Second Battle of Rivas

Second Battle of Rivas
Part of the Filibuster War

1858 interpretation by Elbert Price in his book "The Battle Roll"[1]
Date11 April 1856
Location
Result

Costa Rican victory

  • William Walker was forced to leave the country.[2]
Belligerents
Filibusters  Costa Rica
Commanders and leaders
William Walker Costa Rica José María Cañas
Strength
unknown 3,000[3]
Casualties and losses
200 killed
Several wounded
110 killed
260 wounded

The Second Battle of Rivas occurred on 11 April 1856 between Costa Rican militia under General Juan Rafael Mora Porras and the Nicaraguan forces of American mercenary William Walker. The lesser known First Battle of Rivas took place on the 29 June 1855 between Walker's forces and the forces of the Chamorro government of Nicaragua.

Among the casualties was Charles Wilkins Webber, an American journalist and explorer serving in Walker's forces, whom some scholars suggest inspired the antagonist in Cormac McCarthy's novel Blood Meridian.

  1. ^ Perce, Elbert (1858). The battle roll: an encyclopedia containing descriptions of the most famous and memorable land battles and sieges in all ages. The Library of Congress. New York, Mason brothers.
  2. ^ Don Fuchik (2007). "The Saga of William Walker". calnative.com. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  3. ^ Lisa Tirmenstein. "Costa Rica in 1856: Defeating William Walker While Creating a National Identity". Retrieved 11 April 2015.