The Battle of Santa Clara was the only campaign fought in the northern district of California between Californios and United States forces during the Mexican-American War. In the 1840s, an oak forest grew near the present Lawrence Expressway, but brackish water and marshy soil limited tree growth to the east and left an open plain with an unobstructed view of Mission Santa Clara three miles ahead. The American Expeditionary force emerged from the trees on a road that reached the present El Camino Real at Pomeroy Avenue, where they first saw deployed rancheros on horseback on the plain. When the Americans’ cannon became mired in the mud and halted their march near where El Camino crosses Saratoga Creek, the rancheros came closer. An exchange of gunfire followed, but no one was hurt. The rancheros then returned to their camp within sight of people watching from the mission rooftops. After freeing their cannon from the mud, the Americans continued to the mission. The skirmishing lasted about two hours, and five days of negotiations ended with the official treaty ceremony that concluded the Battle of Santa Clara.
