General Andres Pico LbNA #21514
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 13, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | San Pasqual |
| County: | San Diego |
| State: | California |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | PenGwen  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Silent Doug |
| Last found: | May 7, 2009 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFaFF |
| Last edited: | Apr 13, 2006 |
2/22/2009 confirmed okay.
General Stephen W Kearney and his ‘Army of the West’ left Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and marched into Santa Fe, New Mexico at the outbreak of the Mexican/American war.
After seizing Santa Fe, he received orders to proceed to California and press on with utmost speed to Monterey and San Francisco. American presence was necessary to lay claim to that province.
Kearney kept some of his force in Santa Fe and struck out across the desert with 121 of his men and 37 Mountain men volunteers and Kit Carson as guide. The men were all riding mules on this long march to San Diego.
Very early in the morning of December 6th, 1846 the US force entered San Pasqual Valley. The weather was rainy and cold, and morale was low. Many of the mules were in terrible shape, as were the men.
Learning of the presence of a small band of Californos (some estimate 35 men) camped 6 miles ahead; Kearney sent a detachment ahead for scouting purposes. His plan was to learn their numbers and charge their camp in a surprise raid.
General Andes Pico (younger brother of Pio Pico) was camped with many of the local Californos and had very few firearms, but they were armed with 12-foot lances and rode their best horses. Unfortunately Pico’s men heard the scouts and broke camp deciding to leave the valley. Kearney’s scouts returned and told him they were leaving, and not wishing to miss a good fight, Kearney pursued his enemy.
Once Kearney’s men got close to the Californos someone yelled charge and General Pico seeing the ridiculous condition of the US forces, and their unorganized charge, he decided to turn around and make his own charge. This took Kearney’s troops by surprise and they scattered in panic.
Many times shear numbers in a battle mean very little as compared to organization, quality of weapons, and speed. Those qualities will generally win the day. The US troops had firearms that would not fire properly due to the rain, and their mules were slow and their tactics were unorganized. The Californos on the other hand were riding their best horses, knew the area, and used 12-foot lances rather than 4-foot sabers. The Californos were fresher, while the US Troops were at the end of a long tedious march. Kearney knew nothing of the way the Calfornos fought, and let his hubris cloud his judgment.
The actual battle lasted probably no more than 15 minutes, with the US having 21 killed and 17 severely wounded, including Kearney. Many of the higher officers were killed and injured first as they had been on the faster and better-conditioned mules, (they were out front).
Kearney regrouped his troops and made it to the top of a nearby hill. Pico surrounded the hill, but this siege wasn’t successful and Pico broke it off after a few days as US reinforcements were coming. The Californos suffered no losses of men.
Now who really won this battle?
By Kearney’s written report he claimed that he routed the Californos, and controlled the field of battle. In reality Kearney did everything wrong except his decision to retreat to the top of a hill where the mounted horsemen held no advantage, and he could wait for reinforcements.
Kearney’s performance (report writing) earned him a promotion, but probably should have earned him a court-martial for incompetence. He had a fort named in his honor, and you might have driven here on Kearney Mesa Rd. Even history can be twisted (spun) in favor of the loser.
Clues
Between Escondido and Ramona on Highway 78, the San Pasqual Battlefield State Park will be just east of the Wild Animal Park. Hours are 10 to 3 Saturday and Sunday, but the letterbox can be accessed any day. If the facility is closed you can park outside of the entry gate and take a short walk up to the start of the nature hike. Find the entrance to the nature hike near the amphitheater and head up hill. Go to the covered bench at the top with a nearby flagpole. From the most southern upright of the structure head downhill 36 steps in a south direction on a path. You will have a boulder cluster in front of you. The letterbox will be at your feet between two small boulders that are in front of a much larger prone boulder. There are some small thin rocks covering the letterbox.
After stamping in take a look around the valley and imagine the battle below, and Kearney and his troops eventually hunkered down at the location of the letterbox.
I was trying to imagine General Custer reading General Kearney’s report of this battle in a class at West Point and wondered if one poorly led adventure caused another. Both men seem to suffer the same ego problems.
When researching our clues please be aware that when previous searchers list “ATTEMPTED” on the clue sheets it may reflect more on their abilities as finders than indicate whether the box is viable or not. We do monitor our clues and boxes pretty well and appreciate the notes written to us by those that find or attempt our letterboxes.
