List of California State Militia Units 1850

Before the big American Civil War started, from 1851 to 1861, California had its own local defense groups. These groups were called the California State Militia. They were like volunteer teams of citizens who helped keep peace and order in their towns and areas. They stepped up to protect people and deal with different challenges across the state.

These units were made up of regular people. They volunteered their time to help their communities. They dealt with things like protecting settlers, keeping law and order, and sometimes helping during conflicts with Native American groups. They were important for safety in early California.

Volunteer Companies of the California State Militia (1850-1860)

Amador County Units

Amador Rangers, Jackson, 1858. This group helped during the Utah War period.
Volcano Guard, Volcano, 1858. They also served during the Utah War period.

Butte County Units

Oroville Guard, Oroville, 1856-1857.

Calaveras County Units

First Calaveras Guard, Mokelumne Hill, 1852-1853.
Jesus Maria Guard, Jesus Maria, 1854-1857.

El Dorado County Units

1st Company, Mud Springs, 1850. This unit was part of the El Dorado Expedition.
2nd Company, Placerville, 1850. Also part of the El Dorado Expedition.
3rd Company, Placerville, 1850. Another unit in the El Dorado Expedition.
Placerville Guard, Placerville, 1855.
Coloma Greys, Coloma, 1857.
Confidence Guard, Placerville, 1860.

Humboldt County Units

Union Volunteers, Union, 1855. They served during the Klamath War.
Trinity Rangers, Pardee's Ranch, Redwood Creek, 1858. This group was active during the Wintoon War/Bald Hills War.
Humboldt Volunteers, Hydesville, 1860. They also served in the Bald Hills War.

Klamath County Units

Klamath Mounted Rangers, Crescent City, 1854-1856. Active during the Klamath War.
Coast Rangers, Crescent City, 1854-1855. Also served in the Klamath War.
Klamath Rifles, Young's Ferry, 1855. Part of the Klamath War efforts.
Mounted Coast Rifles, Crescent City, 1855. Another unit in the Klamath War.
Salmon Guard, Sawyers Bar, 1855-1856. Served during the Klamath War.
Citizens of Crescent City, Crescent City, 1856.

Del Norte County Units (from 1857)

Crescent Rifles, Crescent City, 1856-1861.

Los Angeles County Units

Los Angeles Guard, Los Angeles, 1853-1881. They worked to stop gangs and protect against raiding groups.
Los Angeles Rangers, Los Angeles, 1853-1857. These were like helpers for the Sheriff against organized outlaws.
Monte Rangers, Los Angeles, 1854-1859. They also worked against gangs and raiding groups.
Ringgold Light Artillery, Los Angeles, 1855-1857.
City Guard, Los Angeles, 1855-1861. Their job was "suppressing lawlessness."
Lanceros de Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 1857-1861. They aimed "for the preservation of order."
Union Guard, Los Angeles, 1857-1859.
Southern Rifles, Los Angeles, 1857-1862.

Mariposa County Units

Mariposa Battalion, Agua Fria, 1851. This group was involved in the Mariposa War.
California State Rangers, Quartzburg, 1853. They helped search for Joaquin Murrieta.
Mariposa Guard, Mariposa, 1856.
Mariposa Mounted Riflemen, Mariposa, 1858-1861. They served during the Utah War period.

Nevada County Units

Nevada Rifles, Nevada City, 1858-1863. They were active during the Utah War and Paiute War.

Placer County Units

Mountain Blues, Iowa Hill, 1855-1856.
Placer Rifles, Auburn, 1856-1857.

Plumas County Units

Plumas Rangers, Quincy, 1855.

Sacramento County Units

Sutter Rifles, Sacramento, 1852.
Sacramento Guard, Sacramento, 1855-1856.
Independent City Guard or City Guard, Sacramento, 1856-1880. They served during the Paiute War.
Sacramento Cadets, Sacramento, 1856-1857.

San Bernardino County Units

San Bernardino Rough and Ready Cavalry, San Bernardino, 1855-1857. They worked against gangs and raiding groups.
First Light Dragoons, San Bernardino, 1856-1857. Also worked against gangs and raiding groups.
San Bernardino Rangers, San Bernardino, 1856-1862. They helped against gangs and raiding groups.

San Diego County Units

Fitzgerald Volunteers, San Diego, 1851-1852. They were involved in the Garra Revolt period.
San Diego Guard, San Diego, 1856-1863. They worked against gangs and raiding groups.

