California State Military
DepartmentCalifornia State Military
DepartmentOfficial or other titles: Mobile Guard, Company E, Sierra Battalion, Fourth Division, Second Brigade
Location: Shady Flat, Sierra County
Mustered in: March 19, 1858
Commanding Officers
Andrew L. Stertens, Captain
David L. Whitney, First Lieutenant
When the emigrants poured into California after Marshall's discovery of gold, many little settlements were established by the pioneers around the diggings where the precious metal was being mined. Names were given to these "mushroom villages" for sentimental reasons, or through some quirk of fate in the activities of the residents. Mobile Flat, Shady Flat, O'Donnell Flat, and Snake Bar were located in Sierra County. In 1858 residents from these four new settlements gathered together, for the organization of.a volunteer military company to be prepared and ready for any emergency should the State need their services. There were many tribes of hostile Indians through out the State particularly in the northern districts; there fore, public spirited men were always aware of the possible need of protection for their homes and work. After the nec essary steps were taken, the meeting was called and presided over by Major Hungerford at which time sixteen officers were elected from a roll of forty-eight members, and the company stationed at Shady Flat took the name of Mobile Guard becoming Company E, of the Sierra Battalion under Major Hungerford.
A Bond of $2,000 was signed by D. S. Forman
and William P. Tenmant as sureties, and was subscribed and sworn
to before John C. Stanley, Notary Public, on March 22, 1858.
The Bond was filed with the Adjutant General by Alanson Smith,
Judge of Sierra County, on March thirty-first, in order that
the company would receive their necessary arms. The Muster Roll
signed by Captain Stertens, which was certified to by Major Hungerford,
was approved by O. C. Hall, Brigadier-General of the Second
Division, Fourth Brigade, on June first. This roll indicates
that members began enrolling in the volunteer company from March
fourteenth to May second.
As there is no Adjutant General's Report for the year 1858, nor
any other available information of the Mobile Guard, it is not
known whether the company was ever issued arms or participated
in military activities. Population in the mining districts was
more or less transient during that era, as many times word came
of new strikes found in other localities where diggings were
reported to be richer, thus drawing people away from the townships
already settled. After the exodus from the deserted camps, interest
in military activities waned causing a disbandment of the volunteer
companies. It is assumed that some such occurrence may have been
the cause for the disbandment of the Mobile Guard, although there
is no official record of the mustering out of the company.