AD D E ESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS, AT ITS FIRST ANNUAL CELEBRATION, AT S.\x FRANCISCO, APRIL 25TH, 1866, BY WM. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, (OF NAPA COUNTY,) Formerly Adjutant Second California Cavalry; late Captain and A. Q. M., U. S. Vols. P U B L I S H E I ) 13 Y T HE S C I E T Y. SAN FRANCISCO: < O.M.MKIU'IAL STEAM PRINTING HOUSE: FKAXCIS, VALENTINE & CO. Xo. 517 Clay Street, and 510 to 514 Commercial Street 1866. A D D K E S S DELIVERED BEFORE THE SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS, AT ITS FIRST ANNUAL CELEBRATION, AT SAN FRANCISCO, APRIL 25TH, 1866, BY WM. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, (OP NAPA COUNTY,) Formerly Adjutant Second California Cavalry; late Captain and A. Q. M., U. S. Vols. PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. SAN FBANCISCO: COMMERCIAL STEAM PRINTING HOUSE : FRANCIS, VALENTINE & CO. No. 517 Clay Street, and 510 to 514 Commercial Street 1866. 4 M8 ADDRESS. MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE SOCIETY : To perpetuate the memory of past deeds and associations, by the renewal of friendship and the commingling of thought, is both pleasant and useful, tending to promote good fellowship and raise ourselves in the scale of social communication ; whilst we enjoy the beneficial results from an interchange of sentiment, fraught by years of stern experience. The rebellion has been squelched, treason subjugated, an erring and misguided people have laid down their arms, vanquished sorely in the conflict, and peace has been proclaimed by the President of the United States. Rapid and varied have been the events which have convulsed the life of the Nation, and threatened its very existence during the past four years. It will be impossible in the course of this brief address to allude to the causes which brought about this unhappy state of affairs ; alas, they are too deeply engraven upon the hearts of the American People, to require any explanation or elaboration at the present day. Our province to-night will be to examine what part we have played in the great struggle for Liberty and human freedom, and, though circumscribed may have been our sphere, to examine well our own immediate history and actions, and see if we can lay our hands upon our hearts with the conscious and proud satisfaction f knowing that we have done our duty, humble though may it have been in its peculiar details. The idea of the formation of this Society was a good one, and if properly carried out, may result in many beneficial results. It dates its existence from the 2nd day of January of the present year, and its objects can readily be gathered from the language of the pream- ble, which reads as follows : "We, the undersigned, having been officers of the California Vol- unteers in the service of the United States during the past four years, and deeming it honorable and worthy of commemoration to have served our country in its hour of peril, and being desirous of per- petuating the friendship and ties engendered during that period, and of cultivating social intercourse in the future, do form ourselves into an association and adopt the following constitution." Terse and to the point are these few words ; how fraught they may yet be of importance to us all. Isolated as we are from our Atlantic brethren, dependent in a great measure upon our own re- sources, we should " in time of peace prepare for war," and never again be placed in the alarming and perilous situation we were in the early spring of 1861. "When the secret history of the late rebellion comes to be written, events will appear of so startling a character as almost to challenge belief. It is well known in military circles that a deliberate plan was~ formed to revolutionize California, and join her fortunes to the oligarchy of Jeff. Davis, Wigfall and Company. The extent of this plot iftjfls so great, and its ramifications were so numerous, as to speedily call the attention of the authorities at Washington to the necessity of prompt and speedy action. Here on this coast we were slumbering upon a volcano, ready to burst out at any moment. Not dreaming of danger, we were quietly watching events at the East, Micawber like, "waiting for something to turn up ; " the military commandant of the Pacific, more than suspected of incipient treason, perhaps ready and willing to deliver up Fort Alcatraces and all our defenses to such men as Austin E. Smith, Calhoun Benham, Charles T. Botts, and others of that kid- ney, the pink of southern chivalry. I will here state, however, as an act of justice to the friends of the late General Albert Sidney Johnston, that they claim with what show of reason or groundwork of fact to rest upon I know not that General Johnston never would have betrayed the Federal Gov- ernment as long as he held a commission under it. I hope inwardly that such may be the case ; but his subsequent career in the Con- federate service, ending with his life, might perhaps preclude the probability of the truth of such a hypothesis. We have before us the example of the infamous surrender of that arch coward and traitor, David Emanuel Twiggs, in Texas, a like surrender in New Mexico, by a like man, one Isaac Lynde, late a Major in the Federal army; and were we to go on, there would be no end of finding out how base and hollow were the protestations of these high born, high bred, chivalrous sons of the South. Suffice it to say that the Pacific Qoast was not thrown into the jaws of the enemy. How was this brought about ? Five years ago this day a vessel steamed through the Golden Gate, bearing amongst its passengers a man of martial form and noble mien. Quiet in his embarkation from the city of New York, retired during the voyage, his presence was hardly known, and his real character undiscovered, till the steamer approached the fortification at Fort Point, when he appeared in the full uniform of a Brigadier- General in the United States Army. Such, fellow citizens, was the advent of General Edwin Y. Sumner to this coast. Hardly had the steamer been made fast to the whart and discharged her living cargo, ere the following remarkable order was published. HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, { SAN FRANCISCO, April 25, 1861. ) fOrder No. 5.J In compliance with Special Order No. 86, dated "War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, Washington. March 23d, 1861," I hereby assume command of this Department. Al concerned will govern themselves accordingly. (Signed) E. