Sacramento's Civil War Connections Explored

Here's a book I wish I'd known about sooner (say, when I still lived in California and could visit the state capital with relative ease): Sacramento Remembers the Civil War. I did have a chance to visit the Civil War monuments on the state capitol grounds years ago, and I strolled through a couple of old cemeteries, but this book probably would have made the trip quite a bit more interesting and informative!

Library of Congress Civil War Exhibition Features Never-Before-Seen Items

The Library of Congress exhibition commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War will feature more than 200 unique items, many never before on public view.

"The Civil War in America" will be free and open to the public, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, between Nov. 12, 2012, and June 1, 2013, in the Southwest Exhibition Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the James Madison Council. Additional funding is provided by Union Pacific Corporation, the Liljenquist family and AARP.

The exhibition will reveal the complexity of the Civil War through those who experienced it first-hand. Never-before-seen items in the Library’s collections offer a human perspective on the war and shed new light on the many ways that this terrible conflict helped shape the American people and the nation.
Among the highlights are:

• A lithograph showing the death of Union Gen. Nathanial Lyon at the Battle of Springfield [Wilson’s Creek] in Missouri on Aug. 10, 1861. Lyon served in California prior to the Civil War.
• An autographed letter from Mary Todd Lincoln to Mrs. John C. Sprigg, May 29, 1862, discussing the loss of the Lincoln's son, Willie, who died in 1862.
• A rare broadside edition of the Emancipation Proclamation intended for auction at the Philadelphia Sanitary Commission, June 6, 1864. This copy was signed by Pres. Abraham Lincoln, Sec. of State William H. Seward and Presidential Secretary John G. Nicolay. 

The Library of Congress blog has been providing a special series of posts on Wednesdays to complement "The Civil War in America" exhibition. Every Wednesday until the exhibition opens, the blog will spotlight a never-before-seen item of interest, offering an in-depth look into the documents and other artifacts that tell the story of the nation’s greatest military and political upheaval.

A Video Link to Drum Barracks

We now have high-speed Internet out here in the country, so this round of blog updates will feature video links (mostly because Ron wants to add video links to his blog and I need to figure out how it works before I attempt to help him update his site).

Drum Barracks is a wonderful museum that I'll bet a lot of folks don't even know about. The folks at CSPAN do, thankfully, and they did a brief video tour last year...

Robbers Break into California Mining Museum

Here's a Civil War what-if: What if the Confederates had found a way to obtain and transport the Frisco Nugget to Richmond?

A Link to One of My Favorite State Parks

I hesitated to mention the wonderful monthly Civil War re-enactments at Fort Tejon near Bakersfield because the park's website led me to believe it might be closing (which would be a cryin' shame!).

Since the park's short-term future seems more secure, here's a link to the Fort Tejon Historical Association's website. The final program of the summer season, which is coming up later this month, is always fantastic. It seems the troops save something extra for the last weekend's events.

One of My Favorite Civil War California Stories

The Washington Times recently did a story on Freemasons at Gettysburg, which includes one of my favorite California Civil War stories: the friendship of Lewis Addison Armistead and Winfield Scott Hancock.

Emancipation Proclamation on Display at William Jessup University in Rocklin

A copy of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation will be on display through Sept. 24 at the Paul Nystrom Library at William Jessup University in Rocklin.

Sacramento Cemetery to Celebrate 150th Anniversary

Learn more about Sacramento's Sylvan Cemetery, the final resting place for a number of Civil War veterans. The cemetery will celebrate its 150th anniversary next month with the installation of a bell tower that can be used for graveside services and other cemetery events.

Union Veterans' Descendants Meet in Los Angeles

The Department of California Nevada, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, is hosting its 122nd national convention at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel.

Civil War Artifacts on Display This Month at State Library in Sacramento

A “Dixie First Reader” textbook for school children in Southern states, a Colt pistol issued to a Union soldier, and the iconic 1863 edition of the Vicksburg Daily Citizen printed on wallpaper are just a few of the unique items on display at the State Library in an exhibit on the Civil War years.

