The Temporary exhibit Liberty Campaign has a didactic

orientation; it is an exercise for understanding the

independence’s process, with the purpose of supporting
pedagogically the commemoration of Bicentenary. Being
an opportunity for reflection, for recovery of historical
memory and awarding the defense of our historical
patrimony. A performance in which the new generations
understand the importance of values and principles
framed national identity and allowing empower the citizen
participation’s culture.
TEMPORARY EXHIBIT
 “The Army that I command is
composed by your brothers, your
relatives and your friends. I am one
of you. We do not have another
ambition different than give you
back the joy of freedom”
5 / Presentation
6 / The routes and landscapes of freedom
8 / Roots and Fruits of independency
12/ Unmanageable centaurs
16 / the pass through the Andes
20 / saving the homeland in “Pantano de Vargas”
24 / From Boyacá and other fields
28 / Boyacá’s battle
34 / Oh immortal jubilance
40 / The Other independences
 Military Academy “General Jose Maria Cordova”
BG. Álvaro Vicente Pérez Duran
Director
Col. Javier Hernando Africano López
Deputy Director
Col. Milton Mauricio Losada Andrade
Academic Vice-Rector
Capt. Jose Luis Salinas Rodriguez
Military Hostory Department Director

Temporary Exhibit Liberty Campaign

Mgter. Diego Martinez Celis
Museology / Curator/ visual investigation/ Design/ Texts/ Diagramation
Mgter. Erika Constanza Figueroa pedreros
Historical Investigation/ Curator/ Texts
Dr. Gustavo Altamar Laiseca
Historical Investigation / Curator/ Texts
Senior Cadet Sebastian Tabares Ruiz
Senior Cadet Leonardo Torres Vargas
Senior Cadet Yeison Alejandro Torres Criollo
Senior Cadet Juan Pablo Aleman Bernal
Senior Cadet Brayan Johanny Avellaneda Romero
Senior Cadet Farid Camilo Roncancio Bravo
Exhibitors

Special thanks to
Colombian History Academy
Colombian Military History Academy
BG. Juan Daniel Martin Becerra
Presentation
The Military Academy General Jose Maria Cordova, alma mater of the Colombian Army, join this
commemoration of the bicentenary of Colombian independence, exalting the military fight started
by a whole generation of brave compatriot men, commanded by General Simon Bolivar,
supporting the freedom of Nueva Granada in 1819. Men and women that marched from “El
setenta” village in the eastern valleys of Casanare on 23 rd May, until the triumphal arrival to
Santafe on 10th august, temporary space of the liberty campaign. The strategic of independency
the Nueva Granada from the Spanish dominium, turns in the headstone for the American
independency process struggled years ago.

The target of this temporary exhibit has a didactical orientation, an Army to understand the
independency process, with the purpose of transforming pedagogically the bicentenary’s
commemoration, being an opportunity for reflection, the history’s recovery, the recognition and
defense of our history’s patrimony. A performance in which the new generations understand the
importance of values and principles that framed national identity and allowing empower the
citizen participation’s culture.
The routes and landscapes of freedom

The route traced by the compatriot’s army, from 23 rd may, in the “el setenta” village (Venezuela),
until 10th august in Santa Fe, moved about 800 km crossing a great variety of landscapes
conditioned by important variations of altitude, weather and Biosystems. Long flooded flat areas
in the eastern valleys, warm ditches and dark tundra forests in the streams of the mountain ridges,
cold summits in Pisba’s paramount, though river canyons, humid terrains or soft valleys in the
“cundiboyacence” savanna, represented a high challenge equal or more exigent that the same
faced against the royal forces troops. The design of the route not only showed a great military
strategic ability by the compatriots but also an intimate reconnaissance of the territory that will be
crossed, helping out, with no hesitation, for the support of cowboys, farmers and indigenous
people that were moving throughout those routes from ancient times, when the ways were
opened to facilitate the access to various resources and the trading of products between different
human groups.
Roots and fruits of independency

The Colombian Independency was the process toward the end of the dominium of Spanish empire
in the current Colombian territory. Was released in the middle of an armed conflict, developed
between 1810 till 1822, for emancipating territories of Nueva Granada Kingdom

This movement sinks its roots in the illustration’s ideas that abandoned the terrain for the United
States independence, the French revolution, and the “Comuneros” insurrection.

The French invasion of Spain in 1808 conducted the crisis at the Spanish Monarchy that facilitated
the promulgation of Independence uprising in 20 th July 1810.

