California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories
Marysville Rifles
(Marysville Light Artillery)
 

Official or Other Titles:
Location: Marysville, Yuba County
Mustered in: October 31, 1859; August 6, 1866 [1]
Mustered Out: July 10, 1866; January 7, 1869 [2]
 
 
Unit papers on file at the California State Archives:
 
a. Organization Papers none
b. Bonds 5 documents (1860-1867)
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 52 documents (1859-1869)
d. Election Returns 9 documents (1863-1867)
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns 30 documents (1861-1869)
g. Oaths Qualifications 58 documents (1862-1868)
h. Orders none
i. Receipts, invoices 11 documents (1862-1867)
j. Requisitions 1 document (1866)
k. Resignations 5 documents (1862-1867)
l. Target Practice Reports none
m. Other Public Property, 1 document (1868)

Commanding Officers:

M. D. Dobbins, Captain; elected October 31, 1859; commissioned January 2, 1860
I. C. McGuaid, First Lieutenant; elected October 31, 1859; commissioned January 2, 1860

Theodore A. Coult, Captain; elected August 20, 1861; commissioned August 28, 1861
B. Eilerman, First Lieutenant; elected August 20, 1861; commissioned August 28, 1861

B. Eilerman, Captain; elected November 11, 1862; commissioned November 28, 1862; reelected October 31, 1863
C. E. Osborne, First Lieutenant; elected November 11, 1862; commissioned November 28, 1862
Henry Demott, First Lieutenant; elected May 11, 1863; commissioned May 1863 (Replaced Lieutenant Osborne)
A. Gibson, First Lieutenant; elected October 31, 1863; commissioned December 11, 1863

A. Gibson, Captain; elected March 14, 1864; commissioned April 6, 1864
A. J. Lansoni, First Lieutenant; elected March 14, 1864; commissioned April 6, 1864

A. G. Randall, Captain [3]; elected December 12, 1864; commissioned December 22, 1864
G. C. Sears, First Lieutenant [3]; elected December 12, 1864; commissioned December 22, 1864

William. S. Quain, Captain; elected February 27, 1865; commissioned March 18, 1865
W. C. Fitch, First Lieutenant; elected February 27, 1865; commissioned March 18, 1865

R. J. Farrell, Captain; elected November 8, 1865 commissioned November 22, 1865
F. A. Grass, First Lieutenant; elected November 8, 1865 commissioned November 22, 1865

A. W. Torrey, Captain; elected September 26, 1867; commissioned October 21, 1867
James B. Leaman, First Lieutenant; elected September 26, 1867; commissioned October 17, 1867
 
 
Official History:

On December 29, 1859, M. D. Dobbins, Captain-elect wrote General Kibbe confirming the organization of an independent military unit known as the Marysville Rifles. The officers received their commissions January 2, 1860, those designated as such were, M. D. Dobbins, Captain and I. C. McGuaid, First Lieutenant. A Bond was taken out for the arms in December 1859. The Captain expressed concern over the delay of the equipment and hoped to receive them before the Washington Day parade which was to be an important military event in that vicinity.

The Marysville Rifles were in a state of uncertainty regarding their connection with the organized State Militia, not knowing whether the company's vote to tender their services under the call of the Governor during the troublesome Indian times had been accepted or not. This was of major importance to them for a disbandment would mean the loss of the $4,000 spent preparing the company for active service. General Kibbe's reply to Captain Eilerman's letter, relative to the above subject, ended their uncertainties by assuring them they still were attached to the State Militia and that he highly approved of their well officered and efficient membership.

Although the Marysville Rifles were credited with having a spirited and patriotic company, and the Adjutant General in the year of 1861, called them one of the banner companies of the State, having furnished ninety-two men, eight of which were commissioned officers for the service of the United States, the Marysville Rifles were mustered out July 10, 1866, under the existing military law. This law was the outcome of a recommendation by the Adjutant General concerning companies located in mining towns which owing to their transient population and the inability of said companies to keep up their organizations, were recommended to disband.

However, soon after disbandment, the Marysville Rifles were reorganized August 6, 1866, and mustered into the State service to continue as an active organization under the name of Marysville Light Artillery, Company B, First Battalion of Light Artillery, Fourth Brigade under the command of Captain A. W. Torrey.

In 1868, when it was decided to materially reduce the Military companies in the State, the Marysville Light Artillery was ordered mustered out by Special Order No. 58. [4] The inspector and mustering out officers remarks are worthy of repeating here--which testified to the "soldierly bearing and courteous behavior of the officers and sincerely regretted the State being deprived of such efficient soldiers."

Footnotes:

[1] Reorganized August, 1866, and designated as Marysville Light Artillery, Company B.
[2] Marysville Rifles mustered out, July 10, 1866; Marysville Light Artillerv mustered out January 7, 1869.
[3] Captain Randall and First Lieutenant Sears resigned and joined the Volunteer Service February 10, 1865. On file Adjutant General's Office.
[4] Adjutant General Report 1867-1869, page 156.
[5] Letter on file State Archives,.State Capitol
 
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
 
 
Additional Hitories:
 
Marysville Rifles
History of Yuba County
 
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Updated 8 February 2016