The Battle of Pirajá was the largest engagement in the fight for the independence of Bahia, involving approximately 10,000 troops.

[4][5][6] In command of the Portuguese forces in Bahia was Inácio Luís Madeira de Melo, who had been sent by Portugal to quell rumors of independence and political and administrative dissent.

Labatut established his headquarters at Engenho Novo, a sugarcane plantation in the Bahian Recôncavo in the interior of the state.

[4][6] Tobias Monteiro, in his A elaboração da Independência, records that a Major Barros Falcão, who led the Brazilian troops at one point, had ordered a retreat, but bugler Luis Lopes instead sounded the "cavalry, advance and behead".

[4] The battle formed a central element of the celebration of Dois de Julho, or 2nd of July, a commemoration of the independence of the Bahia.