Oak Grove Butterfield Stage Station
Encyclopedia
Oak Grove Butterfield Stage Station is located in Warner Springs, California
and is the only surviving station on the Butterfield Overland Mail
stagecoach line. It is a well-preserved one-story adobe building among the oak trees.
outpost established to protect the route to Fort Yuma
and intercept secessionist sympathizers traveling to the east to join the Confederate Army. A detachment of California Volunteer cavalry and infantry first established Camp Wright at Warner's Ranch
, in October 1861. The cold and windy conditions in the higher altitude of the exposed San Jose Valley made the commander change location to the more sheltered Oak Grove location in November.
At about the same time Dan Showalter
's party of secessionists were attempting to avoid the post and make their way across the desert to join the Confederate Army in Texas
. They were pursued from Temecula by a 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry
patrol from the Camp, intercepted in the hills west of the San Jose Valley (site of Warner's Ranch) with the support of a 1st California Infantry
detachment from the camp, and captured without shots being fired November 20–29, 1861. After being imprisoned at Fort Yuma
, Showalter and the others were released upon swearing loyalty to the Union. They later made their way to the Confederacy. For a short time in March 1862 Camp Wright was the headquarters of the 5th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry
before it moved on. Used for the rest of the war as a transit camp for troops moving along the road to and from New Mexico
and Arizona Territory
, the camp was abandoned in 1866.
in 1961. The location of another nearby station at Warner's Ranch
, is also a National Historic Landmark.
Oak Grove is located 13 miles northwest of Warner Springs on State Route 79
.
Warner Springs, California
Warner Springs is a small unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. It is associated with two National Historic Landmarks, the Oak Grove Butterfield Stage Station and Warner's Ranch, both connected to the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line. It is also near the...
and is the only surviving station on the Butterfield Overland Mail
Butterfield Overland Mail
The Butterfield Overland Mail Trail was a stagecoach route in the United States, operating from 1857 to 1861. It was a conduit for the U.S. mail from two eastern termini, Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri, meeting Fort Smith, Arkansas, and continuing through Indian Territory, New Mexico,...
stagecoach line. It is a well-preserved one-story adobe building among the oak trees.
Camp Wright
During the Civil War the station was the location of Camp Wright, a Union ArmyUnion 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...
outpost established to protect the route to Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma is a fort in California that is located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. The Fort Yuma Indian School and a...
and intercept secessionist sympathizers traveling to the east to join the Confederate Army. A detachment of California Volunteer cavalry and infantry first established Camp Wright at Warner's Ranch
Warner's Ranch
Warner's Ranch near Warner Springs, California, was notable as a way station for large numbers of emigrants on the Southern Trail from 1849 to 1861, as it was a stop on both the Gila River Trail and the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line...
, in October 1861. The cold and windy conditions in the higher altitude of the exposed San Jose Valley made the commander change location to the more sheltered Oak Grove location in November.
At about the same time Dan Showalter
Daniel Showalter
Daniel Showalter , was California miner, state legislator, duelist, secessionist, soldier for the Confederate States of America in Texas.-Biography:...
's party of secessionists were attempting to avoid the post and make their way across the desert to join the Confederate Army in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. They were pursued from Temecula by a 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry
1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry
The 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was first formed of five companies as 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry between August and October 31, 1861, at Camp Merchant near Oakland...
patrol from the Camp, intercepted in the hills west of the San Jose Valley (site of Warner's Ranch) with the support of a 1st California Infantry
1st California Infantry
The 1st Regiment California Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent its entire term of service in the western United States.-History:...
detachment from the camp, and captured without shots being fired November 20–29, 1861. After being imprisoned at Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma is a fort in California that is located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. The Fort Yuma Indian School and a...
, Showalter and the others were released upon swearing loyalty to the Union. They later made their way to the Confederacy. For a short time in March 1862 Camp Wright was the headquarters of the 5th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry
5th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry
The 5th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent its entire term of service in the western United States, attached to the Department of the Pacific and Department of New Mexico....
before it moved on. Used for the rest of the war as a transit camp for troops moving along the road to and from New Mexico
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
and Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
, the camp was abandoned in 1866.
Historic Landmark
It was declared a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1961. The location of another nearby station at Warner's Ranch
Warner's Ranch
Warner's Ranch near Warner Springs, California, was notable as a way station for large numbers of emigrants on the Southern Trail from 1849 to 1861, as it was a stop on both the Gila River Trail and the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line...
, is also a National Historic Landmark.
Oak Grove is located 13 miles northwest of Warner Springs on State Route 79
California State Route 79
State Route 79 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route goes from Interstate 10 in Riverside County to Interstate 8 in San Diego County.-Route description:...
.
External links
- Early History of the California Coast, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Oak Grove Butterfield Station - information from National Park Service