Among the casualties was Charles Wilkins Webber, an American journalist and explorer serving in Walker's forces, whom some scholars suggest inspired the antagonist in Cormac McCarthy's novel Blood Meridian.

The commercial rights to this route had been granted by a previous Nicaraguan administration to Wall Street tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt's Accessory Transit Company.

In response, Vanderbilt financed and trained a military coalition of Central American states led by Costa Rica, while also working to cut off Walker's access to men and supplies.

However, Walker's army, weakened by an epidemic of cholera and widespread defections, proved no match for the Central American Coalition and the efforts Vanderbilt's agents.

[citation needed] Costa Rican President Juan Rafael Mora observed with growing concern as Walker consolidated his forces and power in Nicaragua.

Upon learning that a small contingent of Walker's men was encamped near Guanacaste's Hacienda Santa Rosa, Mora led three thousand of his troops to attack.

His small force was able to score a number of victories through street to street fighting and were able to create a stalemate at a key building in town, El Mesón de Guerra, the Guerra family home, which was located in the corner of the park, covered the approach to Rivas church; from the towers of the church Walker's snipers enjoyed a wide firing range.

According to the traditional account, on April 11, Salvadoran General José María Cañas suggested that one of the soldiers advance towards the hostel with a torch and set it on fire.

[6] Carrasco who was serving the militia as a cook and impromptu medic, filled her apron pockets with bullets, grabbed a discarded rifle and shamed some of the retreating Costa Ricans forestalling what might have become a rout.

[3] President Juan Rafael Mora was widely blamed for the cholera outbreak, the heavy casualties suffered by the army, and the economic damage caused by the war debts.

[citation needed] The war against Walker continued, with the armies of other Central American nations joining the effort under the command of General Mora.