A railroad strike, nationwide in scope, was ordered on June 28th, 1894, the effects of which were drastically felt throughout California. In this situation, because the U. S. Mails were carried by the railroad, the Federal Government was involved immediately. Through prior arrangements, requests for National Guard assistance would be initiated by the U. S. Marshal.
Although the effects of the strike were
felt throughout the State, the most militant group was located
in the Sacramento area. The size of the group of strikers and
sympathizers in the
State's capital city frustrated the efforts of local agencies
to control the situation. The Governor, on July 3, 1894, ordered
troops of the National Guard to Sacramento to aid in the quelling
of "disturbance." Many of these units were from the
San Francisco area which is considerably cooler during the summer
than is Sacramento. This change in weather conditions, combined
with initial shortages of food and equipment, reduced the effectiveness
of these units. Concurrent deployment of other Guard units to
other railroad communities throughout the State were significantly
more effective. During one phase of this strike, which had many
sympathizers, elements of the National Guard were on duty from
Bakersfield in the south to Dunsmuir in the north.No other community
experienced the problems of control comparable to the situation
which existed in Sacramento. Strikers from other areas commandeered
trains and converged in Sacramento in an obvious attempt to exploit
the uncertain conditions to their advantage.
Because the early efforts of the units in Sacramento were not effective, the subsequent assignments resulted in troops being deployed in positions around the areas occupied by the strikers. This resulted in a "waiting game" type of situation, where neither side gained any advantage over the other. The strikers, as the days passed, gradually became disenchanted and when, on the 10th of July, troops of the Regular Army arrived in Sacramento, the stage was set for the restoration of control to the hands of the local authorities.
The combined efforts of the Regular troops and the National Guard soon permitted the trains to resume operations. Although the first train to leave Sacramento to the south was wrecked, by July 14th the trains were operating approximately on schedule.
Guard units remained on duty in the Sacramento area until July 22nd, when it became apparent that conditions were near normal. The original mission having been fulfilled, the units were gradually released for return to home stations, the last being dismissed on July 30, 1894.
Link to Official History (1940)