Over 60 items from the library’s collection, including books, tintypes, photos, and other archival materials, will be in the lobby during the month of August. The lobby is open weekdays, from 8 to 5. The library is located at 900 N Street in Sacramento, a block from the State Capitol.

California ballots for the presidential elections of 1860 and 1864 are also on display. Unlike today’s ballots, voters dropped colorful party tickets, complete with slogans like “Rally around the Flag, Boys,” into a ballot box. There is also a roster of the “California 100” volunteers who fought for the Union on Eastern battlegrounds, with check marks next to the names of the war dead.

The pistol exhibited belonged to Charles Gladding from Illinois. After the war, he moved to California and formed the Gladding McBean ceramics company with Peter McGill McBean. The company’s elegant terra cotta columns and architectural ornamentation can be seen on many buildings throughout the state, including the California State Library and Courts Building.

Visitors will be able to see the famous “wallpaper edition” of the Vicksburg, Mississippi newspaper. Paper was scarce in the Confederate states, and the publisher was using the back of wallpaper instead. The edition was set for printing on July 2, 1863, two days before the city fell to the Union, but the publisher fled. Union soldiers printed the paper on July 4, with an added note that began, “Two days bring about great changes …”

In addition to the display, on Wednesday, August 15, historian Robert J. Chandler, will give a talk at the library on “California during the Civil War years,” as part of the series, “A Night at the State Library.” Dr. Chandler was a public historian for Wells Fargo Bank for 30 years. The event is free with RSVP. Light refreshments will be served. To RSVP, please call 916.653.9942 or email: rfontaine@library.ca.gov .

The Man Behind Letterman General Hospital

For those of you with a military past, the Presidio's Letterman Hospital Complex may be familiar. Here's a look at the man for whom the institution was named.

New York Museum Commemorates Lowe's Balloon Work During the Civil War

A museum in western New York offered balloon rides in the spirit of Professor Thaddeus Lowe over the July 4th holiday, and some of Lowe's descendants showed up to take part!

A Look at the Antebellum California Lives of Some Civil War Leaders

Here's an interesting link to an article about how life in California influenced some Civil War leaders...

Happy 150th Anniversary of the Morrill Land Grant Act! (from a Grateful Grad of a Land Grant School)

One hundred fifty years ago next Monday, President Lincoln signed a bill that has become known as the Morrill Land Grant Act, which made it possible for many states, mostly in the west and midwest, to create 68 state colleges and universities.

The University of California, Berkeley, will be the site of an informal celebration to commemorate the anniversary at 11:45 am next Monday next to the bust of Abraham Lincoln at the south base of the Campanile.

I am the beneficiary of just such an education, having graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 1985. Cal Poly was founded as a vocational high school and developed into a leading university over the past 100-plus years, but it would not have been possible without President Lincoln's signature 150 years ago.

Charles Graffel: California Pioneer

Charles S. Graffell served as a cook's assistant in Company H of the 2nd California Cavalry. He is pictured here with an unknown man in civilian clothes. After the war, Graffell was a blacksmith in Red Bluff. He filed for an invalid pension in 1913 and his widow, Hattie, filed for her pension in 1932. Photo from the United States Army Military History Institute.

Truckee Cemetery Hosts Ceremony for Civil War Veterans

The Sierra Mountain Cemetery in Truckee hosted a special ceremony yesterday to honor the 22 Civil War veterans buried there. Prior to the ceremony, only 10 of the graves had headstones, but six more have markers now.

The veterans whose markers were dedicated yesterday are Jed Gibbs Booth, Daniel B. Farver, Charles Fox, Fritz Hohn, John C. Lunn and Daniel Thorndyke. They join Thomas Conniff, John Cranmer, Samuel Chambers, Wilson Dixon, John B. Evans, Robert Ferguson, Wilson W. Forrest, Charles Irons, Pierce Laffin and Christian Snyder as having marked graves.

