California Militia and National
Guard Unit Histories
Downey Guard
Official or other designations: Downey Guard, 1st Brigade, 5th Division, California
Militia Location: Timbuctoo, Yuba County
Mustered in:
August 1860 Mustered out: 1861
Unit papers on file with the California
State Archives:
a. Organization Papers 1 document (no
date)
b. Bonds 1 document (1860)
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 4 documents (1860-1861)
d. Election Returns none
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns 2 documents (1860-1861)
g. Oaths Qualifications 1 document (1861)
h. Orders none
i. Receipts, invoices 1 document (1861)
j. Requisitions none
k. Resignations 1 document (1861)
l. Target Practice Reports none
m. Other none
Commanding Officers
Ambrose Kerrigan, Captain; elected September
6, 1860
Martin Nevin, First Lieutenant; elected September 6, 1860
Ambrose Kerrigan, Captain; commissioned
July 24, 1861
John McQuaid, First Lieutenant; commissioned July 24, 1861
History
The Downey Guard of Timbuctoo, Yuba County,
was organized in August 1860, with a Roll Call of sixty three
members. The unit received their arms soon after organization
as an Indian attack was feared by the community. A regular business
meeting was held early in 1861 when fines for delinquencies on
the part of members and monthly dues and assessments were collected
and paid to the treasurer. Several new members joined the company's
ranks soon after organization. The original building occupied
by the Guard for drill had become too small for the increasing
number of recruits and at that meeting a committee was appointed
to secure a larger hall in order to accommodate the increased
membership.
The corps sent a petition, July 1861, signed
by the officers and members to Governor Downey, regarding a person
named Kibbing who was being held in jail presumably on a minor
offense. The Guard favored his acquittal.[1]
Although the Downey Guard had a large
membership at organization and was a well officered corps, the
early disbandment of the unit after a little more than a year's
existence., was caused by lack of interest on the part of members
due to. Captain Kerrigan's resignation. The arms and accoutrements
were returned to the State.[2]
Footnotes
1. Letters on file State Archives, State
Capitol.
2. Adjutant General Report 1861,
page 127.
This history was written
in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in conjunction
with the Office of the Adjutant General and the California State
Library
Search
our Site!
Questions and comments concerning
this site should be directed to the Webmaster