Battle of Natividad.html

Battle of Natividad

Date	November 16, 1846
Location	Salinas Valley, California
Result	American victory

Belligerents

United States

Mexico

Strength

Casualties and losses

3 killed
7 wounded

5 wounded

v • d • e

Mexican-American War

Thornton Affair – Fort Texas – Palo Alto – Resaca de la Palma – Monterey – Cañoncito – Santa Fe – Monterrey – 1st Tabasco – Siege of Los Angeles – Battle of Dominguez Rancho – Natividad – 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–Santa Cruz de Rosales

The Battle of the Natividad took place on November 16, 1846, during the Mexican-American War.

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..^{citation needed}

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.