In November 1879, Rear Admiral Lizardo Montero took command of the Peruvian army in Tacna and once the Chilean landing was known, he sent Colonel Gregorio Albarracín in command of the Flankers of Tacna to carry out reconnaissance and harassment actions against the Chilean troops.

[1] According to the diary of Alberto del Solar: The following data were known, however, in the headquarters -and even we knew them-: the famous Albarracín, well mounted and with not inconsiderable cavalry forces, prowled around the surroundings: his main objective was to destroy the elements that could be us of some use; their desire, luring us into ambushes and attacking us by surprise...[2]After the Battle of Los Angeles, an outpost composed of 30 men, under the command of Commander Diego Dublé Almeyda, left Pacocha on March 31.

[3] He then arrived at a neighboring farm to Locumba and meets an Italian who tells him that there were no Peruvian forces in the town and that they could occupy it without resistance, which was later verified by Captain Rojas Almeida.

[3] Colonel Gregorio Albarracín's report indicates that on April 1 Juan McLean informed him that a Chilean column was in Chironta and that Celestino Vargas had been captured, so Albarracín decided to go to the town of Locumba where he attacked the Chileans that stationed in the town.

On May 2, 1880, the town of Locumba was set on fire by Colonel Lisandro Orrego, head of the Santiago regiment.