And That's a Wrap

General Stephen Kearny, commanding the US Army of the West, had earlier marched his 1600 men from Kansas to Santa Fe and captured the town without a struggle.  Kearny carried orders naming him Commander in California, instructing him to establish civil government as soon as possible.

Kearny believed the war was all but over, so he went westward with  only a small detachment of 100 men.  He entered California in late autumn of 1846.  Early in December, Kerney's men, who were exhausted from the long marches, were severely beaten by Californios near San Diego.  Kearney himself was wounded twice. 

In January 1847, Kearny joined forces with Robert Stockton and they 600 man army routed the defenders of Los Angeles in the final battle at La Mesa on the 8th of January.  The Californios fled north into the arms of John Charles Fremont where they surrendered on January 13, 1847.

All of California was now in American hands.

Next time...Mr. Polk's War
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Today in Pioneer History: On April 27, 1865, the worst maritime disaster in American history occurs when the steamboat Sultana, carrying 2,100 passengers, explodes and sinks in the Mississippi River, killing all but 400 of those aboard.