On August 10, 1847, United States Navy Commodore William Shubrick had resumed command of the Pacific Squadron.

When the Dale arrived alone at La Paz in mid-September, the commander of the U.S. occupation force there, Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. Burton, persuaded the Dale's commander, Thomas O. Selfridge, to sail for Loreto and Mulegé to prevent the landing of supplies from Guaymas and to secure a pledge of neutrality from the Mexican inhabitants.

[1]: 30 On October 1, Commander Selfridge sent a letter ashore warning the Mexican authorities to lay down their arms, to preserve neutrality and to abstain from contact with the mainland within three hours.

At 2 PM on 2 Oct. 1847, Lieutenant Craven with seventeen marines and fifty-seven sailors landed at the entrance to Muleje Creek (El Sombrerito) and proceeded up the right bank.

Now on shore, the American marines and sailors proceeded to a nearby hill, occupied by a strong Mexican force commanding the town.

[2]: 153  Before reaching the hill, however, a shot was fired from a window of a nearby house and from a thicket to the Americans' left.