Fernández. In Sucre, La Paz's pro-Fernández counterpart, there were public demonstrations in support of the government. Fernández decided to march on La Paz with the three divisions stationed in Sucre (Bolívar, Junín and Hussars). In Challapata, he found out that the rebels had acquired more than two thousand weapons, so he called for the recruitment of volunteers in the capital. Two brigades were formed: the first was made up of the 25 de Mayo battalion and the Sucre squadron. These were made up of upper-class youths with their own horses and weapons, and included the Olañeta battalion and the Monteagudo squadron, made up of young men from popular classes. During their march to reinforce the president, the government's forces plundered the indigenous populations that lived in the countryside. The government's first brigade encountered Pando and some of his soldiers in Cosmini, and, after being forced to take refuge in the parish of Ayo Ayo, they were massacred on January 24, 1899. In Potosí the population was openly against helping government forces, meanwhile in Santa Cruz and Tarija the populations took a neutral stance. Among the indigenous communities of Cochabamba, Oruro, La Paz, and Potosí there were uprisings in favor of the Liberals. The decisive battle of the civil war was the battle of the Segundo Crucero, on April 10, 1899, where the president and Pando met. After four hours of combat, Pando's troops emerged victorious. The defeated withdrew to Oruro and, shortly after, Fernández went into exile. During the entire duration of the conflict, Montes remained a loyal partisan to the liberal cause and fought under Pando's command. After the civil war Montes attended the Assembly of Oruro, a meeting convened to discuss the future of the country. Once Pando was elected President, Montes was appointed Minister of War of Bolivia and was promoted to colonel. During his time as minister, Montes was concerned with improving the army, subjecting it to greater discipline and equipping it with modern material. Montes also led a military expedition to fight in the north of the country against Brazilian filibusters in the so-called Acre War (1900-1903). After the war, he devoted himself fully to politics, with the intention of replacing José Manuel Pando when his term ended. In 1904, his party chose him as a candidate for the presidency in the general elections that were to be held that same year. His opponent, Lucio