California Militia and National Guard Unit Histories
Angels Guard
 
 
Organizational Data
 
Military Unit Designation: Angels Guard, 3rd Brigade, California Militia. After 30 September 1866, Angels Guard, Company H, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, National Guard of California
Date of Organization:24 March 1862
Date of Disbanding: 30 January 1868
Inclusive dates of units papers at State Archives: 1862-1868
Geographical Location or Locations: Angle's Camp, Calaveras County
 
 
Unit Papers on File at the California State Archives, Sacramento:

a. Organization Papers 6 documents (1862)
b. Bonds 1 document (1864)
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 48 documents (1862-1868)
d. Election Returns 3 documents (1862-1865)
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns 10 documents (1862-1868)
g. Oaths Qualifications 2 documents (1866)
h. Orders none
i. Receipts, invoices 5 documents (1862-1868)
j. Requisitions 3 documents (1862-1866)
k. Resignations 2 documents (1864)
l. Target Practice Reports none
m. Other none


Commanding Officers

 Name

 Date of Rank

 Date of Commission

 Remarks
James Finnegan, Captain
P. W. Scribner , First Lieut.
Mar . 24, 1862
Mar. 24 , 1862
 
P. W. Scribner, Captain
B. R. Coon, First Lieut.
Aug . 23, 1862
Aug . 23, 1862
Sept . 15, 1862
Sept . 15, 1862
 
 P. W. Scribner, Captain
Robert Patterson, First Lieut.
Re-elected Mar. 19, 1864
Mar. 19, 1864
 
 
Resigned Sept . 24 , 1864
 P. W. Scribner, Captain
George King, First Lieut.
Re-elected 1865
Mar. 11, 1865
June 22, 1864
April 17, 1865
O. V. Currier, Captain
A. E. Ladd, First Lieut.
Sept. 30, 1866
Sept . 30, 1866
   




The Angels Guard, Angels Camp, Calaveras County, was organized March 24 , 1862. The commanding officers were James Finnegan, Captain and P . W. Scribner, First Lieutenant. A second election was held in August 1862 to fill the vacancy caused by Captain Finnegan's untimely death . P. W. Scribner, First Lieutenant, was promoted to the Captaincy and B. R. Coon elected First Lieutenant. The officers received their commissions September 15, of that year.

As Angels Camp Camp is located in the center of a gold mining district, a rough element composed of foreigners and Mexicans followed the mining activities and caused the citizens much alarm with their lawless deeds. Indian hostilities were also numerous requiring constant surveillance during the years of 1861 and 1862 . While there is no record of the Angels Guard taking part in any Indian skirmishes or combat, since they were a well officered and efficient company, it is assumed they had an active part in aiding the authorities in upholding justice during the early life of this community.

The necessary Bond of $3,000 was posted in July 1863 . However, in November of that year found the company still unarmed and in a letter to General Kibbe, Captain Scribner asks that arms and accoutrements be shipped in time for the Military Ball soon to be held. On behalf of himself and company he tendered an invitation to General Kibbe to a ttend . Apparently the arms were received shortly after, for in January 1863 the Captain again wrote the General about the missing gun molds. He was anxious to receive them in order tha this corps could participate in target practice as he desired to create competition among the members in order to arouse their lagging interest.

After the War of the Rebellion it was necessary to reorganize and materially reduce the militia . The Military Law of 1866 appointed a Board of Location and Organization to determine the companies that were to be retained or disbanded. Under this ruling the Angels Guard was re-organized and mustered into service September 30, 1866, and attached to the Third Brigade. O. V. Currier was elected Captain and having served two years in Virginia during the Wnr of the Rebellion, his military training made him an efficient leader . That the Captain was successful in putting new life into the corps was evident from his report on the company in 1867 when he reported the unit as "getting along fine". The Angels Guard was active in social affairs and their attendance was always in demand on such occasions which were numerous due to the prosperous period in mine operations, gold, silver and copper ore was bringing large dividends at tha ttime.

Although the Angels Guard was efficient and well officered, the company was mustered out January 30, 1868, in accordance with the first section of the Military Law of 1868, "that the interest of the commonwealth did not demand the maintenance of so large a force" .
 
 
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Updated 23 June 2017