Echenique commanded his troops and they fight in the surroundings of Cerro Saraja in a rather bloody battle on 7 January 1854, where about 150 supporters of Elías are killed.

Despite the fact that the country now had two presidents, Castilla issued on 5 July the historic decree abolishing the indigenous tribute, which gave his revolution a social character.

Domingo Elías returned to the country, prompting the government to send troops against him and to attempt an unsuccessful defense of the plaza of Arica.

So he occupied the Mantaro Valley, while Castilla campsed in a poor region and decides to go to the heights to threaten Lima and attempt force Echenique's return.

On 5 January 1855, at the La Palma hacienda, Castilla's troops defeated those of Echenique, who had to be sheltered in the house of the British charge d'affaires, Sullivan.

Castilla called elections for the meeting of a Constituent Assembly or National Convention, whose mission would be to reform the conservative Constitution of 1839.