California in the American Civil War
The Civil War split in the Democratic Party allowed Abraham Lincoln to carry the state, albeit by only a slim margin.
Unlike most free states, Lincoln won California with only a plurality as opposed to the outright majority in the popular vote.
In the beginning of 1861, as the secession crisis began, the secessionists in San Francisco made an attempt to separate the state and Oregon from the union, which failed.
Patriotic fervor swept California after the attack on Fort Sumter, providing the manpower for Volunteer regiments recruited mainly from the pro-Union counties in the north of the State.
Others who remained in the state attempted to outfit a privateer to prey on coastal shipping, and late in the war two groups of partisan rangers were formed.
As a result, Southerners in Congress voted against admission in 1850 while Northerners pushed it through, pointing to its population of 93,000 and its vast wealth in gold.
[5][6] During the secession crisis following Lincoln's election, Federal troops were under the command of Colonel (Brevet Brigadier General) Albert Sidney Johnston, in Benicia, headquarters of the Department of the Pacific.
Johnston met with some of these Southern men, but before they could propose anything to him he told them that he had heard rumors of an attempt to seize the San Francisco forts and arsenal at Benicia, that he had prepared for that and would defend the facilities under his command with all his resources and to the last drop of his blood.
[7] On January 17, 1861 a man named Duncan Beaumont flew a Pacific Republic flag from his boat in the Stockton harbor.
As the secession crisis developed in early 1861, several Volunteer Companies of the California Militia[10][11] had disbanded because of divided loyalties and new pro-Union ones were sworn in across the state under the supervision of county sheriffs and judges.
After news of Fort Donelson's surrender reached Santa Clara in 1862, people celebrated by raising national flags and firing off anvils into the sky.
[14] The Santa Clara Light Infantry was called out and stationed in front of their armory watching the house and movements of the rebels.
The governor sent arms, but army officers at San Pedro stopped the shipment, preventing the activation of the Monte Mounted Rifles.
This fear was based on the demonstrated desire for separation in the vote for the Pico Act, the strength of secessionists in the area and their declared intentions and activities, especially in forming militia companies.
The troops and police were ordered to charge and clear the streets which they did, making the mob retreat with no casualties and stoping any further threats of violence.
[28] Suspected by local Union authorities, General Johnston evaded arrest and with Lewis Armistead joined the Los Angeles Mounted Rifles as a private.
Leaving Warner's Ranch on May 27, they journeyed across the southwestern deserts to Texas, crossing the Colorado River into the Confederate Territory of Arizona, on July 4, 1861.
California (along with Oregon and Kansas) was not included in the initial callup of 75,000 militia due to its vast distance from the rest of the country.
Except for frequent sniping at his camp, Ketchum's garrison stifled any secessionist uprising from Belleville and a show of force by the Dragoons in the streets of San Bernardino at the end of election day quelled a secessionist political demonstration during the September gubernatorial elections in San Bernardino County.
He was to replace the Federal troops in Los Angeles, gathered there to prevent a rising by the numerous secessionist sympathizers in Southern California.
Colonel James Henry Carleton of the 1st California Volunteer Infantry Regiment replaced Wright as commander in the south.
Dan Showalter's party of secessionists, like some others, were attempting to avoid the post and make their way across the desert to join the Confederate Army in Texas.
[38] Earlier in the month in Los Angeles, a secessionist was pistol-whipped and fatally injured by a soldier with whom he had been drinking after the man praised Jefferson Davis and P. G. T.
Their attempt was detected and they were seized on March 15, during the night of their intended departure, by the USS Cyane, revenue officers and San Francisco police.
In Havana, the American consul, Thomas Savage, learned about this conspiracy, and notified Rear Admiral George F. Pearson at Panama City.
In the Bullion Bend Robbery they robbed two stagecoaches near Placerville of their silver and gold, leaving a letter explaining they were not bandits but carrying out a military operation to raise funds for the Confederacy.
As the conflict began, new forts and camps were founded to protect ports and communications, carry out operations against the Indians, to hold off Confederate soldiers and suppress their sympathizers.
[61] At the beginning of the war Union authorities were worried that the large number of secessionist sympathizers in Southern California might rise in an attempt to join the Confederacy.
[63] From this post Ketchum's regular soldiers were relieved on October 20 by three companies of 1st California Cavalry sent out to San Bernardino County.
As a matter of Connor's proactive style, he led these troops to attack Shoshoni Indians at the Bear River Massacre near what is now the city of Preston, Idaho, on January 29, 1863.
