Battle of Natividad
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| Battle of Natividad | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mexican-American War | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
| United States | Mexico | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 50 | 15 | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| 3 killed 7 wounded |
5 wounded | ||||||
| Mexican–American War |
|---|
| Fort Texas – Palo Alto – Resaca de la Palma – Cañoncito – Santa Fe – Monterrey – 1st Tabasco – San Pasqual – El Brazito – Rio San Gabriel – La Mesa – Cañada – Mora – Embudo Pass – Pueblo de Taos – Buena Vista – Sacramento – Veracruz – Cerro Gordo – Tuxpan – 2nd Tabasco – Contreras – Churubusco – Molino del Rey – Chapultepec – Mexico City – Huamantla – Puebla |
The Battle of the Natividad took place on November 16, 1846, during the Mexican-American War.
[edit] Battle
While San Juan Bautista was the marshaling area for Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont’s forces, a scouting party of 50 men was attacked by a 15-man force of Mexican Californios on the Rancho Natividad in the Salinas Valley. The Californios were attempting to capture some horses. A battle ensued in which the Californio force killed 3 Americans and wounded seven. The Californios suffered no dead and 5 wounded. As a great number of American re-enforcements approached, the Californios retreated as night fell. The Indian detachment fighting for the Americans fought aggressively and bravely, which the Californio force had not expected.
[edit] Aftermath
The battle was important because although it was only a skirmish, the Americans were able to keep their horses and therefore deliver them in a timely manner to Frémont and his hard-pressed rifle battalions in Southern California.
