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{{Short description|1855 battle of the Filibuster War}}
{{Infobox Military Conflict
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Disputed|date=February 2009}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=First Battle of Rivas
|conflict=First Battle of Rivas
|partof= the [[Filibuster War]]
|partof= [[William Walker (soldier)|William Walker]] conquest of Central America
|campaign=
|campaign=
|image=
|image=
|caption=
|caption=
|date=[[June 29]], [[1855]]
|date= 29 June 1855
|place=[[Rivas]] on on the [[San Juan River]], [[Nicaragua]]
|place=[[Rivas, Nicaragua|Rivas]] on the [[San Juan River (Nicaragua)|San Juan River]], [[Nicaragua]]
|casus=A civil war was then raging in [[Nicaragua]]
|casus=A civil war was then raging in [[Nicaragua]]
|result=Tactical Nationalist Victory <br>Strategic Liberal Victory
|result=Defeat of the [[Nicaragua]]n national army
|combatant1=[[Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg|20px]] [[Nicaragua]]n rebel forces Liberal party (Democratic)<BR>The [[Mercenary]] army of the [[filibuster (military)|filibusters]]
|combatant1={{flag|Nicaragua|1839}}n rebel forces ([[Democratic Party (Nicaragua)|Liberal]]) <br>''The Falange''<br>Filibuster army
|combatant2=[[Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg|20px]] [[Nicaragua]]n national army<BR>Legitimist party (Aristocratic)
|combatant2={{flag|Nicaragua|1839}}n national army<br>[[Legitimist Party (Nicaragua)|Legitimist party]]
|commander1='''General Castellon'''<BR>[[William Walker (soldier)|William Walker]]
|commander1=[[Francisco Castellón]]<br>[[William Walker (filibuster)|William Walker]]<br>Achilles Kewen {{KIA}}<br>Timothy Crocker {{KIA}}
|commander2=Chamorra government
|commander2=Colonel Manuel Arguëllo
|strength1= ≈45 filibusters<br> ≈100 natives (avoided action)
|strength1=327
|strength2=
|strength2= ≈500-580 men
|casualties1= 11 dead (6 men killed during combat, 5 wounded killed in the aftermath)<ref>[https://archive.org/details/warinnicaraguaw00walkgoog The war in Nicaragua: With a colored map of Nicaragua '''by William Walker''']</ref><br> 7 wounded
|casualties1=
|casualties2=
|casualties2= ≈70 dead<br>+70 wounded
}}
}}
{{Campaignbox William Walker in Nicaragua}}
The '''First Battle of Rivas''' occurred on [[June 29]], [[1855]] as part of the struggle to resist [[William Walker (soldier)|William Walker]], an [[United States|American]] [[filibuster (military)|filibuster]], adventurer, and [[mercenary|soldier of fortune]] who arrived in Nicaragua with a small army of mercenaries in June of 1855 in support of the ''Democratic'' government of General Castellon in the Nicaraguan civil war.


The '''First Battle of Rivas''' occurred on June 29, 1855, as part of the struggle to resist [[William Walker (filibuster)|William Walker]], an [[United States|American]] [[filibuster (military)|filibuster]], adventurer and [[mercenary]] who arrived in [[Nicaragua]] with a small army of mercenaries in June 1855 in support of the [[Democratic Party (Nicaragua)|Liberal democratic]] government of General [[Francisco Castellón]] in the [[Filibuster War|Nicaraguan civil war]]. His army, with local support, was able to defeat the [[Legitimist Party (Nicaragua)|Legitimist party]] (Aristocratic) and conclude the Nicaraguan civil war.
His army with local support was able to defeat the Legitimist party (Aristocratic) and conclude the Nicaraguan civil war.


==Background==
==Background==
A [[civil war]] was then raging in the [[Central America]]n republic of [[Nicaragua]]. The Liberal party (Democratic) and the Legitimist party (Aristocratic), were constantly warring with one another as they continually tried to gain political control through violent means. “During a period of six years Nicaragua had had no fewer than fifteen presidents”<ref name="CostaRicain1856">{{cite web |date=12:00 am on 5/17/00.|url = http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/FieldCourses00/PapersCostaRicaArticles/CostaRicain1856.Defeating.html|title = Costa Rica in 1856: Defeating William Walker While Creating a National Identity.|format = HTML |publisher = Tirmenstein | accessdate = 2008-04-03 | last=Lisa Tirmenstein |quote=}}</ref>
A [[civil war]] was then raging in the [[Central America]]n republic of [[Nicaragua]]. The Liberal party (Democratic) and the Legitimist party (Aristocratic), were constantly warring with one another as they tried to gain political control through violent means. "During a period of six years Nicaragua had had no fewer than fifteen presidents."<ref name="CostaRicain1856">{{cite web|date = May 17, 2000|url = http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/FieldCourses00/PapersCostaRicaArticles/CostaRicain1856.Defeating.html|title = Costa Rica in 1856: Defeating William Walker While Creating a National Identity.|publisher = |accessdate = April 3, 2008|last = Lisa Tirmenstein|quote = |archive-date = 12 August 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160812084556/http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/FieldCourses00/PapersCostaRicaArticles/CostaRicain1856.Defeating.html|url-status = dead}}{{unreliable source?|date=January 2015}}</ref> When Walker first arrived with ''The Falange'' ([[filibuster (military)|Filibuster]] mercenary/adventurer army), he proposed this venture as a show of strength.


