The San Pasqual Battlefield is located in the San Pasqual Valley, in San Pasqual, California. It is approximately five miles due east of Interstate-15 at Via Rancho Parkway in Escondido, California. California. The San Pasqual Battlefield is the site of a pre-dawn military engagement between American and Mexican forces that occurred during the Mexican-American War, on December 6, 1846. The battle, referred to in most U.S. history books, was a bloody one, resulting in nineteen American dead, and many more wounded. The Mexicans were reported to have had six soldiers killed at the battle, and many more wounded as well. In 1986, the State of California built a 1.2 million dollar museum at the site commemorating the event. However, the exact location of the involved San Pasqual Indian Village, and the actual sites of engagement between American and Mexican forces was never established with any corroborating evidence, that being archaeological debris from the battle. Also never established at the battle-site was the exact location where the American forces camped the night of the battle.
In 1994, the San Pasqual Battle Site was one of a number of battle sites considered for annexation to the National Park Service. What makes this particular battle site such an oddity and indeed, this becomes apparent upon visiting the battlefield museum, is that no artifact from the Battle of San Pasqual, has ever been officially documented as actually coming from the battlefield itself. Through this century, any artifacts reported to have either been found on the battlefield, or to have come from the battle itself, were found to come from two sources. The artifacts were either received from individuals or families that reported the artifacts allegedly were involved with the battle (of which we have no way of knowing for sure); or the artifacts, although reported to have come from the San Pasqual Battlefield, were in fact found on or near the site of Mule Hill which is located five miles due west of the battlefield.
Without any artifacts ever having been documented as coming from the actual battlefield itself, there has been nothing but pure speculation and conjecture as to where the battle actually occurred at. Even scholars, historians and archaeologists have not been able to agree on any exact site. In recent years, new information that has surfaced concerning the battle and its exact location, has raised new questions as to where exactly the battle occurred.
Indeed, as to whether or not the battle occurred at the east or west end of the San Pasqual Valley is in itself of much controversy. Many of the original American settlers into the valley during the late 1800's; and who conversed with many of the San Pasqual Indians in the valley, have always contended (as do their descendants today) that the battle originated at the east end of the valley, the soldiers said to have come off of Crane Peak. In the 1960's, academic work done by a few historians moved the battle to the west end of the valley, arguing that the soldiers came off of San Pasqual Hill instead of Crane's Peak. However, both groups have never been able to support either theory with any tangible evidence. Both versions of battle site location have been purely conjectural.
Even though the village of the San Pasqual Indians was a primary landmark referenced by all three entities at the battle (Indians, Mexicans, and Americans), the actual site of this village at this time has never been established. Instead, more emphasis has been placed on where the road cut through the valley, that was used by the American forces to descend into the valley and engage the Mexican forces. The exact road that the Americans took, what hill the road came off of, and its exact route through the valley has been strictly conjectural and a topic of much controversy between historians of the battle.