California State Military
DepartmentCalifornia State Military
Department
The Battle of Monterey, at Monterey, California (sometimes confused
with the Battle of Monterrey, in Nuevo León, Mexico), was
waged on July 7, 1846, during the Mexican-American War. U.S. naval
forces under Commodore John D. Sloat, in command of the United
States Pacific Squadron, opposed a small group of Mexican Coast
Guard.
The battle was little more than a skirmish, with most of the Mexican detachments protecting the city surrendering without firing a shot. A handful of shore batteries attempted to resist Sloat but were quickly silenced by the American warships.
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.
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