The Beginning of the Madness Part Two, 1837 - 1838
July 27th, 1837, Fifteen Miles from the city of Quito
It was a hot summer's day... for the Andes, which wasn't very warm at all, neatly dressed men marched in an even more neatly filled line. For over a mile, the troops moved, perfectly. They moved for many things. The usual, "Patria, Honor, Familia"[1] as the recruitment posters that were sprinkled all over Medellin, Bogota, Cali, and Cartagena. They went for their country, and their families. But there were some, who are a little less sure why they are fighting. Even though the decision to invade Ecuador was well received across the nation, for some it was less popular. Some peace demonstrations held in Panama City were the only major disruptions. Unfortunately, the demonstrations were put down quite brutally, making some wonder just what was happening to democracy in Colombia.
"... Its just some jingoistic drivel said by some politicians to turn the country away from some real issues, what exactly was the reason to declare war? None!" Said the twenty year old Private Andres Caballero. "Always with this blind rhetoric against the government for doing logical things. You always seem to be against everything the government is doing, no matter how apt it may seem, no wonder you liberals are doing so bad! " Said Sergent Felipe Cardona, head of the group which was followed by some laughter from the men within earshot. "Yes, that's exactly why the Liberal Party lost so many seats in Congress... oh wait." quipped Andres, he could expect no support or laughter in agreement, after all the army was dominated by conservatives, from Minister of War Cruz to the boys on the ground in boots. "That's only a minor setback, Private, we'll dominate the next elections, I'm sure of it." Said a corporal. "Not if we're still in this freezing hellhole! I mean, listen all of you gun-ho soldiers may want to bring about the restoration of '
La Gran Colombia' as ordained by St. Bolivar himself, but what are we gaining by annexing this hole in the mountains?!" said Andres with a smile, which this time was accompanied by laughter in agreement. "Don't worry, Caballero, sometime soon, we'll be taking a vacation in Caracas!" yelled a passing officer with a grin. Laughter erupted amongst the ranks of men, even the anti-war Andres laughed, Lt. Fletcher always had good jokes to lift the mood.
"Now, back to my merciless beating of Caballero in an argument!" said Sergent Cardona. Of course Andres had no intention of taking that. "Well, if this war, and the many to come, is so important, then why is it that we have to start with Ecuador of all places!", Cardona responded quickly with barely letting the issue sit. "Look at that man over there" Cardona quickly pointed to a man in a blue uniform, he mingled with the marching Colombian soldiers despite knowing little to no Spanish, he carried the ever-so recognizable "Stars and Stripes" of the United States stitched on to his arm. "That's an American 'spectator', he's here to watch us fight." Cardon briefly paused and looked around for someone else."Now, look over there." Cardona pointed once again, this time to a man on horseback, he wore the tell-tale "redcoat" denoting him as British, inspecting the lines closely. "That's a British spectator, now are you still willing to refute the importance of this war? It's only the beginning of something much more grand. Today we take a bit of Ecuador, tomorrow, what remains. And some day in the future, we shall strike against Venezuela, and take back what was ours since 1812!" Cardona had said the above with such a resolve and certainty, that it caused Andres to get quiet and most of the men to erupt in applause.
Andres wasn't like most Colombian soldiers. He was what many would decry as an "intellectual". He was a Liberal, wore glasses, and worst of all, he had no facial hair and neatly shaved almost every morning. He didn't believe in the war he was currently fighting in, but since the end of his secondary school education, university costs went through the roof and he was unable to pay for a further education at the University of Antioquia. He joined the army as a last recourse, with no options and no cash he was forced to fight abroad where day-to-day things such as food and shelter were made available for him.
No one had any idea of what was to happen at Quito, the men were anxious. It was to be a wild ride.
August 1st, Colombian forces link up outside of Quito, Ecuador's capital.
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The fighting was quick yet brutal, for the Ecuadorians at least. Colombia used the latest tactics that were in operation in Europe, stunning the Ecuadorians and their obsolete doctrines and arms. The assault began quickly in the farmlands immediately surrounding the city. General Fernando Bonnet used his superior numbers to quickly assault the Ecuadorians who were using a shield like wall of troops to stop the incoming invaders from touching the city. Casualties were quickly piling up for Fransisco Javier Salazar, head of Ecuadorian defense of the city, but he could not do anything to stop it. A retreat would signify the end of the war before it even truly began, but any semblance of reinforcements were still in Quayaquil, a city to the southeast. After six days of fighting, and brave cavalry charges by Colombia which tore up the right flanks of Ecuador's army, Gen. Salazar was forced to fall back to the city.
While in Quito, Fransisco began a hit and run campaign (akin-able to guerrilla warfare of today) of attrition in which most of the 160 casualties of the Colombians were made. Ecuadorian soldiers used homes and shops as their armor and innocent civilians as their shield. The battle was hard fought, but unfortunately for Ecuador, the strain was too much, and the president was forced to go into hiding, the Army of Ecuador would pay deeply for his sins as it faced its total destruction. The Army, knowing defeat was imminent, withdrew alongside the president to cover his retreat. It would prove fatal as Colombian troops quickly took care of the retreating men, the remaining 3,000 men, many of whom were young men and boys whom had reinforced the brigade while they fought in the city, were killed or wounded. Of those casualties, General Salazar was among the dead, and was given a proper military burial after the war ended for his courageous defense of Quito and the president.
By April of 1838, after taking Guayaquil and slamming several remnants of the Ecuadorian Army, peace was proposed to Ecuador on the terms of relinquishing their control over the state of Pastaza. The Ecuadorian president as quick to accept, and the Peace of Pasto was signed (Pasto is a small town by the Colombian-Ecuadorian border).
As Pastaza becomes a Colombian state, a rather unsavory practice is moved in to create profit. Due to the Conservative majority in Congress, Pastaza is declared a slave state much to the disgust of Liberals and moderate Conservatives. Conservative Senator, Marco Antonio Vellas, a firm opponent to slavery criticizes the legislature.
"
If we as a nation, were founded by Simon Bolivar, a man who believed in freedom for the common man and equality for everyone, what are we doing by owning people? We deface our past and history for every slave that is on Colombian soil! Every day, I see that this party is becoming more and more in favor of the encroaching aristocracy and are catering to their demands rather than those of the citizen of this great nation"
Regardless to the opposition, the bill still passed. However, it would hurt Conservative standing in the nation.
An outbreak of Cholera amongst the returning troops forces the government to quarantine them. It still doesn't stop the spread of it to a major Colombian port of Cali. The situation is quickly dealt with but not without its casualties. Two brigades, one infantry and another cavalry are utterly destroyed and integrated with other brigades. The official report is that due to failures by the army to address sanitation issues and provide medicine to the troops, the disease spread quickly. More men are lost to Cholera than to all of the battles in the war.
In other news, Colombia's investment in Freedom of Trade pays off. Literally. With this new economic policy, money begins to flow quickly into the Colombian treasury, allowing the government to lower taxes for the high and middle class.
Finally, the Liberals climb in seats in Congress. These gains are largely attributed to the issue of slavery and the handling of the Cholera outbreak. The Conservatives are in fear of losing their majority.
