List of California State Militia Units 1850–60

The following are California State Militia units that were active in the state of California between 1851 and 1861, prior to the American Civil War.

Volunteer Companies of the California State Militia 1850-1860

Amador County

• Amador Rangers, Jackson, 1858 ^[1] Utah War
• Volcano Guard, Volcano, 1858 ^[2] Utah War

Butte County

• Oroville Guard, Oroville, December 22, 1856 - July 5, 1857 ^[3]

Calaveras County

• First Calaveras Guard, Mokelumne Hill, 1852 - 1853 ^[4]
• Jesus Maria Guard, Jesus Maria, 1854-1857 ^[5]

El Dorado County

• 1st Company, Mud Springs 1850^[6] El Dorado Expedition
• 2nd Company, Placerville 1850,^[7] El Dorado Expedition
• 3rd Company, Placerville 1850^[7] El Dorado Expedition
• Placerville Guard, Placerville, 1855 ^[8]
• Coloma Greys, Coloma, 1857 ^[9]
• Confidence Guard, Placerville, 1860 ^[10]

Humboldt County

• Union Volunteers, Union, 1855 ^[11] Klamath War
• Trinity Rangers, Pardee's Ranch, Redwood Creek, 1858 ^[12] Wintoon War/Bald Hills War
• Humboldt Volunteers, Hydesville, 1860 ^[13] Bald Hills War

Klamath County

• Klamath Mounted Rangers, Crescent City, 1854-1856 ^[14] Klamath War
• Coast Rangers, Crescent City, 1854-1855 ^[15] Klamath War
• Klamath Rifles, Young's Ferry, 1855 ^[16] Klamath War
• Mounted Coast Rifles, Crescent City, 1855 ^[17] Klamath War
• Salmon Guard, Sawyers Bar, 1855-1856 ^[18] Klamath War
• Citizens of Crescent City, Crescent City, 1856 ^[19]

Del Norte County (from 1857)

• Crescent Rifles, Crescent City, 1856-1861 ^[20]

Los Angeles County

• Los Angeles Guard, Los Angeles, 1853 - 1881 ^[21][22] Operated against gangs of robbers or raiding bands of Indians.
• Los Angeles Rangers, Los Angeles, 1853 - 1857 ^[22][23] Sheriff's auxiliaries vs organized bands of outlaws
• Monte Rangers, Los Angeles, 1854 - 1859 ^[22][24] Operated against gangs of robbers or raiding bands of Indians.
• Ringgold Light Artillery, Los Angeles, 1855 - 1857 ^[22][25]
• City Guard, Los Angeles, 1855 - 1861 ^[22][26] "suppressing lawlessness"
• Lanceros de Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 1857 - 1861 ^[22][27] "for the preservation of order, the chastisement of criminals and the repression of outrages"
• Union Guard, Los Angeles, 1857 - 1859 ^[22][28]
• Southern Rifles, Los Angeles, 1857 - 1862 ^[22][29]

Mariposa County

• Mariposa Battalion, Agua Fria, 1851 Mariposa War^[30][31]
• California State Rangers, Quartzburg, 1853 ^[32] Hunt for Joaquin Murrieta
• Mariposa Guard, Mariposa, 1856 ^[33]
• Mariposa Mounted Riflemen, Mariposa, 1858-1861? ^[34] Utah War

Nevada County

• Nevada Rifles, Nevada City, 1858-1863 ^[35] Utah War, Paiute War

Placer County

• Mountain Blues, Iowa Hill, 1855 - 1856 ^[36]
• Placer Rifles, Auburn, 1856 - 1857 ^[37]

Plumas County

• Plumas Rangers, Quincy, 1855 ^[38]

Sacramento County

• Sutter Rifles, Sacramento, 1852 ^[39]
• Sacramento Guard, Sacramento, 1855 - 1856 ^[40]
  • Independent City Guard or City Guard, Sacramento, 1856 - 1880 ^[41] Paiute War
• Sacramento Cadets, Sacramento, 1856-1857 ^[42]

San Bernardino County

• San Bernardino Rough and Ready Cavalry, San Bernardino, 1855-1857 ^[22][43] Operated against gangs of robbers or raiding bands of Indians.
• First Light Dragoons, San Bernardino, 1856-1857 ^[22][44] Operated against gangs of robbers or raiding bands of Indians.
• San Bernardino Rangers, San Bernardino, 1856-1862 ^[22][45] Operated against gangs of robbers or raiding bands of Indians.

San Diego County

• Fitzgerald Volunteers, San Diego, 1851 - 1852 ^[46] Garra Revolt
• San Diego Guard, San Diego, 1856 - 1863 ^[22][47] Operated against gangs of robbers or raiding bands of Indians.