Please contact placer directly or through the LBNA chat list regarding status rather than unofficial databases. Up to date status can only be ascertained from placer as other information services will not have current data. The placer does not appreciate listing information about this letterbox on unauthorized information services.
General Stephen W Kearney and his ‘Army of the West’ left Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and marched into Santa Fe, New Mexico at the outbreak of the Mexican/American war.
After seizing Santa Fe, he received orders to proceed to California and press on with utmost speed to Monterey and San Francisco. American presence was necessary to lay claim to that province.
Kearney kept some of his force in Santa Fe and struck out across the desert with 121 of his men and 37 Mountain men volunteers and Kit Carson as guide. The men were all riding mules on this long march to San Diego.
Very early in the morning of December 6th, 1846 the US force entered San Pasqual Valley. The weather was rainy and cold, and morale was low. Many of the mules were in terrible shape, as were the men.
Learning of the presence of a small band of Californos (some estimate 35 men) camped 6 miles ahead; Kearney sent a detachment ahead for scouting purposes. His plan was to learn their numbers and charge their camp in a surprise raid.
General Andes Pico (younger brother of Pio Pico) was camped with many of the local Californos and had very few firearms, but they were armed with 12-foot lances and rode their best horses. Unfortunately Pico’s men heard the scouts and broke camp deciding to leave the valley. Kearney’s scouts returned and told him they were leaving, and not wishing to miss a good fight, Kearney pursued his enemy.
Once Kearney’s men got close to the Californos someone yelled charge and General Pico seeing the ridiculous condition of the US forces, and their unorganized charge, he decided to turn around and make his own charge. This took Kearney’s troops by surprise and they scattered in panic.
Many times shear numbers in a battle mean very little as compared to organization, quality of weapons, and speed. Those qualities will generally win the day. The US troops had firearms that would not fire properly due to the rain, and their mules were slow and their tactics were unorganized. The Californos on the other hand were riding their best horses, knew the area, and used 12-foot lances rather than 4-foot sabers. The Californos were fresher, while the US Troops were at the end of a long tedious march. Kearney knew nothing of the way the Calfornos fought, and let his hubris cloud his judgment.
The actual battle lasted probably no more than 15 minutes, with the US having 21 killed and 17 severely wounded, including Kearney. Many of the higher officers were killed and injured first as they had been on the faster and better-conditioned mules, (they were out front).
Kearney regrouped his troops and made it to the top of a nearby hill. Pico surrounded the hill, but this siege wasn’t successful and Pico broke it off after a few days as US reinforcements were coming. The Californos suffered no losses of men.
Now who really won this battle?
By Kearney’s written report he claimed that he routed the Californos, and controlled the field of battle. In reality Kearney did everything wrong except his decision to retreat to the top of a hill where the mounted horsemen held no advantage, and he could wait for reinforcements.
Kearney’s performance (report writing) earned him a promotion, but probably should have earned him a court-martial for incompetence. He had a fort named in his honor, and you might have driven here on Kearney Mesa Rd. Even history can be twisted (spun) in favor of the loser.
Clues
Between Escondido and Ramona on Highway 78, the San Pasqual Battlefield State Park will be just east of the Wild Animal Park. Hours are 10 to 3 Saturday and Sunday, but the letterbox can be accessed any day. If the facility is closed you can park outside of the entry gate and take a short walk up to the start of the nature hike. Find the entrance to the nature hike near the amphitheater and head up hill. Go to the covered bench at the top with a nearby flagpole. From the most southern upright of the structure head downhill 36 steps in a south direction on a path. You will have a boulder cluster in front of you. The letterbox will be at your feet between two small boulders that are in front of a much larger prone boulder. There are some small thin rocks covering the letterbox.
After stamping in take a look around the valley and imagine the battle below, and Kearney and his troops eventually hunkered down at the location of the letterbox.
I was trying to imagine General Custer reading General Kearney’s report of this battle in a class at West Point and wondered if one poorly led adventure caused another. Both men seem to suffer the same ego problems.
When researching our clues please be aware that when previous searchers list “ATTEMPTED” on the clue sheets it may reflect more on their abilities as finders than indicate whether the box is viable or not. We do monitor our clues and boxes pretty well and appreciate the notes written to us by those that find or attempt our letterboxes.
Please contact placer directly or through the LBNA chat list regarding status rather than unofficial databases. Up to date status can only be ascertained from placer as other information services will not have current data. The placer does not appreciate listing information about this letterbox on unauthorized information services.