767:
trenches. They were subsequently expelled. During the third attack, the Allied force advanced to a point where it was impossible to distinguish between
Guatemalan and Allied troops. Then, the fight became a melee, while the Guatemalan artillery severely punished the invaders. At the height of the battle when the Guatemalans faced an uncertain fate, Carrera ordered that sugar cane plantation around the meadow to be set on fire. The invading army was now surrounded: to the front, they faced the furious Guatemalan fire, to the flanks, a huge fire and to the rear, the river, all of which made retreat very difficult. The central division of the Allied force panicked and started a disorderly retreat. General Saget ordered a retreat for the division of General Cabañas. The Honduran division which was fighting alongside the Salvadorans in the center also retreated in panic. Soon, all of the Allied troops started retreating, but more than a retreat, it was a rout. Guatemalan historian Francis Polo Sifontes describes the scene after the battle:
644:"You have no authority under the laws of San Salvador to make declarations of war, neither can you send troops without permission from the senate. Presenting yourselves armed and declaring war on Guatemala, the government considers you and those in your company as seditious, executing an affront against the sovereignty and freedom of the Republic of Guatemala. We cannot therefore do anything else than communicate to the Commander in Chief of the Guatemalan Army, the announcement that you will send your troops into this territory, so that he takes the appropriate measures to preserve the honor and sovereignty of the Republic. May God guard you many years."
25:
477:
466:
448:
426:
404:
257:
510:
488:
455:
379:
368:
357:
346:
335:
324:
313:
300:
281:
245:
499:
437:
415:
391:
269:
95:
754:
about 50 metres (160 ft) above the level of the river. A meadow 300 metres (980 ft) deep lay between the hill and the river, and boarding the meadow was a sugar cane plantation. Carrera divided his army in three sections: the left wing was led by Cerna and
Solares; the right wing led by Bolaños. He personally led the central battalion, where he placed his artillery. Five hundred men stayed in
771:"...around five in the afternoon, the fire was less intense and the eastern sun illuminated a terrible scene: amid the smoke and ash, the field was full of corpses. When the battle came to an end, people noticed that the Guatemalan Chief was nowhere to be seen; the search for his body started and he was found, alive, laying [
781:
The 500 men of the rearguard under
Colonel Navas were still fresh and pursued what was left of the Allied army, which desperately fled for the borders of their respective countries. The final count of the Allied losses were 528 dead, 200 prisoners, 1,000 rifles, 13,000 rounds of ammunition, many pack
592:
did it through a liberal newspaper that had been established with that specific goal; Vasconcelos gave support during a whole year to a rebel faction "La Montaña", in eastern
Guatemala, providing and distributing money and weapons. By late 1850, Vasconcelos was getting impatient due to the slowness
593:
of the progress of the war with
Guatemala and decided to plan an open attack. Under that circumstance, the Salvadoran head of state started a campaign against the conservative Guatemalan regime, inviting Honduras and Nicaragua to participate in the alliance; only the Honduran government led by Don
782:
animals and baggage, 11 drums and seven artillery pieces. Polo
Sifontes also noted: "...President Vasconcelos sought refuge in El Salvador, while two Generals mounted on the same horse were seen crossing the Honduran border." Carrera regrouped his army and crossed the Salvadoran border, occupying
753:
Carrera's strategy was to feign a retreat, forcing the enemy forces to follow the "retreating" troops to a place he had previously chosen; on
February 1, 1851, both armies were facing each other with only the San José river between them. Carrera had fortified the foothills of La Arada, its summit
766:
The battle began at 8:30 AM, when Allied troops initiated an attack at three different points, with an intense fire opened by both armies. The first Allied attack was repelled by the defenders of the foothill; during the second attack, the Allied troops were able to take the first line of
798:("Constitutive Act of the Republic"). It was brief, with only 18 articles, but established the general principles of the Republic of Guatemala, which had been formed four years earlier. The battle of La Arada represented the dominance of Guatemala in
611:, Honduras, where they signed an alliance against Guatemala. The Salvadoran army had 4,000 men, properly trained and armed and supported by artillery; the Honduran army numbered 2,000 men. The coalition army was stationed in
777:] on his back under the shadow of a tree, with his arms crossed and breathing slowly; his right hand still brandished his sabre, covered in blood. He could not let go of it because his swollen hand did not allow it."