Six other veterans--Waldo Allen, John Flynn, A.J. Graham, Louis McNicger, Charles Titus and George Wallace--currently lack markers.

More on Fort Douglas Day

The Deseret News recently published an article on Amanda Lee Jones, who participated in yesterday's Fort Douglas Day events. Enjoy!

Happy 150th, Fort Douglas!

Fort Douglas, Utah, will officially celebrate its 150th anniversary in October, but the annual Fort Douglas Day was held today at the post near Salt Lake City.
Founded by California Volunteers led by Patrick Edward Connor, the post is now home to a museum and some University of Utah programs.

Civil War Veteran's Daughter Dies in California

Fox News reported earlier this week that one of the few remaining children of a Civil War veteran died in Marina del Rey at age 94. Her father was a veteran of the 14th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and he was 70 when she was born in 1918.

First-hand Medical Report from Ford's Theater Found

A report from the first doctor on the scene at Ford's Theater following Lincoln's assassination has been
located in an archive.

Decoration Day Observance in Los Angeles

This photo from the Veterans Administration archives shows a California Decoration Day observance in the 1930s. The veterans would march down the pier and toss memorial bouquets in the ocean to commemorate their fallen comrades.

Sgt. James Eby, 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry

Photo from the Richard K. Tibbals
Collection of the United States
Army Military History Institute

James Eby was a 29-year-old telegrapher from Horsetown in Shasta County when he joined Company M of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry in March 1863. He rose through the ranks to become commissary sergeant and was discharged at Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, on July 20, 1865.

After the war, Sgt. Eby moved around a bit. In 1880, he was selling supplies at Fort Thompson Indian Reservation in the Dakotas, and he applied for a pension in 1890 as a resident of Illinois. By 1900, he was living in the National Military Home in Marion, Indiana, and by 1910, he had relocated to the Danville National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Illinois.

Civil War California Referenced in TV Show

The Brother Jonathan, which ran aground off Crescent City in 1865, was mentioned in last week's episode of "The Mentalist," whose storyline focused on a marine salvage company in the fictional town of Santa Marta, California. (We'll look at the wreck in greater detail later this summer.)

More on the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry

The Military Museum in Sacramento, California, has a wealth of information online regarding California's involvement in the Civil War, and the staff onsite was quite informative about the topic when I visited the facility in the mid-1990s.

Since I've started on the topic of the California 100, it seemed only fitting that I refer my readers to more information, which can be found by clicking here. I find the GAR photo at the bottom of the page particularly fascinating since I would have thought many of the men might have stayed in the East post-war, but they returned to my home state and their lives in the West.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

The Battle of Puebla

Although Cinco de Mayo is often just a good day for tacos y cervezas for many of us, I was surprised to learn recently that the holiday has a tie to the Civil War that I hadn't heard about before.

The holiday was first celebrated in Los Angeles in 1862 to commemorate the victory by Mexico over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The celebrations carried as far north as the mining town of Columbia, where Mexican miners made speeches, shot off fireworks and and sang patriotic songs.

By defeating the French forces, the Mexican army helped keep France from providing supplies and assistance to the Confederacy. Although much of southern California leaned toward the southern point of view before the war, Los Angeles was pro-Union, which gave the residents a reason to celebrate 150 years ago.

Despite its widespread popularity in the western U.S., Cinco de Mayo is, at best, a regional holiday in Mexico. It does not commemorate Mexican Independence Day: that holiday is observed nationally in Mexico on September 16.

An Amazing Site Dedicated to the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry

Since the next few posts will focus on photos of Californians who served with the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, it seemed only fitting to point my readers to a remarkable resource: Reunion Civil War Antiques' site for the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry.

