California Civil War Rosters

Introduction to the Fourth Regiment of Infantry

“Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 To 1867.” 1890. pp 595-598.

Transcribed by Sandy Neder.

            This regiment was organized at Sacramento, Placerville, and Auburn, from September 21, 1861 to February 1, 1862.

            The regiment was first commanded by Colonel Henry M. Judah, who resigned in November, 1861.

            Colonel Judah was an officer of the regular army, having graduated from the Military Academy, and entered the Eighth Infantry, July 1, 1843.  He served through the Mexican War, receiving the brevet rank of First Lieutenant and Captain for gallant and meritorious conduct at Molino del Rey and Chapultepec.  He resumed his rank in the regular army, becoming Major June 30, 1862, and Brigadier-General of Volunteers March 21, 1862.  He died January 14, 1866.

            He was succeeded in command of the regiment by Colonel Ferris Forman, who commanded the regiment until August 20, 1863, when he resigned.  No record of Colonel Forman’s former or subsequent record can be found.

            Colonel James F. Curtis then assumed command, and remained at the head of it until it was disbanded by consolidation, November 30, 1865.  Colonel Curtis, before the war, was an active member of the California militia, having commanded the California Guard, Light Battery, the oldest military company in the State, being now (1890) still in existence as Light Battery A, Second Regiment of Artillery, Second Brigade, National Guard of California, and stationed in San Francisco.  The company was organized in 1849.  Colonel Curtis was also at one time Chief of Police of San Francisco.  He was made Brevet Brigadier-General, March 13, 1865, for meritorious conduct during the war.

            The headquarters of the regiment was first located in Auburn, Placer County.  While stationed there five companies were sent to Oregon to relieve the regulars stationed in that State.  From February to May, 1862, headquarters and five companies were at Camp Union, near Sacramento.  During the month of May headquarters was moved to Camp Latham, near Los Angeles, where it remained until September, 1862, when it was transferred to Drum Barracks, at which place it remained during the rest of the time the regiment was in the service.

            The regiment served principally in Oregon, Washington Territory, and in the southern part of this State.

            It is regretted that the muster rolls and monthly returns contain no remarks giving accounts of the service rendered by the different companies.  On account of the absence of such the complete history of the regiment cannot be written.

            The following are the stations of the different companies as gleaned from the muster rolls and monthly returns on file in the Adjutant-General’s office:

COMPANY A

            During the month of November, 1861, this company, which was organized in Placerville, September 21, 1861, was went to Washington Territory, and stationed at Fort Walla Walla.  It remained there until September, 1862, when it was sent to Benicia Barracks, Cal., where it was located until March, 1863; then at Camp Drum until January, 1864; at Santa Barbara from January, 1864, to November, 1864; at Cahuenga Pass, November 30, 1864; at Drum Barracks, December, 1864, and January, 1865.

            The terms of service of most of the members expired, and they were discharged at Drum Barracks, October 13, 1864.  The few whose terms had not expired, with recruits were organized into a new company, and sent during the month of April to Fort Humboldt, Cal., and during the following month to Camp Jaqua, Humboldt County, where it remained during the balance of its term of service.  The company was finally mustered out at the Presidio, S.F., November 30, 1865, by S.O. No. 102, Department of Pacific.  The date given on page 9 of the muster out of this company is wrong.

COMPANY B

            This company was organized at Placerville, Cal., September 25, 1861 (the date given in the table on page 9 being wrong).  During the month of November it was sent to Washington Territory, and stationed at Fort Vancouver until the spring of 1862.  It was at Fort Dalles, Or., from April, 1862, to October, 1862; at Benicia Barracks from October, 1862, to March, 1863; at Drum Barracks from March, 1863, to May, 1863; at Fort Mojave from May to December, 1863; at Drum Barracks from December, 1863 to October 4, 1864, when the original company was mustered out on account of the expiration of the terms of most of its original members.  A new Company B was immediately organized, which remained at Drum Barracks until April, 1865, when it was marched to Fort Gaston, Humboldt County, where it was stationed until it was finally sent to the Presidio, S.F., for muster out, which took place April 18, 1866.

COMPANY C

            This company was recruited in Shasta County during the month of September, 1861.  It was marched to Auburn, Placer County, where it was mustered into the United States service October 5, 1861.  During the month of November it went to Washington Territory, and was stationed at Fort Walla Walla until September, 1862.  It then returned to California, and was at Benicia Barracks until May, 1863; at Drum Barracks until January, 1864; on Santa Catalina Island until September, 1864; at Drum Barracks until February, 1865; at Camp Cady until date of final muster out, which took place at Drum Barracks, February 19, 1866.  The original company was mustered out at Drum Barracks, October 5, 1864, and a new company was immediately organized, under the same officers, and with the same letter.

