The First California Infantry & Cavalry.

Here are some of the names of the First California Infantry and Cavalry, this page is done in two parts, the first part are of men who received a promotion or were asking for help from Congress. The second part are men that are stated in reports, and in this part you will read two letters from a wife trying to get her husband released from prison.
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1. First Lieutenant William L. Rynerson, of the First California Volunteers, to be assistant quartermaster with the rank of captain.

2. William McCleave, late major of the First California Cavalry, to be second lieutenant in the Eighth Regiment United States Cavalry, July 28, 1866.

3. Edward A. Rigg, late colonel of the First California Volunteers to be first lieutenant in the Thirty-eighth Regiment United States Infantry, January 22, 1867.

4. Archibald S. Davis, late captain of the First California Volunteers, for faithful and meritorious services in the Quartermaster's Department during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

5. Brevet Major Nicholas S. Davis, late captain of the First California Volunteers, for faithful and meritorious services in the Quartermaster's Department during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

Appointment to be brigadier-generals.

6. Colonel Joseph R. West, of the First California Volunteers, October 25, 1862.
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7. William B. Kennedy, late captain of the First California Cavalry, to be first lieutenant in the Tenth Regiment U. S. Cavalry, January 22, 1867.

8. Major Emil Fritz, of the First California Cavalry, for gallantry in action with the Kiowa and Comanche Indians, to date from March 13, 1865.

9. Major William McCleave, of the First California Cavalry, for a successful pursuit of, and gallantry in the engagement with, the Apache Indians, to date from March 13, 1865.

10. Captain James H. Whitlock, of the First California Volunteers, for gallantry in battle with Apache Indians, to date from March 13, 1865.

11. Captain George A. Burkett, of the First California Veteran Volunteers, for gallantry in battle with the Apache Indians of Arizona, to date from March 13, 1865.

12. First Lieutenant George H. Pettis, of the First California Volunteers, for distinguished gallantry in the engagement at Adobe Fort, New Mexico, with the Kioway and Comanche Indians, to date from March 13, 1865.

13. First Lieutenant John Slater, of the First California Veteran Volunteers, for distinguished gallantry against the Apache Indians, to date from March 13, 1865.

14. First Lieutenant Henry H. Stevens, of the First California Volunteers, for distinguished gallantry in the battle with Apache Indians, to date from March 13, 1865.

To be assistant adjutant-generals with the rank of captain.

15. Lieutenant Joseph F. Bennett, of the First California Volunteers, May 15, 1863.
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16. Porter Haden, late of the First California Cavalry, to be second lieutenant in the Eighth Regiment United States Cavalry, August 10, 1867

17. Sixth Regiment of Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Clarence E. Bennett, of the First California Cavalry, to be second lieutenant, February 23, 1866.

18. Lieutenant-Colonel Clarence E. Bennett, of the First California Cavalry, for faithful and meritorious services, to date from March 13, 1865.

The Men Of the First California Infantry and Cavalry in battle.

Edward E. Eyre.

Lieutenant Colonel Edward E. Eyre, First California Volunteer Cavalry, deserves a regiment. The zeal he has manifested in the discharge of his duties and the alacrity and cheerfulness he has always shown when called upon for any hazardous enterprise distinguished him as one eminently fitted for the profession of arms. If five companies more of cavalry are to sent from California, as requested by General Canby, I trust they will be added to the five which now compose the First California Volunteer Cavalry, and that Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre will be commissioned as full colonel.
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Major David Fergusson & Captain Nicholas S. Davis.

Major David Fergusson, First California Volunteer Cavalry is hereby relieved from duty as chief commissary of the Column from California, and will immediately transfer all funds, property, records, &c., pertaining to the subsistence department to Captain Nicholas S. Davis, First California Volunteer Infantry, who is hereby appointed acting chief commissary of the Column from California. Having done this, Major Fergusson will proceed, via Arivaca and Altar or Cubero, without delay, to a point at or near Lobos Bay, on the Gulf of California, known as Libertad, and examine the intermediate country, with a view to the transportation of supplies. He will ascertain the resources of the country on this route; also the availability of Lobos Bay as a port where the military supplies destined for Arizona may be landed. Major Fergusson will then repair in person to the headquarters District of Arizona, and make a report of his examination of the Port Lobos route to the general commanding the Column from California. As soon thereafter as practicable Major Fergusson will assume command of his regiment, the First California Volunteer Cavalry.
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Captain Nicholas S. Davis & Lieutenant Lysander E. Hanson.

Captain Nicholas S. Davis, chief of transportation of the Column from California, will discharge all mechanics from Government employment at Tucson, except such as may be necessary to keep the train that plies to Fort Yuma in repairs. This train and any other quartermaster's property in Western Arizona for which he is responsible may, if the exigencies of the service so require by Captain Davis to the depot quartermaster at Tucson. Captain Davis and Lieutenant Lysander E. Hanson, First California Volunteer Infantry, with Mr. George C. Alexander, clerk to the chief commissary of the Column from California, will report by the first opportunity to the commander of the District of Arizona.
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Surg. John H. Prentiss.