Reunion founder Earl Robinson has compiled photos of about 12 percent of the regiment, and he's assembled biographies for some members of the unit, including Henry Fillebrown, the first man to enlist, and Andersonville survivor Abraham Loane.

Gilbert Merritt of the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry

Sergeant Gilbert R. Merritt, 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, recuperates at Camp Meigs from a broken leg he received while breaking horses. The leg did not heal properly and left Sgt. Merritt with a lifelong disability. He received a medical discharge and later filed for a invalid pension in August 1868. Photo from the Richard K. Tibbals Collection at the United States Army Military History Institute.

Folsom History Museum Showcases California, Civil War Exhibit

Until May 13, the Folsom History Museum is featuring a "California and the Civil War" exhibit that combines photographs, artifacts and interpretive panels to provide a comprehensive look at life in the Golden State during this pivotal time in American history.

Click here for a preview of the exhibit.

July 4, 1862

San Francisco's Washington Square was the gathering place for infantry regiments on Independence Day, 1862. Photo from the Barrett Collection at the United States Army Military History Institute.

At Rest, At Last

Peter Jones Knapp was laid to rest on Friday, April 13, 2012, at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. He may well be the final Civil War soldier to be buried, and he's the first to be buried in this particular national cemetery.

This story caught my attention while I was being carpool mom for my two oldest sons' first middle school dance and in following it up last night online, it ties together my home state (California), my adopted state (Iowa) and one of my other passions (family history).

Knapp enlisted in the 5th Iowa Cavalry in 1861 and fought at Iuka and Shiloh. He was taken prisoner at Missionary Ridge and was held for 17 months in various camps, including Andersonville. Knapp escaped and later served in the Indian wars.

Knapp died in 1924 and, although he received a front-page obituary in the Kelso, Washington, Kelsonian newspaper, his ashes remained at the crematorium until a relative located them while researching family history. She enlisted the help of the California Medal of Honor Project and Knapp and his wife received a burial service along the lines of a veteran's memorial from 1873 that was attended by family members, Civil War re-enactors and representatives of the Oregon National Guard.

The Battle of Picacho Pass

My title selection sounds like it should go with an Audie Murphy western rather than a blog post (guess I spent too many Saturdays watching "40 Guns to Apache Pass" when I could have been doing something else, eh?). It is, however, the location of the western-most, or at least one of the western-most, cavalry engagements of the Civil War.

On April 15, 1862, 12 members of Company A, 1st California Cavalry, under the command of Lt. James Barrett, attacked a force of 10 Arizona Confederates. Barrett and George Johnson were killed during the fight, and another soldier, William S. Leonard, died a day later from wounds suffered in the battle.Three other Californians--James Botsford, Peter Glenn and William C. Tobin--were wounded in the fight. Botsford was able to return to duty, but Glenn and Tobin were discharged for disability on Jan. 6, 1863.

The Californians retreated 40 miles to the Pima villages, where they constructed Fort Barrett, which was named for the late lieutenant. Col. James Carleton, commander of the California forces, ordered that until the end of the war, Johnson's and Leonard's names should be answered with "He died for his country!" at morning roll call.

Each March, Picacho Peak State Park hosts a re-enactment of the battle. I had an opportunity to stop and see the park for myself during a Christmas driving trip I took in 1996.

Confederate heritage organizations and the Southern Pacific Railroad are responsible for most of the historic markers at Picacho Peak State Park in Arizona.

Thanks for Your Patience!

I'm sorry I've been away from this blog for the past few weeks, but school conferences, Spring Break, two sons' birthdays and the upcoming Easter holiday, along with a broken modem, have taken my attention elsewhere of late.

Next week, I'll once again have time to post, and I'll give you the details on the western-most battles in the Civil War.

