Siege of Los Angeles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Los Angeles
Part of the Conquest of California Mexican–American War
San Pedro Bay, 1900.
Date September 22–30, 1846 Location Los Angeles, Alta California, Result Mexican victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Robert F. Stockton John C. Fremont Archibald H. Gillespie	José María Castro José María Flores José Antonio Carrillo Andrés Pico
Strength
48[a]	150 militia[a]
Casualties and losses
None	None

The Siege of Los Angeles was an important event during the Mexican–American War. It happened when armed Mexican citizens fought back against the U.S. Marines who had taken over Los Angeles in August 1846. This event is also known as the Battle of Los Angeles.

Why the Siege Happened

After the Battle of Monterey, American forces controlled northern California. However, General José María Castro and Governor Pío Pico planned to resist in the southern part of the state, especially around Los Angeles.

Commodore Robert F. Stockton arrived in Monterey Bay on July 15. He took command of the American forces. Stockton accepted the "Bear Flag" revolutionaries, led by Major John C. Frémont, as part of his army, calling them the California Battalion.

Stockton then placed troops in several towns like Sonoma, San Juan Bautista, Santa Clara, and Sutter's Fort. His plan was to stop Castro's forces from moving south. Commander Samuel Francis Du Pont took Fremont's men by ship to San Diego. Stockton himself landed troops at San Pedro to march overland towards Castro. Fremont's group reached San Diego on July 29 and San Pedro on August 6.

Americans Take Over Los Angeles

After a meeting, General Castro decided to leave California. He went to Sonora, Mexico, with Governor Pico and some supporters on August 11. The rest of his army went to Rancho San Pascual.

On August 13, 1846, Commodore Stockton led his soldiers into Los Angeles. Fremont's troops followed soon after. The next day, August 14, the remaining Californio army (local Mexican residents) surrendered.

Mexican Resistance Begins

Stockton left a group of 48 soldiers in Los Angeles. Captain Archibald H. Gillespie was in charge of these troops. However, Gillespie's soldiers were not very disciplined. Also, many people in the area still supported Mexico. This made the situation difficult for the American forces.

The Siege of Los Angeles

On September 23, a group of 20 Mexican citizens, led by Cerbulo Varela, started fighting the Americans at Government House. This sparked a bigger uprising in Los Angeles.

The next day, September 24, about 150 Californios gathered. They were organized by José María Flores, a Mexican officer who had stayed in California. Gillespie's American forces were surrounded. Gillespie sent a messenger, Juan "Flaco" Brown, to Commodore Stockton to ask for help.

Gillespie's men moved to Fort Hill on September 28. But they had no water, so they had to surrender the next day. The agreement was that Gillespie's soldiers would leave Los Angeles. They did so on September 30, 1846, boarding an American ship called the Vandalia.

After this, Flores quickly removed the remaining American troops from southern California.

See also

In Spanish: Sitio de Los Ángeles para niños