San Pasqual Battlefield

June 22, 1993 San Diego County CA
Coming from Santa Ysabel, seventh of nine landmarks in the series and thinking maybe nine locations is too aggressive. The San Diego Wild Animal Park sits right next door.

Historical events often come wrapped neatly over time like this event at San Pasqual, but in truth the situation in this part of California was as clouded as the battlefield in those days before smokeless gunpowder. For instance, a U.S. citizen, Jonathon T. Warner (Warner’s ranch) had an 1844 land grant of over 40,000 acres in the area and little interest in conflict, and could and did thrive under Mexican or American rule. Other European born non American citizen landowners like my better half’s family got the shaft when the Americans prevailed and land grants were often not honored. American soldiers were often met with indifference, and it has been said that Pico’s army got a heads up that Kearny’s men were camped nearby. After this battle, the Americans along with Kit Carson and Edward Beale withdrew to a hill near Escondido taking heavy loses again…the ‘Mule Hill’ landmark, story, and song is down the line.

NO. 533 SAN PASQUAL BATTLEFIELD STATE HISTORIC PARK - While marching to the conquest and occupation of California during the Mexican War, a detachment of 1st U.S. Dragoons under the command of Brigadier General Stephen W. Kearny was met on this site by native California lancers under the command of General Andrés Pico. In this battle, fought on December 6, 1846, severe losses were incurred by the American forces. The native Californians withdrew after Kearny had rallied his men on the field. Gallant action on the part of both forces characterized the Battle of San Pasqual, one of the significant actions during the Mexican War of 1846-1848.
Location: San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, State Hwy 78 (P.M. 25.1) at

Old Pasqual Rd

, 7 mi SE of Escondido