California Civil War Relics

Once upon a time, I had a fairly good collection of California-related Civil War relics. I had CDVs and tintypes of different soldiers from different units, but much of it was resold a few years ago to help finance the purchase of my stepdaughter's first car. I held onto two uniform buttons, two ink bottles salvaged from a trash dump at Benicia Arsenal and a 6-pound solid shot that was part of a display pyramid on the parade ground near the flagpole at Fort Tejon. It serves as the doorstop to my office, which is why it isn't included in this photo.

Capt. Heman Noble, 2nd California Cavalry

Capt. Heman (sometimes rendered as Herman) Noble was born in New York in 1830. He began his service in Company A and was promoted to captain from first lieutenant of that unit. He then served as captain of Company E, where he served for the remainder of his time in the military. During the war, Capt. Noble's troops were active in patrolling the Owens Valley, working from a post in Aurora, Nevada. He and his men were successful in recovering a mortally injured man, Pvt. Gillespie, during a fight with the Paiutes. He settled in Kern County in 1866 and died in Los Angeles in 1884. Photo from the United States Military History Institute.

Gen. Patrick E. Connor: Father of Utah Mining

Patrick Edward Connor (Library of Congress P rints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA)

Gen. Patrick Edward Connor was born, fittingly enough, on St. Patrick's Day 1820 in Ireland. He immigrated to America at age 12 and enlisted in the military at age 18. He served a five-year hitch with the 1st Dragoons in Iowa Territory, then returned to New York to become a merchant. Shortly after, he moved to Texas and served as captain of a Texas volunteer regiment. Connor was wounded at the Battle of Buena Vista.

After the Mexican War, Connor moved to California where he helped capture the bandit Joaquin Murieta. He later worked in construction and road-building and became known as a leading citizen of Stockton.

At the start of the Civil War, Connor volunteered his services to the Union Army and was made colonel of the 3rd California Infantry. This unit was charged with guarding the Overland Mail route. In October 1862, Connor and his command moved to Salt Lake City, where they established Fort Douglas. In January 1863, Connor led his men in the Battle of Bear River. He received his brigadier's star following the battle, and was named commander of the District of the Plains in 1865.

One of Connor's less-successful campaigns was the Powder River Expedition, in which he and his men pursued Lakota, Arapaho and Cheyenne in Wyoming Territory. He was discharged from the Army in 1866 as a brevet major general.

After his military career, Connor turned his attention to mining in Utah and Nevada. He enjoyed initial success, but lost his more valuable properties over time and died in 1891 a fairly poor man

A Tribute to My Favorite Old Soldier

This 1902 photograph from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (Washington, D.C. 20540 USA) shows Civil War veterans participating in a parade in Trenton, New Jersey. I believe visits to my father's school by veterans from this war had an influence on his choosing the military as his career.

Permit me, if you will, this brief diversion from usual topics of discussion to pay homage to the man who started my interest in Civil War history, my father, August J. Rach, Jr., LTC USAR (Ret.)

Tuesday would be my father's 98th birthday, and he had vivid recollections of Civil War veterans coming to Girard School in Trenton, New Jersey, to participate in Decoration Day observances. Perhaps something in their speeches inspired him or the simple, straightforward military look of them subconsciously influenced his choice of the military as a career.

Before joining the military, my father worked as a grocery clerk, a shoe salesman and as a clerk for the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles. He also drove New Jersey Governor Harold Hoffman for a few years, which was the job he talked about most often after his military service.

World War II was the defining moment in my father's professional life. Despite strong (STRONG) objections from my mother and his, he joined the Army in 1942. Twenty-two years and numerous duty stations later, he retired because he could not envision continuing his career, which may have included a tour of duty in Viet Nam, with his infant daughter (me) and his ever-patient wife at home.

Among my father's favorite assignments was his tour as the head of the disciplinary barracks at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. The location offered easy access to Washington, DC, and Arlington National Cemetery.  Dad would eagerly join his fellow officers for tours of Civil War battlefields led by a man who had studied the campaigns in enough depth to be able to set the scene down to day-of-battle weather conditions for those fortunate enough to have him guide them.

