California  Civil War Rosters

From the book “Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867”

by Brig.-Gen. Richard H. Orton, pub. 1890

Transcribed by © Kathy Sedler, June 2004,  pp 5-14.

RECORD OF CALIFORNIA MEN

IN THE

WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861 TO 1867.

            The State of California, being located far away from the more active scenes of the war, was not called upon to furnish troops for immediate service against Confederate soldiers, and no quota was assigned it; yet during the war calls were made upon it for several regiments and battalions, aggregating more than sixteen thousand men, besides five hundred who were enlisted within its borders and became part of the quota of the State of Massachusetts, and eight companies raised for Washington Territory.  With the exception of those enlisted for Massachusetts, the California forces took no part in any of the great battles of the war; yet the service they rendered was of as great importance as that rendered by those from other States.  It was as severe, entailing long and fatiguing marches across burning deserts and among almost inaccessible mountains.  They were engaged in hundreds of fights with Indians and small forces of Confederate troops on the frontiers, in Texas and Mexico, and they never knew defeat.  It was a constant source of regret among them that they were never ordered East, and the question was continually asked:  “When are we to be ordered to the seat of the war?”  The Government deemed it wisest to keep them on the Pacific Coast and in the Territories.  They occupied nearly all the posts from Puget Sound to San Elizario, Texas, and they did their duty faithfully, notwithstanding their disappointment.  By their loyalty they preserved peace in these western States and Territories, and the flag of rebellion was soon driven beyond the Rio Grande.

            The “War Governors” of California were John G. Downey, Leland Stanford, and F.F. Low, and to their loyalty, zeal, and patriotism, and their readiness to respond to every call of the Government, is due the promptness with which the different regiments and battalions were organized.

            During the exciting and tumultuous times existing upon the outbreak of the war the Legislature was loyal to the Government, and the following concurrent resolution was adopted:

No. IVIII – CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

[Adopted MAY 17, 1861.]

                Resolved by the Senate, the Assembly concurring, That the people of California are devoted to the Constitution and the Union of the United States, and will not fail in fidelity and fealty to that Constitution and Union now in the hour of trial and peril.  That California is ready to maintain the rights and honor of the National Government at home and abroad, and at all times to respond to any requisition that may be made upon her to defend the republic against foreign or domestic foes.

            When the war commenced the United States forces on the Pacific Coast were under the command of Brevet Brigadier-General Albert Sidney Johnston.  It is supposed that there was some doubt as to General Johnston’s loyalty, as he was a Southern man, and General Sumner was sent to relieve him of the command.  The following are the orders and correspondence relating to the matter:

MARCH 22, 1861

Brig.-Gen. E.V. SUMNER:

                DEAR GENERAL:  Prepare to sail from New York the first of the next month to relieve Bvt. Brig.-Gen. [A.S.] Johnston, in the command of the Pacific Department, say for a tour of some years.

                The order to sail, etc., will reach you by the next mail, but remain unpublished till you are on the Pacific Ocean, for confidential reasons.

                                In haste, yours truly,

WINFIELD SCOTT.

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,

SAN FRANCISCO, April 25, 1861

ORDERS,

No. 5.

                In compliance with Special Orders No. 86, dated War Department, Adjutant-General’s Office, Washington, March 23, 1861, I hereby assume command on this department.

                All concerned will govern themselves accordingly.

E.V. SUMNER.

Brigadier-General, U.S. Army.

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,

SAN FRANCISCO, April 28, 1861.

Lieut.-Col. E.D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters Army:

                COLONEL:  I have the honor to report that I arrived her on the twenty-fourth instant, and on the twenty-fifth relieved General [A.S.] Johnston in the command of this department.  My departure from New York was not known here till the night before my arrival.  It gives me pleasure to state that the command was turned over to me in good order.

                General Johnston had forwarded his resignation before I arrived, but he continued to hold the command, and was carrying out the orders of the Government.

                I have determined to reinforce immediately and strongly the forts in this harbor, and have ordered down three companies of artillery (including the battery) from Fort Vancouver.

                I have also taken the liberty to detain the detachment of twenty-nine sappers and miners.  I trust the General-in-Chief will not disapprove of this.  My intention is to put four hundred men on Alcatraz Island, one hundred and fifty at Fort Point, and place the battery at the depot at Benicia, in addition to the two infantry companies now there.

                These troops will all be supplied with six months’ provisions, and additional arrangements will be made for water where it is necessary, so that they will be independent and secure for six months, and will hold the entire control of the entrance to the harbor.  I think this disposition of the troops will not only secure the Government property, but will have the effect to foreclose at once all hopes on the part of the disaffected of their ever being able to precipitate matters here by seizing forts and arsenals.

                There is a strong Union feeling with the majority of the people of this State, but the Secessionists are much the most active and zealous party, which gives them more influence than they ought to have from their numbers.

