THE BATTLE OF SAN PASQUAL

A Report of the' California H istorical Survey

Commission with S pecial Reference

to its Location

B OWEN Q COY Ph. D. y L , DIRE CTOR

CALIF O RNIA ST A TE PRIN TIN G OF F ICE S A CB ALIEN TO 1 9 2 l

THE BATTLE OF SAN PASQUAL

A Report of the California H istorical Survey

Co mmission with Special Reference

to its Lo cation

D B OWEN Y h . y c . CO , P . DIRECT OR

CAL IF ORN IA S T AT E P RINTING O FF ICE SACRAMEN T O 1 9 2 l

THEBATTlt O ‘ SAN BASOUAE; ‘ l

A E G lF T T O T H E S T T .

In accordance with the p rovisions of an act Of the Legislature approved

Ma 16 1919 S e f n a by the governor y , , the tat of C ali or i accepted

' an M . d as a gift from essrs . William G E d Fletcher one acre ‘ Henshaw h o of land said to be t e site Of the battle f San Pasqual , fought between

h r t e fo ces Of General S . W . Kearny and the native Californians ‘ 4 M 6 7 18 6 . ( exican ) December and , The act also provided that the Historical Commission should prepare a narrative of the events con ne s t ed wi th the b attle ; that it should determine the exact location of the several engagements ; and recommend some manner whereby t he a men state might suitably mark the site . In accord nce with the act i n t o ed . , this report is respectfully submitted

‘

H IS TO RI C A L A C C O U N T O F T H E B A TT L E .

The battle Of San Pasqual , fought in the little valley Of that name

one the located in the northern part Of San Diego County , was of bloodiest fought on Californian soil . The number of men engaged ' was not large nor were the casualties numerous as compared with battles Of more recent wars . Its chief distinction lies in the fact that it was a battle fought upon California soil , which fortunately has been particularly free from bloody encounters . The main events Of the war with Mexico during the years 1846—1848 re r f 7 46 a o . 18 well known to the eaders American history Upon July , ,

the ' A merican M Commodore John D . Sloat raised Flag at onterey and d uring the succeding months the supremacy of the forces of the United

was e of States recogniz d throughout the territory Alta California , x o e cept by isolated bands f native Californian forces . One of these was the band of Andres Pico just north of San Diego . w The United States Government , knowing of the impending war ith

M a ‘ a exico , had prepared for an att ck upon California both by its nav l

as forces and by the army . Under instructions C ommodore Sloat ,

f and the before stated , took possession o the chief port settlements during a summer of 1846 . To cooperate with the nav l forces Colonel Stephen

W . Kearny was ordered to proceed overland , and after having taken possession of N ew Mexico was to push on and hold California for the

United States . A letter of instructions from Secretary of War William M L . arcy to Kearny is of value in giving an idea of his instructions and the of f a plan action o which this battle w s a part . a o n 3 1846 This letter , dated W shingt n , Ju e , , informed Kearny th at the M President had decided , in view of the impending war with exico , that the possession of Alta California was of prime importance ; and that an expedition with that Object in view was therefore ordered and 2 —9872

4 44 1 6 5 _ 4 _

l i. ' tnat d i he was es gnated to command it . He was also informed that an additional force of a thousand men had been p rovided to follow him a t o w as d to Sant Fe , which place he directe to proceed ; and he was Of N ew M instructed , after making himself master exico , to press on with

his remaining force to California . He was to enlist such volunteers as he m i ight p ck up along the way , the total enlistment not to exceed one of third his original force . He was permitted to choose his own ' s o R route , but it was suggested that the called Caravan oute , by which the Old communication between that country and N ew Mexico 011 t had been carried , could be more easily traversed in win er time , Wl S h was and the expressed that he should reach California by winter .

It was expected that the United States naval forces would be in posses -4 of sion the Pacific seacoast by the time Kearny would arrive there , and r him n that they would coope ate with in the conquest of the cou try . w n was n . ot Ho ever Kear y definitely bound to a fixed program , for ’ “ M s n Secretary arcy , letter expressly stated that A large discretio ary p is ou a l ower invested in y in reg rd to these matters , as well as to a l ' o h t ers . The letter of instructions ended with advice as to the govern

to b e of of a ment set up in the event the conquest Californi , and 1nstructions of for the kind treatment the Californians .

the s Following instruction , Colonel Kearny left Leavenworth about tne J end of une , occupied Santa Fe , and accomplished the conquest

M as of N ew . exico , directed , in August Having succeeded thus far ,

his a General Kearny , commission as such having re ched him at Santa

a a instruc Fe , made prepar tions for carrying out the rem inder of his m h i of o n . tions , na ely , those w ich dealt with the conquest Calif r a

on - fifth of 1846 a He left Santa Fe the twenty September , , h ving

im of e before h a Journey over a thousand miles , a gr at portion of which

v s n was absolute desert . A ery intere ting account of this jour ey is ’ a e . Of given by Lieutenant Colonel W . H Emory , one Ke rny s aid s , in

