Official History
Two reasons might be given for the organization of the Amador Rangers on April 13,1858. (1) In many districts of California, volunteer companies were organized in the early part of the year of 1858. Trouble had been brewing between the Mormons of the "State of Deseret" (Territory of Utah) and the Federal Government for some time and it was expected that an outbreak might occur which would necesaitate the enlarging of military forces, therefor, it is possible this company was organized with that thought in mind. Then again it may have been due to the fact that disturbances in their own locality called for military protection. In November 1857, a group of Ohinese.had killed Martin Van Buren Griswold, and the whole State was on the watch for the murderers. The Chinese were later arrested in Marysville and three were executed on April 18, 1858, the fourth committed suicide in jail. (2)
The organization papers which gave the names of fourteen elected officers and seventy-one privates carried the following information: "At a meeting held in the town of Jackson, Amador County, in pursuance to a notice of said meeting which was posted in more than three public places for more than ten days prior to said meeting, John H. Bradley presided to organize and superintend the election of the officers of the volunteer cavalry which was organized."
A Bond to the people of the State of California was also filed with the Muster Roll. This Bond for $2,000 was signed by Captain Sharp as principal, and Wesley Jackson, H. S. Hatch and W. J. Paugh as sureties on April 13, 1858.
There are no printed reports of the Adjutant-General for the years of 1858 or 1859 to verify whether the Amador Rangers were officially a unit of the militia, nor are there any records of activities in which they may have participated.
Footnotes
(1) Date taken from Bond, filed in Adjutant General's Office.
(2) History Amador County, Thompson and
West; Oakland, 1881 , page 172.