Battle of La Paz The Battle of La Paz was an engagement of the Pacific Coast Campaign during the Mexican - American War . The belligerents were United States Army troops against Mexican militia , commanded by Mexican Army officers . The battle occurred on November 16 and 17 , 1847 . Background . In late September , Captain Manuel Pineda of the Mexican Army began to assemble a large militia force of farmers and ranchers to defend the Gulf of California region of Mexico from the invading United States military . Hundreds of men were among Pineda ' s ranks . In March and April 1847 , the 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers , an American volunteer regiment from New York State , arrived in San Francisco , California . Their mission was to reinforce the United States Navy and marines , occupying various Mexican ports to the south and also to take ports themselves . Lieutenant Colonel Henry S . Burton , of the United States Army , was in command . On May 30 , 1847 , Burton received orders to embark the sloop - of - war USS " Lexington " with companies A and B and proceed to La Paz for its capture . On July 21 , 112 New York Volunteers landed peacefully at La Paz . Lieutenant E . Gould Buffum , of Company B , later described the port city ; " " The houses were all of adobe , plastered white , and thatched with the leaves of the palm tree , and were most delightfully cool . The whole beach was lined with palms , date , fig , tamarind and coconut trees , their delicious fruit hanging down on them in clusters . " " Battle . Pineda raised a force of over 500 men by pressing them into service . They were fed by requisitioned supplies of plundered property , taken from the so - called " " collaborators " " of the American occupation . Pineda set out for a campaign against La Paz and San José del Cabo , both occupied by United States forces . When November 16 came , Pineda ' s army , estimated by Colonel Burton at nearly 300 , attacked the American garrison of La Paz . The garrison was stationed at an adobe barracks . At the same time , about 150 of Pineda ' s militia , under three lieutenants , were sent to attack the American garrison at San José del Cabo . Burton ' s command of 112 infantry occupied a position overlooking La Paz at the south side of a gulch . The New York Volunteers piled palm logs around their barracks and around an emplacement for their two 6 - pound field gun s with canister rounds for ammunition . When Captain Pineda ' s men assaulted the barracks , the American defended themselves effectively . The two 6 - pounders and musket s of the Americans were placed in a good position and repulsed the Mexican attack . Pineda , after failing to capture the American held barracks and realizing the good American defenses , ordered a retreat the next day . On November 17 , the Mexicans withdrew to La Laguna , about six miles away . Before leaving , the insurgents burned Military Governor Colonel Francisco Palacios Miranda ' s town house and other buildings belonging to those who " collaborated " with the American force . Aftermath . The New York Volunteers lost one man killed in this battle and another few wounded , the Mexicans four or five killed and many more wounded . The Mexican attempt to destroy the American garrison failed but the battle for San José del Cabo still continued and eventually Pineda would attack the towns again , in prolonged engagements known as the Siege of La Paz and the Siege of San José del Cabo . The same day Pineda retreated from La Paz , another battle involving USS " Dale " occurred across the Sea of Cortez at Guaymas .