The following are California State Militia units that were active between 1861 and 1865 during the American Civil War.
Volunteer Companies of the California State Militia 1860–1866
Alameda County Alvarado Guard, Company F, 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Alvarado, 1863–1866 Golden Gate Natl. Recreation Area, Major Ephraim Dyer, Jr. Collection, In 1864, the Alvarado Guard was created as part of the State of California Militia Guard to protect local citizens during the Civil War. Ephraim Dyer, Sr. was elected captain and commander, a position he held until the unit was disbanded in 1867. Brooklyn Guard, Unattached Company, 2nd Brigade. San Leandro, 1865–1866 Hayward Guard, Unattached Company, 2nd Brigade. Hayward, 1864–1868"The Hayward Guard and San Lorenzo Guard were consolidated Nov 13, 1865." Outline History of the California National Guard, Vol. 2, pp. 616-617. Jackson Guard, Unattached Company, 2nd Brigade. Oakland, 1865–1866Jackson Guard formed late in 1865. The 1866 Military Law reorganized existing companies, perhaps this explains why the "guard" dissolved soon after organization. Oakland Home Guard, Oakland, (1861–1863)California Militia and National Guard Unit Histories, Oakland Home Guard Oakland Guard, Company C, 1st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade. Oakland, (1863–1866)In 1863 the Company changed its name from Oakland Home Guard to Oakland Guard.
Alpine County Markleville Guard, changed to Alpine Rifles, Unattached Company, 4th Brigade. Markleville, 1864–1866"Alpine County was a stronghold for "...Copperheads" and their attitude and acts of violence and sabotage aroused in the loyal Union men, feelings of bitterness and fear. Due to the existing conditions the Markleeville Guard (later changed to the Alpine Rifles) was organized at Markleeville, Alpine County, April 2, 1864..." The name of the company was changed a few months after its organization in response to a general feeling that inasmuch as the company was a county wide organization it should bear the county name – Alpine. Outline History of the California National Guard, Vol. 2, pp. 581–582.
Amador County Amador Hussars, Unattached Company, 4th Brigade. Jackson, 1861–1862"The Adjutant General Report of 1863 failed to list the Amador Hussars among the organized militia companies of the State, and it is assumed that the unit was disbanded during the year of 1862." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, #141. Amador Mountaineers, Jackson 1861, became Company C, 1st Regiment California Volunteer Infantry"On August 16, 1861 "the Amador Mountaineers" entered the service of the United States Army as Company C, First Infantry Regiment of the California Volunteers." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, p. 305. Ione City Guard, Unattached Company, 4th Brigade. Ione 1863–1866 Jackson Guard, Unattached Company, 4th Brigade. Jackson 1863–1866 Sutter Creek Volunteers, Unattached Company, 4th Brigade. Sutter Creek 1861-1862"...in 1862 the records show that they (the Sutter Creek Volunteers) had never posted their penal bond or sent a company muster roll to the Brigadier-General Commanding the Fourth Brigade, as was required by the military laws. Failure on their part to meet these requirements caused Adjutat-General W.C. Kibbe to list the Sutter Creek Volunteers as disbanded in 1862." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, #123. Sutter Creek Guard, Unattached Company C, 4th Brigade. Sutter Creek, 1864–1866 Volcano Blues, Company C, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade. Volcano 1861–1866 Volcano Guard, Volcano, 1858–1861"Volcano was the location of rich gold deposits but by 1860 the deposits were completely worked and many residents began to migrate to other mining towns. Due to a lack of arms in the State this unit was never properly equipped during its three year existence. By 1861, only 15 members of the company had remained in Volcano. The rest had moved to more prosperous mining towns, hence the Volcano Guard had virtually disbanded. There are no records indicating that this company was mustered out of service, and it is assumed that the remaining members of the Volcano Guard went into the new Volcano Blues a volunteer military company which was organized July 31, 1861." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 1, #72.
Butte County Bangor Guard, Unattached Company, 5th Brigade. Bangor, 1864–1866 Butte County Dragoons, Oroville 1861"In answer to the Governor's Proclamation, August 23, 1861 calling for five thousand volunteers, the Butte County Dragoons tendered their services and placed their company at the command of the Governor. However, despite the note on the Muster Roll, there is no record that the company went into the Service of the United States, and it is assumed the corps was mustered out soon after organization." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, #124. Butte Mounted Rifles, Oroville, 1861Although there is little documentation to verify the amount of time this company existed, the Outline History of Calif. National Guard (Vol. 2, #113) states "the Governor accepted Colonel Templeton's five cavalry companies for a period of three years' service one of which was the Butte Mounted Rifles." Chico Light Infantry, Chico, 1863–1866"The Chico Light Infantry was organized soon after the horrible murders and depredations caused by the Indians in Butte and Tehama Counties, and residents felt it was necessary to have military protection." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, p. 558. California Volunteers, Oroville, 1861 became part of 1st Regiment California Volunteer InfantryThe California Volunteers, Company C of Oroville, Butte County was organized under the laws of the State, June 6, 1861, with Edward B. Willis as captain and James A. Wardwell as first lieutenant. The corps had a membership of sixty men, but no arms were issued to this company as they immediately tendered their services to the Governor and were accepted and mustered into the service of the United States as part of the First Infantry Regiment of California Volunteers. Adjutant General Report, 1861, page 133 Oroville Guard, Oroville, 1856–1857, 1861–1868 Oroville Guard
Calaveras County Angels Guard, Company H, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade. Angel's Camp, 1862–1868 Mokelumne Hill Rifles, Unattached Company, 3rd Brigade. Mokelumne Hill, 1863–1866 Union Guard, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade. Poverty Bar, 1861–1866Muster Roll dated March 17, 1865 designates the Union Guard as Third Brigade, 2nd Battalion, Co. C. Union Guard, Unattached Company, 3rd Brigade. Copperopolis, 1864–66
Contra Costa County Contra Costa Guard, Company G, 1st Cavalry Battalion, 2nd Brigade. San Pablo, 1863–1866
Del Norte County Crescent City Guard, Unattached Company, 2nd Brigade, 6th Division. Crescent City, 1861-1864"On May eighteenth (1861) Captain Haynes again communicated with the Adjutant General regarding the arms, as the community was greatly alarmed over the advent of the large numbers of Indians being taken into the Smith River Valley Reservation, some fifteen miles from Crescent City. These six or eight hundred Indians had been engaged in plundering and murdering citizens of Humboldt for the past two or three years and from their known animosity the members of the company deemed it prudent to have some means at hand to keep the hostiles in subjection." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, pp. 321–324.
El Dorado County Banks Guard, Company E, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. Smith's Flat, 1863–1866 Coloma Greys, Coloma, 1857–1862, disbanded after most of its men joined the Second and Fourth Regiments of California Volunteers."Although the Coloma Greys was an effective company,...the unit was forced to disband as a number of its members joined the Second and Fourth Regiments of California Volunteers, and fifteen went to the Nevada territory. Ten members were left and as the community was too small to furnish the necessary recruits to fill the existing vacancies, the company disbanded by mutual consent." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 1, #67. El Dorado Mountaineers, Company G, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. El Dorado 1863-1866During the War of the Rebellion an organization composed of men residing in the North, known as the "Copperheads" created a great deal of consternation throughout the country. The use of the term "copperhead" spread throughout the North quietly and persistently, so much so, that there was a fancied resemblance of the peace party to the venomous snake which strikes without warning. These "copperheads" residents of the North deemed it impossible to conquer the Confederacy and were earnestly in favor of peace, consequently they were opposed to the war policy of the President and Congress. These same men caused considerable worry for the various communities in El Dorado and Amador Counties. The Lieutenant Colonel informed the Adjutant General that he had received a report that an organization headed by prominent Copperheads was preparing to attack their different militia companies in El Dorado and Amador Counties..." Outline History of the California National Guard, Vol. 2, pp.533–535. Georgetown Union Guard, Company A, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. Georgetown, 1863–1868"The Georgetown Union Guard when first organized was an unattached company, but in 1864 it was reorganized and designated as Company A, Second Infantry Battalion, Fourth Brigade. National Guard, Company D, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. Placerville, 1863–1866 Placerville City Guard, Company B, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. Placerville, 1863–1866 Placerville Guard, 4th Brigade, 1st Division. Placerville, 1862"No muster rolls of the Placerville Guard were received by the Adjutant General, therefore, there was no date recorded of the disbandment of the company." Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, #145.
Fresno County None
Humboldt County Arcata Guard, Company B, 6th Brigade. Arcata, 1862-1867This unit organized to suppress Indian depredations in Humboldt Co. On several occasions the Arcata Guard quelled the hostile Indians until their removal to a Federal Reservation. Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, p. 407. Eureka Rifles, Attached to 6th Brigade. Eureka, 1862–1864This company formed to subdue the bands of hostile Indians that continually attacked communities in the area between Humboldt and Trinity Counties. Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, p. 406. Humboldt Volunteers, Attached to 2nd Brigade. Hydesville, 1860Governor Weller issued a call for volunteer military companies to be formed in Humboldt County to oppose hostile Indians. One of the companies formed was the Humboldt Volunteers, under the command of Captain Seman Wright. This company had several minor clashes with roving bands of Indians, and on February 26, 1860, they engaged in their first important conflict. The Humboldt Volunteers came upon a large body of Indians camped on Indian Island and the encounter that followed became a massacre. News of this companies activities brought such a storm of criticism from all parts of the State, that the Humboldt Volunteers were.compelled to disband in the latter part of 1860. Mounted Volunteers, Attached to 2nd Brigade. Humboldt County, 1861This company of volunteers was mustered initially to protect citizens and property from hostile Indians (September 1861). In three months, the Indians were controlled and placed on the Federal Reservation whereupon the company mustered out. Outline History of Calif. National Guard, 1849–1941, Vol. 2, p. 344.
Lake County None
Lassen County Honey Lake Rangers, Unattached Cavalry Company, 5th Brigade. Susanville, 1864–1866
Los Angeles County