Battle of Natividad

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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.