Battle of La Paz

Battle of La Paz
	Part of the Pacific Coast Campaign
	; La Paz disposition of forces in 1847
Date	November 16–17, 1847
Location	La Paz, Baja California Sur24°08′N 110°18′W / 24.133°N 110.300°W
Result	American victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Henry S. Burton	Manuel Pineda Muñoz
Strength
115 infantry	200 militia
Casualties and losses
1 killed	6 killed

The Battle of La Paz was an engagement of the

Army troops against Mexican militia, commanded by Mexican Army

officers. The battle occurred on November 16 and 17, 1847.

Background

In late September,

New York State, arrived in San Francisco, California

.

Their mission was to reinforce the

Henry S. Burton, of the United States Army, was in command. On May 30, 1847, Burton received orders to embark the sloop-of-war USS Lexington with companies A and B and proceed to La Paz for its capture.^[1]

^: 27

On 21 July, 115 men from the Seventh Regiment of New York Volunteers landed peacefully at La Paz.[1]^: 27 Lieutenant E. Gould Buffum, of Company B, later described the port city: "The houses were all of adobe, plastered white, and thatched with the leaves of the palm tree, and were most delightfully cool. The whole beach was lined with palms, date, fig, tamarind and coconut trees, their delicious fruit hanging down on them in clusters."^[1]^: 28

Following the

San Jose del Cabo, Comondu and Mulege, and plundered any American sympathizers.^[1]^: 32 By Nov., Pineda had 300-500 insurgents gathered at San Antonio.^[1]

^: 35

Before departing to capture

Mazatlan on 11 Nov., William Shubrick landed 4 sailors and 20 marines at San Jose del Cabo.^[1]

^: 36

Burton's La Paz garrison occupied two houses on the plain commanding the town, on the south side of The

Arroyo, with a breastwork of palm logs in front of the officer's house for the 6-pounders.^[2]^: 162 Additionally, Burton's men used palm logs to barricade the space between the officer's quarters, the church and a house on the west side of town.^[2]

^: 162