Volume 012-1 - January 1958 (2 pages)

B. Van Hagen, Orderly Sergeant: H. B. Thompson, 1st Sergeant; W. P. Hanington, 2nd Sergeant; Henry Knew, 3rd Sergeant; H. H. Pearson, Ist Corporal: John O’Brien, 2nd Corporal; A. C. Niles, 3rd Corporal; N. P. Brown, 4th Corporal; John Anderson, Drummer and Thomas March. Fifer. All the above were elected at a meeting held at the Nevada County Court House at two P. M. on February 13th, 1858, which was the policy of such organizations at that time in our history. This was not the first but the 74th unit crganized in California. On March i1, 1858, Captain Meredith requested in a letter to J. B. Van Hagen Orderly Sergeant, that his resignation as Captain be communicated to the NEVADA RIFLES, and he, at the same time, declared himself still on service call for any future occasion. This request was made to Governor Johnathan B. Weller in a letter by Stilwell Slusher, Secretary of the NEVADA RIFLES. In this same letter was the information that Rufus Shoemaker had been elected to the position of Captaincy and the Governor was requested to commission Shoemaker as the Captain. It is not definitely known the reason for Captain Meredith's resignation, but it may have been the pressure that was placed upon him almost immediately after organization of the company when in Downieville a Mr. M. C. Bohin had committed a crime of murdering a miner for his gold and the court had decreed that he pay. for his “devilish deed” by forfeiting his life on the gallows. Law and Order was often the objective of the Militia and they were called upon to preserve law and order in Downieville on the 25th of February, 1858, just twelve days after the organization of the com-pany. This execution was witnessed by twenty-five hundred people, but there is no account of any action being required by the members of the NEVADA RIFLES while they patrolled the streets throughout the day. A few months after assuming command of the company, Captain Shoemaker was in receipt of informaton that it was quite possible the Governor would requisition the NEVADA RIFLES to go into the northern part of the State for the purpose of aiding the settlers against the hostile Indians. This was received as glorious news by the members of the company, and the bare prospect of their professional services being required by the State caused them to burnish up thei: weapons and nerve-themselves for an encounter with the savage foe. This took place in September of 1858, but evidently nothing came of it as there is no account or record of their having been called. The NEVADA RIFLES was called upon for the second time and alerted to be rcady to suppress Indian hostilities. This occurred in May, 1860 when the Pi-Ute Indians turned savage and Xilied many white settlers and destroyed their honics in the Carson and Washoe Valleys of Nevada State. At this time the search for goid hac cooled considerably and there was then a feverish search for silver going on in Nevada. Henry Meredith, then a private in the NEVADA RIFLES after resigning his commission, was one of the settler. in Nevada in search of the silver strike. News was brought to Nevada City tha: one entire settlement had been wiped om except for two survivors and immediately, men, money and ammunitions were forthcoming and plans were laid for putting down the hostilities of the Indians. Several units of the State Militia together with two companies of Sacramento soldiers hurried to the scene of disaster in the Carson and Washoe Valleys. The NEVADA RIFLES was one of the volunteer Guard units who rushed over the Henness Pass route, starting from Nevada City with 20 men and recruiting 8 on the way over. Henry Meredith evidently joined the unit when they arrived and accounted himself with distinction in the ensuing action, being wounded in the hand, and unhorsed on the battlefield. He refused aid as it would endanger those aiding him and was seen lying on the battlefield b~ David Belden who later assisted in locat.ing his body and returning him to Nevada City where there was a large funeral conducted in his honor and he was laid to rest in the Pioneer Cemetery. When Rufus Shoemaker took command of the company, there was a total of sixty-three members, notable among them were such names as J. B. Van Hagen who was Sheriff of Nevada County from 1859 to 1861; A. C. Niles, Nevada County Judge in 1863; N. P. Brown, publisher of the Nevada Journal; T. W. Sigourney, County Treasurer from 1857 to 1859: David Belden, County Judge from 1859 to 1863: Niles Searles, D. A. in 1854, District Judge from 1855 to 1861 and W. F. Anderson, D. A. from 1857 to 1859. Under date of March 1, 