The Battle of San Pasqual took place near what is now San Diego. It took place during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). This battle took place on 6-7 December 1946 and it was between American forces led by Brigadier General Stephen Kearny, a veteran of the War of 1812, and Mexican forces led by Major Andrés Pico.
Kearny led 150 members of the U.S. Army of the West, and a small detachment of the California Battalion. They engaged Pico and his 75 Californios and Presidial Lancers Los Galgos. In the end, the Americans lost 18 men, while 13 were wounded, including Kearny. Picos had 12 men wounded and one take captive.
General Kearny wrote that the American achieved victory since the Californios had fled. The Californios saw they engagement as their victory. Kearny had retained the battle area, the ability to operate and maneuver, and also the initiative, though his loses were significantly higher. However, his battle plan was not implemented, his ammunition was compromised, and he outran his artillery and support. One historian says the fact that Kearny claimed victory because Pico ran is ridiculous.
General Kearny went on the become the military governor of California from February to May 1847, but died the next year in St. Louis at the age of 54.
Major Pico was the acting governor of Mexican Alta California in 1847. U.S. commander Lieutenant-Colonel John C. Fremont approached Pico and both men agreed tot he terms of the Ceasefire of Cahuenga. This was an informal end to the war in California. The ceasefire was confirmed by the Treaty of San Fernando. Fremont and Pico became good friends afterwards.
Pico remained in California and was commissioned as a brigadier general in the California Militia in 1858. In 1860 he was elected to the California state legislature as a senator from Los Angeles. Pico died in 1876 in Los Angeles as an American citizen.
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