. a a ea his Journal Both he and C ptain Johnston , nother aide to K rny, a kept diaries of their experiences on the overland trip to Californi .

of he However , the details t trip , although very interesting, are not m essential to our story . The ma facts O f the trip may be obt ained m f r fro the following letter , the O ficial eport of General Kearny to his ’ f R n S an superior O ficer , General . Jones , sent after Kear y s arrival at Diego

A D U T R A M Y OF T H E W T H E Q AR E S , R ES , A P L 2 4 N G U P F A . 1 18 S DIE O , ER CA I ORNI , Dec , 6 .

S IR ' A a e t I- S a a F e N ew fo r s I h ve previously report d o you , left nt ' Mexico '

' “ c ountr on 25 S 300 F a this y, the th of eptember , with of the irst Dr goons under

. h at A 5 a S m a of - t é N u 6 M jor u ner . We crossed to the b nk Del orte lbuq uerq e , ( miles S a a F e o a a ‘ 6 O et below nt , ) c ntinuing down on th t b nk till the th ctober, when we m Ki h a a a a . t a a a 16 is w Mr C rson , with p rty of men , on y to W shington city with m il F a and a an s S and . . p pers , expre s from Com . tockton , Lieut Col remont . reporting th t ' the C aliforni as were already in poss es sion of the A mericans under their command a A a fla a a th t the meric n g w s flying from every import nt position in the territory , and a m a c war and th t the country was forever free fro Mexic n ontrol ; the ended , ' a ' h of a pe ce and armony established among the people . In conseq uence this inform ' c a a a S ma N ew tion , I dire ted th t 200 dr goons under M jor umner , should re in in an 0 a z a d a 1 w . Mexico , th t the other 0 , ith two mount in howit ers , under C pt Moore ,

s a a as a a U a a. a hould ccomp ny me gu rd to pper C liforni With this gu rd , we con tinued ma a N a our rch to the south , on the right b nk of the Del orte , to the dist nce a 230 a a F e a a 1 5th O of bout miles below S nt , when , le ving th t river on the cto u d a a f r a 33 . a o ber, in bo t the deg of l titude , we m rched westw rd the Copper a 1 th and 2otb a G a mines , which we re ched on the 8 , on the re ched the river il , G a and as as s proceeding down the il , crossing recrossing it often ob tructions in i our front rende red i t ne cess ary ; on the 1 1th N ovember reached the P imos vil m m 1 a a 80 s s s S a. C 0 0 l ge , bout ile from the ettle ent in onor We crossed the a a u 10 G a and a a a 3 0 r do bo t miles below the mouth of the il , , m rching ne r it bout a u off and — a a a 60 — miles f rther, t rned crossed the desert dist nce of bout miles without ’ O n 2d c a a ne R a A a a a . W u w ter or gr ss the De ember , we re ched r r s ncho , ( g

a a a a a . n C liente, ) the frontier settlement in C liforni , on the route le ding to S onor O ’ 4 th s a a n the we m arched to Mr . S toke s ranch o ( S n 't ' a d on the 5th a a a a G s were met by sm ll p rty of volunteers , under C pt . ille pie , sent out from S an m Co . S us a a o Diego , by tockton , to give wh t inform tion they p ssessed of the enemy , 6 00 700 are a a and fi t or of whom now s id to be in rms , in the eld hroughout the terri O A a and a tory , determined upon pposing the meric ns , resisting their uthority in the m . E a a a a a o S a a a a country nc ped th t night ne r nother r nch ( n 't 'M ri ) of Mr . S tokes , a 40 an bout miles from S Diego . V e t s v . ery resp ctfully , your obdt . ,

S KE A R N Y B n. W. . e . S . U . . A , rig G ,

B G E N R A - n . G J . A . G e . S . . RI . ONES , djt . U

’ the General Kearny s letter , curiously enough , makes no mention of

of u of proximity the hostile Californians , altho gh he tells the camp at ’ M a R s the rancho Santa ari . eferring to Lieutenant Emory journal , we

of 5 find that , under the date December , he says

“ a at a a a a a a was We rrived the r ncheri fter d rk , where we he rd th t the enemy in 9 a and fi an as a a a s force miles dist nt , , not nding y gr s bout the r ncheri , we pu hed on nd a a a tw A a r a a o . enc mped in c nyon , miles below . p rty unde Lt H mmond wa s m B m a s a at a . ent to reconnoitre the ene y , reported to be ne r h nd y so e ccident ‘ ’ a w a n the p rty s discovered a d the enemy pl aced on the q ui vive . We were now on ‘ ’ a a S an all - a s a and w as the m in ro d to Diego ; the by w y being in our re r , it therefore

’ ’ A 2 a s a a a and a as a . . . deemed neces ry to tt ck the enemy , force p s ge bout o clock m ' a was the c ll to horse sounded .