COMPANY D

            This company was organized at Auburn, Cal., and mustered into the United States service October 15, 1861.  It was sent to Oregon in November, and stationed at Fort Yamhill, in that State, until August, 1863; at Fort Hoskins, Oregon, until October, 1864.  The original company was mustered out at Fort Vancouver, October 15, 1864.  It was immediately reorganized by reenlistments and recruiting, and was stationed at Fort Yamhill during nearly all the balance of its term of service.  It was finally mustered out at the Presidio, S.F., December 19, 1865.

COMPANY E

            This company was organized at Auburn, Cal., and mustered into the United States service October 10, 1861.  During the following month it was ordered to Washington Territory, and stationed at Fort Steilacoom until October, 1862.  It then returned to California, and was at Benicia Barracks until May, 1863; then at Drum Barracks to July, 1863; at Camp Curtis to September, 1863; at Drum Barracks and Los Angeles until February, 1864; then at Fort Yuma until April. 1865; then at Date Creek and Fort Mason until the spring of 1866.  The terms of service of the original members expired during September and October, 1864, and the company was reorganized and continued in the service.  It was finally mustered out at the Presidio, S.F., March 31, 1866.

COMPANY F

            This company was raised in Coloma, El Dorado County, in September, and was mustered into the United States service at Auburn, Placer County, October 16, 1861.  (The date given in the table on page 9 is wrong.)  The company was stationed at Camp Union, Sacramento, until June, 1862; at Camp Latham until September, 1862; at Drum Barracks until March, 1863; at Fort Yuma until May, 1864; at Camp Lincoln (La Paz), Arizona, until August, 1864; at Fort Yuma until November, 1864.  The terms of the original members expired during September and October, 1864, and most of them were discharged at Drum Barracks, November 1, 1864.  The company was reorganized by recruiting new members and the reenlistment of old ones.  After the reorganization of the company it was stationed at Drum Barracks and the Presidio, S.F., until May, 1865.  It then went to Fort Humboldt, and remained there until it was returned to the Presidio, and finally mustered out, November 30, 1865.

COMPANY G

            This company was organized at Camp Sigel, near Auburn, October 26, 1861.  It was stationed at that post until January, 1862; at Camp Union, near Sacramento, until June, 1862; at Camp Latham until September, 1862; at Drum Barracks until November, 1862; at San Diego until August, 1865; then at La Paz, Arizona, during the month of September, 1865.  There is no record of the stations occupied by the company between September, 1865, and March, 1866.   It was mustered out at the Presidio, S.F., March 31, 1866.  Upon the expiration of the terms of service of the original members, in the fall of 1864, the company was reorganized under the same officers.

COMPANY H

            This company was mustered into the United States service, February 6, 1862, at Camp Union (the date of muster on page 9 being wrong).  It remained at Camp Union until June, 1862.   It was stationed at Camp Latham until September, 1862; at Drum Barracks until March 1863; at Fort Yuma until February, 1864; at Drum Barracks until August, 1864; at San Luis Obispo until November, 1864; and at Drum Barracks until it was ordered to the Presidio, S.F., for muster out, which took place November 30, 1865.  This company was reorganized upon the expiration of its original members. 

COMPANY I

            This company was raised in Nevada City, and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Sigel, Auburn, on the seventh day of October, 1861 (the date given in the table on page 9 being wrong).  The company marched from Camp Sigel to Camp Union during the month of February, 1862.  It was stationed at Camp Union until June, 1862; at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863; at Drum Barracks until May, 1863; at Fort Mojave, Arizona, until March, 1865; at Camp Cady, in March, 1865; at Camp Lincoln, Cal., April, 1865; and at Drum Barracks until it was ordered to the Presidio, S.F., for final muster out, which took place November 30, 1865.  This company was reorganized on the expiration of the terms of its original members, at Drum Barracks.

COMPANY K

            This company was organized at Camp Union, Cal., February 1, 1862.  Before its organization such men as were enrolled for it were stationed at Camp Sigel.  It was at Camp Union until June 30, 1862; at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863; at Fort Yuma until April, 1864; at Drum Barracks until April, 1865; at Camp Lincoln until July, 1865; at San Bernardino until August, 1865; and at Drum Barracks until it was ordered to the Presidio, S.F., for final muster out, which took place November 30, 1865.  It was reorganized, the same as the other companies of the regiment, upon the expiration of the terms of enlistment of the original members.