On 6 January 1891 congressional leaders embarked on the Blanco Encalada at Valparaíso; the fleet sailed north to Tarapacá to organize armed resistance against President Balmaceda.

On 6 January 1891, the political leaders of the Congressional party embarked on board the armored frigate Blanco Encalada at Valparaíso, and Captain Jorge Montt hoisted a broad pennant as commodore of the Congressional fleet. A second passage dates the departure on 7 January, when Waldo Silva, Barros Luco, and a number of senators and deputies, escorted by the Esmeralda, O'Higgins, and other vessels, sailed out of Valparaíso harbor and proceeded northwards to Tarapacá to organize armed resistance against the president, launching the civil war. The war between forces supporting Congress and forces supporting Balmaceda is dated from 16 January to 18 September 1891.

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