Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos

Significance

The Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos was the first of two main engagements in the Lima campaign of the War of the Pacific, fought on 13 January 1881. Chilean forces under Gen. Manuel Baquedano defeated the Peruvian army commanded by Supreme Chief Nicolás de Piérola, eliminating the first defensive line guarding the Peruvian capital. The scale of Peruvian losses — estimated between 4,000 and 7,500 casualties against a defending force of roughly 22,000 — left the Peruvian army nearly obliterated and the road to Lima exposed. The victory set the conditions for the second and final engagement of the campaign, bringing Chile to the threshold of capturing the enemy capital and effectively deciding the operational contest for control of Peru.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (5)