The 2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent its entire term of service in the western United States, with most of its companies dispersed to various posts.
History
The 2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry was raised in response to President Lincoln's second call for troops in August 1861. By October 30, 1861, the regiment was organized and mustered into the service. The companies were assembled at Camp Alert in San Francisco. After completing the organization of the regiment, and a short period for drill and discipline, the regiment was sent, by companies, to various posts within the Department of the Pacific. The regiment was mustered out in March, 1866, although some companies remained in service beyond that date.
Regimental Commanders
Colonel Andrew J. Smith October 2, 1861 - resigned November 15, 1861
Colonel Columbus Sims November 13, 1861 - January 31, 1863
Colonel George S. Evans February 1, 1863 - resigned May 31, 1863
Colonel Edward McGarry November 29, 1864 - March 31, 1866.
Flags
The 2nd California Cavalry has a number of company guidons preserved in the state capitol.[1] The Regimental colors were lost; the only flags that survived were one national flag and three company flags.[2] Most of these flag were made by locals in towns and nearby areas for "their" companies.[1][3] In 1862 Quartermaster R. L. Ogden Ordered four guidons from D. Norcross for Companies B, D, G, and J.[4] A few months later Lieutenant Livergood of Company I was presented with a national flag made by the women of Visalia.[5]
National flag of the 2nd California Cavalry regiment (California State Capitol Museum)Company D Guidon, (California State Capitol Museum)National Color, Tuolumne Rangers, Company E made by the women of Sonora (California State Capitol Museum)Company I Guidon, (California State Capitol Museum)
Company assignments
Headquarters: After completing the organization of the regiment, and a short period for drill and discipline, the Regimental headquarters was sent to Utah Territory, remaining there until October, 1864, when it moved to Camp Union, near Sacramento, and remained there until the final muster out of the regiment as an organization, in March, 1866.
Company A: Company A went first to Fort Churchill, Nevada, then to Utah Territory, where it remained until December, 1864, when it took station at Camp Union near Sacramento. About that time the terms of service of most of its members expired. Company A was reorganized by reenlistment of many of its old members and the enlistment of recruits enough to fill up the company to the required number. In September, 1865, it marched to Fort Miller, in Fresno County, and in November 1865, it marched to Camp Babbitt, near Visalia, where it remained until ordered to Camp Union, near Sacramento, for muster out, in April, 1866.
Company B: Company B was ordered to Southern California in February 1862, and became part of Carleton's California Column, with 15 soldiers of the Company being selected as personal body guards to the general.[6] While camped near Apache Pass on June 25, three members of the company were killed by 60 Apaches with their bodies being mutilated and scalped.[7] They continued the marched with the rest of the Column to New Mexico. In the spring of 1864 it returned to California, and was mustered out as a company at San Francisco, October 10, 1864. The company commander during this period of service was Captain John C. Cremony. After the muster out of the original Company B, a new Company B was organized, and George D. Conrad became Captain of the company. The new company remained at Camp Union, while in Sacramento Private David Cusick robbed Michael Sullivan at the Western Hotel.[8] They stayed until June, 1865, when it moved to the mining town of Dun Glen, Nevada, where it served until mustered out in the spring of 1866.
Company C: Served at Fort Crook, nearly the whole time it was in service. When the enlistments of its original members expired in the fall of 1864, they were mustered out at Fort Crook. The company was reformed through enlistment of recruits in San Francisco. It was mustered out at Sacramento in May, 1866.
