Battle of Natividad

Battle of Natividad historic marker

Date	November 16, 1846
Location	Salinas Valley, California
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

United States

Mexico

Strength

unknown militia

Casualties and losses

4 killed,
unknown wounded

5 wounded

California Historical Landmark

Official name

Site of the Battle of Natividad

Reference no.

651^[1]

California Campaign

Bear Flag Revolt Battle of Olompali Battle of Chino Mexican–American War Battle of Monterey Siege of Los Angeles Battle of Dominguez Rancho Battle of Natividad Battle of San Pasqual Battle of Rio San Gabriel Battle of La Mesa

Battles of the
Mexican–American War

Texas Campaign

California Campaign

New Mexico Campaign

Northern Mexican Theater

Mexico City Campaign

Pacific Coast Campaign

Mosquito Fleet

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

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. 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 Delaware Indian detachment fighting with the Americans fought aggressively and bravely displaying two scalps they had taken during the conflict.^[2]

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.^[1]

References

1 2 "Site of the Battle of Natividad". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
↑ 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

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