193:
794:
As an immediate result of the triumph of the
Guatemalan Army at La Arada, a National Constituent Assembly enacted, on October 19, 1851, a Fundamental Letter of Government, called
572:. As the most serious threat to Guatemala's liberty and sovereignty as a republic, it was the most important military victory in the country's history as an independent state.
350:
503:
383:
786:, before he received orders from the Guatemalan President, Mariano Paredes, to return to Guatemala, since the Allies were requesting a cease-fire and a peace treaty.
604:
started taking precautions to face the situation, while the
Guatemalan Archbishop, Don Francisco de Paula GarcĂa PelĂĄez, ordered peace prayers in the archdiocese.
706:
Additional troops were led by the
Salvadoran General Ciriaco Bran y Carrascosa and by the liberal Guatemalan Generals José Dolores Nufio and Doroteo Monterroso.
492:
661:, led by General Vicente Baquero, but the majority of the invading force marched from MetapĂĄn. The Allied army of 4,500 men was commanded by the following:
514:
372:
459:
481:
361:
54:
623:
On 28 January 1851, the Salvadoran president sent a letter to the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Relations, in which he stated the following:
668:
General Isidoro Saget, Chief of Staff of the Army, was an experienced French soldier, who had participated in prior wars against Guatemala.
627:
He demanded that the Guatemalan president relinquish power, so that the alliance could designate a new head of state loyal to the liberals.
901:
950:
653:
The Allied army entered Guatemalan territory at three different places. On 29 January, a 500-man contingent entered through Piñuelas,
601:
304:
802:
and ensured a period of restoration, security and economic progress. It also marked the beginning of Rafael Carrera's position as
163:
105:
975:
135:
985:
142:
980:
815:
630:
He demanded that Rafael Carrera be exiled, escorted to any of the Guatemalan southern ports by a Salvadoran regiment.
76:
588:, granted asylum to the Guatemalan liberals, who harassed the Guatemalan government in several different forms: Don
149:
47:
960:
758:
to defend the city and to aid in a possible retreat, leaving only 1,500 Guatemalans against an enemy of 4,500.
131:
120:
970:
955:
636:
That the Salvadoran army could occupy any Guatemalan territory they deemed necessary, for an indefinite time.
589:
945:
940:
835:
692:
419:
37:
633:
That once the invading alliance took power in Guatemala, they would convene a constituent assembly.
41:
33:
672:
441:
965:
156:
830:
783:
724:
58:
729:
328:
860:
116:
820:
654:
600:
Meanwhile, in Guatemala, where the invasion plans were perfectly well-known, President Don
8:
825:
585:
408:
803:
339:
615:, El Salvador, due to its proximity with both the Guatemalan and Honduran borders.
553:
679:
430:
799:
699:
470:
714:
581:
317:
112:
934:
916:
903:
888:
569:
262:
890:
Rafael Carrera and the Emergence of the Republic of Guatemala, 1821-1871
640:
The Guatemalan government responded laconically in the following terms:
755:
734:
608:
594:
561:
395:
216:
612:
564:
in Guatemala, between the forces of Guatemala and an Allied army from
665:
Doroteo Vasconcelos, President of El Salvador and Commander in Chief.
285:
249:
94:
565:
274:
658:
740:
Colonel Ignacio GarcĂa Granados, commander of the 1st Division.
746:
Lieutenant Colonel Leandro Navas, commander of the Rearguard.
773:
685:
General Indalecio Cordero, commander of the 3rd Division.
688:
General Domingo Asturias, commander of the 4th Division.
743:
Colonel JoaquĂn Solares, commander of the 2nd Division.
560:) was fought on 2 February 1851 near the town of
855:
853:
851:
584:returned from exile in 1849, the Salvadoran ruler,
709:Guatemala was able to recruit 2,000 men, led by:
932:
848:
607:On 4 January 1851, Vasconcelos and Lindo met in
46:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
121:introducing citations to additional sources
749:Colonel Mariano Ălvarez, Artillery officer.
893:. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press.
702:, commander of the "San Miguel" Division.
77:Learn how and when to remove this message
886:
111:Relevant discussion may be found on the
933:
761:
695:, commander of the Honduran Division.
