While Morillo remained in winter quarters, the president traversed the vast plains of the Apure and Casanare, which are rendered almost impassable by inundations from the month of May to the end of August.  In Casanare, the president formed a junction with the division of Santander, two thousand strong.  Santander had, from the commencement of the revolution, dedicated himself with enthusiastic constancy to the cause of his country.  He now expelled the Spaniards from their formidable position of Paya, and opened the way for the president to cross the terrific Andes, in effecting which, nearly a fourth of his army perished from the effects of cold and excessive fatigue.

On the 11th of July, the president attacked the royal army at Gamarra.  After a long engagement, the Spanish general Barrero retired, and did not again offer battle, except in positions almost inaccessible.  Bonza was invested by the patriots for some days in sight of both armies.  The president, by a flank movement, brought the Spaniards to action on the 25th of July, at Bargas.  The Spaniards, though superior in numbers, and advantageously posted, gave way, and the president obtained a complete victory.  His inferior forces, however, and the nature of the country, did not allow him to make the most of this glorious success; but he obtained a thousand recruits, and marched to interpose between the defeated Barrero and the viceroy Samano, who, with all the disposable force south of Bogota, was about to support Barrero.  The result of the president’s daring and masterly movement was the battle of Boyaca, fought on the 7th of August, and which has been called the birth of Colombia.  In this battle, the English troops, under the command of Major Mackintosh, greatly distinguished themselves.  The gallant major was promoted by the liberator on the field.  In three days afterwards the president entered Bogota in triumph, and, within a short period, eleven provinces of New Granada announced their adhesion to the cause of independence.

Bolivar repaired to Angostura, where he once more resigned his authority to the representatives of the people, and laid on their floor the trophies of the last campaign.  On the 25th of December, 1819, congress, at the suggestion of the president, decreed that thenceforth Venezuela and New Granada should form one republic, under the denomination of COLOMBIA.  At the same time it conferred upon Bolivar the title of LIBERATOR OF COLOMBIA, and re-elected him president of the republic.

In March, 1820, he arrived at Bogota, and occupied himself until August in the organization of the army cantoned at various points between Cucuta and San Fernando de Apure.