First Battle of Rivas: Difference between revisions

First Battle of Rivas
	Part of William Walker conquest of Central America
Date	June 29, 1855
Location	Rivas on the San Juan River, Nicaragua
Result	Inconclusive
Belligerents
Nicaraguan rebel forces Liberal party (Democratic); The Falange(Filibuster mercenary/adventurer army)	Nicaraguan national army; Legitimist party (Aristocratic)
Commanders and leaders
Francisco Castellón; William Walker	Chamorra government
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); 7 wounded	≈70 dead; +70 wounded

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The First Battle of Rivas occurred on June 29, 1855, as part of the struggle to resist William Walker, an American filibuster, adventurer and soldier of fortune who arrived in Nicaragua with a small army of mercenaries in June 1855 in support of the democratic government of General Castellon 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

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, he proposed this venture as a show of strength.

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.

The Americans advanced into the city at about 12 pm, absorbing most of their casualties in this first clash. 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 Legitmists 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

Walker withdrew to friendlier territory, and his forces were augmented by hundreds of filibusters and natives.

References

^ https://archive.org/details/warinnicaraguaw00walkgoog The war in Nicaragua: With a colored map of Nicaragua by William Walker
^ Lisa Tirmenstein (May 17, 2000). "Costa Rica in 1856: Defeating William Walker While Creating a National Identity". Retrieved April 3, 2008.^{[unreliable source?]}

This article about a battle is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] ttps://archive.org/details/warinnicaraguaw00walkgoog The war in Nicaragua: With a colored map of Nicaragua by William Walker

[CostaRicain1856-2] Lisa Tirmenstein (May 17, 2000). "Costa Rica in 1856: Defeating William Walker While Creating a National Identity". Retrieved April 3, 2008.^{[unreliable source?]}

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 |place=[[Rivas, Nicaragua|Rivas]] on the [[San Juan River (Nicaragua)|San Juan River]], [[Nicaragua]]
 |casus=A civil war was then raging in [[Nicaragua]]
+|result=Inconclusive
-|result=Defeat of the [[Nicaragua]]n national army
-|combatant1=[[Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg|20px]] [[Nicaragua]]n rebel forces Liberal party (Democratic)<br>[[filibuster (military)|Filibuster]] mercenary/adventurer army
+|combatant1=[[Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg|20px]] [[Nicaragua]]n rebel forces Liberal party (Democratic)<br> '''The Falange'''([[filibuster (military)|Filibuster]] mercenary/adventurer army)
 |combatant2=[[Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg|20px]] [[Nicaragua]]n national army<br>Legitimist party (Aristocratic)
 |commander1=[[Francisco Castellón]]<br>[[William Walker (filibuster)|William Walker]]
 |commander2=Chamorra government
+|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 (filibuster)|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 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|soldier of fortune]] who arrived in Nicaragua with a small army of mercenaries in June 1855 in support of the democratic government of General Castellon in the Nicaraguan civil war. His army, with local support, was able to defeat the 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. {{Dubious|date=February 2009}}
 ==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 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=}}{{rs|date=January 2015}}</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=}}{{rs|date=January 2015}}</ref> When Walker first arrived, he proposed this venture as a show of strength.
-==William Walker==
-{{Main|William Walker (filibuster)}}
-Walker was part of a failed attempt to conquer the [[Mexico|Mexican]] territories of [[Baja California (peninsula)|Baja California]] and [[Sonora]]. 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.
-While working as an editor at a local paper in America, Walker came to know Byron Cole.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |date=January 5, 1860|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|work = [[New York Times]]| accessdate = April 3, 2008 | last= |quote=}}</ref> Cole had lived for 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 to start an empire. Walker agreed and sent Cole to Nicaragua on August 15, 1854, to negotiate with the local parties.<ref name="nytimes"/> Cole was able to enter into an agreement with revolutionary Castellon whereby 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.
-When Cole returned to America, Walker balked at the terms as it would violate the Neutrality Act of 1818.<ref name="nytimes"/> However, he told Cole that if he returned to Nicaragua and was able to get from Castellon a contract of colonization, Walker could act. Cole sailed a second time to meet Castellon and was able to get the colonization grant and an act stating that Walker's men would be guaranteed forever the privilege of bearing arms.<ref name="nytimes"/>
+== The Battle ==
-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|work=The Grizzly Bear ''Vol. '''XXI.''', No. 4''|title = California Filibusters: A History of their Expeditions into Hispanic America|publisher = Native Sons and Native Daughters of the Golden West| accessdate = April 3, 2008 | author= Fanny Juda|quote=}}</ref> with 57 men, to be reinforced by 170 locals and about 100 Americans upon landing, including the then well-known explorer and journalist [[Charles Wilkins Webber]].
+"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. 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.
-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.
+The Legitmists 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.
-{{Dubious|date=February 2009}}
+== Aftermath ==
+Walker withdrew to friendlier territory, and his forces were augmented by hundreds of filibusters and natives.
 ==References==
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