618:
88:
18:
816:Federal Republic of Central America
13:
14:
997:
951:Battles of the late modern period
796:Acta Constitutiva de la RepĂșblica
16:Battle of 1851 in Central America
682:, commander of the 2nd Division.
675:, commander of the 1st Division.
508:
497:
486:
475:
464:
453:
446:
435:
424:
413:
402:
389:
377:
366:
355:
344:
333:
322:
311:
298:
279:
267:
255:
243:
104:relies largely or entirely on a
93:
23:
879:
789:
1:
976:Battles involving El Salvador
841:
720:Colonel Manuel MarĂa Bolaños.
575:
887:Woodward, Ralph Lee (1993).
7:
986:Battles involving Guatemala
809:
10:
1002:
981:Battles involving Honduras
836:History of Central America
542:528 killed, 1,000+ injured
648:
533:
520:
504:Ciriaco Bran y Carrascosa
308:(President of Guatemala)
291:
236:
199:
194:GuatemalanâSalvadoran War
191:
186:
861:"LA BATALLA DE LA ARADA"
590:José Francisco Barrundia
399:(President of Honduras)
32:This article includes a
351:Ignacio GarcĂa Granados
61:more precise citations.
831:History of El Salvador
725:Vicente Cerna Sandoval
557:
292:Commanders and leaders
961:Chiquimula Department
717:, Commander in Chief.
693:José Trinidad Cabañas
673:José Santos Guardiola
534:Casualties and losses
442:José Santos Guardiola
420:José Trinidad Cabañas
329:Vicente Cerna y Cerna
971:February 1851 events
956:1850s in El Salvador
821:History of Guatemala
384:Manuel MarĂa Bolaños
132:"Battle of La Arada"
117:improve this article
917:14.7167°N 89.5833°W
913: /
826:History of Honduras
713:Lieutenant General
586:Doroteo Vasconcelos
558:Batalla de la Arada
539:less than 25 killed
409:Doroteo Vasconcelos
286:Guatemalan Liberals
804:President for Life
762:February 2nd, 1851
619:Declaration of war
550:Battle of La Arada
515:Doroteo Monterroso
493:José Dolores Nufio
228:Guatemalan victory
187:Battle of La Arada
34:list of references
946:Conflicts in 1851
941:1851 in Guatemala
922:14.7167; -89.5833
546:
545:
460:Indalecio Cordero
232:
231:
182:
181:
167:
87:
86:
79:
993:
928:
927:
925:
924:
923:
918:
914:
911:
910:
909:
906:
894:
873:
872:
870:
868:
857:
513:
512:
511:
502:
501:
500:
491:
490:
489:
482:Domingo Asturias
480:
479:
478:
469:
468:
467:
458:
457:
456:
451:
450:
449:
440:
439:
438:
429:
428:
427:
418:
417:
416:
407:
406:
405:
394:
393:
392:
382:
381:
380:
371:
370:
369:
360:
359:
358:
349:
348:
347:
338:
337:
336:
327:
326:
325:
316:
315:
314:
303:
302:
301:
284:
283:
282:
273:
271:
270:
261:
259:
258:
248:
247:
246:
201:
200:
184:
183:
177:
174:
168:
166:
125:
97:
89:
82:
75:
71:
68:
62:
57:this article by
48:inline citations
27:
26:
19:
1001:
1000:
996:
995:
994:
992:
991:
990:
931:
930:
921:
919:
915:
912:
907:
904:
902:
900:
899:
897:
882:
877:
876:
866:
864:
859:
858:
849:
844:
812:
800:Central America
792:
764:
700:Gerardo Barrios
651:
621:
602:Mariano Paredes
578:
509:
507:
506:
498:
496:
495:
487:
485:
484:
476:
474:
473:
471:Gerardo Barrios
465:
463:
462:
454:
452:
447:
445:
444:
436:
434:
433:
425:
423:
422:
414:
412:
411:
403:
401:
400:
398:
390:
388:
378:
376:
375:
373:JoaquĂn Solares
367:
365:
364:
356:
354:
353:
345:
343:
342:
340:Mariano Ălvarez
334:
332:
331:
323:
321:
320:
312:
310:
309:
307:
305:Mariano Paredes
299:
297:
280:
278:
277:
268:
266:
265:
256:
254:
244:
