The 4th California Infantry was a volunteer

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

recruited from northern

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. It was organized at

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

, Placerville, and Auburn in September and October 1861.

History

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 A garrison is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a military base or fortified military headquarters. A garrison is usually in a city ...

duty and related tasks on the West Coast, where they spent the remainder of their

enlistment Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer military, volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription). Few nations, such ...

s. The regiment served principally in the

District of Oregon The United States District Court for the District of Oregon (in case citations, D. Ore. or D. Or.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union. ...

, (

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

and

Washington Territory The Washington Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington. It was created from the ...

), and in the

District of Southern California The District of Southern California was a 19th-century district of Department of the Pacific, a command of the United States Army. History Department of the Pacific was created January 15, 1861, during the American Civil War. The District of Sou ...

, although some companies were shifted to Arizona later in the war. None of these duties required regimental strength, so the

companies A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether natural, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specifi ...

of the regiment were detached and scattered. The last elements of the regiment were mustered out on April 18, 1866. Fort_Mohave_1860s

Commanders

* Colonel Henry M. Judah, September 1861 - November, 1861. * Colonel Ferris Forman, November, 1861 - August 20, 1863. * Colonel

James F. Curtis James Freeman Curtis II (December 19, 1825 – March 1, 1914), participant in the 1849 California Gold Rush, Chief of Police of San Francisco, officer in the California state militia and volunteer in the American Civil War. Biography James Free ...

, 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. Most of the company flags were made by locals. * Regimental colors - The flag never was flown in combat and was given to Governor Frederick Low on November 30, 1865, by Colonel

Curtis Curtis or Curtiss is a common English given name and surname of Anglo-Norman origin, deriving from the Old French ''curteis'' (Modern French">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of Fren ...

to be preserved in the Capitol. * 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 1861.''Placer Herald,'' 14 September 1861 * Company B - The flag was made by the women of Forest Hill and was presented to the company on October 22, 1861.''Sacramento Daily Union'', 28 October 1861 * Company C - The flag was the stars and stripes made from silk by the women of Placerville in September 1861.''Shasta Courier'', 28 September 1861 It was flown at Santa Catalina Island when the company was stationed there. On April 13, 1866 the flag was given to ladies of

Shasta county Shasta County (), officially the County of Shasta, is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population is 182,155 as of the 2020 census, up from 177,223 from the 2010 census. The county seat is Redding. ...

by Captain B. R. West. * Company D - The captain was given a "''Large American flag''" by the women of

Amador County Amador County () is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California, in the Sierra Nevada. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 40,474. The county seat is Jackson, California, Jackson. Ama ...

on October 29, 1861. File:Auburn Greys California militia flag.png, Digital reconstruction of Company A flag,(based off a newspaper's description) File:Company B "MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEERS" Flag.png, Digital remake of the National color of Company B,(California State Capitol Museum)

Company assignments

* Regimental headquarters - First located at Auburn,

Placer County Placer County ( ; ''Placer'', Spanish language, Spanish for "sand deposit"), officially the County of Placer, is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was ...

. 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 Camp Union was a military training center for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Constructed near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the camp operated from 1861 until 1865, and primarily served various Pennsylvania volunteer regiments. The ...

, near

. During the month of May headquarters was moved to

Camp Latham Camp Latham was a temporary United States Army tent camp located in Los Angeles County, California extant from the fall of 1861 to fall of 1862 in the military District of Southern California during the American Civil War. Camp Latham was located ...

, near

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, where it remained until September, 1862, when it was transferred to

Drum Barracks Drum Barracks was the Union Army's headquarters for Southern California and New Mexico during the Civil War. It consisted of 19 buildings on 60 acres (240,000 m2) in what is now Wilmington, with another 37 acres (150,000 m2) near the waterfron ...

, 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, September 21, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to

Fort Vancouver Fort Vancouver was a 19th-century fur trading post built in the winter of 1824–1825. It was the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company's Columbia Department, located in the Pacific Northwest. Named for Captain George Vancouver, the fort was ...

, October 29-November 4, 1861. At

Fort Walla Walla Fort Walla Walla is a United States Army fort located in Walla Walla, Washington. The first Fort Walla Walla was established July 1856, by Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe, 9th Infantry Regiment. A second Fort Walla Walla was occupied Septe ...

, until August, 1862. Ordered to

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

August 15 and duty at

Benicia Barracks The Benicia Arsenal (1851–1964) and Benicia Barracks (1852–66) were part of a large military reservation located next to Suisun Bay in Benicia, California. For over 100 years, the arsenal was the primary US Army Ordnance facility for the W ...

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

, 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 The Cahuenga Pass (, ; Tongva: ''Kawé’nga''), also known by its Spanish name Paseo de Cahuenga, is a low mountain pass through the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Hollywood Hills district of the City of Los Angeles, Califor ...

, November 30, 1864; at Drum Barracks, December, 1864, and January, 1865. Sent during the month of April 1865 to

Fort Humboldt A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Lati ...

. At Camp Iaqua May 1, 1865, until it was ordered to the

Presidio of San Francisco The Presidio of San Francisco (originally, El Presidio Real de San Francisco or The Royal Fortress of Saint Francis) is a park and former U.S. Army post on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, and is part ...

