On May 22, the Huanay, Itata, Rímac and Valdivia transports arrived in Antofagasta, the first 3 leased from CSAV and the last, a steamer that was docked due to its poor condition.

La Covadonga was anchored in the pool, a place sheltered from the breakers and close to the beach, where it could be defended by artillery and infantry on land and hidden behind merchant ships.

[citation needed] General Arteaga moved his troops, so as not to unnecessarily expose the fires of the Peruvian ironclad, to Carmen Alto, leaving only a small infantry garrison on the beach and two batteries assembled by Krupp in order to oppose possible landings by the garrison of the Peruvian ironclad and protect the port, whose destruction would have put the population and the Chilean Army in danger.

At 5:15 pm, with the Huáscar 1,945 yards from the batteries, Grau ordered to open fire on the tall chimneys of the water condensing machines, the saltpeter factory, and the north fort.

Captain Grau commented: I could have continued, since he had been provoked, but the consideration of harming neutral interests and that this attack was directed against defenseless residents, although I am not responsible for the results, I decided to not undertake it.

At noon it lowered two boats to trace the submarine cable that connected Caldera and Valparaíso with Antofagasta, cutting it off at 4:30 pm, without being disturbed from land.

100 Chilean soldiers were killed in ground combat[citation needed] and according to a letter from General Arteaga to his son, there were no human losses to regret, although operations were halted.