[2] In March 1885 Colombia thinned its military presence in Panama by sending troops who had been stationed there to fight rebels in Cartagena as part of the Colombian Civil War (1884–1885).

By this time, there was also a small force of the National Army of Colombia supported by a strong contingent of American troops in Colón.

[2] In response to the American intervention, Chile sent the protected cruiser Esmeralda to Panama City, arriving on April 28.

Commander Bowman McCalla submitted a report to the United States Secretary of the Navy on the performance of the Marines during the expedition.

McCalla proposed having annual war games with the fleet and the Army that would prepare marines for expeditionary operations.