Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos

Battle of San Juan
Part of War of the Pacific
Troop movements at Chorrillos
Date 13 January 1881 Location Department of Lima, Peru Result Chilean victory[1]
Belligerents
Chile	Peru
Commanders and leaders
Manuel Baquedano	Nicolás de Piérola
Strength
23,129 men 88 guns	22,000 men 85+ guns
Casualties and losses
3,107 killed & wounded[2]	8,500 killed 2,500 wounded 4,000 captured 87 cannons captured 19 machine guns captured 4 flags captured Total: 15,000 casualties[3]

The Battle of San Juan, also known as the Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos, was the first of two battles in the Lima Campaign during the War of the Pacific, and was fought on 13 January 1881. This battle is really a group of smaller, yet fierce confrontations at the defensive strongholds of Villa, Chorrillos, Santiago de Surco, San Juan de Miraflores, Santa Teresa and Morro Solar. The Chilean army led by Gen. Manuel Baquedano inflicted a harsh defeat on the Peruvian army commanded by the Supreme Chief Nicolás de Piérola. The Chilean triumph eliminated the first defensive line guarding Lima, and almost obliterated the Peruvian army defending it.

At the end of the battle, the town of Chorrillos was burnt to the ground by the Chilean army trying to eradicate the Peruvian defenders garrisoned there. During the night, civilian abuses were committed by drunk soldiers.

Despite this result, another battle had to be fought in order that the Chilean army could enter the Peruvian capital city at Miraflores, two days later.