Battle of Dominguez Rancho
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Dominguez Rancho or The Battle of the Old Woman's Gun (October 8–9, 1846) was a military engagement of the Mexican-American War. The battle took place within Manuel Dominguez
's 75000 acres (303.5 km²) Rancho San Pedro
.
, leading fifty Californio
Lancer
troops, successfully held off an invasion of Pueblo de Los Angeles
by some 200 United States Marines, under the command of US Navy Captain William Mervine
, who was attempting to recapture the town after the Siege of Los Angeles
. During the battle, four US Marines were killed and twelve were wounded. Ten US troops died of their wounds on Snake Island, Terminal Island
, the following day. The Californios suffered no casualties.
By strategically running horses across the dusty Dominguez hills in the area now known as Dominguez Hills
and Carson
, while transporting their single small cannon to various sites, Carrillo and his troops convinced the Americans they had encountered a large enemy force. Faced with heavy casualties and the superior horsemanship fighting skills displayed by the militia "Lancers", the remaining Marines were forced to retreat to their ships berthed in San Pedro Bay
.
Manuel Dominguez
Manuel Dominguez , born at the Mission San Juan Capistrano in Alta California, Viceroyalty of New Spain, and was the heir to the vast Rancho San Pedro land grant.-Juan Jose Dominguez:...
's 75000 acres (303.5 km²) Rancho San Pedro
Rancho San Pedro
Rancho San Pedro was one of the first California land grants, and the first to win a patent from the United States. The land grant was validated by the Mexican government at in 1828, and a US patent validating was issued in 1858...
.
Battle
Captain José Antonio CarrilloJosé Antonio Carrillo
Captain José Antonio Ezequiel Carrillo was a Californio rancher, officer, and politician in the early years of Mexican Alta California and U.S...
, leading fifty Californio
Californio
Californio is a term used to identify a Spanish-speaking Catholic people, regardless of race, born in California before 1848...
Lancer
Lancer
A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used in mounted warfare by the Assyrians as early as and subsequently by Greek, Persian, Gallic, Han-Chinese, nomadic and Roman horsemen...
troops, successfully held off an invasion of Pueblo de Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
by some 200 United States Marines, under the command of US Navy Captain William Mervine
William Mervine
William Mervine was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, whose career included service in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, who was attempting to recapture the town after the Siege of Los Angeles
Siege of Los Angeles
The Siege of Los Angeles was a military occupation by the United States Marines of the Pueblo de Los Angeles during the Mexican-American war.-Occupation:...
. During the battle, four US Marines were killed and twelve were wounded. Ten US troops died of their wounds on Snake Island, Terminal Island
Terminal Island
Terminal Island is an island located in Los Angeles County, California between Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. Originally a mudflat known to the Spanish as Isla Raza de Buena Gente, and later called Rattlesnake Island, it has officially been Terminal Island since 1918...
, the following day. The Californios suffered no casualties.
By strategically running horses across the dusty Dominguez hills in the area now known as Dominguez Hills
Dominguez Hills (mountain range)
The Dominguez Hills are a low mountain range in the Transverse Ranges, in southern Los Angeles County, California.They are between the Baldwin Hills and Palos Verdes Peninsula.-See also:*California State University, Dominguez Hills*Manuel Dominguez...
and Carson
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
, while transporting their single small cannon to various sites, Carrillo and his troops convinced the Americans they had encountered a large enemy force. Faced with heavy casualties and the superior horsemanship fighting skills displayed by the militia "Lancers", the remaining Marines were forced to retreat to their ships berthed in San Pedro Bay
San Pedro Bay (California)
San Pedro Bay is an inlet on the Pacific Ocean coast of southern California, United States. It is the site of the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, which together form the fifth-busiest port facility in the world and easily the busiest in the Western Hemisphere...
.
See also
- Dominguez Rancho AdobeDominguez Rancho AdobeThe Dominguez Rancho Adobe is California Historical Landmark Number 152, and in 1976 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior....
- Rancho San PedroRancho San PedroRancho San Pedro was one of the first California land grants, and the first to win a patent from the United States. The land grant was validated by the Mexican government at in 1828, and a US patent validating was issued in 1858...
- Rancho San Pedro
- List of conflicts in the United States
- Battles of the Mexican-American WarBattles of the Mexican-American WarThe battles of the Mexican–American War include all major engagements and most reported skirmishes, including Thornton's Defeat, the Battle of Palo Alto, and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, which took place prior to the official start of hostilities....
External links
- A History of California: The American Period. Robert Glass Cleland. Published 1922. The Macmillan company. 512 pages
- California History, Bancroft - http://www.1st-hand-history.org/Hhb/HHBindex.htm