Surg. John H. Prentiss, First California Volunteer Cavalry, will relieve Surgeon McNulty as medical purveyor of the District of Arizona, and will receipt for the medical supplies appertaining to the same.
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Captain Edmond D. Shirland.

Captain Edmond D. Shirland, First California Volunteer Cavalry, will proceed without delay, yet by easy marches, to Fort Davis, Tex., and hoist over that post the national colors. If Captain Shirland finds any sick or wounded soldiers there he will make them prisoners of war, but put them upon their parole and let them proceed without delay to Texas. If they are unable to travel, captain Shirland will report to these headquarters by express what they need in the way of surgical or medical attention; what they need in the way of food or transportation, and all other essential facts connected with them which it may be necessary to have known to have them properly cared for. If the fort is abandoned, Captain Shirland will retrace his steps and report in person to these headquarters.
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Captain E. D. Shirland & Lieutenant D. C. Vestal.

COLONEL: I have been credibly informed that there are some twenty families of men, women, and children at the Pino Alto mines, some forty miles from this camp, who are nearly perishing for want of food, the Indians having robbed them of what they had, and the secessionists having captured and appropriated to themselves a train of supplies which was on the way some time since to their relief. You will send Captain E. D. Shirland, First California Volunteer Cavalry, and Lieutenant D. C. Vestal, First California Inrfantry, with a sufficient escort of cavalry and infantry, to the Pino Alto mines
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The undersigned hereby assumes command of the Department of New Mexico.

Surg. James M. McNulty.

Surg. James M. McNulty, of the First California Volunteer Infantry, in addition to his duties as medical director of theColumn from California, is assigned to dutyas acting medical inspector of the Department of New Mexico, and will be governed in the performance of these duties by such instructions as he may receive from these headquarters. Major
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Captain John W. Davidson.

Captain John W. Davidson, First Cavalry, with his squadron will march to New San Pedro on the 26th instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and report to Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan, Fourth U. S. Infantry.
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SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DIST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Numbers 11.
Los Angeles, Cal., October 25, 1861.

I. First Lieutenant Benjamin C. Cutler, adjutant First Infantry, is announced as acting assistant adjutant-general for this district. All official communications from officers and soldiers serving within the district which are intended for these headquarters will be addressed to him. Those pertaining to regimental matters exclusively will be addressed to him as adjutant First Infantry California Volunteers.

II. First Lieutenant Lafayette Hammond, regimental quartermaster First Infantry California Volunteers, is announced as depot quartermaster for the district, and he will immediately relieve in his duties as depot quartermaster First Lieutenant Samuel McKee, First U. S. Cavalry. Lieutenant Hammond will also receipt for such public property as Captain John W. Davidson, First U. S. Cavalry, has on hand as commander of Camp Fitzgerald.
JAMES H. CARLETON,
Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding.
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Men killed by the Indians at Apache Pass.

Privates James F. Keith, Peter Maloney, and Albert Schmidt, of Company B, First California Volunteer Cavalry.
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Captain John A. Markoe and Lieutenant F. H. Donaldson, First California. I am entirely satisfied with the conduct of my brigade. It has been christened under fire
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HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
Los Angeles, Cal., October 22, 1861.
Adjutant-General THOMAS, U. S. Army,
Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: There has been established a new camp, garrisoned by four companies of First Infantry California Volunteers, near Warner's ranch, on the road hence to Fort Yuma, Cal. It is called Camp Wright and is commanded by Major Edwin A. Rigg, First Infantry California Volunteers. The companies are Company D, Captain Hugh A. Gorley; Company E, Captain Thomas L. Roberts; Company F, Captain Washington L. Parvin; Company H, Captain Henry A. Greene, First Infantry California Volunteers. Please send to that camp and those companies blank post returns, blank company returns, and such other blank rolls, returns, books, orders, &c., as are necessary. The nearest post-office is San Diego, Cal.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES H. CARLETON.
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PHILADELPHIA, June 28, 1862.
Honorable EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

MRS. ADALINE KEFFER.

SIR: May I be allowed to say a few words to you on a subject which interests me very much. My husband, who is Captain Francis J. Keffer, had the command of Company H, First California Regiment, under the late Colonel E. D. Baker, and was taken prisoner at Ball's Bluff October 21, now held hostage for a privateer of the Savannah. I think he is confined in the jail with six other officers, or rather speaking, a place where rats inhabit the room, and damp, too, but he does not complain to me, but this I know to be a fact and I expected when Mr. Ely came he would try to do something, and I hope he will use all the means in his power to have every prisoner released. Cannot anything be done to have all the prisoners released at once? Does it acknowledge the Southern Confederacy any more to have a large number released than a small number? Will you let me know if I shall write to the Tombs and ask if there is any one there that they would exchange for my husband, or must I not do it?