In 1816 the Spanish troops won again the control of the country, in which is installed the named
“Terror regime”. During this period lots of republican groups maintained active, imposing the
effective power in the casanare’s valleys. In 1819 a republican army, commanded by Simon
Bolivar, crossed the Andes Mountains, after the Paya’s battle, pantano de vargas’ battle and
Boyacá’s bridge, obtained free pass to take control of Santa Fe, city in which he arrived in 10 th
august 1819
 Liberty
campaign
(1819)
Angosturas’ The great Terror
congress Colombia regime
(1819) (1819) (1819)

Casanare’s
liberation Spanish
(1817) reconquest
(1819)

San
United
Victorino’s
provinces of
Nueva Granada battle
(1811-1816) (1817)

Cundinama
Ventaquemada’s rca’s
battle (1811) building
(1817)
Federalism

“FOOLISH HOMELAND”

INDEPENDENCE UPRISING

(1810)

Agravios’
memorial
(1809)
Quito’s
Napoleon assembly
Invasion to (1809)
Spain Francisco
(1808) Human Miranda’s
Rights struggle
translation (1806-1812)
(1793)
 Declaration
of Men
Human Botanical
Rights expedition
(1789) (1789)

French
revolution Comuneros
(1789) revolution
(1781)

A “STRONG” COMUNERO
JOSE ANTONIO GALAN

Born in Charala in 1741, is recognized as main leader of the comuneros insurrection of 1781. He
served in the army at Cartagena in where he reached the rank of corporal. He arrived in the middle
of 1780 to charala, when the protests started due the overwhelming taxes that were ruining the
Tabaco workers. The new measures imposed by the Burbones worsened the situation and made
the people stands against the Spanish power. After the legal documents were signed in zipaquira,
Mr Jose Antonio Galan continued the clandestine fight against royal authorities, but was detained
in vicinity of Onzaga. Was sentence to die by hanging in santa fe in 1782.

Commemorative stamp of the communeros uprising. Castillo de Cervantes, 1981.

The Illustrated hero
Antonio Nariño

Hero of the Colombian Independence (Bogota 1765- Leiva, 1823) he studied philosophy and law
and obtained several public posts. Got together a brainstorming circle inspired in illustration. In
1793 translated and printed out the Men and citizen Rights declaration proclaimed during the
French revolution, reason why was condemned to jail. In 1810 the independence rebellion
exploded; Notwithstanding, Antonio Nariño could not participate, but joined the rebels as soon as
he was released. In the political confrontations that originated the civil war, Nariño represented
the centralist option in front of the federalists, majority in the congress of “united Nueva Granada
Provinces”

Was named President of Cundinamarca state and commanded the army that was facing the royal
forces advance from south; the royal forces defeated him in 1814 and was sent detained to Cadiz.
Remained in prison until 1820, year in which the pronouncement of General Rafael Del Diego gave
him the freedom. He came back to America, where Simon Bolivar named him Vice president of the
recent republic of “Great Colombia”
Unmanageable Centaurs go up to the valleys

The angosturas’s congress celebrated in 15 th February 1819, presided by Francisco Antonio Zea,
was converted in the political authorization for independence Venezuela and Nueva Granada.
Simon Bolivar, in response of orders issued in angostura and after the meeting in the “el setenta”
village, started in 23rd may to the epic movement towards the “neogranadino’s territory.

The homeland army marched towards the town of Guasdualito in 27 th may, arriving in 1st june.
There the troops stayed during three days after that started the liberty route crossing with a lot of
difficulties, the Arauca River and other rivers that were over flooded du the winter. The fury of the
water erased the equipment, the horse gadgets and up to two soldiers were rescued by their
fellows.

The troops fought sadly to avoid those weapons and ammunitions got wet; despite those
difficulties, the army passed the negated valley that appeared to be impossible.