                I have no doubt but there is some deep scheming to draw California into the secession movement; in the first place as the “Republic of the Pacific,” expecting afterwards to induce her to join the Southern Confederacy.

                The troops now here will hold their positions and all the Government property, but if there should be a general uprising of the people, they could not, of course, put it down.

                I think the course of events at the East will control events here.  So long as the General Government is sustained and hold the capital the Secessionists cannot carry this State out of the Union.

                I would respectfully say to the General-in-Chief that after my arrangements are completed – and they will be in two weeks – if he should think proper to authorize me to place Colonel Wright here in command of the department, everything will be secure; and if my services should be wanted elsewhere, I could be withdrawn from this department without detriment to the public service.

                                Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E.V. SUMNER,

Brigadier-General, U.S. Army, Commanding.

            In this connection an extract from a short sketch of General Johnston’s life, written by Captain Geo. F. Price, late of Second California Cavalry, afterwards Captain of Fifth Cavalry, U.S.A., is given:

                The beginning of the war of the Rebellion found Colonel Johnston (assigned on his brevet rank) in command of the Pacific States.  While he was not a politician, he was committed to the doctrine of State allegiance.  He declined the command of the South-western Department, because he held, if Texas should secede, that he would be bound in honor to surrender the public property intrusted to his care to the national authorities.  He was incapable of betraying a trust; but, being persuaded that his adopted State had a permanent claim upon him, he would not consent to be placed in a position where he might be compelled to antagonize it.

                The letters written by him about this time showed that he viewed with alarm the threatening dissolution of the national Union.  It is believed by many who are familiar with his views, that he asked for an assignment to the Department of the Pacific so as to be removed from any participation in the impending issue.  It was his openly avowed judgment that the sword was not the remedy for the existing difficulties, and he always congratulated himself that he had never contributed in any way to bring on the conflict.  When he learned that Texas had seceded he tendered his resignation, April 9, 1861, and it was accepted May 3, 1861.  He was relieved from command by Brigadier-General Edwin V. Sumner, April 25, 1861, and thus was severed forever his connection with the United States Army.  A dictionary of American biography charges him with having engaged in a conspiracy to surrender the State of California to the Confederates, the consummation of which was only frustrated by the timely arrival of his successor in command.  No statement could be farther from the truth.  When he was informed that a plot existed to seize Alcatraz, he removed several thousand muskets from the Benicia arsenal, where they were greatly exposed, to the island, and then informed the Governor that they could be used, if necessary, by the State militia to suppress insurrection.

                His integrity was so universally recognized that he was not approached upon the subject of establishing a Pacific republic, which was favored by many in the event of a dissolution of the national Union.  His resignation was withheld from the newspapers until after he had been relieved from command, to guard against any bad effect which his act might have upon others, and he declared that so long as he held his commission he would maintain the authority of the Government to the last extremity.  He informed the Governor of California that he had devoted the greater part of his life to the service of the country, and that while he held his commission he would serve her honorably and faithfully; and he afterwards said to his friends, referring to the command he had held, “If I had proved faithless here, how could my own people ever trust me?”

                The order directing General Sumner to relieve Colonel Johnston also ordered him to report in Washington.  He was advised by letter that he enjoyed the confidence of the Secretary of War, and that upon arrival he would be assigned to an important command.  When General Sumner was informed of his resignation he urged him to recall it, and conveyed to him the message of General Scott, “that he desired his presence for active service;” and in a report to the Adjutant-General of the Army, dated April 28, 1861, he said: “ It gives me great pleasure to state that the command was turned over to me in good order.  General Johnston had forwarded his resignation before I arrived, but he continued to hold the command, and was carrying out the orders of the Government.”

                When the President (Lincoln) was made acquainted with these facts, he executed a Major-General’s commission for Colonel Johnston, but having been informed that he had already started for Texas the commission was canceled.

            General Johnston accepted a General’s commission in the Confederate Army, and was killed while in command at the battle of Shiloh.

            The State of California furnished to the Union armies during the war two full regiments of cavalry, eight full regiments of infantry, one battalion of native California cavalry, and one battalion of infantry, called mountaineers, besides several companies of volunteers to Massachusetts and Washington Territory, a list of which is give below:

FIRST BATTALION NATIVE CALIFORNIA CAVALRY

FIRST CALIFORNIA CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS

*No muster in roll on file.

SECOND CALIFORNIA CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS

FIRST CALIFORNIA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS

*No muster in roll on file.

NOTE: Regiment was consolidated into a battalion of seven companies in November, 1864.

SECOND CALIFORNIA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS

*No muster in roll on file.

THIRD CALIFORNIA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS

*No muster in roll on file.

NOTE:  Regiment was consolidated into a battalion of four companies in November, 1864.

FOURTH CALIFORNIA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS