2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry
Encyclopedia
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.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It spent its entire term of service in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with most of its companies dispersed to various posts.
History
2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry was organized under the President's second call upon the State 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 final muster out of the regiment was in March, 1866.2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry Commanders
- Colonel Andrew J. Smith October 2, 1861 - resigned November 15, 1861
- Colonel Columbus SimsColumbus SimsColumbus Sims , lawyer, Colonel of California Volunteers in the American Civil War.Columbus Sims was a born in South Carolina. He came to Los Angeles, California in 1852. A popular attorney, he was known for an incident in which he threw an inkstand at his opponent during an altercation in court,...
November 13, 1861 - January 31, 1863 - Colonel George S. EvansGeorge S. EvansGeorge Spafford Evans , Texas Ranger, miner, businessman, County Clerk for Tuolumne County, Customs official and Senate Clerk for the State of California...
February 1, 1863 - resigned May 31, 1863 - Colonel Edward McGarryEdward McGarryEdward McGarry , officer in the Mexican American War, California politician and officer of California Volunteers in American Civil War, leading cavalry at the Battle of Bear River, later Colonel, of the 2nd California Cavalry, and Commander of the District of California, and received a brevet...
November 29, 1864 - March 31, 1866.
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 TerritoryUtah TerritoryThe Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
, remaining there until October, 1864, when it moved to Camp Union, near SacramentoSacramento, CaliforniaSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, 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 ChurchillFort Churchill State Historic ParkFort Churchill State Historic Park is a Nevada state park in Lyon County, Nevada, in the United States. Located south of the town of Silver Springs, it is in the Central Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks, and is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in the state of Nevada. The site is one...
, NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, 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.- New Company A: 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 VisaliaVisalia, CaliforniaVisalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles...
, where it remained until ordered to Camp Union, near Sacramento, for muster out, in April, 1866.
- New Company A: 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
- Company B: Company B was ordered to Southern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaSouthern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in February 1862, and became part of Carleton's California ColumnCalifornia ColumnThe California Column, a force of Union volunteers, marched from April to August 1862 over 900 miles from California, across the southern New Mexico Territory to the Rio Grande and then into western Texas during the American Civil War. At the time, this was the longest trek through desert terrain...
. It marched with that command 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. CremonyJohn C. CremonyMajor John C. Cremony was an American newspaperman who enrolled in the Massachusetts Volunteers in 1846, serving as a lieutenant....
.- New Company B: 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, until June, 1S65, when it moved to the mining town of Dun Glen, NevadaDun Glen, NevadaDun Glen is a ghost town in Pershing County, Nevada, United States, north of the present community of Mill City. Found in 1862, it was a silver mining community founded at a site then within Humboldt County.-Dun Glenn:...
, where it served defending against Indian attacks, until mustered out in the spring of 1866.
- New Company B: 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, until June, 1S65, when it moved to the mining town of Dun Glen, Nevada
- Company C: Served at Fort Crook, nearly the whole of the time it was in the service.
- New Company C: When the enlistments of its original members expired in the fall of 1864, they were mustered out at Fort Crook, and the company was filled up by enlistment of recruits in San Francisco. It was finally mustered out at Sacramento in May, 1866.
- Company D: After leaving Camp Alert, Company D went to Camp Babbit then in April 1863 to Keyesville, then Camp IndependenceFort Independence (California)Fort Independence, originally Camp Independence, was established on Oak Creek, north of nearby modern Independence, California on July 4, 1862 during the Owens Valley Indian War. The fort was abandoned at the end of hostilities with the Owens Valley Paiute, in December 1864. However it was...
, in the Owens RiverOwens RiverThe Owens River is a river in southeastern California in the United States, approximately long. It drains into and through the Owens Valley, an arid basin between the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and the western faces of the Inyo and White Mountains. The river terminates at Owens Lake, but...
Valley, remaining there until August, 1863; then to Fort TejonFort TejonFort Tejon in California is a former United States Army outpost which was intermittently active from June 24, 1854, until September 11, 1864. It is located in the Grapevine Canyon area of Tejon Pass along Interstate 5, the main route through the mountains separating the Central Valley from Los...
, until March, 1864, when it moved to Camp Union, where the original members were mustered out.- New Company D: Upon the expiration of their enlistment terms, 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 ColusaColusa, CaliforniaColusa is the county seat of Colusa County, California. The population was 5,971 at the 2010 census, up from 5,402 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
; then to Red BluffRed Bluff, CaliforniaRed Bluff is a city in and the county seat of Tehama County, California, United States. The population was 14,076 at the 2010 census, up from 13,147 at the 2000 census....
