California Militia and National Guard Unit Histories
Union Guard
(Calaveras County)
 
Organizational Data

Official Name:
Location: Poverty Bar, Calaveras County; after 23 July 1866, Campo Seco, Calaveras County.
Mustered in: June 1, 1861
Mustered out: December 29, 1867
Inclusive dates of units papers: 1861-1868
 

Papers on File at the California State Archives:

a. Organization Papers 8 documents (1861)
b. Bonds 2 documents (1865-1867)
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 23 documents (1861-1865)
d. Election Returns 5 documents (1862-1867)
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns 21 documents (1861-1867)
g. Oaths Qualifications 9 documents (1861-1865)
h. Orders none
i. Receipts, invoices 8 documents (1861-1868)
j. Requisitions 3 documents (1861-1866)
k. Resignations 3 documents (1861)
l. Target Practice Reports 1 document (1866)
m. Other none

 

Commanding Officers

 Name  Date of Rank  Date of Commission  Remarks
 Nicholas Davis, Captain  June 1, 1861    Resigned September 1, 1861
 T. Frank Davis, Captain September 6, 1861  September 21, 1861  
 David Black, First Lieutenant  June 1, 1861    
 William H. Homans, First Lieutenant  September 12, 1862  September 24, 1862  Resigned 1863
       
 John B. Sparks, Captain  July 18, 1863  August 5, 1863  
T.H. Peck, First Lieutenant  July 18, 1863  August 5, 1863  
       
 John B. Sparks, Captain      Reelected July 23, 1864
 William H. Broad, First Lieutenant July 24, 1864 August 23, 1864  Entered United States Army
T.H. Peck, First Lieutenant  December 30, 1864  January 13, 1865  
       
 James Creighton, Captain  July 28, 1865  August 23, 1865  
John White, First Lieutenant  July 28, 1865  August 23, 1865  
       
 Hiram A. Messenger, Captain  June 8, 1867  July 26, 1867
T.H. Peck, First Lieutenant  June 8, 1867  July 26, 1867  
 

Official History

The Union Guard was organized at Poverty Bar, Calaveras County, June 1, 1861. A Bond was filed and approved by the County Judge and the arms were received August seventh. On July 23, 1866, the company was reorganized and their headquarters moved to Campo Seco.

There was little correspondence on file concerning the activities of the company. However, the Adjutant General in 1861 reported that the company's ranks were filled with good, loyal men and as a military unit gave fine promise for the future. That this promise was fulfilled is indicated, by the company remaining in service during the years of Indian uprisings and the War of the Rebellion, besides giving two captains and several privates to the United States Service. Muster Roll dated March 17, 1865 designates the Union Guard as Third Brigade, 2nd Battalion, Co. C. Muster Roll dated September 25, 1867 designates this Company as B.

During this time it was difficult for a number of mining towns, having a transient population, to keep their company's quota up to the requirements of the Military Law. As a result upon the recommendation of the .Brigadier General of the Third and Fourth Brigade, the Union Guard of Carnpo Seco was ordered to disband December 29, 1867

This history was written in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in conjunction with the office of the Adjutant General and the California State Library
 
 
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Updated 8 February 2016