 In Feb. 1870, an Allied column under the command of Col. Bento Martins de Menezes, learned that López was in the vicinity of Cerro Corá, which relayed the information to Gen. José Antônio Correia da Câmara on 18 Feb. Gen. Bernardino Caballero was on a foraging expedition with 40 men when, on 1 March, the Allied vanguard under the command of Lt. Col. Francisco Antonio Martins attacked the Paraguayan camp at 1900 along the Aquidaban River.Present with President Francisco Solano López's personal guard were a group of women, led by his mistress Eliza Lynch.This group was composed of the soldier's wives, daughters, and others, who supported the soldiers called "Las Residentas".