==William Walker==
==The battle==
"Colonel" Walker had under his command a force of about 45 filibusters armed entirely with rifles and revolvers, and a native contingent of about 100 men. The two groups were arrayed in a column marching formation with the filibusters in front, ammo and supply pack-horses in the middle, and the natives bringing up the rear. About a half of a mile from the town, he met with his senior officers and notified them of his plan. Walker's two "captains" were to advance into the city and drive the Legitimists from the streets, while the natives were to follow closely behind to provide protection for their rear and flanks.
{{Main|William Walker (soldier)}}
William Walker was part of a failed attempt to conquer the [[Mexico|Mexican]] territories of [[Baja California (peninsula)|Baja California]] and [[Sonora]]. Back in [[California]], he was put on [[trial (law)|trial]] for conducting an illegal war. In the era of [[Manifest Destiny]], his filibustering project was popular in the southern and western United States and the jury took eight minutes to acquit him.
The Americans advanced into the city at about 12 pm, absorbing most of their casualties in this first clash.<ref>[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=GYpnAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA28 With Walker in Nicaragua: Or, Reminiscences of an Officer of the American Falange By James Carson Jamison]</ref> They halted some of the way into the city, to reload and for some respite, expecting further action. But the natives, still some distance from the fighting were interdicted by a large body of Legitimists troops, and believing Walker's contingent to be destroyed the Democratic leader retreated from Rivas. Walker and his men, still held up in a small patch of houses, all the while reaping a heavy toll upon the Legitimist forces with their rifles noticed that they were alone.


Legitimist forces attempted to bring up a small cannon to shell the filibusters out of the homes, but it was disabled in a sally by the mercenaries.
While in America working as an editor at a local paper Walker came to know Byron Cole.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |date=January 5, 1860, Wednesday|url = http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A07EED91738E63ABC4D53DFB766838B679FDE&oref=slogin|title = FILLIBUSTERING IN NICARAGUA.; Gen. Walker's Revelations.|format = PDF|publisher = [[New York Times]]| accessdate = 2008-04-03 | last= |quote=}}</ref> Cole had lived several years in central America including Nicaragua. He convinced Walker that because of the ongoing civil war in the country Nicaragua would be the perfect place start an empire. Walker agreed and sent Cole Nicaragua on [[Aug 15]], [[1854]] to neogiate with the local parties.<ref name="nytimes"/> Cole was able to enter in an agreement with revoltionary Castellon where by Walker was authorized to engage three hundred men for military duty in Nicaragua. The men would be paid a monthly wage and a certain amount of land after the campaign finished.
The Legitimists then attempted to burn the filibusters out of the homes, succeeding in setting one alight. At this point, after four hours of combat, the order to retreat was called by Walker. The first men out of the houses surprised the Nicaraguans closest to them, and the remainder of the Legitimist forces were momentarily stunned by the American advance. As a result of the confusion, the filibusters were able to withdraw with only one more fatality.


== Aftermath ==
When Cole returned to America Walker balked at the terms as it would violate the '''Act of Congress of 1818''' commonly known as the neutrality law.<ref name="nytimes"/> However he told Cole that if he returned to Nicaragua and was able to get from Castellon a contract of cololinzation Walker could act. Cole sailed a second time to meet Castellon and was able to get the cololinzation grant and an act that Walker's men would be guaranteed forever the privilege of bearing arms.<ref name="nytimes"/>
Walker withdrew to friendlier territory, and his forces were augmented by hundreds of filibusters and natives. According to various sources, Walker and his men inflicted such heavy casualties upon the nationals, that they were forced to withdraw from the city in the aftermath of the battle. Although by all measures, (including his own) his forces were defeated, Walker conquered the city.

