The 8th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Raised in the last year of the war, it spent its entire term of service serving in posts around San Francisco Bay, and on the Columbia River, attached to the Department of the Pacific, before mustering out in late 1865.
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The regiment was mustered into Federal service on March 31, 1865, under the command of Regular Army Colonel Allen L. Anderson, attached to the District of California in the Department of the Pacific. It was the last California regiment raised under the congressional act of July 1864, and had a total enrollment of 960 in ten companies. Its headquarters was initially located at Alcatraz Island but moved to Fort Point in April. The companies of the regiment were raised during late 1864 and early 1865. Most companies did their whole service at Fort Point, Angel Island, and Alcatraz. A and B companies were the only elements of the regiment that operated outside the Bay Area.[1] The Civil War ended ten days after the regiment was mustered in, so the regiment did mostly garrison duty and saw little active service.
The regimental flag is stored in the state's capitol and is one of four national colors from the California Volunteers to survive the War.
- Headquarters was at Alcatraz then moved to Fort Point.
- Company "A" - At Watsonville and mustered in November 17, 1864. Stationed at Fort Point, until February, 1865. At Cape Disappointment, mouth of the Columbia River, Washington Territory. On March 15, seven soldiers participated in the rescue of seven survivors from the wrecked barque Industry on March 15.[2][3][4] They left Territory on August 17, 1865, and at Fort Dalles, Oregon, until October, 1865. Ordered to Fort Point, October, 1865.
- Company "B" - At Sacramento and mustered in December 5, 1864. Stationed at Fort Point until April 17, 1865. Moved to Fort Stevens, Oregon, April 17-26, and duty there until October 11. Ordered to Fort Point.
- Company "C" - Organized at San Jose and mustered in January 28, 1865. At Fort Point, until October, 1865.
- Company "D" - Organized at San Francisco and mustered in February 14, 1865. Stationed at Fort Point, until October, 1865.
- Company "E" - Organized at San Francisco January 25, 1865. Stationed at Alcatraz Island until October, 1865.
- Company "F" - Organized at San Francisco February 14, 1865. Stationed at Point Blunt, Angel Island, until October, 1865.
- Company "G" - Organized at Marysville and mustered in January 5, 1865. Stationed at Alcatraz Island. On April 5th Private Willian Frank was "Killed at Alcatraz Island, Cal., while firing a salute in line of duty..."[5] They were stationed on the island until October, 1865.
- Company "H" - Organized in Calaveras County and mustered in February 27, 1865, at San Francisco. Stationed at Alcatraz Island and Fort Point until October, 1865.
- Company "I" - Organized in Yuba and Sierra Counties and mustered in at San Francisco February 6, 1865. Stationed at Fort Point until October, 1865.
- Company "K" - Organized at Placerville and Sacramento and mustered in at San Francisco February 25, 1865. Stationed at Fort Point until October, 1865.[6]
The regiment suffered five enlisted men dead, four from disease[1] and one was killed while firing a salute.[5]
Citations
Daily Alta California, 30 March 1865
Hunt, Aurora (2004). The Army of the Pacific: Its Operations in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Plains Region, Mexico, Etc., 1860-1866. Stackpole Books. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-8117-2978-9.
Bibliography
- Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1890). History of the Pacific States of North America. Vol. XIX: California Volume VII: 1860–1890. San Francisco: The History Company.
- Dyer, Frederick H. (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Company.
- Hunt, Aurora (2004) [1951]. The Army of The Pacific: Its Operations in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Plains Region, Mexico, etc. 1860-1866. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811729789.
- Orton, Richard H. (1890). Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion 1861 to 1867. Sacramento: State Printer.
- United States War Department (1897). The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. Series I, Volume L, Part II. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
