Battle of Tacna

Battle of Tacna according to Diego Barros Arana's "Guerra del Pacifico"

Date	May 26, 1880
Location	Department of Tacna, Peru
Result	Decisive Chilean victory

Belligerents

Chile

Peru

Bolivia

Commanders and leaders

Gen. Manuel Baquedano

Gen. Narciso Campero

Strength

11,779 - 14,147 soldiers
37 cannons
4 Gatling guns

8,930 – 12,000 soldiers
16 cannons
7 Gatling guns

Casualties and losses

2,200 casualties

3,500 – 5,000 casualties

The Battle of Tacna, also known as the Battle of the Halt of the Alliance (Spanish: Batalla del Alto de la Alianza), effectively destroyed the Peru-Bolivian alliance against Chile, forged by a secret treaty signed in 1873. On May 26, 1880, the Chilean Northern Operations Army led by General Manuel Baquedano González, conclusively defeated the combined armies of Peru and Bolivia commanded by Bolivian President, General Narciso Campero. The battle took place at the Inti Urqu (Intiorko) hill plateau, a few miles north of the Peruvian city of Tacna. As a result, Bolivia was knocked out of the war, leaving Peru to fight the rest of the war alone. Also, this victory consolidated the Chilean domain over the Tarapacá Department. The territory was definitively annexed to Chile after the signing of the Tratado de Ancón (English: Treaty of Ancon), in 1884, which ended the war. Tacna itself remained under Chilean control until 1929.

After the Bolivian government threatened to confiscate the Chilean Antofagasta Nitrate & Railway Company on 1 February 1879, Chile sent troops to Antofagasta and took the city on 14 February. Obliged by a secret cooperation treaty signed with Bolivia on 6 February 1873; Perú was forced into the conflict. Despite Peruvian efforts to avoid a confrontation, Chile — by then aware of the secret pact — declared war on both countries on 5 April. Once started, the conflict began on the sea, since its domination was crucial for the war effort development. The Chilean Navy had serious problems with its Peruvian counterpart at the beginning. The ironclad Huáscar, commanded by Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario scored several victories at Iquique and other engagements. The lack of results determined the resignation of both Navy and Army commanders, replaced by Commodore Riveros and General Erasmo Escala. Finally, Riveros eliminated Huáscar's threat by capturing her in the decisive encounter of Angamos on 8 October.

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