California Militia and National Guard Unit Histories

Alviso Rifles

(Alviso Guard)

 

 

Military Unit Designation:

• Alviso Guard, Company C, 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, California Militia.
• After 17 October 1866: Alviso Rifles, Company C, 5th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade, National Guard of California

Date of Organization:18 July 1863

Date of Disbanding: 6 June 1868
Inclusive dates of units papers at State Archives: 1863-1868
Geographical Location or Locations: Alviso Mills, Santa Clara County

 

Unit Papers on file at the California State Archives, Sacramento:

a. Organization Papers 9 documents (1863)
b. Bonds 2 documents (1864-1866)
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 22 documents (1863-1868)
d. Election Returns 6 documents (1864-1866)
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns 23 documents (1863-1868)
g. Oaths Qualifications 13 documents (1863-1867)
h. Orders none
i. Receipts, invoices 2 documents (1863-1868)
j. Requisitions 3 documents (1863-1866)
k. Resignations none
l. Target Practice Reports none
m. Other Public Property, 1 document (1867)

 

Commanding Officers

A. B. Rowley, Captain: Elected July 16, 1863; commissioned July 27, 1863; promoted to Lieutenant

Hiram Fairfield, First Lieutenant: Elected July 16, 1863; commissioned July 27, 1863

Thatcher F. Barnes, Captain: Elected June 10, 1864, commissioned July 27, 1864; reelected August 26, 1865; reelected November 17, 1866
John Root: Elected First Lieutenant: July 23, 1864, commissioned August 12, 1864; reelected August 26, 1865
William A. J. Edwards, First Lieutenant: Elected November 17, 1866, commissioned November 27, 1866.

 

 

Official History

Upon petition of fifty-six citizens of Alviso Mills, the County Court of Santa Clara County ordered a meeting for the purpose of organizing a company of militia. The organization was perfected and the company mustered in as a unit of the State Militia on July 18, 1863. The company after its organization, was greatly interested in drill practice and appeared in numerous parades.

 

On October 17, 1866, the company was reorganized and mustered in as Company C of the National Guard of California, Fifth Infantry Battalion, Second Brigade. The company continued to display considerable interest in military affairs for more than a year after its reorganization. On June 6, 1868, pursuant to Special Order No. 31, the Alviso Rifles was mustered out of service by Brigadier-General James M. Allen.[1]

 

 

Footnote:

[1] Adjutant General Report 1867-1869, page 144.

 

 

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Updated 23 June 2017