Walker sailed from San Francisco on [[May 3]], [[1855]]<ref name="sfmuseum">{{cite web |date=February 1919|url = http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/walker.html|title = California Filibusters: A History of their Expeditions into Hispanic America|format = HTML |publisher = Vol. XXI., No. 4; Whole No. 142 : February 1919| accessdate = 2008-04-03 | last= Miss Fanny Juda|quote=}}</ref> with 57 men, to be reinforced by 170 locals and about 100 Americans upon landing, including then well-known explorer and journalist [[Charles Wilkins Webber]].

==First Battle of Rivas==
On [[September 1]], Walker defeated the Nicaraguan national army at La Virgen and, a month later, conquered the capital of [[Granada, Nicaragua|Granada]] and took control of the country.


==References==
==References==
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{{Reflist|2}}


{{coord missing|Nicaragua}}
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{{battle-stub}}


[[Category:Conflicts in 1855]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1855|Rivas]]
[[Category:Battles involving Nicaragua|Rivas 1856]]
[[Category:Battles involving Nicaragua|Rivas 1856]]
[[Category:1855 in Nicaragua]]
[[Category:June 1855 events]]

Latest revision as of 18:02, 13 April 2024

First Battle of Rivas
Part of the Filibuster War
Date29 June 1855
Location
Result Tactical Nationalist Victory
Strategic Liberal Victory
Belligerents
 Nicaraguan rebel forces (Liberal)
The Falange
Filibuster army
 Nicaraguan national army
Legitimist party
Commanders and leaders
Francisco Castellón
William Walker
Achilles Kewen  
Timothy Crocker  
Colonel Manuel Arguëllo
Strength
≈45 filibusters
≈100 natives (avoided action)
≈500-580 men
Casualties and losses
11 dead (6 men killed during combat, 5 wounded killed in the aftermath)[1]
7 wounded
≈70 dead
+70 wounded

The First Battle of Rivas occurred on June 29, 1855, as part of the struggle to resist William Walker, an American filibuster, adventurer and mercenary who arrived in Nicaragua with a small army of mercenaries in June 1855 in support of the Liberal democratic government of General Francisco Castellón in the Nicaraguan civil war. His army, with local support, was able to defeat the Legitimist party (Aristocratic) and conclude the Nicaraguan civil war.

Background

[edit]

A civil war was then raging in the Central American republic of Nicaragua. The Liberal party (Democratic) and the Legitimist party (Aristocratic), were constantly warring with one another as they tried to gain political control through violent means. "During a period of six years Nicaragua had had no fewer than fifteen presidents."[2] When Walker first arrived with The Falange (Filibuster mercenary/adventurer army), he proposed this venture as a show of strength.

The battle

[edit]

"Colonel" Walker had under his command a force of about 45 filibusters armed entirely with rifles and revolvers, and a native contingent of about 100 men. The two groups were arrayed in a column marching formation with the filibusters in front, ammo and supply pack-horses in the middle, and the natives bringing up the rear. About a half of a mile from the town, he met with his senior officers and notified them of his plan. Walker's two "captains" were to advance into the city and drive the Legitimists from the streets, while the natives were to follow closely behind to provide protection for their rear and flanks.

The Americans advanced into the city at about 12 pm, absorbing most of their casualties in this first clash.[3] They halted some of the way into the city, to reload and for some respite, expecting further action. But the natives, still some distance from the fighting were interdicted by a large body of Legitimists troops, and believing Walker's contingent to be destroyed the Democratic leader retreated from Rivas. Walker and his men, still held up in a small patch of houses, all the while reaping a heavy toll upon the Legitimist forces with their rifles noticed that they were alone.

Legitimist forces attempted to bring up a small cannon to shell the filibusters out of the homes, but it was disabled in a sally by the mercenaries. The Legitimists then attempted to burn the filibusters out of the homes, succeeding in setting one alight. At this point, after four hours of combat, the order to retreat was called by Walker. The first men out of the houses surprised the Nicaraguans closest to them, and the remainder of the Legitimist forces were momentarily stunned by the American advance. As a result of the confusion, the filibusters were able to withdraw with only one more fatality.

Aftermath

[edit]

Walker withdrew to friendlier territory, and his forces were augmented by hundreds of filibusters and natives. According to various sources, Walker and his men inflicted such heavy casualties upon the nationals, that they were forced to withdraw from the city in the aftermath of the battle. Although by all measures, (including his own) his forces were defeated, Walker conquered the city.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The war in Nicaragua: With a colored map of Nicaragua by William Walker
  2. ^ Lisa Tirmenstein (17 May 2000). "Costa Rica in 1856: Defeating William Walker While Creating a National Identity". Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2008.[unreliable source?]
  3. ^ With Walker in Nicaragua: Or, Reminiscences of an Officer of the American Falange By James Carson Jamison