Battle of La Paz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of La Paz
Part of the Pacific Coast Campaign
La Paz disposition of forces in 1847
Date November 16–17, 1847 Location La Paz, Baja California Sur 24°08′N 110°18′W / 24.133°N 110.300°W / 24.133; -110.300 Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Henry S. Burton	Manuel Pineda Munoz
Strength
115 infantry	200 militia
Casualties and losses
1 killed	6 killed

The Battle of La Paz was a fight during the Pacific Coast Campaign of the Mexican–American War. It happened on November 16 and 17, 1847. In this battle, soldiers from the United States Army fought against Mexican local fighters, who were led by officers from the Mexican Army. The American forces won this battle.

What Led to the Battle?

In late September 1847, Captain Manuel Pineda of the Mexican Army started gathering a large group of local fighters. These fighters were farmers and ranchers. Their goal was to protect the Gulf of California area of Mexico from the invading United States military. Hundreds of men joined Pineda's group.

In March and April 1847, a group of American volunteer soldiers from New York State arrived in San Francisco, California. Their job was to help the United States Navy and marines. These forces were taking over different Mexican ports. The New York soldiers were also meant to capture ports themselves.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. Burton of the United States Army was in charge of these soldiers. On May 30, 1847, Burton received orders to sail on a warship called the USS Lexington. He was to take two companies of soldiers to La Paz and capture it.

American Soldiers Arrive in La Paz

On July 21, 115 American soldiers from the New York Volunteers landed peacefully at La Paz. Lieutenant E. Gould Buffum, one of the soldiers, later wrote about the city. He said the houses were made of adobe (a type of mud brick), painted white, and had roofs made from palm tree leaves. He found them very cool. The whole beach was lined with palm, date, fig, tamarind, and coconut trees, full of tasty fruit.

After another battle called the Battle of Mulegé, Captain Pineda became the leader of the local Mexican resistance. He set up a temporary capital in San Antonio. He started collecting taxes to pay for defense. Pineda also began resistance efforts in other towns like San Jose del Cabo, Comondu, and Mulege. He took supplies from anyone who supported the Americans. By November, Pineda had between 300 and 500 fighters gathered at San Antonio.

Before leaving to capture another city called Mazatlán, an American commander named William Shubrick landed 4 sailors and 20 marines at San Jose del Cabo on November 11.

Preparing for Defense

Burton's soldiers in La Paz set up their defenses in two houses. These houses were on a flat area that overlooked the town, on the south side of a dry creek bed called The Arroyo. They built a low wall of palm logs in front of the officer's house. This wall was for their cannons. The soldiers also used palm logs to block off the space between the officer's quarters, the church, and another house on the west side of town.

The Battle Begins

At 2 AM on November 16, Captain Pineda's group of 200 men attacked the American soldiers in La Paz. They attacked from the north side of The Arroyo with their foot soldiers. Their cavalry (soldiers on horseback) waited in the east and south, ready to charge.

Pineda's men fired at the Americans for about an hour before stopping. They waited until 9 AM to try advancing again, but their attack slowed down by 2 PM. Pineda, with 50 men, managed to burn the house of the former governor, Francisco Palacios de Miranda. They also briefly took over a house in the lower part of town. However, the Americans fired special cannon shots that forced them to retreat. Six Mexican fighters were killed.

On the morning of November 17, the American cannon fire drove some Mexican fighters from another house. After this, the Americans destroyed the houses on the north side of The Arroyo. They also made their defensive walls stronger and reinforced the roofs of the houses they occupied.

After the Battle

Pineda's men pulled back from the battle. However, they continued to stay near the American soldiers' position. This eventually led to another event called the Siege of La Paz.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de La Paz para niños