Battle of Natividad

The Battle of the Natividad took place on November 16, 1846, in the Salinas Valley, in present-day Monterey County, California, United States, during the California Campaign of the Mexican–American War, between United States organized California militia (the California Battalion) and loyalist Mexican militia.

Battle of Natividad
Part of the Conquest of California Mexican–American War
Battle of Natividad historic marker
Date November 16, 1846 Location Rancho La Natividad (modern day Salinas Valley), California 36°46′22″N 121°36′13″W Result American victory[1] Americans advance to Pueblo de Los Ángeles.
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Charles Burroughs Bluford K. Thompson[2] John C. Fremont	Manuel de Jesus Castro[3]
Strength
Total: 60[2] 60 Militia Pro U.S. Anglo-Californio Militiamen 10 on Horseback Walla Walla Scouts Lenape Scouts	Total: 90[2] 30 Militia Mexican Californio Militiamen Mexican Militiamen Nuevo Mexico Militiamen 30 Veteran Cavalry 30 Californio Lancers
Casualties and losses
Total: 13-25[2] 4-5 Deaths 9-20 Wounded	Total: 8-10[2] 3 Deaths 5-7 Wounded
California Historical Landmark
Official name	Site of the Battle of Natividad
Reference no.	651[4]

Battle

San Juan Bautista was the marshaling area for Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont's forces of about 450 men of the California Battalion en route to joining up with Commodore Robert Stockton's and General Stephen W. Kearny's forces of about 500 men converging on Los Angeles to put down a sputtering revolt there.

An American scouting party was attacked by a force of mounted Mexican Californios on Rancho La Natividad in the Salinas Valley. The Californios were attempting to capture some horses being herded by the Americans to Fremont's base. A battle ensued in which the Californio force killed four Americans and wounded more. The American volunteers were buried on the Gomez Rancho. The Californios reported no deaths but 5 wounded. The Americans reported several Californios dead and several wounded. As the Californios retreated the Americans did not give chase. The Walla Walla and Lenape detachment fighting with the Americans fought aggressively and bravely displaying two scalps they had taken during the conflict.^[5]

Aftermath

The battle was important because although it was only a minor skirmish, the Americans were able to keep their horses and therefore deliver them in a timely manner to Frémont and his California Battalion on their march to Southern California. The Treaty of Cahuenga signed by Frémont and Andrés Pico in January 1847 ended all hostilities in California. The final clause of this treaty:

That the paroles of all officers, citizens and others of the United States, and of naturalized citizens of Mexico, are by this foregoing capitulation cancelled; and every condition of said paroles from and after this date are of no further force and effect; and all prisoners of both parties are hereby released.

was inserted to protect several members of the Californios fighting in this fight who were in clear violation of their paroles they had given to keep the peace and not undertake hostilities.

The site of the battle is now registered as California Historical Landmark #651.^[4]

References

1. Monterey County Weekly - Historic, cultural sites could create obstacles to Rancho San Juan project
2. Bancroft, Hubert Howe, History of California Vol. 5 (1846–1848), The History Company, San Francisco, 1886
3. Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of the Pacific States of North America, Vol. XIV, California Vol.II, 1801–1824, A.L. Bancroft & Co., San Francisco, 1885, pp.753-754, Castro, Manuel de Jesus
4. "Site of the Battle of Natividad". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
5. Egan, Ferol and Dillon, Richard ; Fremont: Explorer for a Restless Nation"; pp 382–385; University of Nevada Press; 1985; ISBN 978-0-87417-096-2