Dad would also organize the neighborhood kids into walking tours of Arlington that my sister still remembers today, some 55 years after her last walkabout on the grounds.

Dad was anxious to join me on a Smithsonian tour of Gettysburg in November 1993, led by the amazing Ed Bearss. Unfortunately, I made the trip alone as Taps sounded for my father in June of that year. His ashes rest in a niche overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery near San Diego.

In all the times my father and I discussed the Civil War, I never asked the most obvious question: Why was he interested in this particular war? I did, however, follow right along beside him in being interested in it.

Perhaps I was fated to have a Civil War interest from birth. I am the only child of my parents who was born during my father's military career, and I came into the world at Ft. MacArthur Military Reservation near Los Angeles. My birthplace and my parents' final resting place are both named for Civil War heroes, which is not as easy to accomplish in California as it is in other parts of the country.

New Pages Added

Check the top of the blog for the new pages I added: Union Generals with a California Connection and Confederate Generals with a California Connection.

I've also created pages listing posts established by California troops and posts manned by California troops during the war, and I will be adding to those pages on a state-by-state basis, starting with Arizona.

I Wish This Oscar Had Gone to the Duke

In honor of Sunday's Academy Awards, I'm sharing thematic movie quotes through my blogs. (I love movies almost as much as I love California and the Civil War, family history and country living, but I don't really have anything new to add to the topic of movie blogs, so I haven't created one of those yet.)

"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" is by far one of my all-time favorite films. What's not to like about a John Wayne/John Ford western shot in color in Monument Valley???

John Wayne was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Captain Nathan Brittles and, although the movie doesn't relate directly to the Civil War, the quote does mention three memorable Civil War figures who served in California prior to the war.

Huntington to Host Civil War Exhibitions

The Huntington Library in San Marino, California, will host two exhibitions of Civil War photographs and related material this fall.

The photo exhibit, "A Strange and Fearful Interest: Death, Mourning and Memory in the American Civil War," will be presented in the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery. It will feature 150 Civil War photographs from the library's archives that offer a look at how the evolving technology of photography was able to capture, reflect and shape the nation's views of death and mourning. This exhibit opens October 13.

In a related exhibit, The Huntington will mount "A Just Cause: Voices of the Civil War," a display of Civil War library material, such as letters, diaries, and newspaper and magazine articles from the war, in the West Hall of the Library. This exhibit will open September 22.

The Huntington hosted an amazing exhibition on Abraham Lincoln that I was fortunate enough to see in 1993, so I'm sure this one will be equally amazing!

Another Collection of Civil War/California Links

Did some Google-searching over the weekend and came up with a variety of links related to California's involvement in the Civil War. Hope you enjoy them!

Street scenes of San Francisco during the Civil War

A look at how southern California tried to secede from northern California from KCET

President McKinley visits with Civil War veterans at the Soldiers' Home in Los Angeles

"San Diego in the Civil War" from the Journal of San Diego History, April 1961

Information about San Francisco's harbor defenses from the California State Military Museum

San Diego State University's "Echoes of the War: The Civil War at 150"

Lincoln and California

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington,

 D.C. 20540

Today is the 203rd anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth.

California fascinated Lincoln, and his plan to build a transcontinental railroad made the west coast of America more accessible to residents in the east and midwest. He had two conversations about California on April 14, 1865, one with his wife and one with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salmon Chase. Chase planned to visit the Golden State soon, and Lincoln wanted him to thank the miners for their important work that helped the Union pay for the war effort.

A few weeks earlier, Lincoln told another friend: “I have long desired to see California; the production of her gold mines has been a marvel to me, and her stand for the Union, her generous offerings to the Sanitary Commission, and her loyal representatives have endeared your people to me; and nothing would give me more pleasure than a visit to the Pacific shore, and to say in person to your citizens, ‘God bless you for your devotion to the Union,’ but the unknown is before us. I may say, however, that I have it now in purpose when the railroad is finished, to visit your wonderful state.”


