The regiment was originally organized in 1861. Most of the recruits, caught up in war fever, expected to be sent to the eastern battlefields. They were disappointed to be instead ordered to garrison duty and related tasks on the West Coast, where they spent the remainder of their enlistments. The regiment served principally in the District of Oregon, (Oregon and Washington Territory), and in the District of Southern California, although some companies were shifted to Arizona later in the war. None of these duties required regimental strength, so the companies of the regiment were detached and scattered. The last elements of the regiment were mustered out on April 18, 1866.
Captain Charles Atchison of Company I at Fort Mohave, Arizona Territory Soldiers with Native Americans at Fort Mohave
Commanders
Colonel Henry M. Judah, September 1861 - November, 1861.
Colonel Ferris Forman, November, 1861 - August 20, 1863.
Colonel James F. Curtis, August 20, 1863 - until it was disbanded by consolidation, November 30, 1865
Flags
The Regimental flag and Company B's flag were the only banners to survive the war and are preserved in the State's Capitol. Other flags were taken from newspaper accounts.[1] Most of the company flags were made by locals.[2]
Regimental colors - The flag never was flown in combat and was given to Governor Frederick Low on November 30, 1865, by Colonel Curtis to be preserved in the Capitol.[3]
Company A - It was described as "The flag was blue silk, trimmed with silver bullion lace. On one side was the coat of arms of California, on the other the words “Presented by the Ladies of Auburn;” and upon a gilt ground—“'When duty calls 'tis ours to obey.” It was given to members of the militia before they joined the company in September of 1861.[4]
Company B - The flag was made by the women of Forest Hill and was presented to the company on October 22, 1861.[5][6]
Company C - The flag was the stars and stripes made from silk by the women of Placerville in September of 1861.[7][8] It was flown at Santa Catalina Island when the company was stationed there.[9]
Company D - The captain was given a "Large American flag" by the women of Amador County on October 29, 1861.[10]
Digital reconstruction of Company A flag,(based off a newspaper's description)[4]
Digital remake of the National color of Company B,(California State Capitol Museum)[6][1]
Company assignments
Regimental headquarters - First located at Auburn, Placer County. While stationed there five companies were sent to the District of Oregon to relieve the regulars stationed there. From February to May, 1862, the headquarters and five companies were at Camp Union, near Sacramento. During the month of May headquarters was moved to Camp Latham, near Los Angeles, where it remained until September, 1862, when it was transferred to Drum Barracks, where it remained for the remainder of the regiment's service.
Company "A" - This company was organized at Placerville mostly made up of men from the Auburn Greys militia,[11] September 21, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, until August, 1862. Ordered to San Francisco August 15 and duty at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. Ordered to Camp Drum March 1, and duty there until January, 1864. At Santa Barbara until the terms of service of most of the members expired, and they were discharged at Drum Barracks, October 13, 1864. The company was immediately reformed with the few whose terms had not expired and new recruits. It remained at Santa Barbara until November, 1864. At Cahuenga Pass, November 30, 1864; at Drum Barracks, December, 1864, and January, 1865. Sent during the month of April 1865 to Fort Humboldt. At Camp Iaqua May 1, 1865, until it was ordered to the Presidio of San Francisco, for final muster out on November 30, 1865.
Company "B" - Captain Fitch and Lieutenant Copely of the Mountain Volunteers joined this company, which was organized at Placerville, September 25, 1861. They moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Vancouver until March, 1862. At Fort Dalles to October, 1862. Ordered to San Francisco October 3, and duty at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. Ordered to Camp Drum March 1, 1863, and then to Fort Mojave April 29, and duty there until June, 1864. Ordered to Drum Barracks, and duty there until mustered out. Like Company A, Company B was reorganized with veterans and recruits and then ordered to Fort Humboldt April 5, 1865, and then to Fort Gaston, and duty there until it was finally mustered out.
Company "C" - This company was recruited in Shasta County and was named the Shasta Guards[8] during the month of September, 1861. It was marched to Auburn, Placer County, where it was mustered into the United States service October 5, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, until August, 1862. Ordered to San Francisco August 14, and duty at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. At San Francisco until May. Ordered to Camp Drum May 28, 1863, and duty there until January, 1864. Occupation of Santa Catalina Island January 2, and duty at Camp Santa Catalina Island where they raised their company flag[9] until December, 1864. At Drum Barracks until March, 1865, and at Fort Mojave until mustered out.
