Battle of Monterey

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Monterey


caption=
partof=Mexican-American War
date=July 7, 1846
place=Monterey, California
result=U.S. victory
combatant1=United States
combatant2=Mexico
commander1=John D. Sloat
(1781 – 1867)
commander2=?
strength1=Pacific Squadron, 350 men
strength2=50 men
casualties1=?
casualties2=?|

The Battle of Monterey, at Monterey, California (sometimes confused with the Battle of Monterrey, in Nuevo León), was waged on July 7, 1846, during the Mexican-American War.
United States naval forces under Commodore John D. Sloat, in command of the United States Pacific Squadron, opposed a small group of Mexican Coast Guard.

Battle

The battle was little more than a skirmishVague|optional message|date=March 2008, with most of the Mexican detachments protecting the city surrendering without firing a shot.Fact|article|date=June 2007 A handful of shore batteries attempted to resist Sloat but were quickly silenced by the American warships.Fact|article|date=June 2007

Aftermath

Of chief interest is the controversy surrounding the battle. While Sloat was an officer of the United States Navy, he was not authorized to attack any portion of California and was instead reprimanded for his action by President James K. Polk. In addition, Sloat's famous declaration, annexing California to the United States, was met with bitterness and anger by many of the native "Californios".

ee also

*Battles of the Mexican-American War

References

* Bauer, K. Jack, "The Mexican-American War, 1846-1848"