Battle of San Pasqual - Prelude

Prelude

Captain Archibald Gillespie's message from Stockton informed Kearny of the presence at San Pasqual of a force of about 100 Californio Lancers mounted on fresh horses led by Captain Leonardo Cota. The Americans did not expect the Californios to be formidable adversaries, but Kearny still wanted to capitalize on a surprise attack if at all possible and capture the Californios' horse herd. He also wanted more exact information about the enemy force in preparation for an attack the following morning.

Lieutenant Thomas C. Hammond, together with a Californio, the 21 year old Rafael Machado and son of Don José Manuel Machado the grantee of the El Rosarito Ranch, and a detachment of six dragoons (light cavalry)—one report says three dragoons and still another eleven—were ordered to scout Pico's position, which was located in a small Indian village in San Pasqual Valley. While Rafael snuck into the camp to gain intelligence - Hammond became impatient and mistakenly rode too close to the camp and the sound of the horses' hooves in mud alerted Rafael's sister's brother-in-law and his future father-in-law Captain Jose Alipas who had arrived with a small force with Captain Leonardo Cota, and José María Ibarra the Californio standing guard. While Rafael quickly ran back to Hammond's scouting party, Alipas sounded the alarm but was dismissed by General Pico until a US Army blanket and Dragoon coat was discovered on the edge of camp by Pablo Véjar. The element of surprise was lost and the dragoons were chased by the Californios to the top of the adjacent ridge top with screams of 'Viva California!'. At midnight Kearny ordered an immediate advance. It had rained that night. Men, muskets, pistols and equipment were wet and cold, but the troops after over six months without any action were eager to engage the Californios. Early in the morning of December 6, 1846, the column proceeded by twos across the ridge between Santa Maria (present day Ramona, California) and San Pasqual. During the descent, while it was still dark and with a low lying fog, Kearny's force became strung out, and were caught in a disadvantageous position by General Pico's swift advance.