Near Prunedale in Monterey County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Battle of Natividad

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, January 16, 2010

1. Battle of Natividad Marker

Inscription. Combined American forces under Captains Charles D. Burrass (or Burroughs) and Bluford K. Thompson clashed with Comandante Manuel de Jesús Castro's Californians in this vicinity on November 16, 1846. Casualties on each side consisted of several men killed and wounded. The Americans saved a large herd of horses for Lt. Col. John C. Frémont, who then later proceeded south to participate in the Armistice at Cahuenga in January 1847.

California Registered Historical Landmark No. 651

Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the Monterey County Historical Society and the County of Monterey, November 16, 1958. Rededicated by Monterey-Viejo No. 1846, E Clampus Vitus, October 29, 1983.

Erected 1958 by California State Park Commission, Monterey County Historical Society, County of Monterey. (Marker Number 651.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • War, Mexican-American. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1847.

Location. 36° 46.379′ N, 121° 36.217′ W. Marker is near Prunedale, California, in Monterey County. Marker is at the intersection of San Juan Grade Road and Crazy Horse Canyon Road on San Juan Grade Road. Touch for map

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. Marker is in this post office area: Salinas CA 93907, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Natividad (approx. 2.8 miles away); A Changing World (approx. 5.6 miles away); Fremont Peak (approx. 5.6 miles away); Fremont Peak Memorial (approx. 5.6 miles away); John Charles Fremont (approx. 5.6 miles away); San Juan Bautista WW II Veterans (approx. 6 miles away); Patrick and Margaret Breen (approx. 6 miles away); Campo Santo (approx. 6 miles away).

Also see . . . Battle of Natividad, by the California State Military Museum. "The Battle of the Natividad (November 16, 1846). While San Juan Bautista was the marshaling area for Fremont’s forces, a scouting party of 50 men was attacked by a 15 man force of Mexican Californios on the Rancho Natividad in the Salinas Valley. The Californios were attempting to capture some horses. A battle ensued in which the Californio force killed 3 Americans and wounded seven. The Californios suffered no dead and 5 wounded. As a great number of American reinforcements approached, the Californios retreated as night fell.

The Native-American detachment fighting for the Americans fought aggressively and bravely, which the Californio force had not expected. This became known as the Battle of Natividad. The Battle of Natividad was important because although only a skirmish, the Americans were able to keep
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, January 16, 2010

2. Battle of Natividad Marker - Wide View
their horses and therefore deliver them in a timely manner to Colonel Fremont and his hard-pressed rifle battalions in Southern California." (Submitted on January 19, 2010.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 2,016 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 19, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.