In 1819, the various corps united in San Fernando, where the supreme chief devoted his labours to the regulation of civil affairs.  He invited the provinces to send deputies to Angostura, to form a general congress, and then delegated his powers to a council of government to act in his absence.

With four or five thousand men, the supreme chief opened the campaign against Morillo, who had six or seven thousand.  Twelve hundred British troops arrived at Margarita from England.  They had been engaged in London by Colonel English, and were equipped and sent out by Messrs. Herring and Richardson; besides these, eight hundred others also arrived at Angostura.  The latter were engaged by Captain Elsom, and sent out by Messrs. Hurry, Powles, and Hurry; the greater part were disbanded soldiers from the British army, reduced on the return of the troops from France.[4] These volunteers were equipped in the most efficient manner.  With these expeditions large supplies of spare arms were sent to assist the cause of independence.  Bolivar, in his speech to congress, thus expresses himself on this subject:—­

    [4] Colonel Macirone also sent out above two thousand men, who
        were employed in the capture of Porto Bello and Rio de la Hacha. 
        This caused a very favourable diversion for Bolivar in Venezuela,
        as it distracted the attention of the royalists, and but for the
        pusillanimous conduct of Macgregor, who commanded the expedition,
        might have proved of lasting advantage.

“For these important advantages we are indebted to the unbounded liberality of some generous foreigners, who, hearing the groans of suffering humanity, and seeing the cause of freedom, reason, and justice ready to sink, would not remain quiet, but flew to our succour with their munificent aid and protection, and furnished the republic with every thing needful to cause their philanthropical principles to flourish.  Those friends of mankind are the guardian geniuses of America, and to them we owe a debt of eternal gratitude, as well as a religious fulfilment of the several obligations contracted with them.”

Bolivar, leaving the army in command of General Paez, repaired to Angostura.  As Morillo advanced, Paez, agreeable to orders, retired towards the Orinoco, detaching a few guerillas to harass the Spaniards in the rear.

General Urdaneta was appointed to command the recently arrived British legion in Margarita, which was to act on the side of Caracas, in order to draw off the attention of Morillo from the Llanos.

On the 15th of February, 1819, congress was installed at Angostura.  The supreme chief pronounced an eloquent discourse, and resigned his authority.  Congress immediately, and unanimously, elected him president of the republic.

Early in March, the president rejoined the army, which was very much reduced by sickness.  On the 27th, he defeated the vanguard of the Spaniards.  Adopting a desultory system of warfare, he obliged them to recross the Apure, having lost half their original numbers.