Date of Organization: 7 September 1861
Date of Disbanding: 1861
Inclusive dates of units papers at State Archives: 1861-1862
Geographical Location or Locations: Marysville, Yuba County
Emmett Brown, First Lieutenant, Commissioned 10 September 1861
a. Organization Papers 2 documents (1861)
b. Bonds none
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 4 documents (1861-1862)
d. Election Returns 1 document (1861)
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns none
g. Oaths Qualifications none
h. Orders none
i. Receipts, invoices 3 documents (1861)
j. Requisitions none
k. Resignations none
l. Target Practice Reports none
m. Other none
The California Zouaves, as the name suggests, was organized as a Zouave Company, July 22, 1861. The commanding officer was Lieutenant L. Lasvignes, and at a later date he was promoted to Captain of the unit . The California Zouaves received their arms and equipment sometime in August 1861. An election of officers was held September seventh, and the officers received their commissions on September tenth of the same year .
Although this company had a large membership and was well armed; due to the fatigue of the peculiar Zouave Drill, it was forced to disband the same year of its organization.