The National tribune., 1909-08-26

Union men Of the State, who were prac-
ttieally on guard against secession in
trigde thruout the war; and
whereas these difficulties We're aug
mented by serious Indian uprisings and
outbreaks. which eliminated in an In
dian war in northern California in 1862
that lasted until 1865: and
whereas there were enlisted IN the
state of California during the war OF
the rebellion 15.725 volunteers; nearny ,,n.
all OF whom, On account OF the ulii-
Guilty and expense of transportation,
were employed in necessary frontier
and Indian service in, Washington, ore
gon, California. Arizona, New Mexico
and western Texas, thus releasing an
equal number Of regular and volunteer
troops for service in the South; and
Whereas, on Jan. 81, 1853, Brighten.
G. Wright, U. S. Army, commanding
the Department of the Pacific, instead
of sending East for Regular troops to
suppress the Indians. and thus weaken
the army in the field to that extent, in
an official letter to the then Governor
of California, Leland Stanford, said:
After a careful consideration OF the
Indian difficulties in the District OF
Humboldt. comprising the northwest
ern Counties of the state, ard dceming
it for the best interests of the Govern
ment that volunteer troops raised with
in the district should be employed
against the hostile Indians, I have, by
virtue of authority vested in me by the
War Department, respectfully to re-
quest that Your, Excellency may be
pleased to organize within said district
six companies of infantry. to be mus
tered into the United States service"
and
Whereas Gov. Leland Stanford, by
proclamation issued from the State Cap
itol at Sacramento, Feb. Z, 1868, call
ing upon the citizens of the northern
Counties of the State of California to
fill up the requisition of Gen. Wright,
and to organize themselves into COM
panies, "to be mustered into the SER
vice of the United States;" and
Whereas, responding to the proclaim
alton of Gov. Stanford, the citizens OF
the sparsely-settled Counties of north.
ern California volunteered to the num-
ber of six full companies, were duly or
ganized in the 1st Battalion of Noun
taineers, Cal. Vols, and were mustered
into the service of the United States on
the following dates: Co. A, May 80
1868; Co. B, June 2, 1868; Co. c, Aug.
20, 1868; Co. E, Aug. 81. 1863; Co. +,
Feb. 10, 1864; Co. d, March 16, 1864;
and
Whereas this organization engaged in
long and hardly-contestedI Indian war
in a rough, mountainous country, par
ticipated in number of severe engage
ments with Indians, killing many OF
them, and losing several of their own
members by death and wounds, finally
completely suppressing the Indians and
restoring peace, and being mustered out
of the United States service and honor
ably discharged therefrom on dates be-
tween April 25 and June Is, 1865; and
Whereas the members of this gallant
Organization, which included men who
afterward became eminent in the State
of California in their various avocations
and professions, were, subsequent to
the war, treated in all respects as were
other veterans Of the civil war, and as
the ravages of time developed the dis
abilities caused by wounds and disease
incurred in service. they were placed
upon the pension rolls, and this equali-
ty of treatment continued for 43 years,
or until Aug. II, 1903, at which time
the number of persons receiving pen.
sions by reason of service in this bat
talon had dwindledIto SO, of which 81
were soldiers, 20 were widows and one
a minor child. Upon the application of
this minor child, girl, decision was
rendered rejecting the application, on
the ground that the service rendered
by the father having been against the
Indians, and in California, ''the same
cannot be regarded as service during
the war of the rebellion within the
meaning of the act OF June 81, 1S90.'
In accordance with this decision, the