Company "D" - This company was organized at Auburn, Placer County, and mustered into the United States service October 15, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Yamhill, Oregon, until March, 1863. Ordered to Fort Hoskins March 25, and duty there until December, 1864. Expedition from Siletz Block House to Coos Bay April 21-May 12, 1864. At Fort Yamhill until muster out. The company was reorganized and remained at Fort Yamhill. It was finally mustered out at the Presidio, S. F., December 19, 1865.
Company "E" - This company was organized at Auburn, Placer County, and mustered into the United States service October 10, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Steilacoom until October 3, 1862. Ordered to San Francisco, and duty at Benicia Barracks until May, 1863. Ordered to Drum Barracks May 28, and duty there until January, 1864. At Fort Yuma until June, 1865. At Drum Barracks until muster out.
Company "F" - This company was raised in Coloma, El Dorado County, in September, and was mustered into the United States service at Auburn, Placer County, October 16, 1861. At Camp Sigel, near Auburn, until January, 1862. Moved to Camp Union, Sacramento, then moved to San Francisco April 28, and to Camp Latham, Southern California. At Camp Drum until March, 1863. Moved to Fort Yuma March 1, 1863; to La Paz, Arizona. April 28, 1863; to Fort Yuma August 15, and to Drum Barracks November 7, 1864. Reformed like the other companies, Company F moved to Fort Humboldt May 1, 1865. Duty in Humboldt Military District until mustered out.
Company "G" - This company was organized at Camp Sigel, near Auburn, October 26, 1861. At Camp Sigel, until January, 1862. Moved to Camp Union, Sacramento, then to San Francisco April 28, 1862, and to Camp Latham, District of Southern California. Ordered to San Diego, California, and duty there until mustered out.
Company "H" - This company was mustered into service, February 6, 1862, at Camp Union. Moved to San Francisco April 28, and to Camp Latham, Southern California. Duty at Camp Latham and Camp Drum until March, 1863. Ordered to Fort Yuma March 1, and duty there until January, 1864. Moved to Drum Barracks January, 1864, then to San Luis Obispo July 27, 1864. Returned to Drum Barracks and duty there until mustered out. On May 20, 1863, men from Company H were involved in the La Paz incident, resulting in two men from Company H killed and one wounded.[12]
Company "I" - This company was raised in Nevada City, and was mustered into service at Camp Sigel, on the seventh day of October, 1861. At Camp Sige until January, 1862. Moved to Camp Union, Sacramento, then to San Francisco April 28, and duty at Benicia Barracks until November, 1862. To Fort Umpqua November 12. Duty there and at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. Moved to Camp Drum under Captain Charles Atchisson[13] March 6 and to Fort Mojave April 29, and duty there until mustered out.
Company "K" - This company was organized at Camp Union, February 1, 1862. Moved to San Francisco April 28, 1862, and duty at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. Moved to Camp Drum March 6, then to Fort Yuma. Then duty until April, 1864; at Drum Barracks until April, 1865; at Camp Lincoln until July, 1865; at San Bernardino until August, 1865; and at Drum Barracks until it was ordered to the Presidio of San Francisco for final muster out on November 30, 1865.[14]
^The Army of the Pacific : its operations in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Plains Region, Mexico, etc., 1860-1866, by Hunt, Aurora, pg 31
The Story of California & her flags to color from 1849 to Present, Bellerophon Books, 1994. pg.33-34
Further reading
Bensell, Royal A.; Barth, Gunther (ed.) (1959) All Quiet on the Yamhill: The Civil War in Oregon: The Journal of Corporal Royal A. Bensell, Company D, Fourth California Infantry.
Masich, Andrew E.; The Civil War in Arizona; The Story of the California Volunteers, 1861-65 (University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 2006)
![Digital reconstruction of Company A flag,(based off a newspaper's description)[4]](File:Auburn_Greys_California_militia_flag.png)
![Digital remake of the National color of Company B,(California State Capitol Museum)[6][1]](File:Company_B_%22MOUNTAIN_VOLUNTEERS%22_Flag.png)