Death at Mulehill

Accounts differ as to what command was given and by whom; however, Captain Abraham R. Johnston is thought to have prematurely initiated action. According to history, Kearny ordered "Trot!" which Johnston, at the front of the column, misunderstood and ordered "Charge!".

Almost a mile away lay General Pico's encampment. Some forty of the best mounted officers and men rode far ahead of the main body of the American troops and the mules with Kearney's cannon bolted, taking one of the guns with them.

Pico's Californios were already mounted and easily managed to gallop ahead of the pursuing weary mules of the Americanos. Fresh mounts and superior horsemanship made it easy for them to manoeuvre and rout. They led the advance group of Americans even farther away from the main force. The Americans did not know the terrain, but the Californios did.

As if herding their long-honed cattle, the Californios cut off the twenty-eight Americans, including Kearny, who were in the forefront of the charge. Damp powder reduced the effectiveness of the American's carbines and pistols. They were soon reduced to relying on their prowess with sabers alone. The Californios were armed with a mixture of firearms, sabers, and long lances and reatas (braided rawhide ) which they used with great effect.

As the leading element of the American attack drew close to a Kumeyaay village, the Californios wheeled back yet again and fired their few firearms. One of the first shots killed Captain Johnston, but the Americans pursued and returned fire.

Now in command, Captain Benjamin D. Moore ordered a second charge. The few Americans were strung out even further now and when the Californios reversed again, they were able to confront Captain Moore and his isolated forces. He was quickly surrounded and killed. Few other Americans were caught up with the action, but their weapons misfired and many of them were wounded or killed by Californios using lances. Some were pulled from their horses by the Californios' lariats and then lanced. Mounted on mules, the Americans were particularly vulnerable because of mules' stubborn reluctance to wheel. The better mounted Californios easily outflanked the Americans and picked them off with long lances. The two howitzers the U.S. troops brought to the scene were never unlimbered to take part in the battle.

Both Captain Gillespie and General Kearny were seriously wounded in the battle, and several other officers were killed or wounded. Captain Henry Turner temporarily took command and organized a defensive position, which permitted the rest of the command to catch up with the battered lead.

Dr John S. Griffin, Kearny's surgeon, reported that the Americans had lost 17 killed and 18

wounded out of the 50 officers and men who engaged the enemy. They buried the dead in a mass grave and the bloodied and badly cutup survivors were treated and nursed by their Californio guide's sister Juanita Machado Alipas Wrightington. General Andres Pico's forces suffered fewer casualties; some accounts state 2 killed and 12 wounded, whereas American witnesses claim a half dozen fatalities.

The following day, December 7, 1846, reversed fortunes as Kearny and his battered column continued its march towards San Diego. Californio lancers established a blocking position near what is now known as "Mule Hill".

General Kearny ordered Lieutenant William Emory and a squad of dragoons to engage and drive off the menacing lancers. The dragoons easily forced the lancers away now having dry powder in their carbines while inflicting five dead among the fleeing Californios.

That evening Kearny again established a strong defensive perimeter and sent scouts Kit Carson, Edward Beale, and a young Indian guide for reinforcements from the American fleet anchored in San Diego Bay. Under the cover of darkness, Carson and his team reached the American fleet and delivered the orders. The U. S. forces converged at San Diego and united to drive the Californio forces out of San Diego.

General Kearny's official report stated: “On the morning of the 7th, having made ambulances for our wounded . . . we proceeded on our march, when the enemy showed himself, occupying the hills in our front, which they left as we approached, till reaching San Bernardo a party of them took possession of a hill near to it and maintained their position until attacked by our advance, who quickly drove them from it, killing and wounding five of their number with no loss on our part.