, 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 Fort Dalles was a United States Army outpost located on the Columbia River at the present location of The Dalles, Oregon, in the United States. Built when Oregon was a territory, the post was used mainly for dealing with wars with Native Americ ...

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 Fort Mohave was originally named Camp Colorado when it was established on April 19, 1859 by Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman during the Mohave War. It was located on the east bank of the Colorado River, at Beale's Crossing, near the head of ...

April 29, and duty there until June, 1864. Ordered to

, 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 Fort Gaston was founded on December 4, 1859, in the redwood forests of the Hoopa Valley, in Northern California, on the west bank of the Trinity River, from where the Trinity flows into the Klamath River. It was located in what is now the Hoo ...

, and duty there until it was finally mustered out. *Company C - This company was recruited in

Shasta County Shasta County (), officially the County of Shasta, is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population is 182,155 as of the 2020 census, up from 177,223 from the 2010 census. The county seat is Redding. ...

and was named the ''Shasta Guards'' 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 flagHunt, pg 31 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 was named the ''Volcano Blues''. It was 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 Fort Yamhill was an American military fortification in the state of Oregon. Built in 1856 in the Oregon Territory, it remained an active post until 1866. The Army outpost was used to provide a presence next to the Grand Ronde Agency Coastal Rese ...

, until March, 1863. Ordered to

Fort Hoskins Fort Hoskins was one of three "forts" (which were actually unfortified posts) built by the U.S. Army to monitor the Coastal Indian Reservation in Oregon Territory (later the U.S. State of Oregon) in the mid-19th century. The Fort Hoskins Site i ...

March 25, and duty there until December, 1864. Expedition from

Siletz Block House The Siletz (pronounced SIGH-lets) were the southernmost of several divisions of the Tillamook people speaking a distinct dialect; the other dialect-divisions were: Salmon River on the Salmon River, Nestucca on Little Nestucca River, Nestucca Riv ...

Coos Bay Coos Bay (Hanis language, Coos language: Atsixiis or Hanisich) is an estuary where the Coos River enters the Pacific Ocean, the estuary is approximately 12 miles long and up to two miles wide. It is the largest estuary completely within Oregon sta ...

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 was named the ''Trinity Volunteers.'' It was 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 Fort Steilacoom was founded by the U.S. Army in 1849 near Lake Steilacoom. It was among the first military fortifications built by the U.S. north of the Columbia River in what was to become the State of Washington. The fort was constructed due ...

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 Fort Yuma was a fort in California located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was established in 1848. It served as a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861. The fort was retired from ...

until June, 1865. At Drum Barracks until muster out. *Company F - This company was raised in Coloma,

El Dorado County El Dorado County (; ''El Dorado'', Spanish language, Spanish for "The Golden ne), officially the County of El Dorado, is a List of counties in California, county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, ...

, 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

, then moved to San Francisco April 28, and to

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

. At Camp Drum until March, 1863. Moved to Fort Yuma March 1, 1863; to

La Paz, Arizona La Paz (Yavapai: Wi:hela) was a short-lived early gold mining town along on the western border of current-day La Paz County, Arizona. The town grew quickly after gold was discovered nearby in 1862. ''La Paz'', Spanish for ''peace'', was chosen a ...

. 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 During the American Civil War, Army reorganization created the Department of the Pacific on January 15, 1861. On December 12, 1861, the District of Humboldt was created, consisting of the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Trinity, Humboldt, ...

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 moved to San Francisco April 28, 1862, and to Camp Latham,

. On October 7, 1862 Captain Grant arrested Colonel E. J. C. Kewen on charges of treason. They then headed to

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

, 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. On August 29 private John Daker drowned in a creek near Camp Latham while trying to bath. They stayed 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 ; ; ; Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''tiłhini'') is a city and county seat of San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California, San Luis Obispo is roughly halfway betwee ...

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. *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 asich, Andrew E. "Civil War in Arizona" Univ. of OK Press, 2006/ref> March 6 and to

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 San Bernardino ( ) is a city in and the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 census, making it the List of ...

until August, 1865; and at Drum Barracks until it was ordered to the

for final muster out on November 30, 1865. Records of California men in the war of the rebellion 1861 to 1867, California Adjutant General's Office, State Office, J. D. Young, Supt. State Printing, Sacramento, 1890. pg. 595-598
/ref>

References

The War of the Rebellion: Volume 35, Part 1 CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS ON THE PACIFIC COAST FROM JULY 1, 1862, TO JUNE 30, 1865. By United States. War Dept, Robert Nicholson Scott, Henry Martyn WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1897

Records of California men in the war of the rebellion 1861 to 1867, By California. Adjutant General's Office, SACRAMENTO: State Office, J. D. Young, Supt. State Printing. 1890.
* The Story of California & her flags to color from 1849 to Present, Bellerophon Books, 1994. pg.33-34

External links

Company D reenactors
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206063523/http://www.116pvi.org/ , date=2006-12-06

Units and formations of the Union army from California Oregon in the American Civil War Military units and formations established in 1861 1861 establishments in California Military units and formations disestablished in 1866