The 22th june PORE was converted in strategic military enclave for the meeting of the Bolivar and
Santander Armies. From there the patriots started going up to Paya and Pisba’s paramount.
Combat of the trincherón de Paya
On June 30, the patriotic vanguard advanced towards Paya, a position defended by a Spanish
detachment entrenched in the Fort of San Genes, star-shaped structure built for defensive
purposes. Santander, who commanded the vanguard, ordered the attack with 600 soldiers
through a combination of movements according to what the terrain allowed. The 150 realistic
soldiers, at the orders of Sergeant Major Juan Figueroa, they did not resist such a strong burden of
the liberating army and they left the position to flee along the road that led to Iabranzagrande.
A "man of laws"
Francisco de Paula Santander
Commander of The Vanguard of the Patriotic Army [Villa del Rosario de Cúcuta, 1792-Bogotá,
1840). In 1805 he was sent to Santa Fe to continue studies in San Bartolomé, received a
scholarship and in 1808 graduated as a bachelor's degree in Latinity and philosophy.
At 18 he received the rank of second lieutenant, was secretary of the Santa Fe military inspection.
He participated in the Northern Campaign and in the war of the federals against centralists. He
was wounded and captured in the siege of Santa Fe in 1816. He was in la Grita, defended and
recaptured the valleys of Cúcuta and part of Venezuela. He reorganized the army and commanded
the vanguard division, participated in 1819 in the New Granada Campaign. He was in Tame, Pisba,
the trincherón of Paya, Gámeza and was fundamental in the triumph of the Swamp of Vargas and
Boyacá, which gave a new course to the war of independence.

One Colombian peso Bill with faces of Simon Bolivar and Santander 1973
The Liberator

Simon Bolivar

(Caracas, 1783 - Santa Marta. 1830]. He studied at the Public School and the Academy of
Mathematics in Caracas and had Simón Rodriguez and Andrés Bello as tutors. In 1797 he was a
cadet in the Militia Battalion of the Valleys of Aragua and in 1798 he was a lieutenant, he traveled
to Spain in 1799. he married in 1802 and widowed soon after, while in Europe he witnessed the
coronation of Napoleon and met Miranda In 1813 he arrived in Cartagena where he found
patriotism and enthusiasm he requested to serve in the Union army was commander of a garrison
in Barrancas and captured several towns in Bajo Magdalena.

In 1815 he advanced to Santa Marta, besieged Cartagena and then left for Jamaica ending the trip
in Haiti. In 1816 he began the campaign of

Keys and landed in Venezuela. In 1817 I actively participate in the campaigns of Apure and
Caracas. Since 1819 he was captain general of the armies of Venezuela and New Granada, with the
triumphs of the Swamp of Vargas and Boyacá changed the course of the war.
The pass through the Andes

the vanguard commanded by Santander and the bulk of the army under the command of
Anzoátegui began the ascent to the Pisba moor on July 2, a decision taken by Bolivar before three
options he had to march on the city of Tunja: the first by the Chita salt (the shortest and most
comfortable way,

but also the most guarded by the royalists), the second by labranzagrande (to reach Sogamoso,
where the realistic barracks was located), and the third by the Pisba moor (the most inhospitable
road, but without Spanish surveillance).

During the ascent, food was scarce and many soldiers and horses succumbed to the demands of
the weather. Despite the harsh conditions, the patriotic army slowly continued its advance, even
having to leave abandoned bodies, which made the icy and lonely place in which about 1,500 of
the 3,400 soldiers perished or deserted and started the ascent.

The journey took five days until July 6 when they arrived in Socha, where the priest Juan Tomas
Romero and the mayor José Ignacio Sarmiento called on the population to donate clothes and
food to help the battered army. The troops were attended by the senior surgeon, the English
doctor Tomas Foley. The diet was reduced to bananas, cassava and a piece of dried meat.
COMBAT OF GAMEZA RIVER BRIDGE

Passing the Gameza river, the patriots run into the royal forces and started the attack over the
front and the flanks. Two hours after employed in the ascension to Topaga’s mountain. The fearful
Spanish forces with a charge of bayonet of the patriots, realized to abandon inexplicable their
positions and moved back to other high positions close to Mongui River. Colonel Arredondo fall
down wounded and died in Tasco. The patriot’s casualties were 12 killed in action and 66
wounded, and the royal forces up to 130.

A man nicknamed "Homeland"

Juan José Reyes

[Santa Rosa de Viterbo, 1785-Corrales, 1872]. It is remembered for the fight of July 11, 1819 on
the Gámeza River Bridge. He accepted the challenge of a Spanish captain who was shouting for a
patriotic chief to face him on the bridge that separated the armies. Lieutenant Reyes and his
adversary were locked in a singular combat that lasted a few minutes and ended when, when the
patriot was inflamed with a wound received, he gave his opponent a sword, taking his head that
fell into the calm waters of the river. Bolivar asked his name "I am Juan Reyes, sir," "you," Bolivar
replied, "must honor not the Kings, but the Fatherland with your last name: in the army you will be
called Juan José Reyes Patria."

