Battle of Natividad

Battle of Natividad historic marker

Date	November 16, 1846
Location	Salinas Valley, California, U.S.
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

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 and loyalist Mexican militia.

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 '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.

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:

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Wikipedia