Mule Hill

Mule Hill near Escondido, CA

N 33 3.78 W 117 3.633

President Polk’s efforts to take New Mexico and California from Mexico resulted in the Mexican-American War, begun in May of 1846.  That summer, after Army General Stephen Kearny and 300 U.S. dragoons took control of New Mexico, Kearny was given orders to march west and take command of the U.S. forces in California.  In Santa Fe, he was told by scout Kit Carson that Commodore Robert Stockton had already taken control of California.  Kearny sent 200 of his troops back east and then marched across the Sonoran desert with the remainder.  What Carson didn’t know was that native Californios had driven Stockton out Los Angeles and that a band of about 200 men, under the command of Andres Pico, were headed south on horseback.  Kearny received news at Warner Ranch that these Californios were encamped at San Pasqual.   He requested reinforcements from Stockton in San Diego who dispatched 36 riflemen under the command of Capitan Archibald Gillespie to join up with Kearny’s column.  The resulting 179 soldiers, mounted mostly on mules, road down into the San Pasqual Valley.

On the morning of December 6^th, 1946, the Battle of San Pasqual began when the Americans charged the Californios, who retreated across the valley.  The American forces were spread out when the Californios wheeled around and attacked the Americans.  The Californios were armed with sabers, long lances and a few guns.  The American’s rifles would not fire due to wet gunpower and soon the U.S. soldiers fought with their sabers alone.   Pico’s men proved to be far more agile on horseback than the Americans on their mules. They could easily outflank the Americans and stab them with their lances.  Both Captain Gillespie and General Kearny were badly wounded. At the end of the half-hour battle, 17 Americans had been killed and 18 wounded.  Of Pico's men, two were killed and 12 wounded.  

 The Americans continued down the valley pursued by the taunting Californios.  They took up a defensive position on a small hill with two prominent rock outcroppings and were quickly surrounded.  The bloodied troops were trapped on the hill for three days with little food, water or firewood.  The last of the mules were slaughtered for food, giving the hill its name: Mule Hill. On December 8^th, Kit Carson, Edward Beale, and a local guide escaped through the enemy line under the cover of darkness.  Taking different routes, they made their way to San Diego, twenty-five miles away, where they reported the situation to Commodore Stockton.  Stockton dispatched a contingent of 200 sailors and Marines to rescue Kearny’s trapped soldiers.  Their arrival at Mule Hill caused the Californios to disperse to the north. The U.S. forces marched to San Diego, where they arrived December 12th.  In early 1847, the last of the Californio resistance was routed and California was under the control of the United States of America.

So, here you are 165 years later driving north from San Diego.  As you pass through the community of Kearny Mesa, you might see planes approaching Gillespie Field in Santee.  As you approach Escondido on 14-lane-wide Interstate 15, just as you cross Lake Hodges, take a look around.  San Diego and Escondido sprawl in all directions. Homes blanket the tops of the hills.  A giant mall can be seen just ahead.  Beyond it is Kit Carson Park with its new Frisbee golf course.  The San Diego Wild Animal Park, a major tourist destination, is a few miles to the east, just minutes from the San Pasqual battleground.  Directly out your side window is Mule Hill, a lone, undeveloped hill with its two rock outcroppings.  Park at the mall and take the hiking trail that winds around the base of the hill.  If you ignore the roar of the freeway behind you, you can almost imagine Kit Carson and the others sneaking through the quiet night toward San Diego and rescue for the battered, hungry men on Mule Hill.

Question of the Day: Who might still be buried on Mule Hill?