California 1st Regiment of Cavalry - Union
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The California 1st Regiment of Cavalry was organized under the first call of the President, on the State of California, for troops to assist in suppressing rebellion, the first man having been enlisted in it on the tenth of August, 1861. The name of this man was Charles S. Thompson, who enlisted in Company B, at Folsom, on above mentioned date.
The organization first consisted of a battalion of five companies, which were assembled in a camp near Lake Merritt, Oakland, called “Camp Merchant,” where the companies were mustered into the United States service on various dates, as shown heretofore, between August fifteenth and October 31, 1861.
After the battalion was organized it was sent to the southern part of the State, three companies being stationed at Camp Latham, near Los Angeles, and two at Camp Carleton, near San Bernadino. The battalion remained in the southern part of the State until the spring of 1862, when it became part of the “California Column,” and formed the advance of that Column during the march to New Mexico and Texas.
OFFICERS:
The first commanding officer was Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin F. Davis, an officer of the regular army, having been admitted to the U.S. Military Academy in 1850, from the State of Mississippi. He was made Brevet Second Lieutenant, Fifth Infantry, July 1, 1854; Second Lieutenant, First Dragoons, third of March, 1855; First Lieutenant, ninth of January, 1860, and Captain, July 30, 1861. His regiment became the First Cavalry August 3, 1861. He was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, First California Cavalry, August 19, 1861, and resigned as such November 1, 1861, returning to duty in his old regiment. Was brevetted Major, fifteenth of September, 1862, for meritorious service at Harper’s Ferry, and was killed at the battle of Beverly Ford, Va., June 9, 1863. He was succeeded in command by Major Edward E. Eyre, who was immediately promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel, and commanded the regiment until his resignation was accepted, November 30, 1862. During the year 1863, the battalion was made a full regiment of twelve companies, and Major David Fergusson was promoted to be its Colonel. He was dismissed from the service November 6, 1863, by War Department Special Orders No. 323. He commanded the regiment during the month of July, 1862, as Major only. November 6, 1863, Oscar M. Brown was promoted to the Colonelcy, and commanded until his resignation was accepted, December 31, 1865. During the balance of the time, until the regiment was finally mustered out, it was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Clarence E. Bennett and Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel William McCleave. McCleave was commissioned Colonel of the regiment, but was never mustered as such, owing to the fact that the regiment had fallen below the minimum required by law.
ROSTER:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2445 men.
Company A - many men enrolled at San Francisco in San Francisco County and Oroville in Butte County.
Company B - originally organized at Camp Merchant in August 1861 for 3 years. When first enlistment expired in August 1864, the company was reorganized at Fort Sumner, New Mexico by the reenlistment of part of the original members and recruits from other organizations of California Volunteers who had mustered out in New Mexico. It mustered out as an organization September 10, 1866.
Company C - originally organized at Camp Merchant in August 1861 and mustered out in August 1864 at Las Cruces, New Mexico. The new Company C mustered out September 21, 1866 at Los Pinos, New Mexico.
Company D - many men enrolled at Marysville in Yuba County. "There are no muster rolls or muster out roll of this company in the offices of the Adjutant-General...therefore the record of the company is incomplete."
Company E - originally organized at Camp Merchant in August 1861 and mustered out at Las Cruces, New Mexico, August 31, 1964. An entirely new Company E was organized in California. The new company musted out Mary 6, 1866.
1st Company E - many men enrolled at San Francisco in San Francisco County.
New Company E - most of the men enlisted at San Francisco in San Francisco County and San Jose in Santa Clara County.
Company F - many men enrolled at San Francisco in San Francisco County and Sacramento in Sacramento County.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
The organization first consisted of a battalion of five companies, which were assembled in a camp near Lake Merritt, Oakland, called “Camp Merchant,” where the companies were mustered into the United States service on various dates, as shown heretofore, between August fifteenth and October 31, 1861.
After the battalion was organized it was sent to the southern part of the State, three companies being stationed at Camp Latham, near Los Angeles, and two at Camp Carleton, near San Bernadino. The battalion remained in the southern part of the State until the spring of 1862, when it became part of the “California Column,” and formed the advance of that Column during the march to New Mexico and Texas.