Historic California
Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Camp Dolores
Late in 1850 Southern California ranchers
were sujected to a devastating raid by Chief Walkara and his
Ute horse thieves and demanded protection from the authorities.
Authorized by the governor, General J. H. Bean, of the California
Militia organized a company of 50 volunteer rangers to protect
the frontier. At first stationed in Cajon Pass, they moved into
the San Bernardino Valley and established Camp Delores near the
present Valley College. In April 1851, troops from Camp Dolores
were called upon to defend Jose del Carmen Lugo's Rancho San
Bernardino from a band of renegades, who were later tracked down.
A bloody battle ensued. When a coroners jury found the killing
of white men by the Indians justifiable, General Bean condemned
the finding and shortly afterward broke up Camp Dolores and disbanded
the rangers. A little later that year the Lugo family, weary
of the hardships and dangers, sold Rancho San Bernardino to Morman
settlers.
For more information on 19th century military
posts in the San Bernardino area, CLICK
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