J ohnstOn who e S an s Captain , was kill d in action at Pa qual , in his 4 last entry , December , tells of hearing rumors of the enemy , but does

not mention at what time the Americans broke camp . Before proceeding with the account of the battle which took place next day , it is necessary that we know something of the Californians on the opposing side .

About the time that Kearny was crossing the Colorado , General a Flores , comandante of the Californians , sent C ptain Andres Pico south to cut off the return of a party of Americans understood to have left

for San Diego the region of Santa Isabel . Pico failed to connect with the Americans , but , nevertheless , remained in the south , making his S an Re M a headquarters at Luis y and Santa arg rita . Located thus he c a a a a ooper ted with C pt in Cota , who he ded another band of C alifor

om N nians , in keeping supplies fr the Americans . othing definite is - 6

’ ' n “ m s 5 W h im k own Of Pico s move ent up to December , when e find

’ a of o s enc mped at the Indian village San Pasqual . His purp se , it seem , was Off r to cut the return Of Gillespie , whose depa ture from San Diego a ’ was known . We already know from Ke rny s letter , that Gillespie had ’ n succeeded in connecting with Kearny s force o the fourth of December .

of r However, Pico . was ignorant of this fact,as he knew nothing Gene al

’

Kearny s presence in C alifornia .

Although there is conflicting testimony upon this point , it is reason ’ able to assume it true , for if Pico had been aware Of Kearny s presence

as . a he would hardly have acted he did Osio , California writer , claims

’ “ a of for the that Pico had no ide Kearny s proximity , when he camped ’ s of night at San Pa qual . According to Osio , Pico s first intimation the ’ o f presence Kearny was given by an Indian , who rushed into Pico s camp that n1ght and told him that an American captain with more than

was two hundred men encamped a short distance away , and had been joined by another American captain from San Diego . ’ Os io s According to account , the Indian , wishing to save Pico from ’ Of s surprise , told him Kearny s intention to fall upon him unaware in

' a the morning . Upon he ring this , Pico gave the order to mount and prepare to fight against four times their number .

a m a n of Califor On the other h nd Palo ares , a lieutenant in compa y

' ni rifl em en L a , c laims that Pico left os Angeles with a force of thirty men , expressly to follow Kearny , whose presenc e in California was ’ a a a known . According to P lomares account , Pico arrived at S an P squ l

a b 8 m N o a of . t to in a r in , at a out p wishing f ll in a trap , he sent two

a V Y t S a o . his men , P blo ejar and sidro Alvarado , p y upon Kearny P lo mares gives a vivid account Of how Pico and his men waited all night

for s in a drizzling rain the return of these two spie who , as was after

s of . wards learned , had been taken pri oner by a patrol Americans Palo on a was mares menti s the s me incident Of the Indian informant , as men ’ tioned di by Osio , saying that at one . O clock in the morning an In an

a c i of a . pproached amp , tell ng an impending American att ck He was h c w o . questioned by Pi o , refused to believe his story The Indian left , Only to return half an hour later with news of the approach of the

Americans . This time his story was believed and Pico ordered his men

for a to mount and prepare ttack . Both Osio and Palomares agree fairly well concerning the warning i m ’ received by P co and his preparations . However , Palo ares statement that Pico left Los Angeles with thirty men to attack Kearny is not rea

o no o e s nable , for the Californians were t accust m d to making attack a is upon p rties four times their number . Osio undoubtedly right in his ’ a contention that Pico was u n ware Of Kearny s approach , and in this

bOrne who i statement he is out by Botello , another contemporary , cla ms fi ht b ut that Pico afterwards told him that he had not wished to g , _ was ‘ “ circumsltances m s do forced to it by which made it i po sible to otherwise .

' o had not as he n If Pic wished to fight , claims , he could hardly have bee

of following Kearny with the intention attacking him . Referring to Emory ’ s journal we find that the Americans broke camp r6 of in the early morning of Decembe , reaching the vicinity San Pas b o a as o ' qual a ut d ybreak . The order of march was foll ws Captain Johnston commanded an ad vance guard of twelve dragoons mounted on the best horses ; close behind was General Kearny with Lieutenants

he an d or of Emory and Warner of t engineers , four five their men ; next came Captain Moore and Lieutenant H ammond with about fifty

a n s dragoons , m ny of them mounted upo mule , followed by Captains Gillespie and Gibson with twenty volunteers of the California Battal

L d was n of two how ion . ieutenant Davi son ext in line , in charge the itzers n w , with a few dragoons to ma age the guns , hich were drawn by S mules ; and finally the rest of the force , between fifty and ixty men , w M . brought up the rear under ajor S ords , protecting the baggage

R a of eaching the top of a slight rise , the Americans saw the vill ge

s . San Pa qual spread before them . The Californians were drawn up to o receive a charge . Ordering a charge , Captain Johnston pr ceeded hi and o s . down the slope at a gallop , foll wed by men He his twelve a b Of dr goons being the est mounted , rapidly drew ahead the main body

and f of the Americans , by the time they had reached the waiting Cali f rni n o a s . , they were alone The Californians , taking advantage of this as r c fact , stood f t discha ging a volley , then receiving the Ameri ans with

a hns n f ll s . O to e l nces set Captain J dead at the fir t volley , with a bullet a through his head , and several others were wounded . A furious h nd

- of to hand conflict took place , which was terminated by the arrival the ’ of main body the Americans , at which Pico s men fled, hotly pursued a by the Americ ns .

of However , the extreme variety mounts soon became evident in the of t e n relative positions the various pursuers , h American li e being ’ s trun out g for more than a mile . What Pico s plans up to this stage of the b attle may have been no one knows for certain , although Osio a claims th t Pico feigned a retreat to lure the Americans on . However

ma this y have been , after running some distance to more Open ground ,

co hi o Pi suddenly wheeled s column , and rushed back t meet the Ameri

. The cans The conflict , though brief , was desperately fought . Ameri can firearms were practically useless Ou account of the rain and the

im an - - t e needed to reload , so the conflict resolved itself into a h d to hand struggle of clubbed guns and sabers against the lances of the Califor nians f . s s o The American fought bravely against heavy Odd , r their too ff mules were unmanageable , and their sabers short to cope e ectively with the long California lances . _ g __

'

i - - a This band to hand comb t raged for several minutes . When the first ’ furyof the assault had somewhat abated the rest of Ke arny s forces

two o a h arrived with the h witzers , and the Californians ag in fled . T e Americans were in no condition to pursue and indeed found themselves “

. s O ur rOV1s1ons e in a very , unhappy plight Emory ays , p wer

s our . s our on our exhau ted , horse dead , mules their last legs , and men ,

c to - o now redu ed one third of their number , were ragged , worn d wn by a ' i fatigue , and em ciated . S nce the mules were unable to transport the

’ d ead ' and wounded it was decided to camp at the site over night in order d h to bury the dea . This was done as secretly as possible under t e cover

d Of c who had e of arkness; amid the howlings a myriad of oyotes , b en m ’ attracted to t he scene of battle . E ory s description of the camp that night doubtless not only describes the place but also reflects the spirit “ of he s Ou s the men , for ays , r position was defen ible , but the ground ,

ffi to a covered with rocks and cacti , made it di cult get a smooth pl ce to

for o a rest , even the w unded . The night was cold and d mp , and not

ou s withstanding r excessive fatigues of the day and night previou , ' sleep was impossible .

of a on e The exact number casu lties ither side cannot be determined , S i nce there are about as many different reports given as there are nar rators s to give them . However , a fairly clo e estimate places the Ameri l . w can dead at eighteen , with fifteen wounded It is doubtfu if there ere i o i any killed among the Californ ans , although several contemp rar es

of of c speak one Californian being killed . An estimate all ac ounts

w of e a . places the Californi ns ounded at twelve , two th m seriously

s Kearny him elf was wounded , and Captain H . S . Turner assumed com and mand , dispatching Lieutenant Godey three others to San Diego for e h lp .

on E arly the morning of the seventh Kearny again took command , and start ed his ragged detachment on its way to San Diego with the threatening Californians disputing their advance . When they arrived at the San Bernardo rancho it was found to be deserted except for a few

fo Indians , but water was obtainable r the animals and several chickens

f N u for were killed or the use of the sick . o grass was fo nd the stock S O the b ed . they pushed on toward river , driving many cattle with them At this juncture the Californian horseman again made an attack upon

' the rear Of the advancing army . Emory describes it thus

had S a a i a We c rcel y left the house and proc eeded more th an m le , when cloud of a a d a and a o h m as at c v lry debouche from the hills in our re r , p rtion of t e d hed full

a b a ma a a . sp eed to occupy hill y which we must p ss , while the re inder thre tened our re r o and was a Thirty or f rty of them got possession of the hill , it necess ry to drive them m a m a . s w as a o a a from it Thi cc plished by sm ll p rty of six or eight , upon who the C li fornians a d h fi re and a s a e . T he a disch rge t eir ; str nge to y, not one of our men f ll c pture ' of th ~ hill w as of a moment and w e a s é then but the work , when re ched the cre t , the e not a man C aliforni ans h ad mounted their horses and were in full flight . W did lose m m had a a . B s in the skir ish , but they sever l b dly wounded y thi move ent we lost our a and d a a m an s c ttle , were convince th t if we tte pted y further progres with the ' a m b u la n c e s w e m u s t lo s e o u r S ick and our ack s . '

M 1 — m n u m L ol W - m a C te a e s a b le ut . C . . H . E . p . on p or o p y ory Itwas decided to stay there and ‘ await reenforcements from S an Diego

' as the condition of the troops was such that to p roceed further would be

of rn suicide . The numbers the Califo ians were constantly increasing . Kearny had no way of knowing whether 0 a h n tives and reached San Diego . W en it was learned that

, fornians had several American prisoners they were forced to f

a in h refor ' the serious situ tion they were . It was decided t e e to try to f t to . E F O ge another message through San Diego Lieutenant . , . Beale N so and a to the u the avy , Kit Car n, an Indi n volunteered attempt perilo s e ' j ourn y . Senator Benton thus describes the preparation for their d eparture

a a a and w r The brief prep r tions for the forlorn hope were soon m de ; brief they e e . A a a a a a a and s rifle e ch , bl nket , revolver , sh rp knife , no food ; there w a none in the i a . Ge a K a B a c and as c mp ner l e rny invited e le to ome sup with him . It w not the A and a a a a a supper of nthony Cleop tr ; for when the c mp st rves , no gener l has a a w a . as a B a a h l rder It me gre enough . The G ener l asked e le wh t provisions he ad to a a was G a a va a tr vel on ; the nswer , nothing . The ener l c lled his ser nt to inq uire wh t his aff a handful wa a G a tent orded ; of flour , s the nswer . The ener l ordered it to be a a nd B as va a o a a to a . W a w b ked int lo f be given e le hen the lo f brought , the ser nt s id a was a a a he had th t the l st , not of bre d only , but of everything ; th t nothing left for ’ B a o a a - a a a the general s breakfast . e ale di rected the serv nt t c rry b ck the lo f , s ying th t o H e d and ' B he w uld provide for himself . did provi e for himself ; how y going to the r d the and s a smouldering fi e where the b aggage ha been burnt in morning , cr ping from the ashes and embers the h alf - burnt pe as and grain s of corn which the conflagration d h a a had a fi his e the . a an t e sp red , lling po ck ts with unwonted food C rson f ithful Indi n ' provided for themselves some mule beef .

of s r Guided by the skill Kit Car on , the three men eluded the besiege s and separately made their way to San Diego during the second night . There they found that Godey had successfully given t he news of Kearny ’ s plight and that Commodore Stockton had already started a relief expedition on the way to San Pasqual . rected a tablet s . C . e The Smithsonian Institute at Wa hington , D , has to the memory of Beale and Carson in commemoration of the heroism

so displayed by them at this time . Since this tablet shows well the

of r th inscri attitude this g eat national museum toward this battle , e p tion is given in full

’ B EAL E A N D CA RSON H AIL IN G S T OCK TON S F L A G S H IP “ A N INCI DEN T OF T H E M E'ICAN WA R “ K a S a a F e a a was m et and a e rny , sent from nt to occupy C liforni , defe ted by the a s at S an P a a T he A a a u Mexic n sq u l . meric n forces were driven upon b tte in the desert E as a a nd ed a o . a F on which there w no w ter there surround by the Mexic n f rces dw rd .

B a and K it a am ~ e W r e le C rson , the f ous explorers of th est , volunteered to go th ough ’ the Mexic an lines and get reenforcements from S tockton s fleet at S an Diego . They succeeded in crawling p ast the cordon of Mexican sentries in the night and b y hiding ’ da and a a d S o ' a s a in r avines in the y tr veling by night they re che t ckton s fl g hip , fter ' enduring gre at h ardship .

n I the meanwhile the besieged Americans , who had been subsisting several days on the flesh of emaciated mules and the little water they “ C ars o - B ea e t a b t t h S m t s n I s t ut e— ro m ab n i n l l e in e i h o i an n it F S i , K t ' ars D C on ays . a could Obtain by digging , planned to make nother des perate attempt to t proceed to San Diego . The surgeon repor ed upon December 10 that the wounded were able to make the j ourneyand the order was given to e n mak ready for a march early next mor ing . Emory then reports '

“ all o g a the a d a We were rep sing q uietly , but not sleepin , w iting for bre k of y, when and m a a O ne m n i n we were to go down give the ene y nother defe t . of the e the p art of a a a a a man s a i E the c mp ssigned to my defence , reported th t he he rd pe k ng in nglish . In a m a a a m few inutes we he rd the tr mp of colu n , followed by the h ail of the

“ was a a m 100 a and ma . 8 a G a sentinel It det ch ent of t rs 0 rines under Lieuten nt r y , me S o we a sent to et us by Commodore tockton , from wh m le rned that Lieuten ant B a a nd a had ar a S an h t a . T e le , C rson , the Indi n rived s fely in Diego e detachment lef S a n the 9 th a the da 1 th Diego on night of the , c ched themselves during y of the 0 , n da T a an o a d joined us on the night of th at y. hese g ll t fell ws busi ed themselves till ' da and a and y distributing their provisions clothes to our n ked hungry people .

