The Spanish governor of the province, Miguel Tacón y Rosique, who ruled from the capital in Popayán, threatened to suppress the junta in Cali by force unless they remained loyal to the Council of Regency.

Thereafter, the Cali Junta was transferred to Popayán, where it formally established the Confederation of Cities of the Cauca Valley, with Joaquín Caycedo y Cuero elected as president.

Concerned about a possible royalist counterattack, President Caycedo and the patriot government launched a southern campaign to capture Pasto and defeat Tacón’s remaining forces.

[6][7] At this meeting, the Alférez real,[8] Antonio Tenorio, a nobleman from Popayán who had served under Governor Tacón at the Battle of Bajo Palacé, was self proclaimed Governor of the Popayán in the name of King Ferdinand VII, while guerrilla leader José Joaquín Paz was named Commander General of the royalist forces.

Other patriots units were also stationed on the pacific coast, thus Popayán was only lightly defended by approximately 300–400 troops, consisting of regulars, militia, and volunteers.

As a result, Captain Manuel Serralde, commander of the Volunteers of the King infantry company, was killed in the street-to-street fighting.

[16][17] Macaulay proposed to Colonel Cabal that they conduct a surprise attack on the enemy camp in the southern outskirts of the city.

The royalists had positioned their troops in the area known as La Ladera, located outside the city, and to the north, near the Cauca Royal Bridge.

In a written report of the battle, the patriot government stated the following about the American officer:I cannot sufficiently praise to Your Excellency the courage, joy, and boldness with which the soldiers acted..as patriots, nor the resolution, fervor, and skill with which the young Alejandro Macaulay [Alexander Macaulay] commanded these actions.

His civic virtues, great character, courage, and intelligence in defeating the enemy all contributed to making the actions we have experienced remarkably brilliant, and to the soldiers fighting with greater joy than they were accustomed to.

[21]Shortly after the battle, the patriot government ordered Colonel Cabal and Macaulay to pursue the enemy, an expedition was quicly organized composed of around 600 men, who left the city on April 29.

After the defeat at La Ladera Governor Tenorio and Commander Paz withdrew to the town of El Tambo, from there they planned to march south to Pasto in the hopes of capturing the city.

They agreed to withdraw to Popayán, as they lacked the sufficient manpower to capture the city and rescue President Caycedo.