The Battle of
Santa Clara
One hundred and sixty years ago today, men chose sides and squared off
to determine the fate of Alta California. There's no trace of the
"battlefield" today, just a corroded and forgotten E. Clampus Vitus
plaque along the historic King's Highway--El Camino Real--in the old
town of Santa Clara. The warriors of 1847 would not recognize the site
today. Concrete, discount stores, non-indigenous palm trees (what is
with all the palm trees?), and top-flight Vietnamese noodle houses
have claimed his hallowed ground, while the barely readable monument
momentarily delays Jack in the Box burger wrappers drifting from the
nearby bus stop on their way toward San Jose.
I make note of the Battle of Santa Clara today so that effete Eastern
readers will come to understand that not all of our nation's storied
military history occurred on their side of the Rockies.
ON JANUARY 2, 1847, SOMEWHERE
HEREABOUTS WAS FOUGHT THE LAST
NORTHERN BATTLE OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
THE OFFICIAL CASUALTY REPORT: "DEAD:
NONE, WOUNDED: NONE, MISSING BUT ONE ON
THE AMERICAN SIDE AND HE CAME UP
SHORTLY AFTERWARDS STATING THAT HE
HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR HIS RAMROD
WHICH IN THE EXCITEMENT, HE HAD
FORGOTTEN TO DRAW FROM HIS GUN AND FIRED
AT THE ENEMY."
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