Santa Clara Campaign Treaty Site

Four plaques stand here. The state registered the treaty site in 1937 and plaqued it in 1962 as the Armistice Oak Tree Site, for the tree the agreement was signed under. That bronze came down for the widening of El Camino Real, was rededicated elsewhere in 1969, then disappeared, and was recovered from a salvage shop in 1999. The state had meanwhile cast a second bronze across the street under the register's name. Californio ranchers fought here in January 1847 over seizures of their livestock, and the treaty promised those would stop. The rededication plaque carries thirteen more names.

What the plaque says

Armistice Oak Tree Site Here, on January 8, 1847, Francisco Sanchez, leader of a California band surrendered himself and some American prisoners and arms to Lieut. Grayson thus ending the Battle of Santa Clara or "The Battle of the Mustard Stalks," of January 2, 1847. This armistice ended the last uprising against the tide of American conquest in the Santa Clara Valley. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 260 Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the City of Santa Clara Historical and Landmarks Commission, January 8, 1962. Santa Clara Campaign Treaty Site After armed confrontation nearby on January 2, 1847, and a truce meeting the following day, Marine Capt. Ward Marston, commander of the U.S. expeditionary force, and Francisco Sánchez, leader of Mexican-Californian ranchers, agreed to a treaty here on January 7. United States forces were to recognize rights of Californians and to end seizures of their personal properties. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 260 Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the City of Santa Clara and descendants of Californio participants, September 20, 1980. The Battle of Santa Clara January 2-7, 1847 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 1840's an oak forest grew near the present Lawrence Expressway, but brackish water and marshy soil limited tree growth in the region to the east providing an unobstructed view of Mission Santa Clara three miles ahead. The battle took place on this open plain. As you face towards City Hall, the battle area ranged from your left, towards Lawrence Expressway, to your right, towards the De La Cruz overpass. The American Expeditionary force emerged from the trees, on a road that reached the present El Camino Real at Pomeroy Avenue. At that point they first sighted the deployed rancheros on horseback on the open plain. When the Americans' cannon mired in the mud, halting their march, the rancheros came closer. This site was near where today El Camino crosses Saratoga Creek. An exchange of gunfire occurred with no one hurt. The rancheros returned to their camp, within sight of the people watching from the mission rooftops. After extracting their cannon from the mud the Americans continued to the mission. The skirmishing lasted approximately two hours, but it took five days of negotiations before the official treaty ceremony ended the Battle of Santa Clara. Placed by the order of the Santa Clara Historical and Landmarks Commission September 9, 2000 Originally placed on the corner of Lawrence Expressway & El Camino Real in 1962, the California Landmark No. 260 plaque marking the "Armistice Oak Tree Site" was removed during the widening of the El Camino and rededicated in a new location in 1969 as part of the City of Santa Clara's 117th birthday. Sometime later it was again removed and disappeared. Rescued from a salvage shop in 1999, the plaque has been rededicated at this site in commemoration of the State of California's Sesquicentennial September 9, 2000 and the City of Santa Clara's 150th, July 5, 2002. Plaque placed by the City of Santa Clara City Council Judy Nadler, Mayor and the Sesquicentennial Steering Committee

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Charles Copeland Morse Residence — 0.5 mi
• Mission Santa Clara — 0.7 mi
• Santa Clara Women's Club Adobe — 0.7 mi
• Old Sites of Mission Santa Clara de Asis and Old Spanish Bridge — 1.2 mi