Filibuster War

Filibuster War

Costa Rican troops attacking William Walker at Rivas in 1856
Date1 June 1855 – 5 May 1857
(1 year, 11 months and 4 days)
Location
Result

Central American alliance victory

  • William Walker-led Filibusters are defeated
  • Surrender of William Walker to the U.S. Navy
Belligerents

Filibusters

Nicaraguan Liberals

Allied Central American Army (Ejército Aliado Centroamericano)

 United States (from 1857)
Commanders and leaders
Strength
5,213 mercenaries (1855–1857) 2,500 men (Costa Rica)
4,000 men (Ejército Aliado Centroamericano)
Casualties and losses
1,000 killed

1,202 killed

9,615 soldiers and civilians dead by cholera outbreak

The Filibuster War, otherwise referred to as the Walker affair, or The National Campaign of 1856 and 1857 in Costa Rica, was a military conflict between filibustering multinational troops stationed in Nicaragua and a coalition of Central American armies. An American mercenary, William Walker, and his small private army were invited to Nicaragua in 1855. He seized control of the country by 1856, but was ousted the following year.