Company D: After leaving Camp Alert, Company D went to Southern California in early 1862. While there private John Wood would attempt to shoot his commanding officer and was arrested and sent to Alcatraz Island for the rest of the war.[9] In June 1862, it was sent to join Col. Evans' campaign against the Paiute in the Owens Valley and returned to Camp Babbit in the fall. On the resumption of hostilities in the Owens Valley they returned to the area in April 1863 via Keyesville, California, perpetrating the Keyesville massacre then moved on to Camp Independence in the Owens River Valley, participating in the final campaign of the Owens Valley Indian War. They then escortied almost 1000 Paiute to Fort Tejon in July 1863. They remained there until August, 1863, then moved to Fort Tejon, until March, 1864, when it moved to Camp Union, where the original members were mustered out. During the months of September and October, 1864, the company was reorganized by Captain W. L. Knight, and after serving a short time at Camp Union and Camp Jackson in Amador County, it went to Colusa; then to Red Bluff, and finally, in July, 1865, to Smoke Creek, Nevada (north of Pyramid Lake), where it remained until mustered out at Camp Union on May 29, 1866.
Company E: Originally organized as the "Tuolumne Rangers", after leaving Camp Alert, Company E went first to Fort Humboldt. In June Capt. Akey was shot dead by a private, who was instantly killed by another who witnessed the whole affair.[10] They would leave in the spring of 1862. In October of 1862 the when were station at Red Bluff and were about to head to Benicia when one soldier got drunk and tried to desert with 3-4 members of the company being sent after him. When they caught up to him he tried riding away but one of the soldiers drew his revolver commanded him to stop he did. He later tried to desert 2 more times.[11] No record of the stations of this company can be found from November, 1862 until April, 1863, at which time it was at Camp Babbit then moved to Camp Independence in the Owens River Valley. During July, 1863, it went to Fort Tejon, and in August, 1863, to Camp Babbitt, near Visalia. The original members were mustered out in San Francisco, October 6, 1864. After leaving Camp Babbitt the company was stationed again at Camp Independence, until it was ordered to San Francisco to be mustered out, which took place June 2, 1866.
Company F: This company was organized in Sacramento and was first called the "Sacramento Rangers." After leaving Camp Alert it was stationed at various places. On July 23, 1862 over 300 prisoners broke out of San Quentin and took the Lieut. Gov. Chellis a detachment of 48 men were sent out captured them.[12] Then went they to Camp Union and on July 31, 1863 Camp Bidwell until April 1864 when it returned to Camp Union. About one third of the company was kept in San Francisco as a provost guard most of the time that the company was in the service. This company furnished a large number of officers for other companies and regiments of the California Volunteers: fourteen of its enlisted men were commissioned as officers. The original company was mustered out at San Francisco, September 24, 1864. The company was reformed with new recruits, and it was stationed at Camp Union and various other places, Bear Valley, Mariposa County, California, Ione Valley, Colusa, Fort Crook, Smoke Creek, Nevada, Fort Bidwell and Goose Lake, California. It was finally mustered out at Sacramento, June 27, 1866.
Company G: Company G, after its organization at Camp Alert, was sent to Camp Drum, where it remained about a month; then went to Camp Latham, near Los Angeles. There is no record showing how long it remained at Camp Latham, nor of the time between February 28, 1862, when it was at the latter place, and April 30, 1863, when it was stationed at Camp Independence, in the Owens Valley. During August, 1863, the company moved to Camp Leonard, California, where it remained for two months. It then went to Fort Tejon, remaining three months; then to Camp Babbitt, near Visalia, where it remained from January, 1864, to August, 1864 when it marched to San Francisco to be mustered out during the months of September and October. The company was reorganized and was stationed at Camp Union from October, 1864, to March, 1865. It was in Camp near Hornitos, Mariposa County, for one month; then at Camp Union until February 1, 1866, when it was finally mustered out.
Company H: Company H, after organization at Camp Alert, was sent to Fort Churchill, Nevada, where it was stationed during the months of January and February, 1862. There are no records of the stations of this company from February 28, 1862, until April 30, 1864, when it was stationed at Camp Relief, Utah Territory, and from May to August, 1864, at Camp Conness, Idaho Territory, and at Camp Douglas, Utah Territory, during September, 1864. The terms of service of most of the original members expired during the months of September and October, and they were mustered out at Camp Douglas. The remaining men were marched to Camp Union, Sacramento, where the company was recruited up to strength and remained on duty there from December, 1864 to March, 1865. It was on provost guard duty in Sacramento from April to August, when it was ordered to Drum Barracks, Los Angeles County, arriving there about October 1, 1865, where it remained until its final muster out, April 20, 1866. A detachment, stationed in San Francisco, was mustered out at the Presidio, April 26, 1866.
