Battle of La Mesa

Battle of La Mesa
Part of the Mexican-American War
Date January 9, 1847 Location Vernon, California Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Robert F. Stockton Stephen Watts Kearny	José Mariá Flores
Strength
457	600
Casualties and losses
1 killed 5 wounded	15 killed 25 wounded

The Battle of La Mesa of the Mexican-American War occurred on January 9, 1847, in present-day Vernon, California, the day after the Battle of Rio San Gabriel during the California Campaign.

Background

After crossing the river, the American troops advanced to meet Flores' 300-strong force of Californio militia near a ravine where the city of Vernon now stands.

Battle

At La Mesa, the outgunned Californios killed one American and wounded five others in the force commanded jointly by Commodore Robert F. Stockton and General Stephen Watts Kearny. The American force was largely on foot but had rifles, while the Californios fought on horseback with only lances. In the battle, the Californios suffered 15 dead and 25 wounded. After a day of charging and outflanking the American soldiers, the Californios fell back in exhaustion and camped at present-day Pasadena, ceding Los Angeles to Stockton's forces.

Aftermath

The battle was the last armed resistance to the American advance in California, and General José Mariá Flores returned to Mexico. The conquest and annexation of Alta California was settled with the signing of the Treaty of Cahuenga by US Army Lieutenant-Colonel John C. Frémont and Californio General Andres Pico on January 13, 1847.

See also

• List of conflicts in the United States
• Battles of the Mexican-American War

References

• Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1882). The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft. San Francisco: A.L. Bancroft & Co. ISBN 2539133.