A year later, they were decisive in putting down the Quito Rebellion[ZR 5]., helped defeat Nariño's Southern Campaign in 1814, and in 1816 played an important role during the Spanish reconquest of New Granada.

After the Spanish defeat in the Battle of Boyacá in 1819, Pasto became the only remaining stronghold capable of stopping the southern expansion of the Revolution.

His army had by then already lost 1,000 veterans and another 1,000 locals recruited by force, from actions by enemy guerrillas, the need to leave garrisons along the way and as a result of illness and desertions.

[ZR 7] Both sides suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Bomboná and Bolívar had to retreat to Cariaco, 20 km west of Pasto and nine days later he was back north of the Rio Mayo.

On 20 April the Royalists were defeated at El Peñol, after which García retreated to Pasto and Bolívar, with reinforcements, crossed the river Mayo again with 2,500 men.

Understanding that with the fall of Quito all resistance had becomes useless, García and the Creole elite of Pasto, led by the military leader José María Obando, decided to capitulate in exchange for the preservation of their properties and their positions, an amnesty and the continuation of the existing social situation.

In a little-known episode in Colombian historiography, later known as Navidad Negra (Black Christmas), a massacre was committed against the civilian population of the city.

More than 400 civilians, mostly non-combatant men, elderly people, women and children, were murdered and the city was left to pillage, rape and destruction by Patriotic troops.

[5][6] Colonel Juan José Flores fled to Juanambú, Merchán Cano became the last Royalist governor of the city and Agualongo was named general commander.

[ZR 8] On 24 June, Agualongo arrived at the town of El Castigo, where he had agreed to meet with José María Obando.