Historic California Militia and National Guard Units
National Guard
(Sacramento)
 
Military Unit Designation:
Date of Organization: October 7, 1862
Date of Disbanding: January 12, 1867
Inclusive dates of units papers: 1862-1867
Geographical Location or Locations: Sacramento, Sacramento County

Papers on file at the California State Archives
a. Organization Papers 4 documents (1862)
b. Bonds none
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 18 documents (1862-1867)
d. Election Returns 7 documents (1864-1866)
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns 12 documents (1863-1867)
g. Oaths Qualifications 88 documents (1862-1866)
h. Orders none
i. Receipts, invoices 7 documents (1862-1867)
j. Requisitions 1 document (1862)
k. Resignations 11 documents (1863-1866)
l. Target Practice Reports 1 document (1866)
m. Other Public Property, 1 document (1867)
 

Commanding Officers

 Name  Date of Rank  Date of Commission Remarks
 L. L. Baker, Captain  7 October 1862 18 October1862
 D. W. Welty First Lieutenant  7 October 1862 26 June 1863 Resigned 17 December 1863
 J. D. Young, First Lieutenant 23 December 1863 5 January 1864  
       
 J. D. Young, Captain 20 February 1864 21 May 1862 Resigned 5 September 1864
 C. H. Pomeroy, Captain  21 September 1864 16 December 1864
 Sylvester Tyron, First Lieutenant 20 February 1864 16 March 1864
       
 C. H. Pomeroy, Captain Reelected 2 August 1865
Fred Dassonville, First Lieutenant 2 August 1865 4 August 1865
 
Fred Dassonville, Captain 7 February 1866 10 February 1866 Reelected 27 June 1866
 Matthew O'Brien, First Lieutenant 7 February 1866 10 February 1866
 Charles Auer, First Lieutenant  27 June 1866 20 August 1866  


Official History:
 
The National Guard numbering 91 men was organized in Sacramento and mustered in as a unit of the California Militia on October 7, 1862. At that time the condition of the State of California was considered alarming in view of its geographical isolation and the probability that the State would be called into active service during the Civil War. This company was not assigned to active duty, and the members became restless. Many of them sought a discharge on the expiration of their term of enlistment in order to enter the service of the United States as volunteers. Company D suffered greatly because of this condition, and its membership dwindled to 63 in June 1863, and 36 in September 1864.

On April 2, 1866, the State Legislature passed an act that completely reorganized the California Militia. The Military Force was not to exceed 80 companies in all. A Board of Location and Organization was formed, consisting of the Commander-in-Chief, Major General, Adjutant General, and the Brigadier-General of each Brigade, with the power to reorganize and disband companies. The organized uniformed troops of the State were to be designated and known as the National Guard of California.[1]

By a recommendation of the Board, Company D, and the Baker Guard, another Sacramento Company were consolidated into one unit under the new law, but retained their designation of
National Guard, Company D. Company D did not operate long under the new system. Special Order No. 7 was issued which mustered the company out of the service of the State, January 12,
1867.
 
Footnotes:

1. California Statutes 1865-1866, Chapter DXLI, page 722.
This history was completed in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in conjunction with the California National Guard and the California State Library.
 
 
 
 
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Updated 8 February 2016