Battle of Santa Clara (1847)

The Battle of Santa Clara, nicknamed the "Battle of the Mustard Stalks", was a skirmish during the Mexican–American War, fought on January 2, 1847, 2+12 miles west of Mission Santa Clara de Asís in California.

Battle of Santa Clara
Part of the Conquest of California
Mexican–American War

U.S. Marines arriving in Santa Clara
DateJanuary 2, 1847
Location
Santa Clara, California
Result American victory
Belligerents
Mexico United States
Commanders and leaders
Francisco Sánchez Ward Marston
James F. Reed
Strength
80 Lanceros 120 volunteers, reinforced by U.S. Marines & Sailors
Casualties and losses
4 killed
5 wounded
2 wounded
Sánchez surrendered January 6 to the Americans

In late December, the former Californio military commander of Yerba Buena and a rancher from the San Mateo peninsula, Francisco Sanchez, imprisoned the American Mayor of Yerba Buena, Washington Bartlett, and five of his men, who were all engaged in a foraging raid on the peninsula. After receiving the news of the abduction on December 29, Commodore Montgomery in San Francisco ordered Marine Captain Ward Marston to rescue Bartlett and his men. It was the only engagement of its type in Northern California during the war.

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