Skirmish of Todos Santos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skirmish of Todos Santos |
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| Part of the Mexican–American War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Mexico |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Henry S. Burton Henry M. Naglee |
Mauricio Castro Cota | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 172 infantry, 45 mounted infantry | 200 to 300 Mexicans and Yaqui Indians | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| none | 10 (7 officers, and 103 soldiers captured) | ||||||
The Skirmish of Todos Santos happened on March 30, 1848. It was the very last fight of the Mexican–American War in Baja California. This battle ended about eighteen months of fighting in the area.
Contents
Raids and Reinforcements
After the Siege of San José del Cabo was over, Colonel Henry S. Burton wanted to attack Captain Manuel Pineda's base. This base was in San Antonio.
Surprise Attack on San Antonio
On March 15, 1848, Captain Seymour G. Steele and Lieutenant Henry Halleck led a small group of 34 men. They surprised the Mexican forces in San Antonio. They freed American prisoners who had been captured earlier. Captain Pineda barely escaped, leaving in his night clothes.
New Troops Arrive
Meanwhile, more American soldiers were on their way. The military governor, Richard B. Mason, sent 114 new recruits. These soldiers were from the 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers. They were led by Captain Henry ("Black Jack") Naglee. They sailed from Monterey, California to La Paz. They arrived on March 22, 1848. With these new troops, Colonel Burton had enough men. He could now move against the enemy without leaving La Paz unprotected.
March to Todos Santos
Colonel Burton decided to go after the Mexican forces. He wanted to stop them from gathering more strength.
Capturing Manuel Pineda
On March 26, Colonel Burton, along with Captain Naglee and Lt. Halleck, set out. They had 217 men with them. Their goal was San Antonio again. The next day, a small group of 15 Americans surprised the Mexican forces once more. This time, they successfully captured the Mexican commander, Manuel Pineda.
Heading to Todos Santos
Colonel Burton learned that the Mexican forces were gathering. They were under the command of Mauricio Castro. They were at Todos Santos. They planned to retreat toward Magdalena Bay. This bay was about fifty-five miles southwest of La Paz. Burton quickly moved to attack them before they could get away.
The Skirmish of Todos Santos
On March 30, Burton's group got close to Todos Santos. Burton sent Captain Naglee and 45 mounted soldiers to attack the Mexican force from behind.
The Battle Begins
The Americans learned that the Mexican soldiers were hiding. They were in thick bushes along the road. So, Burton led his men along a high ridge instead. From there, they could see the enemy. There were about 200 to 300 Mexican and Yaqui Indian fighters. The Mexican force moved back to a hill overlooking Burton's men.
An American soldier named William Redmond Ryan described the fight. He said they marched through sand and prickly bushes. They were very thirsty. But they kept going because they could see Todos Santos. He saw the enemy on hills, waving their flags. As the Americans climbed the hill, the fighting became intense.
Charging the Enemy
Ryan also described how some American soldiers charged into a thick forest. They fought hard against the hidden Mexican sharpshooters. They pushed them out of the forest. After the Mexicans had been fighting for a while, Naglee's company attacked them from behind. This surprise attack caused the Mexican forces to scatter by 5:30 PM. Colonel Burton reported that ten Mexican soldiers were lost in this fight. The Americans had no losses.
After the Battle
After the skirmish, Todos Santos was safe. The American soldiers were hungry. They ate sugar cane and green corn from nearby fields.
Naglee's Pursuit Mission
Burton sent Naglee and fifty men toward Magdalena Bay. This was about 150 miles northwest. Their mission was to stop any enemy soldiers trying to escape. Meanwhile, Burton took his remaining forces back to La Paz. He brought the captured prisoners with him. These included Captain Pineda, six other officers, and 103 soldiers. Burton arrived back in La Paz on April 7.
Naglee's group returned on April 12. They had marched 350 miles over difficult paths. Most of the enemy had escaped them. Naglee only captured five Mexican soldiers. He also surprised a camp of sleeping Yaqui people. Two of them were taken prisoner. Close to La Paz, Naglee gave an order about these two captives. This order went against his instructions. He was later called to a military court hearing.
An American soldier, William Redmond Ryan, wrote about this event. He said that the men were surprised by Naglee's actions. He mentioned that one captive was a Yaqui and the other was from La Paz. The captive's mother and sister were very sad. Many soldiers felt that the captives should have had a fair process, especially since they were at headquarters. They felt this event made them look cruel.
Colonel Mason, the military governor, later ordered Naglee to be arrested. However, Naglee was not punished. President Polk gave a pardon to military and navy people who had acted during wartime.
What Happened Next
By April 5, more prisoners were brought in. These included Mauricio Castro, a political leader. They were captured by an expedition led by Lt. George L. Selden. Other officers also brought in more prisoners. Among them was Padre Gabriel Gonzalez. He was considered a very smart and strong leader. The Americans feared him more than other military leaders. The captured prisoners were sent to Mazatlan. They were later released. The American volunteers stayed in Baja California without trouble. They eventually returned to Alta California and were released from duty.
See also
In Spanish: Escaramuza de Todos Santos para niños
