REFLECTION PAPER: STAFF RIDE- BATTLE OF SAN PASQUAL The Battle of San Pasqual, also spelled San Pascual, was a military encounter that occurred during the Mexican-American War in what is now the San Pasqual Valley community of the city of San Diego, California. The series of military skirmishes ended with both sides claiming victory, and the victor of the battle is still debated. On December 6 and December 7, 1846, General Stephen W. Kearny's US Army of the West, along with a small detachment of the California Battalion led by a Marine Lieutenant, engaged a small contingent of Californios and their Presidial Lancers Los Galgos (The Greyhounds), led by Major Andrés Pico. After U.S. reinforcements arrived, Kearny's troops were able to reach …show more content…
President James Polk sent the U.S. Army, 1st U.S. Dragoons almost immediately, under the command of Stephan Watts Kearny, west from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to California. It was considered at the time the longest U.S. military march in history. Almost 2000 miles later, on December 6, 1846, these soldiers engaged in combat with a group of Mexican cowboys called caballeros at a place now called “San Pasqual”. The small group of about 100 Mexicans, then called Californios, (and nicknamed the Greyhounds) engaged approximately 100 Americans (of a 169 men force), most of which were comprised, at the time, of one of the most elite fighting units in the United States Military Arsenal, the 1st U.S. Dragoons. The Mexicans fought ferociously against the foreign aggressors and, despite being out-gunned, inflicted tremendous casualties against the Americans. In less than an hour, the battlefield found at least 19 Americans and possibly six Mexicans dead and over thirty wounded …show more content…
Later, Major Andrés Pico, after a failed search for a detachment of U.S. soldiers, joined forces with the captains and took command. These Californios led a force consisting of landowners, sons of landowners, and vaqueros, many with well-known and respected family names in the community Having lost the element of surprise, at midnight Kearny ordered an immediate advance. It had rained that night. Men, muskets, pistols and equipment were wet and cold, but the troops, after over six months without any action, were eager to engage the Californios. Early in the morning of December 6, 1846, the column proceeded by twos across the ridge between Santa Maria (present day Ramona, California) and San Pasqual. During the descent, while it was still dark and with a low-lying fog, Kearny's force became strung out and were caught in a disadvantageous position by General Pico's swift
The battle of Gettysburg occurred over three hot summer days, July 1 to July 3, 1863, around the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It began as a meeting engagement, but by its end involved approximately 170,000 Americans. The battle is considered to be the turning point in the American Civil War and is one of the most studied battles in American history. The events that took place at Gettysburg had a tremendous impact on the outcome of the Civil War and the fate of the United States.
This book by Otis A. Singletary deals with different aspects of the Mexican war. It is a compelling description and concise history of the first successful offensive war in United States military history. The work examines two countries that were unprepared for war. The political intrigues and quarrels in appointing the military commanders, as well as the military operations of the war, are presented and analyzed in detail. The author also analyzes the role that the Mexican War played in bringing on the U.S. Civil War.
Santa Anna was a marvelous war hero and even addressed himself as “the Napoleon of the West.” With this confidence and his experience as a leader and war hero, it was a surprise to everyone when he lost the Battle of San Jacinto against the Texicans. There were many factors at play leading to this loss. Had Santa Anna been smarter and more careful with his leadership and his war strategies, his loss could have been avoided; the battle all together could have even been avoided.
San Antonio, Texas-- The Battle of the Alamo, a battle in San Antonio, against the Mexicans broke out, marks the most important of the battles so far during the Texas fight for independence. The battle began on February 23, 1836 and ended two days ago on March 6, 1836, lasting for 13 days. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, leader of the Mexican force, planned to seize the fort with an army of thousands. Unprepared, the Texans had an army of around 200 men, including well- known congressman David Crockett and James Bowie and not so well-known William Barret Travis.
General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks. In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes.
A small skirmish broke out among some restless soldiers and the Mexican lancers. The Texans had two injured and several horses lost, but the Mexicans' twelve-pound cannon, the Golden Standard, was stranded on the battlefield. The rest of the afternoon was quiet, except for occasional rifle ...
U.S. forces and signaling the end of the Indian wars in the Southwest. Geronimo and a band
The Civil War split our nation, Americans fighting Americans, brother against brother. The war lasted four long years, a key battle fought westward was the turning point in the war: the Battle of Vicksburg.
The Bear Flag Revolt was the act of settlers trying to overturn the Mexican government in California led by John C. Fremont. In opposition of the Mexican government, the settlers rose the Bear Flag and red star. The Bear Flag Revolt shows the first signs of hostility towards Mexicans in California as a group (insert citation). Following the years after Mexican War, Americans would follow similar uprising against the Mexicans in group action. The Cart War happened in 1857 due to ethnic and racial hostilities of Texans towards the Mexican Americans that resided there. There was also anger over the fact the the Mexican Texans felt sympathy for the black slaves. Mexicans had made a business from hauling food and merchandise using oxcarts, that went faster than their anglo counterparts. Anglo Americans in mob fashion destroyed the Mexican’s oxcarts,
Bauer, K. Jack. “Mexican War,” Handbook of Texas Online, last modified June 15, 2010, accessed May 2, 2014, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qdm02
él Californio: Don Alejandro Vásquez a great uncle of José, very stubborn old man who stayed in California after the war, as far as he was concerned he was still in México.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, President William McKinley sent a telegram to Governor Miguel A. Otero, Jr., at Santa Fe, asking him to assist in recruiting stalwart young men who were good shots and good riders. Otero, the first Hispanic to serve as governor of the territory, knew he was on the spot. “Many newspapers in the East,” he later told an interviewer, “were dubious about our loyalty we having such a large Mexican population.” Hoping to lay suspicions to rest, Governor Otero issued a call to every town and ranch in the territory for volunteers and offered his own services, if needed. The response from both Hispanics and Anglos was so generous that afterward Theodore Roosevelt would claim that half the officers and men of his famous Rough Riders Regiment came from New
This group of soldiers, led by Theodore Roosevelt, was one of the most memorable army units in United States history. Consisting of sheriffs, outlaws, students, and Native Americans this unit was definitely a miss-match of people, yet what they had accomplished brought them fame in America. Fighting in battles like that of Las Guasimas and San Juan Hill had been key points throughout the campaign in Cuba against Spain, and grew the notoriety of the Rough Riders. This reputation would eventually lead the Rough Riders into the history books and Theodore Roosevelt into the White House.
The Battle of Khe Sanh was a battle for the military base at Khe Sanh, which, for a time, was a much needed station that could benefit either side greatly. It was because of this knowledge that General Westmoreland put such of a great number of men and supplies at the position—for he knew there would be battle for this location. General Westmoreland stationed the 26th Marine Regiment at the base. By 1968, there were about 6,000 Marines stationed at the location. This meant that, in all, there were over 20,000 Americans defending this area. It was because of these preparations that the Americans were able to survive. The Battle of Khe Sanh was not suddenly sprung on the U.S. forces, it was anticipated and preparations were made.
?Spanish-American War and Philippine Resistance.?? U.S. Department of the Army:? Army Area Handbooks.? 1993.? St. Louis.? Online.? UM-St. Louis Libraries.? Internet 12 Mar. 2000.? Available gopher://gopher.umsl.edu/00/library/govdocs/armyahbs/aahb4/aahb0247.