R. F. Ryan, Captain: Elected 3 January 1862, commissioned 8 January 1862, reelected 6 January 1863, January 1864 and 9 January 1965; promoted to Major 19 August 1865.
D. D. Sullivan, First Lieutenant: Elected 3 January 1862, commissioned 8 January 1862, resigned 9 February 1862
P. R. Hanna, First Lieutenant: Elected 20 February 1862, resigned 17 May 1862.
M. Coonan, First Lieutenant: Elected 5 June 1862, commissioned 17 June 1862, resigned 4 November 1862.
P. O'Brien, First Lieutenant: Commissioned 10 November 1862, commissioned 25 November 1862.
Jeremiah Baldwin, First Lieutenant: Elected5 January 1863, commissioned 14 January 1863, reelected January 1864 and 9 January 1865.
George T. Knox, Captain: Elected 22 August 1865, commissioned 4 September 1865, reelected 2 January 1866
Jeremiah Baldwin, First Lieutenant: Reelected 2 January 1866
John Leary, First Lieutenant: Elected 22 February 1868, commissioned 26 February 1868, 2 February 1869.
Bernard O'Farrell, First Lieutenant: Elected 3 February 1869, commissioned 15 May 1869.
John F. Meegher, Captain: Elected 8 June 1870, commissioned 13 June1870
Bernard O'Farrell, First Lieutenant: Reelected 8 June 1870.
Michael Flanigan, Captain: Elected 1 July 1872, commissioned 9 July 1872.
John J. Hand, First Lieutenant: Elected 1 July 1872, commissioned 9 July 1872.
Thomas O'Neil, Captain: Elected January 1874, commissioned 13 June 1874, resigned 12 November 1874
Michael J. Wrin, Captain Elected 10 December1874, commissioned 19 December 1874, reelected 14 December 1876, reelected 14 December 1876.
Henry P. Filgate, Captain: Elected 9 January 1879 22 January 1879
John Blake, First Lieutenant: Elected 9 January 1879 22 January 1879
Offical History:
The Shields Guard of San Francisco was organized
in response to a petition bearing the date, December 24, 1861,
and signed by fifty-four citizens, residents of the city and
county of San Francisco and· presented to the County Judge.
as required by law. Organization was perfected and the company
mustered into the service as a unit of the 2nd (Irish) Infantry
Regiment, California Militia, on January 3, 1862. This company,
named after the famous Brigadier General James Shields, who resided
in Illinois about 1840, was sharply criticised by some of the
newspapernof that State. As a result of anonymous charges made
against him, Mr. Shields challenged to a duel Abraham Lincoln,
(afterwards President of the United States) who shouldered some
of the responsibility for the affair. Mr. Lincoln explained the
situation and the matter was compromised and the principles became
permanent friends.[3] Shields served as Brigadier General during
the war with Mexico and was cited by Major General Winfield Scott
for gallant conduct at Cerro Gordo, where he was dangerously
wounded. In 1848 General Shields was appointed Governor of Oregon
Territory where he discharged his duties faithfully and honorably
and at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 was appointed Brigadier
General of California Volunteers in which capacity he served
until March 28, 1863.
At the organization meeting of the Shields Guard,Captain-elect Ryan commented on the brilliatit record of General Shields and urged the members of his troop to so conduct themselves that the company would be a credit to the honorable name it bore. The new company immediately became active in drill and target practice and although it was extremely difficult to procure suitable equipment and unirorms at that time, they lliade the best showing possible under existing conditions, by participating in public functions and parades.
In 1866 the company was mustered out of the service under the provisions of the military Law of that year [4], but immediately reorganized and was mustered back into the service. In 1868, pursuant to the provisions of Special Order No . 15, of that year, the company was again mustered out of the State service, again reeorganized and mustered in as Company B, First Infantry Battalion, Second Brigade, California National Guard.[5]
In July 1869 the company came into disrepute by disobeying orders in refusing to parade with the command on July Fourth, at a place designated by orders from headquarters, and accused of mutinous and disorderly conduct, and was dishonoraoly disbanded [6] and the company's arms returned to the State Arsenal. This order was rescinded later, however, and on June 3, 1870 Special Order No. 20 [7] was issued, reinstatlng the company in its old Battalion and Brigade. Everything proceeded as before until Special Order No. 8 was issued effective February 24, 1871, transferring Company H, as the Shields Guard was then known, to the Third Infantry Regiment, Second Brigade.[8]
From 1870 to 1882 the history of the company was uneventful, the activities consisting of participation in parades, escorts at inaugural ceremonies and routine duties. On March 22 , 1882 Company H was transferred to the First Infantry Regiment as Company G. The majority of members were dissatisfied and asked to be discharged. Captain Filgate also resigned and with his discharged troops organized an independent company.The newly organized unit joined with the old independent Third Infantry Regiment, and was designated Company B, Shields Guard. this independent company continued as such until April 18, 1883 When it was permitted to be mustered into the National Guard, and designated Company B, Third Infantry Regiment.[9] For a continuation of the history of the Shields Guard, refer to Company B, Third lnfantry Regiment, Second Brigade.
2. Shields Guard redesignated Company B, 3rd (Irish) Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 18 April 1883, Adjutant General Report 1883-1884, General Order No.16, page 66.
5. Adjutant General Report 1867-1869, pages 163, 180.
6. Special Order No. 15, Adjutant General Report 1867-1869, page 165 .
7. Adjutant General Report 1870-1871, page 105.
8. General and Special Orders 1870-l1874, Special Order No. 8, page 25.
9. Adjutant General Report 1883-1884, General Order No. 16, page 66.