List of California State Militia civil war units facts for kids

California might have been far from the big battles of the American Civil War (1861-1865), but it still played an important role! While many Californians joined the Union Army and fought in the East, the state also had its own local defense groups. These groups were called the California State Militia. They were made up of volunteers who helped keep order, protect against raids, and support the Union cause right here in California.

What Was the California State Militia?

The California State Militia was like a local volunteer army. It was made up of regular citizens who trained to be soldiers in their spare time. These groups were formed in towns and counties all over California. Their main jobs were to keep the peace, protect local communities, and support the United States government during the Civil War.

California was a Union state, meaning it supported the North. However, there were some people in California who supported the South. The militia units helped make sure the state stayed loyal to the Union. They also helped protect important places like ports and gold mines.

Why Were These Units Needed?

Even though California wasn't a main battlefield, there were still threats.

• Keeping Order: With many men leaving to join the regular army, the militia helped maintain law and order at home.
• Protecting Resources: California's gold and other resources were very important to the Union. The militia helped guard these valuable assets.
• Native American Conflicts: Some units were also involved in conflicts with Native American tribes in the state.
• Supporting the Union: They showed California's strong support for the United States government during a very divided time.

Many of these militia units were formed by people who strongly believed in the Union. They wanted to show their loyalty and be ready to defend their homes if needed. Some units even sent their members to join the larger California Volunteer Regiments that fought in other parts of the country.

California's Volunteer Militia Units (1860–1866)

Here's a look at some of the volunteer militia companies that were active in different counties across California during the Civil War years. Each county had its own groups, often named after their towns or famous figures.

Alameda County

• Alvarado Guard, Company F, 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade. Based in Alvarado, active 1863–1866.
• Brooklyn Guard, an independent company in San Leandro, 1865–1866.
• Hayward Guard, an independent company in Hayward, 1864–1868.
• Oakland Home Guard, active in Oakland from 1861–1863. Later became the Oakland Guard.
  • Oakland Guard, Company C, 1st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade. Oakland, 1863–1866.

Alpine County

• Markleville Guard, later known as Alpine Rifles. An independent company in Markleville, 1864–1866.

Amador County

• Amador Mountaineers, from Jackson in 1861. Many members later joined the 1st Regiment California Volunteer Infantry.
• Volcano Blues, Company C, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade. Based in Volcano, 1861–1866.

Butte County

• Butte Mounted Rifles, from Oroville in 1861.
• Oroville Guard, active in Oroville from 1861–1868.

Calaveras County

• Angels Guard, Company H, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade. From Angel's Camp, 1862–1868.
• Union Guard, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade. Based in Poverty Bar, 1861–1866.

Contra Costa County

• Contra Costa Guard, Company G, 1st Cavalry Battalion, 2nd Brigade. From San Pablo, 1863–1866.

Del Norte County

• Crescent City Guard, an independent company in Crescent City, 1861-1864.

El Dorado County

• Coloma Greys, from Coloma, 1857–1862. Many members joined the Second and Fourth Regiments of California Volunteers.
• Georgetown Union Guard, Company A, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. From Georgetown, 1863–1868.

Humboldt County

• Eureka Rifles, attached to 6th Brigade. From Eureka, 1862–1864.
• Humboldt Volunteers, attached to 2nd Brigade. From Hydesville, 1860.

Lassen County

• Honey Lake Rangers, an independent cavalry company, 5th Brigade. From Susanville, 1864–1866.

Los Angeles County

• Los Angeles Guard, attached to 1st Brigade. Active in Los Angeles from 1853-1881.
• Los Angeles Mounted Rifles, attached to 1st Brigade. From Los Angeles, 1861.

Marin County

• Lincoln Cavalry, Company M, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade. From Tomales, 1864–1866.

Mariposa County

• Coulterville Rifles, an independent company, 3rd Brigade. From Coulterville, 1864–1866.

Mono County

• Esmerelda Rifles, attached to 3rd Brigade. From Aurora, 1862.

Monterey County

• Conner Guard, attached to First Brigade. From Monterey, 1863–1866.

Napa County

• Napa Guard, an independent company, 2nd Brigade. From Napa City & County, 1861–1868.
• Washington Light Artillery, an independent company, 2nd Brigade. From Napa City & County, 1863–1866.

Nevada County

• Company "H", from Nevada City, 1861. It became Company G, 1st Regiment California Volunteer Infantry.
• Nevada Light Guard, an independent company, 4th Brigade. From Nevada City, 1863–1878.
• Nevada Rifles, an independent company, 2nd Brigade, 4th Division. From Nevada City, 1858–1863.