This union of the two American forces entirely disconcerted the

e plans Of the native Californians , and befor sunrise they had with

h a and a drawn toward. the nort , leaving Ke rny his enlarged rmy undis

. turb ed in their further advance . They arrived at San Diego upon the 12 morning of December .

a and the s Thus ended the battle of San Pasqual , the most f mous mo t

f a l sanguinary o C lifornia history . Although technica ly the Americans

l a v s of may c aim ictory , since they remained in pos ession the field , it ' is probable th at another such victory would have been disastrous .

c a as There has been mu h comment m de upon the battle at San P qual , a and the general tone of critics is unfavorable to General Ke rny . Ban

in has n croft , particular , characterized the attack Of Kear y as a stupid

H ittell a . blunder , , also bl mes Kearny , but his tone is much less severe “ H e says in part There can be no doubt that the attack O n San

on he of f Pasqual was a mistake t part Kearny , who did not su ficiently

Of ffi a re take into consideration the condition his forces , nor su ciently p p ' ciate the forces Of the Californians . Sabin , a more recent writer, says that it is probable that in this c ase Kearny was ill - advised by both ‘

e for . ' Gill spie and C arson , upon whom he relied guidance He says

G illespie was burning for revenge to counterb al ance his d is comfi ture at L os i H a a a . S O K t a A . e a ngeles m de light of the C liforni v lor did even C rson , who , in m m h he m u a n m en th e S o u th w e s t th o u h t L a co on wit ot r o nt i of , _ g little of tin ’ a s u o N w M m a m B a . A s f e h cour g e fter their e y con q e t exico , when the rc fro ent s K a F S a a F e a a h a d a a u u . G a ort to nt , the c pit l , been pr ctic ll y ndisp ted ener l e rn y n fi n s m s a a s u a d his O f cers a d men also were inclined to di i s the C liforni n c rtl y. G and a and a z a Influenced by the contempt of illespie C rson , not re li ing th t here th e fi g ht w a s with free C a liforni a n s a ccustom ed to m ore inita tive th a n the N ew ’ ca G a K a S an and a a Mexi ns , ener l e rny s council decided to push on for Diego , to tt ck a w as militai s B the enemy if they were oppos ed . In this pl n sound y ense . oldness a wa a s a u e would win y, where s he it ncy might res lt in the little force b ing shut off s ea and all and b a s a a foe fi from the supplies , , y con t ntly incre sing , con ned helplessly a a 1 inl nd while their ch nces g ew less .

Military critics may differ as to whether the policy pursued by Gen

eral Kearny was in keeping with the best military tactics . Be that as ’ it may , this battle will take its place in California s history as one which not only shows forth boldly the courage and fortitude of the men _ 13 _

d the on i d but who compose American Army the one han , also the dash i n and sk ll of the irregular California cavalry o the other hand . It constitutes an important incident in the American Conquest of C ali ' m for ia . O C A O N O F T H E B A E S E L TI TT L IT .

of In order that the true site the battle might be determined , all O d btainable ata such as contemporary reports and maps , and other

a of early m ps the region , were carefully studied and compared with the recent topographical maps prepared by the United States Geological

was of Survey . Of greatest value in this work the sketch map these

r h a com e . . w o c engagements prepa ed by Li utenant Colonel W H Emory , p anied this expedition in the capacity of topographical engineer . With the excep tion of the course of the San Bernardo (or San Dieguito ) Ri w c r ver , hich is indi ated by Emory as unning east of the American ,

Camp of December 7 - 11,the map mentioned is exceedingly accurate and gives sufficient number of recognized topographical features to permit

an accurate location Of the places mentioned in the report . In this map the ' A merican advance is shown to have approached the scene of the engagements from a ridge cros sing the river (then dry )

