Stockton Zouave Guard, 3rd Brigade,
National Guard of California (NGC)
After 1 February 1872, Stockton Guard, 3rd
Brigade, NGC
Date of Organization: December 12, 1871
Date of reorganization: July 22, 1885
Inclusive dates of units papers: 1872-1905 Geographical Location or Locations: Stockton, San
Joaquin County
Papers on file at the California State Archives:
a. Organization Papers none
b. Bonds none
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 138 documents
(1872-1888)
d. Election Returns 11 documents (1872-1895)
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns 70 documents (1872-1905)
g. Oaths Qualifications 265 documents (1873-1886)
h. Orders 38 documents (1875-1893)
i. Receipts, invoices 16 documents (1872-1899)
j. Requisitions 16 documents (1872-1887)
k. Resignations 6 documents (1872-1887)
l. Target Practice Reports 9 documents (1872-1890)
m. Other
Examing Board, 5 documents (1891)
Report of Board of Survey, 1 document (1900)
This history was completed in
1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in
conjunction with the California National Guard and the
California State Library.
Sergeant
Arthur Young, Stockton Guard, 5 July 1884
Organization of the Stockton Guards
In the fall of 1871, just after the election of Newton Booth
as governor, there was a call published for all Stocktonians
in favor of forming an infantry company to assemble in
Hickman's Hall, sign the roll and then participate in the
jollification of the Booth and Pacheco club over the victory
of the preceding Wednesday. At that time Adjutant-General Tom
Cazneau granted permission to form a company in Stockton, and
Maj. E. S. Pillsbury was chosen to preside over the meeting
called to organize and elect officers. It was held December
12, 1871, and the company organized was named the Stockton
Zouaves. Why they adopted this name I know not, for their
uniforms were of dark blue, cut in the usual military style,
although several years later they adopted a uniform of gray
trimmed with black and gold. However, they soon came to be
called commonly the Stockton Guards. In January, 1872, the
company had sixty-nine men enrolled, and the following
officers were elected: Captain, J. E. Lyon; first lieutenant,
E. Scott; second lieutenant, Jonas P. Stockwell; sergeants,
Ed. Delano, W. F. Fletcher, H. J. Todd, and J. Murray;
corporals, J. C. Sullivan, J. A. Muldowney, John D. McDougall
and C. E. Eurie; drummer, Phil Biven.
Many of the members had formerly tramped with the Union and
City Guards, while some had been members of the Old Columbia
Guards. The membership included not only the leading business
and professional men of the city, but also its leading society
men. It was, in fact, a military social club, and all its
excursions, picnics and balls were recherche affairs. The
shadow of battle ne'er crossed its pathway save once. "On with
the dance; let joy be unconfined!" was its motto, and its
record was marked with many a merry time.
It was a common custom to have the high dignitaries of the
state as guests of the company. At its first annual ball,
December 12, 1872, Governor Booth and staff, Brigadier-General
Davies and staff, and Adjutant-General L. H. Foote were
present, all in full uniform. After the monthly inspection,
the zouaves or guards were drawn up in two-column ranks and
Kate Davies, stepping to the front, presented the company with
a beautiful parade flag. In a short speech the
Adjutant-General received the flag in behalf of the company.
Six years later Governor Irwin and staff were the guests of
the Stockton Guard. During the afternoon the Governor visited
the race-track to see Rarus trot a mile in 2:14½, the fastest
mile of the Pacific Coast up to that time. In the evening at
the anniversary ball, in behalf of the Stockton ladies, the
Governor presented the company with a beautiful standard.
Private Joe C. Campbell, later senior counsel for Mayor
Schmitz of San Francisco, received the flag in a ringing
speech. At midnight the visitors were escorted to the Yosemite
hotel, and, after being welcomed by Mayor Belding, enjoyed one
of McBean's famous suppers.
In the military circles of San Joaquin County the men who
stood prominently in the front rank were Col. P. Edward
Conner, later made a brigadier-general, Capt. L. E. Lyons, and
Col. John J. Nunan. It was the misfortune of the Stockton
Guards in 1876 to lose Capt. Lyons as he went to San Francisco
to reside. A man "born to command," he held the captaincy of
the Union Guards from April 1, 1862, until disbanded. Just
before he left the city the Stockton Guards, assembling in
full uniform, presented him with a gold watch and chain and a
Masonic emblem. Maj. William Gibson made the presentation
speech, and Maj. J. D. Peters answered for the ever-modest
Captain. The officers in command at this time were: Captain,
Eugene Lehe; first lieutenant and secretary, J. J. Nunan;
second lieutenant, J. W. Payne; orderly sergeant, William
Trivett; quartermaster sergeant, George C. Turner; sergeants,
Tom E. Hersey, H. Baker, J. B. Douglass and W. B. Hanlon;
corporals, John D. Gall, Charles Merrill, J. H. Condon, P. P.
Garvey, S. C. Dorr, Ben. C. Kerr, W. R. Stone and G. Arrivev.
The Guards Honored by General Grant
The great event of 1879 was the visit of Ex-President Grant to
California on his famous tour around the world. Extensive
preparations has been made by the citizens of San Francisco to
receive the military hero, and a big procession was planned.
But the steamer Tokio, bringing the General from the Orient,
arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon of September 20. The
Stockton Guards had voted to attend the reception and unaware
of the Tokio's arrival they took steamer passage for the Bay
City the same afternoon, accompanied by the city officials and
a large number of citizens, including D. J. Oullahan, a
brother-in-law of Mrs. Grant. On reaching San Francisco they
were much surprised and disappointed to find that the parade
had hastily taken place. The metropolitans had a good laugh at
the expense of the Stocktonians, but soon the laugh was on the
other side. Mr. Oullahan, sending up his card to the General,
was at once admitted, although strict orders had been given
that no one would be seen. Mr. Oullahan explained the
conditions of affairs, and Grant immediately gave orders to
usher in Mayor G. C. Hyatt, the Councilmen, and Captain Lehe.
The following morning at 9 o'clock he received the Stockton
Guards in the Palace Hotel court, and the military of San
Francisco felt like thirty cents, for the Guards were the only
militiamen thus honored.
The Guards, numbering sixty-nine men, under the command of
Captain Lehe and Lieutenant Nunan, left Stockton early on the
morning of January 8, 1880, and on arriving at the Capital
were received by the Sacramento Hussars, the City Guard, the
Light Artillery, the Chico Guard, the Mexican Veterans, the
Pioneers and the Rifle Cadets. Alog the line of marching the
Stockton company was the special feature of the parade. The
Sacramento Bee said of Stockton's representatives: "The
handsome gray uniforms faced with red and gilt braid made this
company a conspicuous feature, and its excellent marching and
the fine soldierly bearing of the members were the subject of
much favorable comment." During the afternoon the officers of
the visiting companies were tendered a reception at the Golden
Eagle Hotel, and the rank and file were given a collation at
the Western Hotel by Lieutenant-Colonel Creed Haymond. The
company
returned to Stockton on a special train at midnight.
Extracted from History of San
Joaquin County, 1923.
Additional History, including that of
the Stockton Rifle Cadets
