California State Military
DepartmentOfficial or Other Titles: Ringgold Light Artillery, First Division, First Brigade
Commanding Officers
- S. L. Labatt, Captain, Elected: June 7,
1855; Commissioned 21 June 1855
P. C. Williams, First Lieutenant, June 7, 1855; Commissioned 21 June 1855
One of the earliest volunteer companies that was organized in the southern part of tome State was the Ringgold Light Artillery located at Los Angeles. This company was named in honor of Colonel George Hay Ringgold, who had fought through the Mexican War, and later for many years was paymaster in the United States Army. Colonel Ringgold also was a noted scholar, an accomplished painter and an author of several books. Data concerning the southern units was incomplete and this is apparent in the records of the Ringgold Light Artillery, there being only.a copy of the minutes of the organization of the unit and attached thereto, a muster roll of the company which reveals sixty-two men were enrolled. One other, a letter by Captain Labatt to the Adjutant General's Office states that "the Captain could not send the Bonds for equipment until he learned the value thereof, and would the Adjutant General's Office send the Captain a Bond Blank with the amount necessary."
Undoubtedly the activities and history of this company would make very interesting reading, since lawlessness abounded in the Los Angeles area in the early fifties and militia companies often were called out to aid the constituted authorities, especially when bands of desperadoes were to be dealt with. However, there are no additional records to be found pertaining to the company's activities and no muster out date is obtainable and it is assumed that the Ringgold Light Artillery was only in existence for a short time.
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