For more information on Lincoln and California, click here. Lincoln's California legacy is documented on a site from the California state parks that coincided with the bicentennial celebration of his birth in 2009.

A Little-Known Moment in Arizona History

Granville H. Oury

Tuesday marks the anniversary of Arizona's statehood. On Feb. 14, 1912, it became the 48th state, but 50 years earlier, it became part of the Confederate States of America--even before it became part of the United States. A year later, Arizona became part of the United States when it became a U.S. territory on Feb. 24, 1863.

Granville Henderson Oury of Tucson (1825-1891) was the territory's delegate to the Confederate Congress, and a historical marker near the town of Florence commemorates his service. Oury is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Florence, where he practiced law after serving as a territorial representative, the territorial attorney general, and a Congressional representative.

During the war, Oury served as captain of Herbert’s Battalion, Arizona Cavalry, Confederate Army. He took the oath of allegiance at Fort Mason, Arizona, in October 1865. Before moving to Arizona, Oury mined in Marysville, California, during the Gold Rush.

Col. Emil Fritz: From Immigrant to Businessman

Col. Emil Fritz was born in Germany in 1832. He joined the Gold Rush to California and became captain of the 1st California Calvary when the California Column was being formed to defend the territories of New Mexico and Arizona against Confederate invasion. Fritz's men arrived too late to defend the territory against Rebel invaders, so they were sent to Fort Sumner to help control the Navajos who had taken the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo. Col. Fritz and his men participated in the campaign against the Kiowas and Comanches that Kit Carson organized, and he was breveted for heroism at the Battle of Adobe Walls. He was mustered out in 1866 and became business partners with Lawrence Murphy in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Col. Fritz died of tuberculosis and kidney disease in 1874, and the settlement of his estate in New Mexico figured into the start of the Lincoln County Wars.  Photo from the Richard K. Tibbals Collection at the United States Army Military History Institute

Captain Augustus Starr, 2nd California Cavalry

Captain Augustus Washington Starr was born in Ohio in 1834. He came to California during the Gold Rush where he first operated his own store, then later served as a clerk in another retail establishment in Sacramento. At the start of the Civil War, Starr helped raise a cavalry company and was commissioned second lieutenant in Company F, 2nd California Cavalry. During the war, he fought the Maidu Indians. After the war, he remained in the cavalry, serving with the 8th U.S. Cavalry until 1871. Capt. Starr then supervised a flour mill in Vallejo. Capt. Starr died in Napa in 1907 and is buried in the St. Helena Public Cemetery. Photo from the Richard K. Tibbals Collection at the United States Army Military History Institute

Henry Black: West Point Graduate

Henry Moore Black was born in Pennsylvania in 1827. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1847 and served as an assistant instructor of artillery until serving with the 4th Infantry in the Mexican War. He was also posted to Florida, Missouri, Kansas and the Indian Territory with the 9th Infantry. He was promoted to captain and served at several forts in Washington state before being assigned to San Francisco at the start of the Civil War. He commanded the garrisons at Alcatraz and Benicia Barracks and the District of Humboldt as colonel of the 6th California Infantry. Between 1864 and 1870, Col. Black served as Commandant of Cadets at the US Military Academy, where he also taught artillery, infantry and cavalry tactics. He served at numerous posts in the South, Far West and East until he retired in 1891. Col. Black died in 1893 and is buried at West Point. Photo from the United States Army Military History Institute

A Forgotten Chapter in Western History

One hundred forty-nine years ago tomorrow, Col. Patrick Edward Connor led the forces of the Third California Infantry against a village of Northern Shoshone in Idaho. When the battle was over, 14 California troops and an unknown number of Native Americans were dead.