’ a i at the Indi n v llage of San Pasqual , where Pico s band was drawn up to r meet them . This village is located near a small detached hill o knoll standing near the head of the valley apart from those forming the walls of a Th f the v lley . eline o retreat is then shown down the valley on the same (north ) side of the river to a place where the hills to the north

t s o o . seem recede , forming a wider , more open plain On thi pen plain the second and most desperate of the engagements was fought and here

a m r 6 the Americans c mped Dece be . After retreating between two small hills on the north side of the ’ s h thii valley , Pico s force are shown to ave taken up their d position the across the valley at a point where the highlands converge . Should Americans proceed down the valley this would be an advantageous

low point to resist them . It did in fact force Kearny to take to the hills to the north of the valley , while Pico held the valley probably some what in advance of the Americans . After proceeding some distance along the north edge of the valley the Americans turned sharply to their left and were attacked by the Californians as they ascended a on hill the other side . The former were then forced to take up a posi tion upon this hill , and there they awaited reinforcements . Guided by the map of Colonel Emory and the recent United States

t Of Geological Survey shee s , the Director the Commission marked the approximate location of the Various battle sites upon the topographical

Two c . sheet . points seemed to permit of definite lo ation The Indian

of village San Pasqual , at which the first engagement was fought , is undoubtedly the same as the village by the name upon the topographical and s als o e map , it seemed safe to assume that the third engag ment, was o which fought on the south side of the valley , took place up n the M h f o . t e a ce o peak now known as Battle untain On account of bsen , ’ of s any scale miles accompanying Emory map , the distances shown thereon can not be accurately determined and are therefore only rela

o f x tive distances . The p sition o the second engagement was fi ed in relation to the two points just mentioned as well as by other correspond u ing features in both the contemp oraneo s and recent maps .

' Having made these preliminary observations and indicated them

of s in com upon the topographical maps , the Director the Commis ion , ’ m l pany with Assembly an Fred Lind ey and others , visited San Pasqual

V on 22 1920 to of con alley February , , determine the accuracy these elusions and to decide if possible whether the land accepted by the State

f t 1919 272 as is by virtue o S atutes , chapter , the battle site , the actual

or ffi n battle ground , if there were su ciently defi ite information avail

able to determine such site .

l e San Pasqual Valley is a small val ey about nin miles long , and varies

- in one to . or width , from half a mile two miles At the upper eastern f end O the valley the river, which is dry except during the rainy season n f . o the year, emerges from a relatively narrow ca on The general ’ topography is strikingly like that shown on Emory s map . A small round knoll stands at the head of the valley up on the north side of the river . There is now a farm house here , but it is said once to have been

of n w s the site an Indian village . The hill mentioned is o us ed a a

num and cemetery . While inspecting this site erous Indian arrow heads

of bits pottery were discovered in the surface dirt , indicating that it had

n of of - been the locatio an Indian village. The tradition the Old time f residents Of the valley makes this the site O the first engagement , and there can be but little doubt that the historical records confirm this tradition . From this place we pass ed down the valley in an endeavor to loc ate

of the site the second engagement , closely following the route indicated as of that Of the two opposing forces . Here again the map Colonel

of fo of Emory was found to be great value , r his delineation the c topography , parti ularly the highlands forming the north wall Of the f valley, is very suggestive and there can be no doubt o their identity at

a h the present time . Local tradition pl ces the scene of t e second battle

rs about two miles from the fi t , at a place where the valley widens due

s to an opening in the hill from the north . It is here that the land

te f a deeded to the State is loca d . In view o the close resembl nce between ’ Of o o s Emory s map the battle , the t p graphical sheets is ued by the

s Of United States , and the actual physical feature , the Director the Commission was not surprised to fin d that this traditional battle site Was exactly upon the point as previously marked by him as t he result of

- 16

his preliminary study of the historical evidence . He is therefore fully satisfied that the land deeded to the State is the site of the battle of 6 1846 December , . This is especially true when it is remembered that

' cO r r a ve ed . this was a cavalry b ttle , and probably many ac es of ground There can therefore be but little doubt that the battle was fought over

‘ round s elected and the g , it is furthermore very probable that it may f have been the site of the camp upon the night o December 6 .

' h in From t is p o t we proceeded farther down the valley . The present tw h of road pas ses between o small elevations to the nort the main valley , ’ on N r very S uggestive Of those shown Emory s map . ea there the strategic value of Pico ’s third position across the valley at a narrow f point is very evident , while on the other hand the low hills north o the ’ 10 s valley have a gentle s pe , thus making it po sible for Kearny s army to as cend them and thus by watching the enemy in the valley to guard

c f against atta k . Traveling here was but slightly more di ficult than upon the valley floor, until they approached the more mountainous o region through which the river approaches the sea . It is pr bable that here the guides warned Kearny th at they must turn to the south in

t s to order to avoid the moun ains if they de ired to proceed San Diego . ’ of Pico s band seems to have been ahead them , probably on the route to ’ Re San Luis y, his headquarters . At any rate the American army s

was not as h descent into the valley opposed , but they crossed over to t e southern side and were ascending the mp e they were attacked from the ’ rear by Pico s men . They were then forced to take up this position

a M upon the small peak now known as B ttle ountain .

