List of California Civil War Confederate Units facts for kids
California was a very interesting place during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Even though it officially stayed with the Union (the North), many people living there supported the Confederacy (the South). This was similar to the Border States, which were states located between the North and the South that had mixed feelings. In California, most of the people who supported the South lived in the southern part of the state.
In 1861, some groups in Los Angeles and El Monte even formed their own local military groups. These groups were called "secessionist militias" because they supported the idea of California leaving the Union to join the Confederacy. However, the Union forces soon made sure California stayed under their control. After this, many Southerners who still wanted to fight for the Confederacy left California. They traveled east, sometimes through Mexico or New Mexico, or even by sea, to reach the Confederate states.
Later in the war, two small groups of "partisan rangers" appeared in California. These were like unofficial military groups. However, they didn't have much success. One group was broken up, and the other became a group that caused trouble.
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California's Confederate Groups
During the Civil War, several groups in California were formed by people who supported the Confederacy. Here are some of the known units:
Los Angeles Mounted Rifles
The Los Angeles Mounted Rifles was a group formed in Los Angeles in 1861. Its members were mostly people who supported the South. Instead of fighting in California, many of them decided to travel east to join the Confederate army directly. They marched all the way to Texas and then joined different Confederate units there.
Monte Mounted Rifles
Similar to the Los Angeles group, the Monte Mounted Rifles was formed in El Monte in 1861. This group also had members who strongly supported the Confederacy. Like the Los Angeles Mounted Rifles, many of its members left California to join the Confederate forces fighting in the eastern states.
Captain Ingram's Partisan Rangers
Captain Ingram's Partisan Rangers was a small, unofficial group that appeared later in the war. They were led by a man named Captain Ingram. These rangers were not part of the main Confederate army. Their goal was to cause trouble for Union forces and supporters within California. However, this group was quickly stopped and broken up by Union soldiers.
Mason Henry Gang
The Mason Henry Gang was another small group that formed late in the war. They were also considered "partisan rangers" at first, meaning they were an unofficial group supporting the Confederacy. However, this group eventually became known for causing problems and was not seen as a regular military unit. They were not successful in their original goals and were eventually dealt with.
More About California and the Civil War
If you want to learn more about California's role in the Civil War, here are some other interesting topics:
- List of California Civil War Union units - Learn about the groups from California that fought for the Union.
- List of American Civil War regiments by state - See how different states contributed to the war effort.
- California in the American Civil War - Get a bigger picture of what California was like during this important time in history.