Santa Barbara Hacienda (Tasco Boyaca)

Ruins of the campaign hospital used after gameza’s battle

The generosity made people

The people of Socha

In Socha the delivery of its people was highlighted, especially that of the young Matilde Anaray
who, in the church, was the first to donate her humble clothes to help the troops, an example that
was followed by the rest of the population. Ana Mana Bárcenas also gave her two children to the
Liberator for the struggle for independence. 18 loads of clothes were gathered, along with food
and horses. "In Socha the people undressed in the temple of God to dress the newborn country."
Socha has been called "the nurse of Freedom." This support to the liberating army was also done
by some owners of the estates, who contributed with their workers for entry as soldiers and
numerous horses for transportation assistance.
Saving the Homeland in the Pantano de Vargas

At dawn on July 25, the liberator decided to move the patriotic army to achieve a definitive action,
flanking the realistic army once more by blocking his communications with Santa Fe, which was
the immediate objective.
At approximately ten o'clock in the morning the two factions of troops made contact at the height
of the Cross of Murcia, in the middle of a place flooded by the winter called "Vargas Swamp". The
royalists took advantage of their great numerical superiority and attacked the patriotic faction
fiercely causing serious damage, among them the death wound of the commander of the British
Legion Colonel Jaime Rooke.
According to Captain O'teary - also British and an eyewitness to the events - Bolivar, realizing the
difficult situation, exclaimed: "the cavalry came to us and the battle was lost" to which Colonel
Rondón replied: “how is it to be lost? Neither I nor my spearmen have entered into combat, let us
make a set”. Bolívar ordered him: "Colonel, you save the country!, Occupy those positions and
silence the enemy fire." Rondón, upon receiving the order, shouted: "Follow me the brave!", That
would be the fourteen spearmen who collided.

In the Crab’s hill, where unfortunately was wounded the staff sergeant Inocencio Chinca, by the
Spanish captain Bedoya. The battle of Pantano de vargas achieved the goal of weaken the Spanish
forces, make a strong hit to the royal army’s morale and force them to step back to paipa. Bolivar
conducted his army to Corrales of Bonza and Duitama.

The “Aquiles” of valleys

Juan Jose Rondon

(Guarico state, 1790- Naguana-gua, 1822) Venezuelan Military, reached the Rank of Colonel in the
republican army during the battles of independence. Was the son of two free Afro-Americans. In
1812 joined the royal army but on august 1817 decided to abandon royal forces with his squadron
of about 50 men joining rebel forces, with them he was distinguished in the battle of Pantano de
vargas.

Photo mount based on the first Simon Bolivar war call to inhabitants of the eastern valleys, issued
in 17th February 1818, from “El sombrero” Headquarters; and the record titled “A llanero of the
Guajira”

Llaneros:! You are invincible: your horses, your spears and your deserts apart your from tirany.
You will be independent from the Spanish empire
Lancero to death!
Innocencio Chincá
[Tame, Arauca, 1778 - Tibasosa, 1819]. From a young age he felt the call of the homeland and
volunteered to do part of the liberating army under the command of General José Antonio Páez.
He was part of the lancers charge during the battle of the Vargas Swamp, in which he was seriously
injured, dying 3 days later.

For the homeland that buried him

Jaime Rooke
Irish military born in 1770 and died after being injured by losing his arm in the battle of the Vargas
Swamp, where he was part of the British legion that participated in the Liberation Campaign,
attended by Dr. Foley, he died in the convent of the Augustinian monks in Hato (Tibasosa). It is
said that when he amputated his left arm, he took it with his right hand, lifted it up and shouted
“long live to homeland!” To which the surgeon asked which country, Ireland or England? ”

With that question

Roocke replied "the one that has to bury me."

From Boyacá
And other fields

After the triumph in the Swamp of Vargas, Bolivar gathers its commanders to design a new combat
plan, which consists of moving to the left bank of the Sogamoso River and will advance the
royalists in their attempt to reach Tunja. After a fray in which the Liberator faces Barreiro in the
Molinos de Bonza, the goal is reached, and on August 5 the patriotic army enters the "very noble
and very loyal" city of Tunja using the Toca road , forcing the Spaniards to move to the town of
Motavita.
On August 4, but further north, a confrontation between Spanish troops that were aimed at
supporting the Barreiro army and a crowd of peasants armed with machetes, stones and mallets
protesting the shooting of several were fought in Charalá (Santander) of its leaders, including
Antonia Santos.

