 Later, when arriving in eastern Venezuela, he established a guerrilla operation, from March to May 1860.Unfortunately, he was defeated on three occasions, the first in El Lecherito in July 1860; a second one in Aragua, on 16 August; and the last one in Santa Ana, on 21 August 1860.After these defeats, on 29 March 1860, Sotillo reunited his forces with those of general Julio César Monagas, son of his friend general José Gregorio Monagas.