Colombia 's liberal president , Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera ( 1798–1878 ) , provided Supply aid Assistance to Ecuadorian liberals , who wished to overthrow Change_of_leadership Garcia Moreno .

When Garcia Moreno did not show up , Mosquera brought Bringing an army into the border region , prompting Preventing_or_letting Garcia Moreno to send Sending a force of 6,000 men force under his elderly father-in-law , General Juan José Flores ( 1800–1864 ) .

Flores crossed Motion_directional the border , leading to Causation the December 6 , 1863 , Battle of Cuaspad , in which some 4,000 Colombians under Mosquera utterly defeated Conquering the invaders , about 1,500 of whom were killed Killing or wounded Bodily_harm and 2,000 were taken captive Motion .

Mosquera subsequently brought Bringing his army into Ecuadorian territory , reaching Arriving the town of Ibarra without encountering Hostile_encounter any resistance , but the two sides then agreed Agree_or_refuse_to_act to an armistice .