First Battle of Rivas

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 Defeat of the Nicaraguan national army
Belligerents
Nicaraguan rebel forces Liberal party (Democratic) Filibuster mercenary/adventurer army	Nicaraguan national army Legitimist party (Aristocratic)
Commanders and leaders
Francisco Castellón William Walker	Chamorra government
Strength
327

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.”^[1]

William Walker

Walker was part of a failed attempt to conquer the Mexican territories of Baja California and Sonora. In California, he was put on 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.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.^[2]

Walker sailed from San Francisco on May 3, 1855,^[3] 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.

On September 1, Walker defeated the Nicaraguan national army at La Virgen and, a month later, conquered the capital of Granada and took control of the country.

References