He joined the armies of the southern campaigns in Nueva Granada and Perú. He fought in the battles of “Bomboná” (April 7, 1822), “Battle of Junín” (August 6, 1824), and “Ayacucho” (December 9, 1824), the last of the greatest battles of the independence war against Spain. Because of his valor and heroic actions in combat, General Bolívar promoted him to the rank of General in 1828. Later, he was commissioned as Military Chief of the province of Panamá.