Battle for Baja California

Not very long after the whites had captured Mexico City, the whites next brought the Baja California region of Mexico under their control. I'm not certain if any Anishinabe People lived in Baja California, especially the central and southern parts of the Peninsula which borders California. However, as for the northern part of Baja California, that region probably did have an Anishinabe population. The few battles fought in Baja California, were very similar to the battles fought in California. On July 21, 1847, a force of American warships sailed into the harbour next to La Paz, Mexico and captured the city without a fight. They were invited in by the Californios who sided with with them. Within a couple of months, Indians in central Baja California commenced to organizing to defend their land against the white invaders.

October 2, 1847 Battle of Mulege

On October 2, 1847, the white invaders made landfall near Mulege, Mexico which is located in the central and eastern part of Baja California, situated next to the Gulf of California, south of San Lucas. They knew Indians were organizing there for battles against them. American Soldiers who landed, numbered 74, while the number of Indian (I'm not certain if any Anishinabe Soldiers participated in this battle since the region is one that is very isolated) Soldiers was estimated at near 200. The Indian Soldiers could do little to dominate the white Soldiers but they did put up a good fight but were defeated. Indian casualties are unknown but some of the American commanders at the battle claimed Indian casualties were heavy. White casualties were only 2 wounded.

October 31, 1847 Bombardment of Punta Sombrero

This battle was fought by the Americans to destroy the shore batteries of the Indians. This battle was won by the Americans. No American casualties occurred. Indian casualties were few if any at all.

November 16-17, 1847 Battle for La Paz

La Paz, Mexico is located in the southern part of Baja California. It is almost as far south as Mazatlan which is across the Gulf of California. On November 16, 1847, the white invaders commenced to defend the settlement which had been handed to them by the Californios. A force 112 American Soldiers battled a force of 300 Indian (I'm not certain if any Anishinabe Soldiers participated in this battle since the region is one that is very isolated) Soldiers and defeated them. American casualties were 1 wounded. Indian casualties were 4 or 5 killed and an unknown number wounded. The whites kept La Paz under their control.

November 20-21, 1847 Battle of San Jose del Cabo

Soon after the Americans were handed La Paz by the Californios of La Paz, the Californios of San Jose del Cabo handed the settlement of San Jose del Cabo to the white invaders as well. San Jose del Cabo is located on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, well south of La Paz. On November 20, 1847, the white invaders commenced to defending the settlement of San Jose del Cabo, from an Indian attack. It was another battle easily won the Americans. White and Californios Soldiers numbered 44 in this battle, while the number of Indian (I'm not certain if any Anishinabe Soldiers participated in this battle since the region is one that is very isolated) Soldiers was estimated at near 150. White casualties were 0. Indian casualties were 6 to 12 killed and an unknown number wounded.

November 27 December 8, 1847 Siege of La Paz

This battle was another minor one in which the Americans easily won. After the white invaders brought La Paz under their control on July 21, 1847, Indian (I'm not certain if any Anishinabe Soldiers participated in this battle since the region is one that is very isolated) leaders organized a force of near 500 soldiers to attempt to recapture La Paz. They commenced to launch an assault on La Paz on November 27, 1847, with hopes of driving the white invaders out of their city. The siege lasted until December 8, 1847, when Indian leaders agreed to end their assault on La Paz. American commanders were so confident they had the Baja Peninsula under their control, they ordered all their ships around the Baja California Peninsula, to sail for Alta California (the State of California) to the north, before this battle was fought. American Soldiers numbered 111 during this battle. Their casualties were 0 killed and an unknown number wounded. Indian casualties were 36 killed and an unknown number wounded.

January 22 February 14, 1848 Siege of San Jose del Cabo

After the Americans were handed San Jose del Cabo by the Californios, shortly after the Californios handed La Paz to them on July 21, 1847, the Americans settled in the settlement and commenced to build a stronger fortification in case the Indians came back which they did. According to historians many of the native Californios joined with the Americans to fight the Indians who historians claimed included some Yaqui Indians (they are really Anishinabe) who are native to Baja California, Arizona, and California. On January 22, 1848, a force of 300 Anishinabe Soldiers and their Indian allies, launched their assault on San Jose del Cabo. They slowly advanced upon the settlement and took one city area after another, until they had the 63 white soldiers and their Californios allies, pinned in. From out of no where came an American warship with reinfrocements. With the additional white reinforcements, the Anishinabe commanders ended the siege they would have won if the American reinforcements had not shown up. Anishinabe casualties were 13 to 35 killed and an unknown number wounded. White casualties were 3 killed and an unknown number wounded and 8 captured. Thus, this battle ended the so called 1846-1848 Mexican-American War.