The battle was first named the Battle of Bear River, but history has come to call it the Bear River Massacre since losses among the Northern Shoshone range between 224 and 493 dead. These are higher casualty figures than either Wounded Knee or Sand Creek, both of which are better known to students of western American history. (In addition to the 14 dead, the California forces suffered 49 injuries, seven of which were mortal.)

Click on the links below for additional information on the Bear River Massacre:

Wikipedia entry on the Bear River Massacre

Online Utah entry on the Bear River Massacre

Military History Online entry on the Bear River Massacre and the American Civil War

Eugene Lehe, Pioneer Photographer and Businessman

Lt. Eugene Lehe was born in New York City in 1841. He lived with his paternal grandparents in France for several years as a child and returned to the United States in 1849. At the beginning of the Civil War, he was a musician with the 9th Infantry at Ft. Stellacoom, Washington, and the Presidio of San Francisco. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd California Volunteer Infantry in 1865. After the war, Lt. Lehe was an early photographer in Stockton. After getting out of the photography business, he was an agent for the Pacific Union Express Company, a restaurant owner and served as the president of the Stockon City Council. He was also active for many years in the California National Guard, rising to the rank of brigadier general. Photo from the Mike Mancuso Collection, United States Army Military History Institute

Clarence Bennett: Distinguished Officer

Lt. Col. Clarence Bennett was born in New York in 1833. He graduated from West Point in 1855 and served in Utah with the 10th Infantry. He resigned from the Army in 1860 and moved to San Bernardino. In 1861, Bennett made Secretary of State William Seward and General Edwin V. Sumner aware of a Secessionist plot to seize Fort Yuma. He left California in April 1862 and made his way to Fort Yuma, where he met up with California Volunteers heading east. In September 1862, Bennett returned to California and was commissioned major, 1st California Cavalry. He served at Camp Morris, Ft. Yuma, Ft. Craig, Ft. Bowie and Ft. McDowell. He was mustered out of the California Cavalry in 1866 and transferred to the 6th Cavalry. He also served in the Quartermaster Corps, the 17th Infantry, the 19th Infantry and the 11th Infantry. Bennett retired in 1897 as a lieutenant colonel. His two sons served in the military and his two daughters married Army officers. Lt. Col. Bennett died Nov. 4, 1902, at Ft. McPherson, Georgia. Photo from the Roger D. Hunt Collection, United States Army Military History Institute.

Hierom and Charles Atchisson: Brothers in Arms in Wartime, Brothers in Life in Peacetime

Sgt. Hierom Atchisson was born in Hamilton County, Illinois, in 1834. He moved to California during the Gold Rush and mined for several years. He enlisted in Company I of the 4th California Infantry and was honorably discharged in Arizona on Oct. 31, 1864. He remained in Arizona for about five years, then returned to Illinois. After his first wife died, he returned to Arizona briefly, then went back to Illinois, where he was active in the GAR and Republican politics. Sgt. Atchisson died Dec. 11, 1910, in Illinois.

Capt. Charles Atchisson was born in Illinois in 1824. He was mustered in as the captain of Company I of the 4th California Infantry on Nov. 18, 1861. Company I was posted to Camp Sigel, Camp Union, Benicia Barracks, Drum Barracks and Ft. Mojave. Capt. Atchisson served primarily at Ft. Mojave, Arizona, and was mustered out in 1865, He returned to Mojave City, Arizona, where he served as postmaster and later became a probate judge in Mojave County. Capt. Atchisson died at his brother Hierom's home in Hamilton County, Illinois, on July 19, 1891. Photos from the Ed Atchisson Collection of the United States Army Military History Institute

A Belated Happy Lee-Jackson Day!

Friday was the annual observance of Lee-Jackson Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a holiday that has been celebrated since 1904 to commemorate the birthdays of Robert E. Lee (January 19, 1807) and Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824).

I admire the military careers of both these men greatly, and wish I had a better tie-in to California than the fact that both served in the Mexican War. which resulted in the territory that became California being added to the United States in 1848