Their chances of success were increased furthermore by the support of the llaneros who had been won over to the cause of independence.

Under their redoubtable chieftain, Jose Antonio Paez, these fierce and ruthless horsemen performed many a feat of valor in the campaigns which followed.
Once again on Venezuelan soil, Bolivar determined to transfer his operations to the eastern part of the country, which seemed to offer better strategic advantages than the region about Caracas.

But even here the jealousy of his officers, the insubordination of the free lances, the stubborn resistance of the loyalists--upheld by the wealthy and conservative classes and the able generalship of Morillo, who had returned from New Granada--made the situation of the Liberator all through 1817 and 1818 extremely precarious.

Happily for his fading fortunes, his hands were strengthened from abroad.

The United States had recognized the belligerency of several of the revolutionary governments in South America and had sent diplomatic agents to them.