The meeting took place on the Pientá River and produced the massacre of about 300 civilians. In
spite of the Spanish military triumph, the fierce peasant opposition to the advance of the invading
troops meant that, in any case, the reinforcements that Colonel Lucas González was going to
provide to Barreiro did not arrive in a timely manner.
The weapons of the campaign

Although, the realistic army was better equipped, the patriot managed to make a sufficient arsenal
to face it, whether it was by "homemade" manufacturing, by supplying European enemy countries
of Spain or by gradual gain to the enemy. It was composed of spears, machetes, knives, daggers,
swords, sabers, muskets, guns, and a few cannons and howitzers.

The patriot's help

Antonia Santos

[Pinchote, 1782 - Socorro, 1819] Santander independence hero who had a great role in the
emancipatory process, collaborating with the guerrillas of the Relief, which included about 40
members.
On July 28, 1819, after a Spanish military detachment arrived at the estate of El Hatillo and
surprisingly apprehended the hostess, Antonia Santos was tied to the gallows with a blindfold and
shotgun shot.

The Laureate of the Liberator

Carlos Soublette

[Guaira, 1789 - Caracas, 1870]. Defender of the emancipatory cause since 1810, in 1812 he already
held the rank of lieutenant colonel and the post of second chief of the cavalry section of the
General's army Francisco Miranda He was a key piece, acting as head of one of Army corps, to
achieve victory during the Battle of Boyacá, being named as one of the Liberators of the New
Granada. It is said that when Bolívar received the laurel wreaths in Bogotá, for such a significant
triumph, he placed them on Soublette and Anzoátegui, saying that it was they who truly deserved
them for the courage, skill and determination shown.

Laurel wreath
It is a crown made with bay leaves, delivered as a symbol of recognition and reward to poets,
athletes or warriors from the Ancient Greece and Rome. From there comes the term "laureate"
It is said that Simon Bolivar, Santander and Anzoátegui received it, along with the Cruz de Boyacá,
when the triumph of the liberating campaign was celebrated in the Plaza Mayor of Santa Fe on
September 18, 1819.

The battle of boyaca

In the early hours of August 7, Colonel Barreiro and his troop took the path that left Motavita to
the real road Tunja - Santa Fe, which ended near the site known as Casa de Teja, from there
continue its march to the capital . The patriotic exploration informed the Liberator about the
movement of the Spanish army towards the Boyacá Bridge.
Simon Bolívar ordered General Santander to, without loss of time, march with the troop with the
mission of stopping the progress of the adversary where he was found.
Santander's combat experience allowed him to organize his Vanguard and attack the First Line
Battalion, a fact that forced the other battalions to cross the bridge over the Teatinos River,
leaving the forces separated. Barreiro realized the situation, tried to attack Santander but the
Rearguard of Anzoátegui prevented it, added to the efforts of the British Legion, the Rifles
Battalion and the Barcelona Battalion. The attacks of the patriotic infantry, both of Vanguard and
Rearguard, were more forceful than the resistance of the Iberian line, simultaneously Santander
ordered to make wrapping maneuver to Colonel Bejar, commander of the Guides group of
Casanare, and with this the dominance was evidenced of the patriots against the Spaniards.

José Antonio Anzoátegui

(Venezuela, 1789 - Nueva Granada, 1819) He joined the struggle for independence in 1810. In
1813 he was appointed captain, and participated in the battles of Araure (1813) and in the first of
Carabobo (1814). In 1816 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. After his brilliant participation in
the battle of Boyacá, he obtained the rank of general of division. Bolivar entrusted him then to
take charge of the Army of the North, which was to take Maracaibo, but Anzoátegui became ill and
died, in strange circumstances, on November 15, 1819, before the mission departed.

The hero boy

Pedro Pascasto Martinez

[Belen, 1807 - 18851 When Bolívar met the boy Martínez admired his dexterity and ability with the
horses, a fact that made him an assistant to the Liberator in the care of his riding. Child soldier
Pedro Pascasio Martínez entered the liberating army when he was 12 years old. It tells the military
story that in the night hours of August 7, Pedro Pascasio and a soldier known as the black José,
found José María Barreiro hidden next to a rock near the river, who when discovered tried to bribe
them not to be betrayed, but the soldiers rejected the offer and took him imprisoned before the
Liberator. For his courage and great sense of duty Martínez was rewarded with 100 pesos and the
promotion to sergeant level.

