After finishing their retreat movement, the Federalist army settled in Santa Inés, located about 36 km southwest of the city of Barinas, on the right bank of the Santo Domingo River.

[3] It was then that General Zamora took a defensive position and formulated a plan that consisted of a withdrawal, executed by the front line troops, to attract the attacker to an area where they would be destroyed by a counterattack.

[3] To comply with the above plan of attack, General Zamora made the following proposals: The advance trench was to be located in the village of La Palmas, and it was to be commanded by Colonels Jesús M. Hernández and León Colina.

The attack carried out by Ramos, against an intricate entrenchment, efficiently combined with a barrage, degenerated into the most complete failure.The casualties exceeded a third of his troops.

[3] General Ramos was seriously injured, had lost all his artillery and a large number of horses, and ordered the withdrawal to Barinas, which was reached by less than 2,000 troops, being chased by rebels.