on january 12, 1838, the chilean squadron surprised the confederate in islay, which largely surpassed in tonnage and fire hydrants fled to the north being persecuted by simpson. the persecution lasted all night, turning the confederate ships to shoot the corvette "libertad", which due to its greater speed had overtaken the rest of its squad, to continue the flight, meanwhile the slowest of the confederate ships brig "junín" had lagged behind, which would continue to force the other two confederate ships to engage in unfavorable combat or abandon it and continue north.