Oh immortal jubilation!

The news of the victory of the patriotic army on the bridge of Boyacá arrived on August 8 to
Santafé, the next day the viceroy Sámano, in the company of his retinue and some soldiers, left
the city towards Cartagena and from there to Spain. The next day, Bolívar was already triumphant
in the capital and, the chronicles tell us, that the news of his sudden arrival filled the entire
population that received him by singing and playing special songs such as "The Winner".
After two months of victory, in Santa Fe, 39 high-ranking Spaniards were detained since the battle
of Boyacá, including Barreiro and Colonel Jiménez and Galluso, who were finally shot by order of
General Santander.
Friar Hero
Pray Ignacio Mariño

[Tibasosa, 1775 - Nemocón, 1821] Declared general chaplain of the liberating army, he was a
missionary in Casanare from 1800 to 1819, managing to influence the plain guerrillas. He held
important political positions as a deputy at the Tunja congress in 1813 and achieved the rank of
effective colonel in 1814. His most important role was that of civil and military chief of Sogamoso
after the battle of Boyacá. He was granted the order of the liberators of Cundinamarca and
Venezuela in the year 1819.

The "Exterminating Angel"

Hermogenes Maza

Born in Bogotá, on April 20, 1792, he studied at the Mayor School Del Rosario, participated in the
Admirable Campaign where he was taken prisoner by the Spaniards. 17 months in prison and
torture, with daily fiction of execution in the Caracas prison, psychologically and morally deranged
the hero. In all his great military campaigns and in small episodes war, stained his resume with
unnecessary mass executions, ravenousness and service in his revenge, unmotivated executions or
torture without conscience challenge. He died in Mompox, at age 55 on July 14, 184Z poor,
alcoholic and forgotten.

Other Independencies

After the Battle of Boyacá, other war scenarios of great importance for the consolidation of neo-
Granada independence were presented, among them the battle of San Juanito on October 28,
1819 in the Cauca region or that of Chorros Blancos on February 12, 1820 in the province of
Antioquia, both with the purpose of eliminating all Spanish redoubts in these regions. However,
after these significant events that reaffirmed what was achieved in the Swamp of Vargas and
Boyacá, some cities remained faithful to the Spanish Crown such as Santa Marta and Pasto,
bastions where the emancipatory process was complex and extensive. Finally, the political seal is
given with the Congress of Cúcuta in 1821, allowing the creation of the Republic of Colombia, and
with it the union between the territory that formed New Granada, Venezuela and Ecuador.
From 1821 to 1824 the independence ideas came true thanks to the heroic actions of the patriotic
army commanding Bolivar: Venezuela with the battle of Carabobo, Ecuador with Pichincha, to end
the military campaign in Peru with the battle of Junín and Ayacucho, spaces that represent the
military triumphs of the emancipatory deed against the Spanish power.

Military situation at the end of 1819 -1820 Base: Letter from Ancient Colombia divided into the
departments of Cundinamarca. Venezuela and Quito. Campaigns of the war of independence
years 1821 to 1823. Letter IX of the geographical and historical Atlas of the Republic of Colombia.
1890.1 History of the military forces of CoIombia Vol. 1, Álvaro Valencia Tovar, Ed. Planeta, 1993
The liberator of Antioquia
José María Córdova

[Concepción, 1799 – El Santuario, 1829]. He was the most prominent general of the independence
process. Cadet of the Military School of Engineers in Rionegro, where he met the wise Caldas. In
1815 he was part of the army that marched to Tunja to fight the Spaniards, under the command of
Colonel Manuel Roergas Serviez. Between 1815 and 1816 he insisted on defending the patriots
during the regime of terror, a difficult time that served to improve his military skills; however he
did not achieve the proposed objective, a fact that forced his displacement towards the eastern
plains.
After what happened in the Battle of Boyacá, the Liberator entrusted him with the independence
of Antioquia and the Atlantic Coast, an order that he fully complied with. At the beginning of the
Southern Campaign, he was ordered to move to Ecuador, achieving an outstanding participation in
Pichincha and Junín, despite his military glory was in Ayacucho, consolidating himself as the hero
who achieved victory against Viceroy José de la Serna. Given its exalted human and military
virtues, the National Army Military Cadet School today bears his name.