Company I: Company I was organized at Camp Alert. It was sent first to Camp Drum, where it was stationed during January, 1862, and at Camp Latham, near Los Angeles, in February, 1862. From February, 1862 to April, 1863, there is no record. On April 30, 1863, the company was at Camp Babbitt, near Visalia, where it remained until January, 1864. It then marched to Benicia Barracks, where it was stationed from March to May. It moved in June, 1864, to Camp Bidwell, near Chico, California, where it remained. The terms of most of the original members expired in September, 1864 and they were discharged in San Francisco from October 1 to October 7, 1864. Recruited up to strength at Camp Bidwell, the company remained there until May 1865. During June and July it was en route to Fort McDermitt, Nevada, where it remained until it was ordered in for final muster out at Sacramento, June 24, 1866.
Company K: Company K was at Camp Alert until February 28, 1862. There is no report showing when the company left that post nor where it served for more than a year. It appears at Fort Ruby, Nevada, March 31, 1863, and it was then stationed at Deep Creek, Utah, Government Springs, Utah, Cedar Swamp, Utah, Fort Ruby again, Farmington, Utah, and at Camp Douglas, Utah, about a month at each place. It was stationed at Camp Douglas from November, 1863, until April, 1864. It then moved to various places: Camp Relief, Utah, Canon Creek, Idaho, Camp Conness, Idaho, Farmington, Utah, and Camp Douglas again, arriving at the latter place about the last of September, 1864, where nearly all of the original members were mustered out for expiration of terms. The company was again recruited up to strength and served at Camp Union, to June 30, 1865, then at Chico, California, July, 1865, Smoke Creek, Nevada, from August to October, 1865. Then at Fort Churchill until May 1, 1866, when it was marched to Camp Union, and finally mustered out May 18, 1866.
Company L: Company L was at Camp Alert until March, 1862, from which time until April 30, 1863, no record can be found of the localities occupied by the company. During that month it was in camp at Bishop Creek, Owens River Valley; during May, 1863, at Camp Independence; June, at Fort Churchill, July, at Fort Ruby, both in Nevada; August, en route to Salt Lake, and from that month to March, 1864, at Camp Douglas, near Salt Lake City. During the next four months it was at various places in succession, as follows: Rush Valley, March, 1864; Camp Relief, April; Camp Conness, May; Bingham Creek, June; and back to Camp Douglas for the next two months; The terms of service of the original members expired in September and October, 1864, and they were mustered out at Camp Douglas. The company was reorganized and recruited up to strength at Camp Douglas, then sent to Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory, for five months. Then they went to Fort Laramie, for a few months; then in Rush Valley, Utah, to May, 1866, and finally back to Camp Douglas for final muster out on July 12, 1866.
Company M: Company M was at Camp Alert until the spring of 1862, from which time until May, 1863, no record of its stations can be found. From May 1, 1863, to May, 1864, it was stationed at Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory. From May until August, 1864, it was surveying and making a wagon road from Salt Lake to the head of navigation on the Colorado River, in Arizona Territory, near Fort Mojave. From August to November, it was at Camp Douglas. The terms of service of the original members expired in September and October, 1864, and the company was mustered out at Camp Douglas, October 4, 1864. The company was immediately reorganized by recruiting new members, and from November, 1864, to May, 1865, it was at Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory. From May to June, 1865, at Fort Laramie; July to November, 1864 at various places in Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah Territories. From November, 1865, to May, 1866, they were at Government Reservation, Rush Valley, Utah. From May to June, 1866, at Camp Douglas, where the company was finally mustered out on July 12, 1866.
^The Army of the Pacific : its operations in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Plains Region, Mexico, etc., 1860-1866, by Aurora Hunt, page 35
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