1861, H. B. Thompson, as Secretary, records on election of new officers as follows: William P. Harrington, Captain: T. W. Sigourney, Ist Lieutenant. There had been another election of officers held on February 23, 1861 but no record is available. On August 12, 1862, Adjutant General of Calizornia W. C. Kibbe wrote to T. W. Sigourney stating that in July 1861, commissions were issued in accordance with the election, but these commissions had not been taken out. It is during this time that the NEVADA RIFLES were confronted with a unique situation in it’s character. The Secessionists had maneuvered into contrel of the crganization prior to the election of Captain Harrington, which was the reason for his election to command the company and to offset the Secessionists from gaining control of the arms. The Secretary, presumably ‘H. B. Thompson, had run away with all the papers, including the commissions which required Captain Harrington to rely upon his memory to check up on the arms when he took command. This matter was finally straightened out to their satisfaction, when a rumor was heard by the Sheriff that a group of Secessionists from Grass Valley were going to attack the NEVADA RIFLES Armory and take possession of the arms. The Sheriff notified the officers and an all night guard was placed on the Armory and the Donat house where gold was stored in the treasurer's office with roving scouting patrols operating all the way between Nevada and Grass Valley to intercept the attackers, but they never appeared. On September 12, 1862, the Adjutant General wrote to Niles Searles who was one of the bondsmen for the NEVADA RIFLES, requesting his help in obtaining a response from the officers. Mr. Searles, on September 13, 1862, replied that he had applied to Captain Harrington and learned that some of the arms were lost in the Washoe Wars, and the remainder are in the hands of the Nevada Cadets who were about to apply to the Adjutant General for permission to retain the arms. This indicates that during the heated feelings of the people of the two adjoining communities during the time of the War between the States, and the fact that the NEVADA RIFLES was onc of several militia units which were not called up during the Civil War, but left to remain as home guards, the members lost their military ambitions and more than likely many of their members enlisted in the various California Volunteer Companies which were being recruited during that time. Here, it is interesting to note, that the following number of volunteers were recruited into the 7th Regiment, California Volunteers, later called the HUNGRY SEVENTH: Auburn 356 — Angcls Camp 39 -— Bear Valley 73 —Big Oak Flat 24 — Campo Seco 39 — Chinese Camp 9 — Coloma 56 — Columbia 63 — Comanche !2 — Cupperopolis 20 — Coulterville 43 -— Downieville 119 — Dutch Flat 6! — Fiddletown 4 — Forest Hill 86 — Gibsonville 16 — Grass Valley 72 — Marysville 745 -Mokelumne Hill 154 — Murphys 25 — Howland Flat 42 — Jackson i196 — La Porte 59 — Mariposa 27 —NEVADA CITY 252 — Oroville 288 — Placerville 483 — Quincy 59 — San Andreas 72 — Sonora 67 — and Volcano 71. These were ail towns of the Mother Lode country ani unofficially the regiment was known as the GOLD DIGGERS REGIMENT. There was no official date for Muster Out of the NEVADA RIFLES other than a letter written by Adjutent General Kibbe on March 3, 1863. to the Honorable Niles Searles and Bondsmen, in which the order is given to return the arms, accoutrements, and appendages issued, thereby cancelling their bond. Another letter written by Charles Marsh, August 20, 1863 stated the company had collected all the arms possible and forwarded them to the Adjutant Generai’s office, but on January 14, 1864, these arms were turned over to the new organization, the NEVADA LIGHT GUARD, which was formed in April, 1863. During the interval between the last active reports of the NEVADA RIFLES and the above, there had been a company formed in Nevada City on June 28, 1861 which was recorded as Company H, 4th Division, 2nd Brigade, but there is no record of officers available. In February 1863, the Grass Vallev Union Guard, Unattached, 4th Brigade was formed under command of Captain E. W. Roberts which was armed with 100 Springfield Rifled Muskets and haa their armory in the second story of the Othet brick building on Fast Main Street. In June, 1863, the San Juan Guard, Unattached, (Bridgeport Union Guard Co. 4th Brigade was formed in North San Juan. Also in June, 1863, the Little York Union Guard, Co. C, 5th Inf. Battalion Ist Division. 4th Brigade was formed in You Bet, under command of Captain William Cuvillie. October of 1864 saw the Eureka Ran-

