Civil_War

California’s militia played a surprisingly important role in that epic conflict. California’s militia occupied more than a million square miles of territory and had troops in the field from as early as August 1861 until as late as June 1965. The efforts of the California militia were critical in keeping California part of the Union and keeping the Far West federal territory, occupying more territory than did the whole of the Union Army in the East. Some of these unit watched Southern sympathizers. Others fought Indians. Still others fought Confederates. Companies of California volunteers could be found stationed not only in California but in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

When President Lincoln called for troops, California responded with 16,231 volunteer militia – more volunteers per capita than any other state – the majority being furnished directly from the ranks of the National Guard. Only a few of these companies, however, ever saw action in the East. One of these, the California Battalion, consisting of Companies A, E, F, L and M, were also known as the California One Hundred. These five California companies were assigned to the Second Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment and fought in 31 engagements, many of them in the Shenandoah Valley. Other California volunteers such as the First California Regiment served with distinction in New York and Pennsylvania regiments. Edward Baker, a noted orator and early California Republican, formed the First California Regiment. Colonel Baker was killed while leading the regiment in a charge across an open field in the battle of Ball’s Bluff in October 1861. The regiment was thereafter absorbed and renamed the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

Similarly, two regiments of cavalry, eight regiments of infantry, and two smaller units were organized in California and performed some kind of duty in the West. Cavalry and infantry from the California Volunteers were organized into what became known as the California Column. When the Civil War erupted, Governor Downey appointed James H. Carleton colonel of the 1st Infantry Regiment, California Volunteers. In April 1862 Colonel Carleton led the California Column across the Colorado River to Fort Yuma and then along the Gila River on the old Gila Trail as several companies of Californians remained behind in New Mexico and Texas for the duration of the war. Company K, 1st California Volunteer Infantry for example, was stationed at Ft. Union until April 1865 and was then transferred to Fort Lamed, Kansas where it remained until June, patrolling the Cimarron Trail and fighting a number of skirmishes with the Apache and Kiowa Indians; later escorting supply trains between Fort Lamed and Fort Leavenworth.

At the same time, Colonel Patrick Edward Connor, also appointed by Governor Downey, was leading a force of cavalry and infantry from the California Volunteers through the Great Basin and central Rockies on a mission to protect lines of communication, the U. S. Mail, and overland emigrants. As Californians these troops were operating in the Southwest and in the Great Basin and Rockies, others from the Second Cavalry, California Volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George S. Evans were assigned duty in the Owens Valley, aiding homesteaders and ranchers against attacks and ambushes by the Paiute Indians.

The whole number of troops raised in California during the Civil War was more than the whole of the U.S. army at its commencement, and far in excess of the state's quota. On mustering out of the troops in the service of the federal government, 88 militia companies under various names had been formed to serve in their respective localities, or to respond to a call from the governor.

Civil War Years (1861-1865)