’ The one serious defect in Emory s map is met in locating the latter f e part O the rout just described , as he indicates the San Bernardo

R as of Of i a iver running to , the east the site th s third b ttle , when in

s reality it runs to the , north of the peak , and was cros ed by the Ameri ’ Of c ans just before the third attack Pico s men . Serious as this may a be ppear , it may easily explained without calling into question the accuracy of his other Observations . It must be remembered that a s lthough the date was in December , he de cribes the river as being dry .

‘ ’ was s When the writer there late in February , after a three day rain , the river was just beginni ng to S how signs of life and was even then

' i - not . mo e than a good sized creek It is therefore very probable that . the

r Americans crossed the dry iver bed without recognizing it . F urther more the topography here is somewhat deceiving to one who has not had a Opportunity to ex mine it carefully . The valley comes to an end in a cafion which suddenly grows n arrow and because of a sudden turn in

i f was the river might give the impression no running water to be seen , cafion that it was only a side rather than the outlet to the valley . On a e the other h nd , the gentl slope of the valley wall on the south with a wide lateral valley might easily lead to the belief, as evidently enter - 17

tained by Emory , that the river passed through between these hills on

. a o a the south side of the valley . When ls it is remembered th t the Americans were greatly handicapped while making their way acros s the b valley floor, since the mounted Californians , not far away , were pro f ' ably already preparing or an attac , there can be little wonder that Emory did not succeed in determining the exact cours e of the river n M chan el . Later from the summit of Battle ountain these points could not be determined . Based upon the exceedingly valuable map Of Emory and the informa tion contained in the numerous other contemporary accounts there can be but little doubt but that the sites of the three engagements can be located with all the accuracy required in cavalry battles such as these were , and that the land accepted by the State Of California as a gift a from William G . Hensh w and Colonel Ed Fletcher under the provisions

f of 1919 a 272 t f o the Statutes , ch pter , is the true si e of the battle o 1 46 6 8 . December , E E D E O R A S U G G S T M M I L .

Many methods have been suggested as suitable me ans of marking this

s battle site . Probably the be t is that prepared by Colonel E d Fletcher , one o of who f the donors the site , recommends the construction of a

o of c mmunity house built adobe and tile , with a suitable boulder marked

a and pl ced in a good location in front of the building , with a tablet

' callm ent ommem r n g attention to the ev c o ated . An i scription either upon the boulder or on the walls of the hous e itself should give the n a ames of those killed and wounded . Action of this ch racter on the part of the State would not only mark the spot but also encourage the

a a local people to care for the surrounding l ndmarks . Assur nce has been given th at should the State see fit to make a small appropriation a a a toward suit ble memori l , the remainder would be raised within the county . R m espectfully sub itted ,

R RV Y MM N HISTO ICAL SU E CO ISSIO .

WE N Dir t r . COY ec o O C , . B B I LIO G RA PH Y .

RIN TE D MA T E RIAL S P .

H H s t r li rnia i o a o . N w Y 19 2 . . o C e o . Bancroft , H , y f f rk , 1

E w r F itz erald B eale 188 6 o d a d . . B nsal , Stephen , g n ue w M i an li ornia w C o s o N e ex Ca . N . t . co d e Cooke , P St George , q f f 18 7 Y 8 . ork ,

a M n u s t o C ali or nia a N ew Mexico . C o nd . Cutts , J mes , q e f f Philadelphia , 1847 .

’ F r mo n 4 9 e Y 19 4 nt . N w 1 S . e a d . Dellenbaugh , Frederick , ork ,

H N 01 8 o Mil t r R nnai s c 5 a i a eco s an e. Emory , William . , 3 f y Washington , 1848 .

H it ell H H is tor ali r ni 9 t . o C o a 18 8 , Theodore , y f f . San Francisco , . ’ D ni han s E x diti n T o e o . 1847 Hughes , John . , p p Cincinnati , ’ r - 19 4 L Kit Ca on D a s . 1 . s . Sabin , Edwin , y Chicago ,

MA N US CRIP T MA T E RIAL S .

N A n l a og . Botello , arciso ,

o H The B attle o S an P as ual C rnick , Homer . , f q .

s mma the a a s u ervi Thi excellent su ry of events of the b ttle , m de under the p C was a as a a sion of the ommission , used very l rgely the b sis of the historic l a a n rr tive .

F s d c Ca i ornia . C o as l . Coronel , Antonio , f

P ione D ta er a . Forster , John ,

M B Vida Milit r . a oreno , Juan , .

M H i t r li rn i d a o ia. . s o a C Osio , Antonio , o f

F Memoria Palomares , Jose . , .

R cuerd Vi V e os d o Un e o. ejar , Pablo , , j