Battle of Santa Rosa facts for kids

The Battle of Santa Rosa was a very important fight in the history of Costa Rica. It happened on March 20, 1856, at a place called Santa Rosa in Costa Rica. This battle was between the armies of Costa Rica and some invaders from Nicaragua.

Why the Battle Happened

This battle happened because of a man named William Walker. He was an American soldier who came to Nicaragua. Walker said he wanted to help Nicaragua. But his real plan was to take over all five countries in Central America.

The president of Costa Rica, Juan Rafael Mora Porras, understood Walker's true intentions. President Mora believed Walker would try to conquer Costa Rica too. So, on February 27, 1856, President Mora declared war against Walker and his forces.

The Fighting Begins

President Mora called all his soldiers to prepare for battle. On March 4, he led his army as they began their march towards Nicaragua. By March 12, they reached Liberia, a town in Costa Rica. There, they joined forces with Jose Maria Cañas and his group of soldiers.

Walker's men, known as "filibusters," soon learned about the Costa Rican army. They quickly sent their own troops to stop them. These filibuster troops arrived at a place called Hacienda Santa Rosa on March 19.

The Battle of Santa Rosa

On March 20, about three thousand Costa Rican soldiers marched to Hacienda Santa Rosa. The filibusters had set up their main camp at a building called La Casona.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the Costa Rican soldiers began their attack. The fight was very quick. After only fourteen minutes, the Costa Rican forces won the battle! The few filibusters who managed to escape ran back to Nicaragua.

After this victory, William Walker quickly put together a new army. President Mora did not waste any time. He moved his 3,000 men to a town called Rivas, and soon after, the Battle of Rivas began.

Images for kids

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  Hacienda of Santa Rosa, where the battle took place.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Santa Rosa (Costa Rica) para niños