Some Aspects of California's Military Problems During the Civil War

Professor of History and Political Science at San Jose State College in California, Leo P. Kibby is also chairman of the Social Science Area at the college. He was educated at Stanford and the University of Southern California, where he took his Ph.D. degree. During World War II Dr. Kibby was a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy. Some Aspects of California's Military Problems During the Civil War LEO P. KIBBY INTRODUCTION at the beginning of the civil war the Military Department of the Pacific, with headquarters in San Francisco, embraced "all the States and Territories west of the Rocky Mountains" and between Canada and Mexico.1 Brigadier General Albert Sidney Johnston, a southerner believed to have sympathies for the Confederate cause, was in command.2 On April 25, 1861, exactly twelve days after the firing had ceased at Fort Sumter, he was relieved of command, and Brigadier General Edwin V. Sumner3 was appointed to take his place. Only the day before, the first reports of the Fort Sumter incident had been published in a San Fran1 General George Wright to "Loyal Citizens of the Pacific Coast," June 21, 1864, The War of the Rebeuion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901), Ser. I, Vol. 50, pt. 2, p. 873; hereinafter cited as O.K., followed by the series number in Roman numerals, the volume number in Arabic, the part number (if any), and the page, as O.K., 1, 50, pt. 2, p. 873. 2 Richard H. Orton, comp., Records of Califomh Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867 (Sacramento: State Office, 1890), p. ß. 3 Sumner's Orders No. 5, April 25, 1861, in O.K., 1, 50, pt. 1, p. 469, and in Orton, op. cit., p. 6. 251 252LEO P. KIBBY cisco newspaper.4 On April 28 General Sumner announced he had found his new command to be in good order.5 Actually, General Johnston had tendered his resignation on April 9, after learning that Texas had seceded from the Union,6 but he had continued to fidfill his responsibilities as commander of the department until relieved by General Sumner.7 Later Johnston accepted a commission in the Confederate Army and was killed early in the war while in command at the Battle of Shiloh.8 General Sumner headed the Department of the Pacific until October 20, 1861, when the command devolved upon Colonel, later Brigadier General, George Wright,' who held the position for the greater portion of the war, finally being relieved on July 1, 1864, by Major General Irwin McDowell.10 California was never called upon to furnish troops for immediate service against Confederate soldiers, nor was any quota assigned to the state. However, "regiments and battalions, aggregating over 16,000 men were enlisted."11 In addition, 500 men became a part of the quota for Massachusetts, and about the same number, representing eight companies , were raised for Washington Territory. The only California men to participate in the great batties of the war were those who had enlisted for Massachusetts; the others took part primarily in engagements with Indians over an extensive area of western states and territories, and in skirmishes with small numbers of Confederate troops in Texas and Mexico.12 The first call for California troops, issued by Secretary of War Simon Cameron in July, 1861, was for men to guard "the overland mad route from Carson Valley to Salt Lake and Fort Laramie,"13 and on August 12 Governor John G. Downey issued the order for volunteers.14 Again, on August 14, the War Department requested Governor Downey to organize , equip, and muster into service as soon as possible four regiments of infantry and one of cavalry.15 On August 23, Governor Downey's procla4 San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin, April 24, 1861. 5 Sumner to Townsend, April 28, 1861, in O.R., I, 50, pt. 1, pp. 471-72, and in Orton, op. cit., p. 6. 8 Captain George F. Price, quoted in Orton, op. cit., p. 7. 7 Sumner to Townsend, April 28, 1861, in O.R., I, 50, pt. 1, pp. 471...