, and finally, in July, 1865, to Smoke Creek, Nevada (north of Pyramid Lake), where it remained until ordered in to be mustered out at Camp Union, May 29, 1866.
- New Company D: Upon the expiration of their enlistment terms, 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
- Company E: Originally organized as the "Tuolumne Rangers", after leaving Camp Alert, Company E, went first to Fort Humboldt, remaining there until the spring of 1862. No record of the stations of this company can be found from February, 1862, until April, 1863, at which time it was at Camp Babbit then marched to Camp Independence, Owens River Valley. During July, 1863, it went to Fort Tejon, and in August, 1863, to Camp Babbitt, near Visalia, where it remained until November, 1865.
- New Company E: 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, Camp Union and on July 31, 1863 Camp BidwellCamp BidwellCamp Bidwell, later Camp Chico was a U. S. Army post during the American Civil War. Camp Bidwell was named for John Bidwell, the founder of the nearby town of Chico, California and a that time a Brigadier General of the California Militia. It was established a mile outside Chico, by Lt. Col....
until April 1864 when it returned to Camp Union. About one third of the company, under a Lieutenant, 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.- New Company F: The terms of service of the original members expired and they were mustered out at San Francisco, September 24, 1864. The company was again filled up with new recruits, and it was stationed at Camp Union and various other places, Bear Valley, CaliforniaBear Valley, CaliforniaBear Valley is a census-designated place in Alpine County, California. The population was 121 at the 2010 census, down from 133 at the 2000 census. The town is accessible by State Route 4. Bear Valley is within the Stanislaus National Forest...
, Ione Valley, ColusaColusa, CaliforniaColusa is the county seat of Colusa County, California. The population was 5,971 at the 2010 census, up from 5,402 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Fort Crook, Smoke Creek, Nevada, Fort Bidwell and Goose LakeGoose Lake (Oregon-California)Goose Lake is a large alkaline glacial lake located in the Goose Lake Valley on the Oregon-California border. The north end of the lake is in Lake County, Oregon and the south end is in Modoc County, California. The mountains at the north end of the lake are part of the Fremont National Forest...
, California. It was finally mustered out at Sacramento, June 27, 1866.
- New Company F: The terms of service of the original members expired and they were mustered out at San Francisco, September 24, 1864. The company was again filled up with new recruits, and it was stationed at Camp Union and various other places, Bear Valley, California
- Company G: Company G, after its organization at Camp Alert, was sent to Camp DrumCamp DrumCamp Drum refers to two US military facilities:*A Civil War era military encampment active from 1862–1873 near Los Angeles; see Drum Barracks. The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum presently occupies part of the original camp....
, where it remained about a month; then went to Camp Latham, near Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. 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 TejonFort TejonFort Tejon in California is a former United States Army outpost which was intermittently active from June 24, 1854, until September 11, 1864. It is located in the Grapevine Canyon area of Tejon Pass along Interstate 5, the main route through the mountains separating the Central Valley from Los...
, 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. The original members were mustered out during the months of September and October, 1864.- New Company E: The company was again filled up, 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.
- New Company H: 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 the City of 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, CaliforniaChico, CaliforniaChico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
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.- New Company I: Recruited up to strength at Camp Bidwell, the company remained there until May 1865. During June and July it was en route to Fort McDermitFort McDermitFort McDermit was an American fort in Nevada. It was established on August 14, 1865, by Captain J. C. Doughty, of Company I of the 2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry, on orders of Lt. Col. Charles McDermit, Commander, Military District Nevada, as the Quinn River Camp No. 33...
t, Nevada, where it remained until it was ordered in for final muster out at Sacramento, June 24, 1866.
- New Company I: Recruited up to strength at Camp Bidwell, the company remained there until May 1865. During June and July it was en route to Fort McDermit
- 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.
- New Company K: 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, same valley; 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.
- New Company L: The company was reorganized and recruited up to strength at Camp Douglas, then sent to Fort BridgerFort BridgerFort Bridger was originally a 19th century fur trading outpost established in 1842 on Blacks Fork of the Green River and later a vital resupply point for wagon trains on the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon Trail. The Army established a military post here in 1858 during the Utah War until...
, Wyoming Territory, for five months. Then the 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.
- New Company L: The company was reorganized and recruited up to strength at Camp Douglas, then sent to Fort Bridger
- 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 MojaveFort MojaveFort Mohave was originally named Camp Colorado when it was established on April 19, 1859 by Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman during the Mohave War...
. 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.- New Company M: 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 DakotaDakota TerritoryThe Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
, 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, July 12, 1866.
- New Company M: 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