San Francisco County

• First California Guard, San Francisco, 1849-1879 ^[48] The first artillery company in the California State Militia. Garra Revolt
• Washington Guard, San Francisco, 1849-1851?^[49][50] Garra Revolt
• Empire Guard, San Francisco, 1849/1850?-1851?^[50][51] Garra Revolt
• Eureka Light Horse Guard, San Francisco, 1852-1854 ^[52]
• First Light Dragoons, San Francisco, 1852-1880 ^[53]
• Marion Rifles, San Francisco, 1852-1861 ^[54]
• National Lancers, San Francisco, 1852-1859 ^[55]
• San Francisco Blues, San Francisco, 1852-1859 ^[56]
• City Guard, San Francisco, 1854-1880 ^[57]
• Templar Guard (Shermans Guard), San Francisco, 1854
• National Guard, San Francisco, 1855 ^[58]
• Sarsfield Guard, San Francisco, 1855 ^[59]
• Wallace Guard, San Francisco, 1855 ^[60]
• Washington Continental Guard, San Francisco, 1855 ^[61]
• Benham Guard, San Francisco, 1856 ^[62] "State of Insurrection" in San Francisco, 1856.
• Constitution Guard, San Francisco, 1856 ^[63] "State of Insurrection" in San Francisco, 1856.
• Jackson Guard, San Francisco, 1856 ^[64] "State of Insurrection" in San Francisco, 1856.
• Jefferson Guard, San Francisco, 1856 ^[65] "State of Insurrection" in San Francisco, 1856.
• Monroe Guard, San Francisco, 1856 ^[66] "State of Insurrection" in San Francisco, 1856.
• Union Guard, San Francisco, 1856 ^[67] "State of Insurrection" in San Francisco, 1856.
• California Fusileers, San Francisco, 1858 ^[68]
• San Francisco Light Guard, San Francisco, 1858 ^[69]
• Black Hussars, San Francisco, 1859-1881 ^[70]
• Carbineers (French Guard), San Francisco, 1859-1862 ^[71]
• Montgomery Guard, San Francisco, 1859-1880 ^[72]
• McMahon Guard, San Francisco, 1859-1881 ^[73]
• California Rifles (French Guard), San Francisco, 1860-1862 ^[74]

San Joaquin County

• San Joaquin Guard, Stockton, 1851 - 1852 ^[75]
• City Guard, Stockton, 1855 ^[76]
• Stockton Blues, Stockton, 1857 - 1861 ^[77]
• San Joaquin Mounted Rifles, Knights Ferry, 1858 - 1862 ^[78] Utah War

San Luis Obispo County

• San Luis Obispo Guard, San Luis Obispo, 1858 ^[79]

Santa Barbara County

• Santa Barbara Guard, Santa Barbara, 1854 ^[22][80]
• Santa Barbara Mounted Riflemen, Santa Barbara, 1854 - 1856 ^[22][81]

Santa Clara County

• National Guard, San José, 1857-1861 ^[82]

Santa Cruz County

• Crusade Rangers, Watsonville, 1858 ^[83] Utah War

Sierra County

• Sierra Guard, Downieville, 1854-1859 ^[84]
• Goodyear's Rifles, Goodyear's Bar, 1854-1860 ^[85]
• Eureka Blues, Eureka City, 1856 ^[86]
• Forest Rifles, Forest City, 1856-1866 ^[87]
• National Guard, Downieville, 1857-1861 ^[88]
• Gibsonville Blues, Gibsonville, 1858-1861 ^[89] Utah War
• Mobile Guard, Shady Flat, 1858 ^[90] Utah War
• Sierra Greys, La Porte, 1858.^[91] Utah War
• Sierra Rangers, Allegheny Town, 1858 ^[92] Utah War

Siskiyou County

• Siskiyou Guard, Humbug City, 1855-1856 ^[93]
• Scott River Guard, Scott River, 1856-1857 ^[94] Disbanded when weapons not delivered.

Sonoma County

• Petaluma Guard, Petaluma, 1856 - 1867 ^[95]
• Sotoyame Guard, Healdsburg, 1858 - 1860 ^[96]
• Washington Horse Guard, Santa Rosa, 1859 ^[97]

Stanislaus County

• Stanislaus Guard, Knight's Ferry, 1860 - 1862 ^[98]

Tehama County

• Kibbe Rangers, Red Bluff, 1859-1860 ^[99] State of California's Pitt River Expedition

Tuolumne County

• Columbia Fusileers, Columbia, 1853 ^[100]
• Sonora Greys, Sonora, 1854 ^[101]

Trinity County

• Trinity Guard, Weaverville, 1854-1855 ^[102] Disbanded after weapons destroyed in a fire.
• Kibbe Guard, Weaverville, 1858 ^[103] Bald Hills War, Wintoon War

