California Militia and National
Guard Unit Histories
San Francisco Light Guard
Official or Other Names:
San Francisco Light Guard, Second Brigade,
California Militia (CM)
San Francisco Light Guard, Company F,
First Infantry Regiment, Second Brigade, CM
San Francisco Light Guard, Company F,
First Infantry Regiment, Second Brigade, National Guard of California
Location:
San Francisco, San Francisco County
Mustered In:
October 10, 1858
Reorganized: 1880
Inclusive dates of units papers: 1858-1876
Unit papers on file at the California
State Archives:
a. Organization Papers 7 documents (1858-1861)
b. Bonds 4 documents (1859-1862)
c. Correspondence (Unclassified letters) 9 documents (1859-1864)
d. Election Returns 8 documents (1860-1865)
e. Exempt Certificates, Applications for none
f. Muster Rolls, Monthly returns 12 documents (1858-1876)
g. Oaths Qualifications 2 documents (1862-1864)
h. Orders none
i. Receipts, invoices 1 document (1862)
j. Requisitions 2 documents (1861-1863)
k. Resignations 2 documents (1863-1865)
l. Target Practice Reports none
m. Other none
Commanding Officers
Eli Cook, Captain; Commissioned 1858
T. B. Parker, First Lieutenant; Commissioned 1858
George T. Lnox, Captain; Elected December
28, 1860; Commissioned January 1, 1861; Resigned August 22, 1861
John Hanna, First Lieutenant; Elected December 28, 1860; Commissioned
January 1, 1861;
Rufus Smith, Captain;
Elected September 5, 1861; Commissioned September 23, 1861
John Hanna, First Lieutenant, Re-elected
September 1861
Charles F. Robbins, Captain; Elected March
9, 1863; Commissioned March 27, 1863; Resigned January 4, 1865
Cyrus H. Simpson, First Lieutenant; Elected March 9, 1863; Commissioned
March 27, 1863
Cyrus H. Simpson, Captain; Elected January
4, 1865; Commissioned January 21, 1865; Re-elected January 8,
1866
D. T. Phelps, First Lieutenant; Elected January 4, 1865; Commissioned
January 21, 1865; Re-elected January 8, 1866
Eli Cook, Captain; Elected May, 7, 1866;
Commissioned November 7, 1866; Resigned April 8, 1868
Stephen Barker, First Lieutenant; Elected May, 7, 1866; Commissioned
November 7, 1866
Stephen Barker, Captain; Elected March
2, 1868; Commissioned March 28, 1868
Mortimer G. Shove; Elected March 2, 1868; Commissioned March
28, 1868
James E. Hughes; Captain; Elected August
15, 1871; Commissioned August 30, 1871; Re-elected March 9, 1872;
Re-elected September 21, 1875; Re-elected August 7, 1877
John H. Warren, First Lieutenant; Elected March 1, 1870; Commissioned
March 10, 1870; Re-elected March 9, 1872; Resigned January 22,
1873
William E. Deering, First Lieutenant;
Elected May 6, 1873; Commissioned May 23, 1873
Joseph J. Butler, First Lieutenant; Elected
September 21, 1875; Commissioned October 11, 1875
Martin Jones, Captain; Elected March 5,
1878; Commissioned March 9, 1878; Resigned February 20, 1879
George M. Gaylord, First Lieutenant; Elected March 5, 1878; Commissioned
March 9, 1878
George M. Gaylord, Captain; Elected April
1, 1879; Commissioned April 10, 1879
W. H. McClintock, First Lieutenant; Elected April 1, 1879; Commissioned
April 10, 1879; Resigned July 1, 1879
George M. Reed, First Lieutenant; Elected August 19, 1879; Commissioned
September 9, 1879
History
The
San Francisco Light Guard was organized on November 12, 1858 at
a meeting at which Lieutenant-Colonel Henry A. Cobb presided,
Eli Cook was elected Captain and T. B. Parker, First Lieutenant.
The company received thirty-eight old and
almost unserviceable muskets, that belonged to the State and started
to drill regularly while waiting for new arms. Not until 1861
did this unit receive their arms consisting of a stand of sixty
rifles and all the necessary accoutrements. Upon the receipt of
their new arms the Adjutant General reported the company as being
well drilled, well officered and fully equipped for efficient
service to the State if needed. (1)
On November 14, 1859, the San Francisco
Light Guard held their first public parade under the leadership
of Captain Eli Cook. The company made a splendid appearance in
their new uniforms of grey, slashed with white, with gold trimming,
and caps of bear skins. (2)
On October 18, 1859, seven companies of
the volunteer militia participated in a reception given in honor
of General Winfield Scott, hero and noted soldier of the Mexican
Campaign. Upon his arrival in the Bay City, Governor Weller and
other high dignitaries of the State tendered their respects to
the famous General. The militia companies taking part in the reception
were the Black Hussars, First
California Guard, San Francisco Light Guard, Independent
National Guard, California
Fusileers, and the Marion Rifles.
(3)
The records on file indicate that the San
Francisco Light Guard was faithful in drill and parade activities.
On one muster roll dated September 9, 1870, the following notation
appears:
"This company had during the year
forty-four drills and sixteen parades a with an average attendance
at drills of rank and file twenty-five, and at parade thirty-five.
The papers regarding this company are routine in character, Muster
Rolls, monthly returns and target practice returns."
In 1880 with the reorganization of the National
Guard in California, the San Francisco Light Guard became formally
designated as Company F. For additional information relative to
this company refer to Company F, First Infantry Regiment.
Footnotes
(1) Adjutant
General Report, 1861, page 89.
(2) The San Francisco.Daily Herald,
November 15, 1859, page column 3.
(3) Sacramento Union, October 19,
1859, page 3, column 3.
This history was written
in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in conjunction
with the office of the Adjutant General and the California State
Library
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The
San Francisco Light Guard was organized on November 12, 1858 at
a meeting at which Lieutenant-Colonel Henry A. Cobb presided,
Eli Cook was elected Captain and T. B. Parker, First Lieutenant.