Hydesville Volunteer Company facts for kids

The Hydesville Volunteer Company was a group of local people, like a neighborhood watch or a small army, formed in 1859. They came together to protect settlers from attacks during a time called the Bald Hills War.

Why the Company Formed

After the Bald Hills War (also known as the Wintoon War) ended in 1859, some Native American groups started attacking cattle in the Yager Creek area. In May 1859, a rancher named James C. Ellison was killed. He was trying to get his cattle back from Native Americans who had taken them.

The official army soldiers from Fort Humboldt were in the area. However, the local settlers felt that the army was not doing enough to protect them.

Citizens Take Action

The ranchers and citizens living near Hydesville, California were very frustrated. They felt the army and the state government were not keeping them safe. So, on May 28, 1859, they decided to take action themselves.

They organized a group of 25 volunteers. This group was called the "Hydesville Volunteer Company," even though it didn't have an official name at first. The people of Hydesville paid for the company's supplies and activities.

Who Led the Volunteers

The volunteers chose their leaders:

• Abram Lyle became the Captain.
• H. J. Davis was the 1st Lieutenant.
• Eli Davis was the 2nd Lieutenant.
• J. H. Morrison was in charge of supplies and equipment.

The company split into two teams. One team patrolled the Mad River area. The other team patrolled North Fork Yager Creek.

What the Volunteers Did

On June 11, the Weekly Humboldt Times newspaper reported on the volunteers' actions. It said that the volunteers had searched several Native American camps and had killed some people.

In December 1859, a letter in the Weekly Humboldt Times from Hydesville complained about the cost. The writer wanted a volunteer company that was officially part of the state. This was because the citizens of Hydesville had already paid $600–700 to support their volunteer company. Even so, the volunteers kept working through the winter. The citizens hoped they would eventually get their money back.

The Company Disbands

By January, the Hydesville Volunteers could no longer afford to stay in the field. They had been paying their own way. So, the company broke up, and the volunteers went home. This meant there was no one left to stop the Native American attacks.

On North Yager Creek, some settlers formed small groups to protect each other. But they were not strong enough to help their neighbors.

After the Hydesville volunteers disbanded, the local citizens decided to form a new group. They officially organized a state militia company, which was named the Humboldt Volunteers.