242:
220:
207:2 February 1851
178:
172:
169:
126:
124:
110:
98:
83:
72:
66:
63:
52:
38:related reading
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
999:
989:
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
966:Rafael Carrera
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
896:
895:
883:
881:
878:
875:
874:
846:
845:
843:
840:
839:
838:
833:
828:
823:
818:
811:
808:
791:
788:
779:
778:
763:
760:
751:
750:
747:
744:
741:
738:
721:
718:
715:Rafael Carrera
704:
703:
696:
689:
686:
683:
676:
669:
666:
650:
647:
646:
645:
638:
637:
634:
631:
628:
620:
617:
582:Rafael Carrera
577:
574:
544:
543:
540:
536:
535:
531:
530:
527:
523:
522:
518:
517:
386:
318:Rafael Carrera
294:
293:
289:
288:
252:
239:
238:
234:
233:
230:
229:
226:
222:
221:
215:
213:
209:
208:
205:
197:
196:
189:
188:
180:
179:
115:. Please help
101:
99:
92:
85:
84:
42:external links
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
998:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
938:
936:
929:
926:
892:
891:
885:
884:
862:
856:
854:
852:
847:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
813:
807:
805:
801:
797:
787:
785:
776:
775:
770:
769:
768:
759:
757:
748:
745:
742:
739:
736:
732:
731:
726:
722:
719:
716:
712:
711:
710:
707:
701:
697:
694:
690:
687:
684:
681:
680:RamĂłn Belloso
677:
674:
670:
667:
664:
663:
662:
660:
656:
643:
642:
641:
635:
632:
629:
626:
625:
624:
616:
614:
610:
605:
603:
598:
596:
591:
587:
583:
573:
571:
567:
563:
559:
555:
551:
541:
538:
537:
532:
528:
525:
524:
519:
516:
505:
494:
483:
472:
461:
443:
432:
431:RamĂłn Belloso
421:
410:
397:
387:
385:
374:
363:
362:Leandro Navas
352:
341:
330:
319:
306:
296:
295:
290:
287:
276:
264:
253:
251:
241:
240:
235:
227:
224:
223:
218:
214:
211:
210:
206:
203:
202:
198:
195:
190:
185:
176:
173:November 2018
165:
162:
158:
155:
151:
148:
144:
141:
137:
134: â
133:
129:
128:Find sources:
122:
118:
114:
108:
107:
106:single source
102:This article
100:
96:
91:
90:
81:
78:
70:
67:November 2018
60:
56:
50:
49:
43:
39:
35:
30:
21:
20:
898:
889:
880:Bibliography
865:. Retrieved
863:(in Spanish)
795:
793:
790:Consequences
780:
772:
765:
752:
728:
708:
705:
652:
639:
622:
606:
599:
579:
549:
547:
237:Belligerents
192:Part of the
170:
160:
153:
146:
139:
127:
103:
73:
64:
53:Please help
45:
920: /
733:(Mayor) of
655:Agua Blanca
570:El Salvador
263:El Salvador
219:, Guatemala
59:introducing
935:Categories
908:89°35âČ00âłW
905:14°43âČ00âłN
842:References
756:Chiquimula
735:Chiquimula
730:Corregidor
609:Ocotepeque
597:accepted.
595:Juan Lindo
576:Background
562:Chiquimula
396:Juan Lindo
217:Chiquimula
143:newspapers
784:Santa Ana
250:Guatemala
113:talk page
810:See also
723:Colonel
698:General
691:General
678:General
671:General
566:Honduras
521:Strength
275:Honduras
212:Location
867:1 March
659:Jutiapa
613:MetapĂĄn
554:Spanish
157:scholar
55:improve
649:Battle
580:After
272:
260:
225:Result
159:
152:
145:
138:
130:
529:4,500
526:2,000
164:JSTOR
150:books
40:, or
869:2024
657:and
568:and
548:The
204:Date
136:news
774:sic
119:by
937::
850:^
806:.
727:,
556::
44:,
36:,
871:.
737:.
552:(
175:)
171:(
161:·
154:·
147:·
140:·
123:.
109:.
80:)
74:(
69:)
65:(
51:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
