US ResearchConflictsMexican-American WarCaliforniaBattle of San Pasqual (California)
Mexican-American War

Battle of San Pasqual (California)

1846
California
Era
Mexican-American War
Year
1846
Location
California
Status
Verified engagement
The Battle

History & Significance

Battle of San Pasqual (California) was a Mexican-American War engagement fought in California, 1846. It was a Californio victory.

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park honors the soldiers who fought in the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, the bloodiest battle in California during the Mexican-American War. The battle was fought between United States troops under the command of General Stephen Kearny, and the Californio forces under the command of General Andres Pico on December 6, 1846.

The Native Sons of the Golden West were instrumental in raising money, preserving and ultimately creating the park which was then given to the state of California. It is now a California State Park as well as a California Historical Landmark. The 50-acre (200,000 m2) park is next to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, at San Pasqual Valley Road, south of Escondido, California, on Highway 78 in San Diego County.

The park is open only on weekends, and features a visitor center with displays about the cultural history of the San Pasqual Valley, exhibits, and a movie about the battle. Living history presentations are held at the park, with volunteers from the San Pasqual Battlefield Volunteer Association.

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park - official site

Result
Californio victory
Forces engaged
United States troops under the command of General Stephen Kearny, and the Californio forces under the command of General Andres Pico
Casualties
~25 total
Outcome
The series of military skirmishes ended with both sides claiming victory, and the victor of the battle is still debated. After US reinforcements arrived, Kearny's troops were able to reach San Diego.

Approximate location. The nearest recorded settlement is shown; the exact site is unrecorded.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Battle of San Pasqual (California) take place?
Battle of San Pasqual (California) took place in 1846.
Where was Battle of San Pasqual (California) fought?
Battle of San Pasqual (California) was fought in California, United States.
What was the significance of Battle of San Pasqual (California)?
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park honors the soldiers who fought in the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, the bloodiest battle in California during the Mexican-American War. The battle was fought between United States troops under the command of General Stephen Kearny, and the Californio forces
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Everything a full report reveals about Battle of San Pasqual (California)

This page covers Battle of San Pasqual (California). A full Aubrey report for the area pulls together this battle alongside historic sites, land records, and everything else the record holds within a few miles:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Battle of San Pasqual (California)

Beach, A.H., House
Industrial · 5.4 mi
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Battle of Natividad
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Battle of San Diego Dec 1846
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All battles in CaliforniaMexican-American Warconflicts ›Historic sites in California
Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Wikipedia source.

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