Battle of Placilla

Overview

The Battle of Placilla was an engagement fought during the Chilean Civil War of 1891 between Balmacedist and Congressional forces on 28 August 1891. The Congressist victory in the battle effectively determined the outcome of the war. Congressist troops entered Santiago on August 30. President José Manuel Balmaceda committed suicide inside the Argentine embassy in Santiago on 19 September.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Placilla, fought on 28 August 1891, was the decisive engagement of the Chilean Civil War. The Congressionist forces under Estanislao del Canto defeated the Balmacedist army commanded by Orozimbo Barbosa, and their victory effectively determined the outcome of the war. Congressionist troops entered Santiago two days later, on 30 August. President José Manuel Balmaceda, whose government had fielded 9,500 troops against a Congressionist force of 11,000, took refuge in the Argentine embassy in Santiago and committed suicide there on 19 September, bringing the conflict to a close. Balmacedist casualties of 1,115 against Congressionist losses of 2,070 indicate the engagement was sharply contested despite its conclusive result.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)