San Francisco County Units

First California Guard, San Francisco, 1849-1879. This was the first artillery company in the California State Militia. They served during the Garra Revolt period.
Washington Guard, San Francisco, 1849-1851. Also active during the Garra Revolt period.
Empire Guard, San Francisco, 1849/1850-1851. They also served during the Garra Revolt period.
Eureka Light Horse Guard, San Francisco, 1852-1854.
First Light Dragoons, San Francisco, 1852-1880.
Marion Rifles, San Francisco, 1852-1861.
National Lancers, San Francisco, 1852-1859.
San Francisco Blues, San Francisco, 1852-1859.
City Guard, San Francisco, 1854-1880.
Templar Guard (Shermans Guard), San Francisco, 1854.
National Guard, San Francisco, 1855.
Sarsfield Guard, San Francisco, 1855.
Wallace Guard, San Francisco, 1855.
Washington Continental Guard, San Francisco, 1855.
Benham Guard, San Francisco, 1856. They served during a time of unrest in San Francisco in 1856.
Constitution Guard, San Francisco, 1856. Also active during the 1856 unrest.
Jackson Guard, San Francisco, 1856. Served during the 1856 unrest.
Jefferson Guard, San Francisco, 1856. Active during the 1856 unrest.
Monroe Guard, San Francisco, 1856. Served during the 1856 unrest.
Union Guard, San Francisco, 1856. Also active during the 1856 unrest.
California Fusileers, San Francisco, 1858.
San Francisco Light Guard, San Francisco, 1858.
Black Hussars, San Francisco, 1859-1881.
Carbineers (French Guard), San Francisco, 1859-1862.
Montgomery Guard, San Francisco, 1859-1880.
McMahon Guard, San Francisco, 1859-1881.
California Rifles (French Guard), San Francisco, 1860-1862.

San Joaquin County Units

San Joaquin Guard, Stockton, 1851-1852.
City Guard, Stockton, 1855.
Stockton Blues, Stockton, 1857-1861.
San Joaquin Mounted Rifles, Knights Ferry, 1858-1862. They served during the Utah War period.

San Luis Obispo County Units

San Luis Obispo Guard, San Luis Obispo, 1858.

Santa Barbara County Units

Santa Barbara Guard, Santa Barbara, 1854.
Santa Barbara Mounted Riflemen, Santa Barbara, 1854-1856.

Santa Clara County Units

National Guard, San José, 1857-1861.

Santa Cruz County Units

Crusade Rangers, Watsonville, 1858. They served during the Utah War period.

Sierra County Units

Sierra Guard, Downieville, 1854-1859.
Goodyear's Rifles, Goodyear's Bar, 1854-1860.
Eureka Blues, Eureka City, 1856.
Forest Rifles, Forest City, 1856-1866.
National Guard, Downieville, 1857-1861.
Gibsonville Blues, Gibsonville, 1858-1861. They served during the Utah War period.
Mobile Guard, Shady Flat, 1858. Also active during the Utah War period.
Sierra Greys, La Porte, 1858. They served during the Utah War period.
Sierra Rangers, Allegheny Town, 1858. Also active during the Utah War period.

Siskiyou County Units

Siskiyou Guard, Humbug City, 1855-1856.
Scott River Guard, Scott River, 1856-1857. This unit was disbanded because their weapons were not delivered.

Sonoma County Units

Petaluma Guard, Petaluma, 1856-1867.
Sotoyame Guard, Healdsburg, 1858-1860.
Washington Horse Guard, Santa Rosa, 1859.

Stanislaus County Units

Stanislaus Guard, Knight's Ferry, 1860-1862.

Tehama County Units

Kibbe Rangers, Red Bluff, 1859-1860. They were part of the State of California's Pitt River Expedition.

Tuolumne County Units

Columbia Fusileers, Columbia, 1853.
Sonora Greys, Sonora, 1854.

Trinity County Units

Trinity Guard, Weaverville, 1854-1855. This unit disbanded after their weapons were destroyed in a fire.
Kibbe Guard, Weaverville, 1858. They served during the Bald Hills War and Wintoon War.

Tulare County Units

Tulare Mounted Riflemen, Visalia, 1856-1868. They were active during the Tule River War.

Yuba County Units

Independent New York Guard, New York Flat, 1855.
Mountain Riflemen, New York Flat, 1855-1857. They helped against conflicts with Native American groups.
Yuba Guard, Yuba County, 1855-1857. They helped against lawlessness and conflicts with Native American groups.
Marysville Rifles, Marysville, 1859-1866. They helped against conflicts with Native American groups.
Downey Guard, Timbuctoo, 1860-1861. They also helped against conflicts with Native American groups.

Sources

The California State Military Museum, California Militia and National Guard Unit Histories, Index to Militia Units of the State of California 1850-1881
Inventory of the Military Department. Militia Companies Records, 1849-1880

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List of California State Militia Units 1850–60 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

List of California State Militia Units 1850–60 facts for kids

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