It followed the Battle of Corozal on 21 June 1900, where the liberal forces won an important victory over the Conservative army under General Carlos Albán, who had no choice but to retreat to the city of Panama. After the victory, the liberal army, under General Emiliano Herrera, aimed to capture the remaining bastion of conservative forces in the isthmus. Instead of making a final attack, Herrera initially offered his surrender to Albán, who refused.