City Guard, Company B, First Regiment of Infantry, Second Brigade, National Guard of California Records, 1854-1915, bulk 1854-1882

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Summary

Creators:
California. National Guard. City Guard, Company B, First Regiment of Infantry, 2nd Brigade.
Abstract:
Minute books, membership rolls, account books, correspondence, printed material and ephemera for this state militia unit.
Extent:
2 boxes and 1 oversize volume (2.2 cubic feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], City Guard, Company B, First Regiment of Infantry, Second Brigade, National Guard of California Records, (SFH 56), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection reflects this organization's evolution from one San Francisco unit of the state militia, 1854, to autonomous and unregulated militia unit in May 1856, and finally back to a regulated state militia unit in the California National Guard, beginning 1859. Significant portions of this collection include Minutes from 1856 meetings, documenting the City Guard's activities during the term of the second Committee of Vigilance. There is but brief mention of the City Guard's role in quelling the July 1877 anti-Chinese riots. Folder 2/3 includes material shedding light on the City Guard's role in establishing order in San Francisco following the April 18, 1906 earthquake, including an account of the unit's activities, probably written by Captain Alexander McCulloch, as well as payrolls and an inventory of Armory property destroyed. There is some documentation of the mustering out of another local unit, Company A, commanded by Cecil H. Carcass.

Biographical / historical:

Organized March 31, 1854, the City Guard was composed partly of men from the First California Guard, "originally organized as a train of artillery, and exercised in the standing gun drill, besides drilling with muskets," which had existed since 1849. In early 1854, many of the members decided on the formation of a new organization, the First California Guard having changed to a horse battery, and members disliking the manner of command of their new captain, but desiring to retain the old form of organization. At their meeting of March 31, 1854, the members of the newly formed City Guard elected officers, and John A. Clark was made Captain.

On May 14, 1856 James P. Casey shot Evening Bulletin editor James King of William, reacting to the Bulletin story reporting Casey's ballot stuffing in the recent supervisorial election. A large crowd, intent on revenge for the deadly wounding of King, moved on the jail, where Casey had taken refuge. The City Guard came there to protect Casey from the mob. However, not long after, the Guard's arms were removed from the Armory by Sheriff Scannell and Lt. Col. West, under orders of Major General Sherman of the California State Militia. When the Guard's demand that the arms be returned was refused, they voted unanimously to disband at their May 16 meeting. The same day, the ex-members met to organize an independent military organization called the "Independent City Guard," which subsequently was furnished with arms by the civilians who supported it. Individual members of the organization became involved with the new Vigilance Committee, one as Grand Marshal and many others, in its ranks.

Having a sufficient number of members, the Independent City Guard was reorganized March 11, 1859 under state law, again as a volunteer militia unit called the City Guard. This corps was attached to the Second Brigade, Second Division of the California State Militia. Some time in 1861 the City Guard became Company B of the First Regiment of Infantry of the National Guard of California. The City Guard played a part in keeping order following the destruction of the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco, but would be mustered out May 10, 1907.

Custodial history:

This collection was obtained by the San Francisco Public Library in 1966 from the Alta California Bookstore, Berkeley. The Bookstore's owner, John Swingle, had purchased the collection from Sven Skaar of Nevada City, California. Skaar had purchased the collection from Carmen Perrenot, a niece of Alexander McCulloch, Captain, who had custody of the City Guard's records.

Processing information:

Volumes were transferred to acid-free folders.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged by record type.

Physical location:
The collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], City Guard, Company B, First Regiment of Infantry, Second Brigade, National Guard of California Records, (SFH 56), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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