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Although the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ending the war between the United States and Mexico had been formally signed on February 2, 1848, the news did not reach Brigadier General Sterling Price, commander of U.S. forces in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He pursued a rumored Mexican force deep into neighboring Chihuahua, whose capital city he occupied on March 7. Despite protests from Mexican Governor Angel Trías that a treaty had already been signed, Price's force continued their pursuit of Trías's small force as the latter withdrew to the town of Santa Cruz de Rosales located sixty miles southeast.
Beginning on March 9, Price spent several days consolidating his forces around Governor Trías's forces in the town. Franz Hassendeubel, captain of one of the volunteer artillery units, sketched the results of the troop movements in the highly detailed Plan of Santa Cruz de Rosales.
With no confirmation of the war's status, on the morning of March 16, Price ordered an artillery bombardment, and that afternoon he launched a three-pronged assault. Trías surrendered around dusk after Price's men had fought their way to the Main Plaza. Casualty reports varied widely for this unnecessary battle.
