when he ordered a return to Venezuela. However, in the night, he redirected his forces towards Tunja, and took the city by mid-day of 5 August 1819. Due to Bolivar's flash conquest, Barreiro was obliged to mobilize his troops to defend the capital, Santafé, from Bolivar. The Royalist men took the fastest route to Bogota (which led through the Boyacá Bridge) but were unable to pass, as Bolivar intercepted them, early morning of 7 August. Bolivar's republican troops were composed of approximately 2,850 men, which successfully divided and defeated the 2,670 royalist soldiers in a battle that lasted two hours. The battle resulted in the death of 66 republicans, 250 royalists, as well as the capture of approximately 1,600 of the remaining royal troops. At the [[Battle of Boyacá]] on 7 August 1819, the bulk of the royalist army surrendered to Bolívar.