Naval Militia of California
California's Navy
The Role of the Naval Militia
Originally formed on March 31, 1891, by Act of the State Legislature, as the Naval Battalion of the National Guard, the California Naval Militia, as it would become called, was stationed throughout the state; San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Eureka, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. California's newly formed Navy, the Naval Militia of California, would furnish both officers and sailors for service in vessels of the U.S. Navy during the 1898 War with Spain as part of the National Naval Volunteers or United States Auxiliary Naval Force --the forerunners of today's United States Naval Reserv
Naval Militia and United States Auxiliary Naval Force
"The only additional trained men available were the officers and men of the Naval Militias of the several States, which, under appropriations from Congress, had been armed and euipped and given a certain amount of training in the line of preparation for the defense of the shores and harbors of their several States. In the absence of authority for calling these men into service, the governors of these States patriotically granted them leaves of absence or permitted them to resign from the State organizations in order to enlist in the Navy. During the war about 4,000 officers and men were added to the enlisted force of the Navy in this manner, and were assinged to duty in the Auxiliary Naval Force, the Coast Signal Service, and especially on board cruising ships, some of which, for instance the Yankee, Dixie, Prairie and Yosemite, were entirely officered and manned by them with the exception of the commanding, executive, and navigating officers.
"These organizations were largely recruited outside of the seafaring class, ...they were men of a high standard of education and intelligence, and rapidly acquired while on shipboard the knowledge necessary for their efficiency. Considering their lack of experience, the services rendered by them were so valuable that the country has been amply repaid for their money expended in their instruction and training." (Excepts from John D. Long's Report of the Secretary of the Navy, dated November 15, 1898).
For the most part, when sworn into the service of the United States, the California Naval Militia, and its Marine Corps Company, became a members of the National Naval Volunteers or U.S. Auxiliary Naval Force. The personnel of the United States Auxiliary Naval Force was almost entirely contributed by the Naval Militia organizations of the various States. At the time of its maximum strength during the war with Spain, the Auxiliary Naval Force included 41 vessels in commission, officered and manned by men from the Naval Militia. Almost twenty years later, the Naval Militia would be called upon again in World War I.
USS Monadnock (BM-3) off of the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, June 1898, before her voyage to the Philippines. The USS Comanche, an old monitor of the Civil War days, is visible beyond the Monadnock's turret. Both of these ships were used by the California Naval Militia. (U.S. Navy)
Related Pages
Naval Militia's Role in the Spanish-American War
"Prior to the outbreak of hostilities with Spain it was found necessary in the preparations for coast defense and for the purpose of providing crews for auxiliary ships to make a large increase in the enlisted force of the Navy." (Excerpt from John D. Long's Report of the Secretary of the Navy, dated November 15, 1898)
Copyright (c) 2001-2008
CW3 Mark J. Denger and LTC Roger D. McGrath
Naval History Research & Study Element
California Center for Militay History
