Title:
Mule Hill Monument in Escondido, CA
Creator:
Eloise Perkins
Subject:
Mule Hill Monument
San Pasqual Valley (Calif.)—History, San Pasqual, Battle of, Calif., 1846, Mexican-American War, 1846-1848
Description:
Mule Hill Monument commemorates the veterans of the Battle of San Pasqual, General Kearny and his dragoons. General Kearny
created the “Army of the West” to win over the territories to the west of Missouri out of volunteers. He and his army made
it to the California border with little resistance, then incorrectly informed that California had also given up, Kearny sent
most of his soldiers home. He and the 100 men still with him were attacked by Californians, losing the battle they had 18
dead and 15 wounded. Kearny and his men escaped and made it to a nearby hill which they held against the Californians. Kearny
sent men through the Californian’s line to request emergency help from the San Diego while his remaining men attempted to
hold the hill. Kearny’s men were exhausted, injured, and totally without food. In an attempt to stampede Kearny’s horses
the Californians sent mules with sheep’s pelts tied to their tails up the hill. Kearny’s men fired on one of the mules which
drove the others away. The mule the soldiers shot quickly became food for the starving men, earning the hill the title Mule
Hill. Or at least this is one story, others claim that the mule Kearny’s men ate was one of their own and still other stories
claim that Kearny’s men ate several mules. Whichever story is true the end remains the same, Commodore Stockton of San Diego
came to General Kearny’s rescue and the surviving men were saved.
Publisher:
Escondido Public Library Pioneer Room
Date:
undated; circa 1960s
Type:
Image
Format:
8X10 B/W Photograph
Identifier:
CESC_048
1031
Coverage:
San Pasqual Valley (Calif.)
Rights:
Copyrighted
Some materials in these collections are protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights,
licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use
requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without
permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. If you wish to use this image
please contact the Escondido Public Library Pioneer Room.
Escondido Public Library Pioneer Room
247 S. Kalmia Street, Escondido, CA 92025 Phone: 760-839-4315