If I do not interest myself for him who will do it? Sir, can you blame me? He writes to me and says: "If the privateers are hung we will be dealt with in the same way, and if they are cleared we will be the same. " Now of course I am unhappy. I have written twice to Secretary Cameron and to President Lincoln and to Mr. Ely and to Fort Warren, but it does seem that none have answered but the one at Fort Warren, and the commanding officer tells me that the South will not give one up for any other than a privateer, but this does not satisfy a woman. May I write to the mayor of New York on this subject? I will do whatever you think proper. If you can send me a few lines I will be very thankful for it. I also made application for his pay for September and October, but Mr. R. P. Dodge sent me $173. 20 for that time, which if I know anything about it was not correct.

I then made application for November's pay in this month and for f money paid to me and my papers were sent to me to sign for $133, but I have not signed them for I do not quite understand them, and if you think there is any chance of my husband coming home shortly I will try and do without his money and let him get it himself. I have sent him $35 and clothing and some food, and I hope they will let him have all I have sent to make him comfortable. Now, sir, I am afraid I have written too much. You will please excuse me for so doing.
Your humble servant,
MRS. ADALINE KEFFER.
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613 SPRING GARGEN STREET, PHILADELPHIA,
December 13, 1861.

MRS. ADALINE KEFFER.

Honorable SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.

SIR: A short time ago I wrote to you concerning my husband who is a prisoner of war and now held as hostage for one of the crew of the privateer Savannah. I am sorry to trouble you. I do not know whether you received my note or not but, sir, I appeal to your sympathy in this case.

Here is my husband and a number of other brave men now confined in a damp jail. As my husband writes to me he is of the firm opinion that if someting is not done soon that some of these gentlemen will not be able to bear up under their weight of trouble, not being able to enjoy even a walk when the days are so clear and lovely. And those bravehearted men went forth with strong minds to fight for their country and then taken across the Potomac without means to enable them to retreat in safety, what else could they do-meet with a watery grave as did Adjutant Harvey and Captain Otter and many others whose families are now in the greatest sorrow? Not even can they see the dead bodies of their companions and have them buried by the side of some near and dear relative, or perhaps their own children. Then what else was to be done but to be taken prisoner?

And now would it not be best to release those men called pirates and give them a chance to be good citizens once again? Probably they never would commit another crime. They have not been forgiven ninety and nine times; no, not even once have they been forigiven, which is dreadful to think of. Their families certainly are in deep sorrow at the dreadful suspense which they are kept in; days and nights of intense anxiety must prevail among all of us unhappy wives and mothers and children of those unfortunate hostages and so-called pirates. At New York I have three children, one a girl aged nearly 14 years, a son 12 and one 4 years. The one goes to school, where of course ridicule is ever ready to wound the hearts of the sensitive, and then my child comes home and cries whenever he thinks of his kind and indulgent father whom he has not seen for five months.

He left his home July 15 as Captain Francis J. Keffer, Company H, First California Regiment, the late Colonel E. D. Baker's brigade, and was taken prisoner at Ball's Bluff battle, October 21. He does not complain for he knows he is not the only one who is suffering, but he wishes me to appeal to you and President Lincoln in their behalf. They are without a change of clothing or money to get any with. For the sakes of those thirteen men at New York I sent my husband $10; he received it and I expect bought clothing with it. Now I have sent him $10 more with a hope that he will get it, and if I could spare it I would send $100 to him, for while he had [money] no one with him would suffer, for he would share his last dollar with them I assure you. Will you please give an answer to this if it is only a few words that I may know that you received this. I have written to the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury Department about his pay.
Yours with respect,
MRS. A. KEFFER.
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GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DIST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Numbers 8.
Fort Yuma, Cal., May 10, 1862.

The post just established by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph R. West First Infantry California Volunteers, at the Pima Villages, Ariz. Ter., is hereby designated as Fort Barrett, in honor of the memory of Lieutenant James Barrett, of Company A, First Cavalry California Volunteers, who fell in defense of his colors near that point on the 15th of April, 1862. The names of privates Johnson, of Company A, and Denerd, of Company D, First Cavalry, who fell by his side, will until the end of the war be called at every stated roll-call of their respective companies, and a comrade shall always respond, "He died for his country!"
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John Slater.

John Slater, First Veteran Infantry California Volunteers, to be breveted captain of volunteers for distinguished gallantry in pursuing and fighting Apache Indians in New Mexico, to rank from September 15, 1865, when the lieutenant was seriously wounded in battle with said Indians.
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Ebenezer C. Ledyard.

Captain Ebenezer C. Ledyard's company (A), First California Cavalry, is assigned to duty in the District of Arizona. Whilst at Camp Drum, and until it is joined by Brigadier-General Mason, it will continue under the command of Colonel Curtis, who will do whatever may be necessary to prepare if for service.