Four companies of the First Artillery Regiment were called into service on April 11, 1882, in response to the requests of the Mayor and Chief of Police of the City of Sacramento for assistance in quelling a threatened riot. This community unrest resulted from the murder of a prominent Sacramento citizen and the desires of a mob, which surrounded the city prison, to forcibly remove the alleged murderer. The Guardsmen, under the leadership of Colonel T. W. Sheelion, Commander of the First Artillery Regiment, were successful in frustrating the efforts of the mob and thus assisted in the maintenance of law and order.
On the eleventh of April, 1882, application was made to General Headquarters, by the Mayor and Chief of Police of the City of Sacramento, for the aid of troops of the National Guard in quelling threatened riotous proceedings, occasioned by the murder of a prominent citizen of Sacramento. The requisite orders were immediately issued to Brigadier-General John F. Sheehan, commanding the Fourth Brigade, and four companies of the First Artillery Regiment were called into service. The city prison was surrounded by a mob, who threatened to take therefrom, by force, an alleged murderer. The troops, under the immediate command of Colonel T. W. Sheehan, of the First Artillery Regiment, succeeded in preventing the execution of the designs of the mob, and the dignity of the law was maintained without personal injury to any one. So admirably did the troops behave that they were specially complimented by your Excellency in a communication from Major-General S. W. Backus, Adjutant-General of the State at that time, and in the following order issued by the Brigade Commander:
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE, N.G.C.}
SACRAMENTO, April 24th, 1882 }
- General Orders, No. 1
I. The General commanding the Brigade takes this occasion to commend the promptness and zeal with which the troops responded to the call of the civil authorities on the occasion of the recent threatened demonstration against law and order in the City of Sacramento. The efficiency and determination displayed alike by officers and men of that portion of this command ordered for duty is unexcelled in the annals of the Militia or National Guard of this State. The discipline exacted was in every sense observed, and the Brigade and Regimental organizations may with pride point to the excellent behavior and cool demeanor of the men, whether on duty with the general command or on detached service at the prisons.
The circumstances attending the recent call to duty were of such a nature as to require of a member of the National Guard a sacrifice of feelings and loss of personality; and that these were freely waived in the interest of the State is clearly attested by competent authority. Such self-sacrificing attributes lead to the highest order of heroism, and that Government is strong which retains in its service men of this stamp.
II . The Brigade Commander congratulates the Colonel of the First Artillery Regiment upon the efficiency of his command, and hereby thanks the members of the Brigade Staff, the Field and Staff of the First Artillery Regiment, the line officers on duty (especially Captains Burke of Company A, and Dalton of Company G, who were called upon to perform important and exhausting duty), and the soldiers who rendered such willing and intelligent service.
III . Attention is called the accompanying communication from Major-General S. W. Backus , Adjutant-General of California, in which he conveys the sincere thanks of His Excellency, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, to the troops of this Brigade.
- By order of Brigadier-General John F. SHEEHAN.
H. A. WEAVER, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General