Tulare County

• Tulare Mounted Riflemen, Visalia 1856 - 1868 ^[104] Tule River War

Yuba County

• Independent New York Guard, New York Flat, 1855
  • Mountain Riflemen, New York Flat, 1855 - 1857 ^[105] Opposed Indian hostilities
• Yuba Guard, Yuba County, 1855-1857 ^[106] Opposed lawlessness, Indian hostilities
• Marysville Rifles, Marysville, 1859-1866 ^[107] Opposed Indian hostilities
• Downey Guard, Timbuctoo, 1860-1861 ^[108] Opposed Indian hostilities

References

1. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Amador Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
2. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Volcano Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
3. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Oroville Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
4. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: First Calaveras Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
5. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Jesus Maria Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
6. Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County California with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominentmen and Pioneers. Paolo Sioli, Oakland 1883. p.157-159
7. Historical Souvenir p.157-159
8. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Placerville Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
9. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Coloma Greys, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
10. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Confidence Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
11. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Union Volunteers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
12. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Trinity Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
13. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Humboldt Volunteers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
14. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Klamath Mounted Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
15. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Coast Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 8, 2011
16. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Klamath Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
17. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Mounted Coast Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
18. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Salmon Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
19. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Citizens of Crescent City, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
20. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Crescent Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
21. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Los Angeles Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
22. http://www.militarymuseum.org/SoCal.pdf J.M. Scammel, Military Units of Southern California 1853-1862, California Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. XXIX, Number 3.
23. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Los Angeles Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
24. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Monte Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
25. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Ringgold Light Artillery, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
26. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: City Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
27. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Lanceros de Los Angeles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
28. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Union Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
29. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Southern Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 13, 2011
30. California and the Indian Wars: Mariposa Indian War, 1850-1851, by Warren A. Beck and Ynez D. Hasse
31. California and the Indian Wars: The Mariposa War, By David A. Smith, Historian, The Burdick Military History Project, San Jose State University
32. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: California State Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 14, 2011
33. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Mariposa Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 14, 2011
34. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Mariposa Mounted Riflemen, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 14, 2011
35. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Nevada Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 14, 2011
36. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Mountain Blues, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
37. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Placer Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
38. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Plumas Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
39. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sutter Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
40. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sacramento Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
41. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Independent City Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
42. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sacramento Cadets, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
43. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Bernardino Rough and Ready Cavalry, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
44. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: First Light Dragoons, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
45. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Bernardino Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
46. William Ellsworth Smythe, History of San Diego, 1542-1908: an account of the rise and progress of the pioneer settlement on the Pacific coast of the United States, Volume 1, History Co., San Diego, 1908, pp.189-190
47. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Diego Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
48. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: First California Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
49. Colonel Norman S. Marshall and Chief Warrant Officer Mark J. Denger, The Creation of the National Guard of California, California Center for Military History. In 1851, Indian disturbances in San Diego called for troops, and two companies were organized from the California Guard, Washington Guard, and Empire Guard, the only existing military companies in San Francisco at that time. However, before transportation to San Diego could be arranged the trouble had blown over.
50. Hubert Howe Bancroft, The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft Vol. XXIV: History of California Vol VII, History Co., San Francisco, 1890 p454-455
51. Marshall and Denger, The Creation ..., op. cit.
52. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Eureka Light Horse Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
53. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: First Light Dragoons, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
54. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Marion Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
55. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: National Lancers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
56. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Francisco Blues, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
57. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: City Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
58. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: National Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
59. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sarsfield Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
60. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Wallace Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
61. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Washington Continental Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
62. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Benham Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
63. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Constitution Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
64. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Jackson Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
65. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Jefferson Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
66. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Monroe Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
67. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Union Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
68. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: California Fusileers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
69. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Francisco Light Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
70. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Black Hussars, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
71. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Carbineers (French Guard), from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
72. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Montgomery Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
73. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: McMahon Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
74. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: California Rifles (French Guard), from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
75. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Joaquin Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
76. (1) City Guard of Stockton (Infantry). "The organization is not complete." Adjutant General's Report, 1856, p. 19.
77. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Stockton Blues, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
78. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Joaquin Mounted Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
79. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Luis Obispo Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
80. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Santa Barbara Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
81. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Santa Barbara Mounted Riflemen, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
82. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: National Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 22, 2011
83. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Crusade Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 23, 2011
84. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sierra Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
85. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Goodyear's Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
86. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Eureka Blues, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
87. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Forest Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
88. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: National Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
89. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Gibsonville Blues, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
90. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Mobile Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
91. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sierra Greys, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
92. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sierra Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 24, 2011
93. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Siskiyou Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 23, 2011
94. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Scott River Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 23, 2011
95. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Petaluma Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
96. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sotoyame Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
97. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Washington Horse Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
98. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Stanislaus Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
99. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Kibbe Rangers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
100. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Columbia Fusileers, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
101. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Sonora Greys, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
102. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Trinity Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
103. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Kibbe Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
104. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Tulare Mounted Riflemen, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
105. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Mountain Riflemen, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
106. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Yuba Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
107. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Marysville Rifles, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011
108. California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: Downey Guard, from The California State Military Museum accessed on September 25, 2011

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