When the war commenced (April 12, 1861) the United States forces on the Pacific
Coast were under the command
of Brevet Brigadier-General Albert Sidney Johnston. It was supposed that there
was some doubt as
to General Johnston's loyalty, as he was a Southern man, and General E.V. Sumner
was sent to relieve
him of command. Winfield Scott (General of the Army) dispatched Sumner before
the war actually started
(March 22, 1861) He arrived and took command on April 25, 1861.
Johnston accepted a General's commission with the Confedercy and was killed
while in command at Shiloh.
Originally, the Calif troops were raised to guard the overland mail route,then
afterwards it was decided to use them for an invasion of the state of Texas.
General Sumner was assigned to
this command. (August, 1861) Texas had seceded from the Union on Feb 23, 1861.
California troops were
also sent to Arizona and New Mexico. They wanted to keep the Confederacy from
gaining the south-west
and supplies of lumber and gold. There were also southern sympathizers who could
have been recruited.
1st CA Cavalry (Volume 1)
1st CA Infantry (Volume 4)
1st CA Native Cavalry (Volume 3)
1st CA Mountaineer Batallion (Volume 13)
2nd CA Infantry (Volume 6)
3rd CA Infantry (Volume 7)
4th CA Infanrty (Volume 8)
5th CA Infantry (Volume 9)
6th CA Infantry (Volume 10)
7th CA Infantry (Volume 11)
8th CA Infantry (Volume 12)
2nd Mass Cavalry (Volume 14)
african american troops (Volume 17 reference to Vol 2, Vol 10, and Vol 12)