B. Van Hagen, Orderly Sergeant: H. B. Thompson, 1st Sergeant; W. P. Hanington, 2nd Sergeant; Henry Knew, 3rd Sergeant; H. H. Pearson, Ist Corporal: John O’Brien, 2nd Corporal; A. C. Niles, 3rd Corporal; N. P. Brown, 4th Corporal; John Anderson, Drummer and Thomas March. Fifer. All the above were elected at a meeting held at the Nevada County Court House at two P. M. on February 13th, 1858, which was the policy of such organizations at that time in our history. This was not the first but the 74th unit crganized in California. On March i1, 1858, Captain Meredith requested in a letter to J. B. Van Hagen Orderly Sergeant, that his resignation as Captain be communicated to the NEVADA RIFLES, and he, at the same time, declared himself still on service call for any future occasion. This request was made to Governor Johnathan B. Weller in a letter by Stilwell Slusher, Secretary of the NEVADA RIFLES. In this same letter was the information that Rufus Shoemaker had been elected to the position of Captaincy and the Governor was requested to commission Shoemaker as the Captain. It is not definitely known the reason for Captain Meredith's resignation, but it may have been the pressure that was placed upon him almost immediately after organization of the company when in Downieville a Mr. M. C. Bohin had committed a crime of murdering a miner for his gold and the court had decreed that he pay. for his “devilish deed” by forfeiting his life on the gallows. Law and Order was often the objective of the Militia and they were called upon to preserve law and order in Downieville on the 25th of February, 1858, just twelve days after the organization of the com-pany. This execution was witnessed by twenty-five hundred people, but there is no account of any action being required by the members of the NEVADA RIFLES while they patrolled the streets throughout the day. A few months after assuming command of the company, Captain Shoemaker was in receipt of informaton that it was quite possible the Governor would requisition the NEVADA RIFLES to go into the northern part of the State for the purpose of aiding the settlers against the hostile Indians. This was received as glorious news by the members of the company, and the bare prospect of their professional services being required by the State caused them to burnish up thei: weapons and nerve-themselves for an encounter with the savage foe. This took place in September of 1858, but evidently nothing came of it as there is no account or record of their having been called. The NEVADA RIFLES was called upon for the second time and alerted to be rcady to suppress Indian hostilities. This occurred in May, 1860 when the Pi-Ute Indians turned savage and Xilied many white settlers and destroyed their honics in the Carson and Washoe Valleys of Nevada State. At this time the search for goid hac cooled considerably and there was then a feverish search for silver going on in Nevada. Henry Meredith, then a private in the NEVADA RIFLES after resigning his commission, was one of the settler. in Nevada in search of the silver strike. News was brought to Nevada City tha: one entire settlement had been wiped om except for two survivors and immediately, men, money and ammunitions were forthcoming and plans were laid for putting down the hostilities of the Indians. Several units of the State Militia together with two companies of Sacramento soldiers hurried to the scene of disaster in the Carson and Washoe Valleys. The NEVADA RIFLES was one of the volunteer Guard units who rushed over the Henness Pass route, starting from Nevada City with 20 men and recruiting 8 on the way over. Henry Meredith evidently joined the unit when they arrived and accounted himself with distinction in the ensuing action, being wounded in the hand, and unhorsed on the battlefield. He refused aid as it would endanger those aiding him and was seen lying on the battlefield b~ David Belden who later assisted in locat.ing his body and returning him to Nevada City where there was a large funeral conducted in his honor and he was laid to rest in the Pioneer Cemetery. When Rufus Shoemaker took command of the company, there was a total of sixty-three members, notable among them were such names as J. B. Van Hagen who was Sheriff of Nevada County from 1859 to 1861; A. C. Niles, Nevada County Judge in 1863; N. P. Brown, publisher of the Nevada Journal; T. W. Sigourney, County Treasurer from 1857 to 1859: David Belden, County Judge from 1859 to 1863: Niles Searles, D. A. in 1854, District Judge from 1855 to 1861 and W. F. Anderson, D. A. from 1857 to 1859. Under date of March 1, 1861, H. B. Thompson, as Secretary, records on election of new officers as follows: William P. Harrington, Captain: T. W. Sigourney,

