Battle of Chalchuapa

[3][4][5] During the Liberal Revolution of 30 April 1871, Divisional General Justo Rufino Barrios helped Divisional General Miguel García Granados rise to power and become President of Guatemala, ousting President Vicente Cerna y Cerna in the process.[1] He was inspired by the unification of Germany under Prussia by Otto von Bismarck to unify Central America under Guatemalan with himself as President.[1][7] Barrios thought that the threat of force would make El Salvador submit, but he was notified that Salvadoran President Rafael Zaldívar was assembling his own army to defend against the Guatemalans.[1] The Salvadorans under Adán Mora fortified themselves in the town of Chalchuapa and awaited the Guatemalan attack.[1][8] At around 11am local time, the Guatemalans began an artillery bombardment of the town to weaken the Salvadoran fortifications.
Barrios' War of ReunificationChalchuapaEl SalvadorJusto Rufino BarriosGuatemalaPedro EscalónJusto BarriosJosé Víctor ZavalaManuel BarillasJosé ReinaSpanishSecond Central American Civil WarCosta RicaHondurasNicaraguaFederal Republic of Central AmericaMiguel García GranadosPresident of GuatemalaVicente Cerna y CernaCentral American reunificationunification of GermanyPrussiaOtto von BismarckCentral AmericaGuatemalan Armywar beganRafael ZaldívarSanta AnaFrancisco Menéndez