The National tribune., 1886-10-21
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
PACIFIC COAST SOLDIERS
Sketch Of the Organization Of the LIST Cal.

EDAIhk AA1lNNAL Il KIN Nlss i WHO Ahlo
entirely from recollection, aud ia hopes that u
will call out some OF The more competent writ
ors. once members OF the old LIST Cal, organized
nj or near san Francisco, IN August, ls6l L
believe tie best WAY TO wake up HE boys is 10
tell an overgfOWn lalseho0d rejecting on the
regiment AS soldiers; but i want to go TO
heaven when die and il is said that liars are
not allowed there. Besides, i may meet some
of my old regimental comrades some day, aud
they might give me a humping FOR telling hes
about our regiment.
Tor the reason that California was SO Ear
away from the battlciclds Of the war she figured
but little ia H. though REORGANIZATION oil troops
10 the Government and strongly expressed 10y
alty had a wholesome effect upon the would be
institutors of Conlederacigs trying 20 alpropri-
ate States and Territories belonging 90 the
United States Tor such purpose. Southern
Conlederacy" aud Pacific Conledcracy' do
not even look well on paper in this country,
either single or Jointly. The free aud slave States
were nearly equally represented IN the popula-
tiOn of California at that time, though among
those from the slave States j do not believe
that more than One-lourth favored the action
OF their States in trying 10 draw out oi the
Union.
The firing on Fort Sumter and other insane
acts on the part OF the leaders of the rebellion
aud the deceived people of the South caused
the fighting bristles TO rise on the back OF loyal
California, aud when called on by the Govern
ment She raised
10 OR 10 REGIMENTS
which were distributed through California,
Oregon Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. AT
first the Government seemed slow IN calling
on the State for troops, and declined oilers
made by companies and regiments ready TO or
ganize and go into service.
About the LIST of July, 1861, a report was cir
culated by the papers that the Government
had called on the State for troops. i was then
IN Georgetown, Cal, waiting for this call, and
wanting 10 join the first company raised and
mustered into service j went TO san Francisco,
and there found several companies trying TO
organize On the strength OF the statement
that the company would be mustered imme-
diately, and lust as soon as the regiment was
full be ordered TO the States and be attached TO
some of the Eastern armies then in the field
fighting" the men were held together, and
were ready 10 60 in the first chance that would
offer. That was the company and regiment
they wanted to belong TO, and TO help fight the
battles Of our country against the rebellion is
why many, III not all, composing the LIST Cali
fornia infantry, were so anxious to go into that
regiment L wrote my name on one Of the
company rolls and like the rest waited for Or
ders 90 60 and be mustered into service. About
every other day we were TO be mustered.
Speeches were made and heaps of lies told
about Things in general.
Along about the first week in August we
were ordered TO fall IN and march 10 the Pre-
sidi0 few miles out of the city, and then
L. :. military post This marching out there,
of course, could only be for the purpose of be-
ing mustered into service. When we reached
the Preside we learned that we were not To be
mustered them though we were counted, and
think a list of our names taken; then tents
aud rations were issued to us. We marched
back mile OF so toward the city, and went
into camp inside or on the line Of military
ground So far VIC were soldiers, and the first
company on the ground ready for muster.
On the 18th of August, 1861, we got orders TO
march 10 post hospital and be examined by the
Surgeon 10 see whether we were physically
FIT FOR ARMY DUTY.
Several who were very anxious to enter the
service were rejected by the Surgeon. Enough
being found sound TO Gil the company, we were
then mustered into the army TO serve three
years or during the war. The officers elected
by our company were: -- Mcmahon, Captain
Alex. b. McGOwan, First Lieutenant now Cap
tain. 18th u. S. lnf and Erastus w. Wood,
Second Lieutenant. Our company being the
first mustered we thought should entitle US TO
letter in the regiment, but instead of A they
gave us Ill, for which we have nothing TO re.
greet. The muster of other companies soon fol-
lowed, some of which had been organized in
che mining region, and one, Co i, at Sacra-
mento. Several companies having been
mustered, we moved our camp over TO or near
Oakland, across the bay, opposite San Francisco,
and there went into camp for regimental or
ganlzatOn, and TO begin our soldier education.
Our Tegimental officers were JAS H. Carleton,
Major, u. S. A., Colonel Joseph II. West Lieu
tenant-Celonel; Il. A. Rigg, Major; Ben. c.
Cutler, Adjutant, and - Hammond, Quar-
teTmastcT. Next in order were clothing and
necessary equipments The clothing having
been made for the old Regular Army was very
mud do a. IN ha
sized by regulations. We being volunteers the
matter Of regulation size was not enforced and
for q time there were some queer looking oh.
jects as 10 fit of clothes The little men were
very much afflicted in this particular, and tC
see a soldier going about camp on drill, etc.
with the waistban6 of bis pants
BUTToNED UNDER HIS ARMS
and the sleeves of his blouse long enough for {
strait jacket in an insane asylum was quitt
common. In a short time the company tailor
corrected all this, and the boys could turn ou
in better shape.
There were quite a number of veterans II
the regiment who had served one or more en-
listments in the Regular Army, and through
them we learned many things. The question
as 10 where the regiment would be sent TO op
crate against the rebels was as yet unanswered
Sometimes rumor would have us about to b,
ordered east TO the States" and 20 20 b,
steamer via Panama. Then again il was saiC
we were about % start over the plains via Sal
Lake City, and be attached TO one Of the East
ern armies. The remark Of one of our old Reg
uiars IN reply 10 these rumors settled the cues
tiOn in my mind:
"Nell, boys, you will 60 where you are or
dered 10 go, and where that is you will know
when you get there, If you are not ordered {,
60 somewhere else"
Our regimental flag very fine, handsome an,
expensive, was presented by citizens of San
francisco few days after this we were or
dered 10 strike tents and pack up for our de
parture by steamer down the coast to Los An
geles, Cal. The regiment crossed the bay q
San Francisco and marched through several @
the business streets, halting on the dock wher
the steamer lay ready TO receive us. All OF
board, the steamer got under way, and we bad
good-by 10 San Francisco. After a run dow
the coast Of about 400 miles we made for shor
and cast anchor few miles out, opposite
place called San Pedro. There was no harbo
there, and the water was too shallow for vessel
10 90 closer 10 the shore, passengers and fregh
being taken in open flatboats, called lighter
which were tOWed by conee-pOt steamboat
Los Angeles being about 25 miles inland. CAV
the boys chance 10 learn what infantry
means aud what a comfort
BIG BLIsTERs on THE FEET ARE,
an well stiff joints and other things thu
sometimes make soldiers use cuss words"
Our camp-callee after Gov. Latham of Ca
ifOrnia-was located six or seven miles belo
Los Angeles, and was occupied by our regimen
10 companies, and five companies Of the I,
Cal. Cav, which virtually belonged TO us an
we 10 them. Col Garlatnn being ,aloual ~ hotl