Discover

'The Battle of Miraflores' occurred on January 15, 1881 in the Miraflores District of Peru. It was an important battle during the War of the Pacific that was fought between Chile and the forces of Peru. During the battle, 2,000 people were killed and the Peruvian forces defeated. The following day, the capital city of Lima, Peru was captured. Just before the Chilean forces under General Manuel Baquedano marched into Lima triumphant, angry Peruvian citizens started to sack their own city. Peru's president and his officers fled into the interior, effectively ending the war.
During the battle, Peruvian naval officer Captain Juan Fanning became a national hero for leading a spectacular infantry charge of marines that nearly outflanked the enemy. Fanning's brigade caused some Chilean casualties until running out of ammunition, then continued to fight with knife and bayonet until Fanning was mortally wounded. 400 of Fanning's 524 men were killed during the charge.