Ist Lieutenant. There had been another election of officers held on February 23, 1861 but no record is available. On August 12, 1862, Adjutant General of Calizornia W. C. Kibbe wrote to T. W. Sigourney stating that in July 1861, commissions were issued in accordance with the election, but these commissions had not been taken out. It is during this time that the NEVADA RIFLES were confronted with a unique situation in it’s character. The Secessionists had maneuvered into contrel of the crganization prior to the election of Captain Harrington, which was the reason for his election to command the company and to offset the Secessionists from gaining control of the arms. The Secretary, presumably ‘H. B. Thompson, had run away with all the papers, including the commissions which required Captain Harrington to rely upon his memory to check up on the arms when he took command. This matter was finally straightened out to their satisfaction, when a rumor was heard by the Sheriff that a group of Secessionists from Grass Valley were going to attack the NEVADA RIFLES Armory and take possession of the arms. The Sheriff notified the officers and an all night guard was placed on the Armory and the Donat house where gold was stored in the treasurer's office with roving scouting patrols operating all the way between Nevada and Grass Valley to intercept the attackers, but they never appeared. On September 12, 1862, the Adjutant General wrote to Niles Searles who was one of the bondsmen for the NEVADA RIFLES, requesting his help in obtaining a response from the officers. Mr. Searles, on September 13, 1862, replied that he had applied to Captain Harrington and learned that some of the arms were lost in the Washoe Wars, and the remainder are in the hands of the Nevada Cadets who were about to apply to the Adjutant General for permission to retain the arms. This indicates that during the heated feelings of the people of the two adjoining communities during the time of the War between the States, and the fact that the NEVADA RIFLES was onc of several militia units which were not called up during the Civil War, but left to remain as home guards, the members lost their military ambitions and more than likely many of their members enlisted in the various California Volunteer Companies which were being recruited during that time. Here, it is interesting to note, that the following number of volunteers were recruited into the 7th Regiment, California Volunteers, later called the HUNGRY SEVENTH: Auburn 356 — Angcls Camp 39 -— Bear Valley 73 —Big Oak Flat 24 — Campo Seco 39 — Chinese Camp 9 — Coloma 56 — Columbia 63 — Comanche !2 — Cupperopolis 20 — Coulterville 43 -— Downieville 119 — Dutch Flat 6! — Fiddletown 4 — Forest Hill 86 — Gibsonville 16 — Grass Valley 72 — Marysville 745 -Mokelumne Hill 154 — Murphys 25 — Howland Flat 42 — Jackson i196 — La Porte 59 — Mariposa 27 —NEVADA CITY 252 — Oroville 288 — Placerville 483 — Quincy 59 — San Andreas 72 — Sonora 67 — and Volcano 71. These were ail towns of the Mother Lode country ani unofficially the regiment was known as the GOLD DIGGERS REGIMENT. There was no official date for Muster Out of the NEVADA RIFLES other than a letter written by Adjutent General Kibbe on March 3, 1863. to the Honorable Niles Searles and Bondsmen, in which the order is given to return the arms, accoutrements, and appendages issued, thereby cancelling their bond. Another letter written by Charles Marsh, August 20, 1863 stated the company had collected all the arms possible and forwarded them to the Adjutant Generai’s office, but on January 14, 1864, these arms were turned over to the new organization, the NEVADA LIGHT GUARD, which was formed in April, 1863. During the interval between the last active reports of the NEVADA RIFLES and the above, there had been a company formed in Nevada City on June 28, 1861 which was recorded as Company H, 4th Division, 2nd Brigade, but there is no record of officers available. In February 1863, the Grass Vallev Union Guard, Unattached, 4th Brigade was formed under command of Captain E. W. Roberts which was armed with 100 Springfield Rifled Muskets and haa their armory in the second story of the Othet brick building on Fast Main Street. In June, 1863, the San Juan Guard, Unattached, (Bridgeport Union Guard Co. 4th Brigade was formed in North San Juan. Also in June, 1863, the Little York Union Guard, Co. C, 5th Inf. Battalion Ist Division. 4th Brigade was formed in You Bet, under command of Captain William Cuvillie. October of 1864 saw the Eureka Ran-