Placer County

• Auburn Greys, Company A, 1st Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. From Auburn, 1861–1868.
• Mountain Volunteers, from Forest Hill, 1861. Disbanded when many members joined the Volunteer Infantry.
• Placer Guard, from Iowa Hill, 1861–1862.

Plumas County

• Indian Valley Rifles, from Taylorville 1863. This unit was never very effective.

Sacramento County

• Granite Guard, an independent company, 4th Brigade. From Folsom 1861–1863.
• Independent City Guard, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade. From Sacramento, 1856–1880.
• Sacramento Light Artillery, active in Sacramento, 1864–1880.
• Washington Rifles, from Sacramento City & County, 1861. It became Company E, 1st Regiment California Volunteer Infantry.

San Bernardino County

• San Bernardino Rangers, attached to 1st Brigade. From San Bernardino, 1861–1862.

San Diego County

• San Diego Guard, attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division. From San Diego, 1856-1863.

San Francisco County

San Francisco, being the largest city, had many militia units.

• San Francisco Hussars, Company B, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade. From San Francisco City & County, 1862–1891.
• First California Guard, Company A, Light Battery, 1st Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade. Active from 1849–1875.
• Franklin Light Guard, Company E, 1st Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade. From San Francisco City & County, 1861–1873.
• Independent National Guard, Company C, 1st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade. Active from 1859–1880.
• Montgomery Guard, Company B, 1st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade. Active from 1859–1880.
• San Francisco Light Guard, Company F, 1st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade. Active from 1858–1880.
• Union Guard (Gatling Battery), Company A, 1st Regiment Artillery, 2nd Brigade. Active from 1861–1881.
• Washington Continental Guard, Company D, 1st Infantry, 2nd Brigade. Active from 1855–1862. Later became the Washington Light Infantry.

San Joaquin County

• San Joaquin Mounted Rifles, an independent company, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division. From Knight's Ferry, 1858–1862.
• Stockton Blues, from Stockton, 1859–1861.
• Stockton Union Guard, an independent company, 3rd Brigade. From Stockton, 1861–1866.

San Mateo County

• Jefferson Cavalry, Company H, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade. From Redwood City, 1864–1866.

Santa Clara County

• San Jose Volunteers, from San Jose, 1861. Became Company D, 1st Regiment California Volunteer Infantry.
• Santa Clara Light Infantry, Company F, 1st Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade. From Santa Clara, 1861–1864. Renamed Santa Clara Guard in 1864.

Santa Cruz County

• Butler Guard, Company G, 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade. From Santa Cruz, 1863–1866.
• Watsonville Guard, Company D, 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade. From Watsonville, 1863–1868.

Shasta County

• Lyon Light Infantry, Company C, 5th Brigade. From Shasta, 1863–1868.

Sierra County

• Gibsonville Blues, Company E, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Second Brigade. From Gibsonville, 1858–1862. Many members joined California Volunteer Regiments.
• National Guard, Company E, 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade. From Downieville, 1857–1866.
• Sierra Greys, from La Porte, 1858–1861. Became Company F, First Regiment of Infantry, California Volunteers.

Siskiyou County

• Siskiyou Light Guard, Company D, 5th Brigade. From Yreka, 1863–1866.

Solano County

• Benicia Guard (Starsfield Guard from late 1862), Company G, 2nd Brigade. From Benicia, 1862–1866.
• McClellan Guard, Company I, 1st Artillery, 2nd Brigade. From Vallejo, 1863–1864. This company was identified as supporting the Southern cause, and its officers were removed from service.

Sonoma County

• Petaluma Guard, Company D, 1st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade. From Petaluma, 1856–1866.
• Sotoyame Guard, from Healdsburg, 1858–1861. This unit disbanded due to declining members in a pro-Southern area.

Sutter County

• Company "A", from Yuba City, 1861. This unit was organized but disbanded because they couldn't get enough weapons.

Stanislaus County

• Franklin Guard, Company F, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade. From Knight's Ferry, 1862–1866.

Tehama County

• Lassen Rangers, an independent company, 5th Brigade. From Red Bluff, 1863–1866.

Tuolumne County

• Tuolumne Home Guard, Company A, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade. From Columbia, 1861–1866.

Trinity County

• Union Guard, an independent company, 2nd Brigade. From Weaverville, 1861–1862.

Tulare County

• Tulare Home Guard, an independent company, 3rd Brigade. From Visalia, 1863–1866.

Yolo County

• Woodland Guard, Company K, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade. From Woodland, 1863–1866.

Yuba County

• Downey Guard, an independent company, 1st Brigade, 5th Division. From Timbuctoo 1860–1861.
• Marysville Rifles, Company B, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade. From Marysville, 1859–1866.

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