1st Regiment Washington Territory Volunteer Infantry The 1st Regiment of Washington Territory Volunteer Infantry ( or 1st Washington Territory Volunteers ) was a unit of infantry raised by the Washington Territory for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War . Service . Under Colonel Justus Steinberger , organization for a three - year regiment began on 19 October 1861 , with recruiting taking place within the territory as well as California . Company A , B , C and D were organized at Alcatraz Island , San Francisco , Cal . , January to April , 1862 . By May 1862 , four companies had been mustered , with 17 officers and 317 men . Ten companies would eventually be raised , being mustered in from the end of March until December 1862 . The majority of the volunteers would muster in at Alcatraz Island , San Francisco , California , two others doing so at Fort Vancouver and on at Fort Steilacoom , Washington . The headquarters for the regiment was first at Fort Vancouver , and by July 1862 moved to Fort Walla Walla . The companies , and / or detachments thereof , were stationed throughout the territories of Washington and Idaho , and in Oregon . They were used for the protection of miners and settlers , emigrant parties and other travellers along the roads from the east , and participated with the 1st Oregon Cavalry in expeditions against Shoshone , Snake , and other hostile Indian groups . They were also used to protect the Nez Perce , an ally of the United States , against those encroaching on their lands . When the three years terms of service had expired for the earlier formed companies and the men were mustered out , the remaining three companies ( Co E , H , and I ) became the 1st Battalion on 7 March 1865 . Co H would be consolidated with Co E in July , and was the last of the former Washington regiment to muster out of service in December . As the companies were detached and participated in individual operations , their service records are best if listed separately : Company A Organized 21 March 1862 , they were stationed at Fort Walla Walla . Originally being recruited for a two - year term , some of the men were leaving or reenlisting in early 1864 . Once replaced by a company of the 1st Oregon Infantry , they left to be mustered out around February 1865 . Company B Organized 1 April 1862 , they were stationed at Fort Colville until 25 May 1864 , when ordered to Fort Walla Walla . They remained here until receiving orders for their return to Fort Vancouver for discharge in the spring of 1865 . Company C Organized 7 April 1862 and sent to Fort Colville for their term of service . They were mustered out at Fort Vancouver in April 1865 . Company D Organized 12 April 1862 , they were stationed at Fort Hoskins in Oregon by December 1862 . Orders in March 1863 sent them to Fort Boise in Idaho Territory , where they remained stationed during their service . Company E Mustered in at Alcatraz , they were ordered on 19 October 1862 to Camp Lapwai ( would fall within the bounds of the Idaho Territory when created the following March ) , near the Nez Perce Ageny . Here , they were to build their encampment in what became Fort Lapwai . By June 1864 , they would be stationed at Fort Vancouver . Co H would be consolidated with them in July 1865 , and they would be the last of the Washington Territory volunteers to be mustered out , doing so on 11 Dec 1865 . Company F Mustered at Fort Vancouver , the company was stationed at Fort Dalles , Oregon in 1863 and 1864 . The majority of the troops were mustered out in July 1865 . Company G One of the three Washington companies encamped at Fort Boise , Idaho Territory in March 1863 , previously being at Fort Steilacoom . Company H Mustered at Alcatraz , they first encamped at Fort Walla Walla . On 25 May 1864 , they transferred to Fort Vancouver . On 22 July 1865 , they would be consolidated with Company E . Company I Encamped at Ft Vancouver in December 1862 , it transferred to Fort Boise in March 1863 . With Company H , the 1st Oregon Cavalry and Nez Perce Scouts , they made an expedition to Snake River in early June , 1863 to clear the area of the Snake Indians , who had been attacking travellers here for several years . As a band of emigrants , and their US Army escort , were due to pass through the Emigrant Road in August , additional troops were called on for protection . The pass safely made , Company I returned to Fort Boise , where it remained until its mustering out on 20 November 1865 . Company K Mustered in at Fort Steilacoom , where they were stationed during their enlistment .