San Juan Bautista was the marshaling area for Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont's forces of about 450 men of the California Battalion en route to joining up with Commodore Robert Stockton's and General Stephen W. Kearny's forces of about 500 men converging on Los Angeles to put down a sputtering revolt there.

An American scouting party was attacked by a force of mounted Mexican Californios on Rancho La Natividad in the Salinas Valley.

The Californios were attempting to capture some horses being herded by the Americans to Fremont's base.

The Treaty of Cahuenga signed by Frémont and Andrés Pico in January 1847 ended all hostilities in California.

The final clause of this treaty: That the paroles of all officers, citizens and others of the United States, and of naturalized citizens of Mexico, are by this foregoing capitulation cancelled; and every condition of said paroles from and after this date are of no further force and effect; and all prisoners of both parties are hereby released.