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General U. S. Army. Official. B. C. DRUM, Ass't Adjutant-General. I challenge the most expert of you all to produce a composition more decisive and comprehensive. From that hour California was safe, loyal men could breathe easily and retire to their couches in security ; treason was nipped in the bud ; Chivs, who heretofore were as thick as leaves in Yallambrosa, suddenly became scarce, had G. T. T. (gone to Texas) marked on their doors ; and embryo Con- federate Generals and officers of all grades gnashed their teeth and clawed their nails in their impotent rage, that they were one day too late. Yes, be it here proclaimed, and I say it boldly, General Sumner arrived here not one day too soon ! New^ife was infused into Union men. His administration was commenced by the removal of all doubtful officers from important commands, and placing in their stead men of known loyalty and fidelity. He at once commenced to raise troops for defense here. The Governor of the State issued his proclamation, and right nobly did the sons of California respond to the call. To the efforts of General Sumner may the first regiments of volunteers raised in this State attribute their efficiency. It is true that the discipline, drill and organization was most of it perfected after he had been called to another scene of action, but the proper selection of officers was due to him. It may now be stated a fact of which, probably, none 6 of you are aware that so little confidence did the Administration have in the patriotism and integrity of John G. Downey, the acci- dental Governor of California, at that time, that General Sumner was empowered t& commission all officers himself, should he deem it necessary. Happily he was not called upon to exercise this power. Governor Downey, as a general rule, appointed loyal men, and as competent as could be expected, for at that time we were infants in the art of war. His selections of field officers, it is true, were made from the reg- ular army in the main, and it was unfortunate for the different regi- ments that they were detatched from their commands at so early a date. The remainder of his appointments were made from politi- ticians chiefly ; and to their honor be it said, that but few carried their party prejudices into the corps of the army. Such as did, failed signally as soldiers, were either dismissed in disgrace, resigned under charges, covered with odium, the laughing-stock of every man possessed of the true military spirit. General Sumner was permitted to remain but a short time with us. His eminent services as a soldier were required at the sent of war on the battle field. His mission here was accomplished ; he had saved California from impending ruin, rescued her from the infamous jaws of treason and the machinations of detestable traitors, many of whom are now boldly stalking Montgomery street to-day, prating of their loyalty, and endeavoring to make it appear that they have Tylerized President Johnson, who, did he deem it necessary, would use all the manila in Front street in stretching their miserable necks, if required for the salvation of the Government. General Sumner departed as quietly from this coast as he had come. He was permitted to depart unheralded. Our platform statuary and leading citizens of well known loyalty and liberality (?) were non est inventus, probably shut up at this very time in their counting rooms, devising schemes to repudiate in California^ the in- troduction and circulation of the national currency ; when, it may be observed, that had it not been for General Sumner, many of these same merchant princes and eloquent divines, might have been lashed naked through Portsmouth Square by the scions of Virginia chiv- alry in California, and exhibited as the Romans did their gladiators, and deemed it a prized boon to be permitted to black the boots of such heroes as Duke Gwin, or curry horses for David S. Terry. General Sumner turned over his department to worthy and noble hands, mention of which will be made hereafter. His life, so valu- able to his country, was sacrified at the altar of his ambition. He died, as lie had lived, an accomplished soldier and a finished gentle- man. I know of no one in whom were more centered all the quali- ties which entitled him to be considered as the Marshal Ney of America. This day has been well chosen as your anniversary. This selec- tion was a happy thought which suggested itself to el Capitan Don Patrico Munday esto perpetua ! We can but glance briefly at the services rendered by our volun- teers ; remote as they have been from the immediate scene of con- flict, opportunities for individual daring have been but rare, and their engagements but mere skirmishes compared with those of greater magnitude. In the old army they would have been called hard fought battles before the late war. The result, however, of our services, may be far greater than is generally attributed to us, and may some day meet with a just reward. At the present time, how- ever, it must be confessed, that to have served in the army faithfully during the war, is the surest thing to defeat an application for em. ployment at the hands of the San Francisco merchants and capitalists, who have stayed at home, coined money out of the war, and lustily shouted for freedom, and shed huge crocodile tears at the fate of the intelligent contraband and the oppressed freedman. California, during the late war, furnished more troops for the Federal Government, than the effective strength of the regular army consisted of at the breaking out of the rebellion. By reference to the last report of the Adjutant-General of this State, late Colonel George S. Evans of tl^e Second California Cavalry, who has carried into the organization of the State Militia, his correct and well de- served experience in the service ; it will be found that California raised as soldiers, rank and file, sixteen thousand two hundred and thirty-one men ; of this number, five hundred were credited to the quota of Massachusetts, men being sent from here as substitutes for drafted men there. Had I been Governor of California, they never should have left this coast as such an organization. Massachusetts should have filled her ranks at home and not come here to recruit. Of the troops thus raised may be classified as follows, bearing in mind that the total are all the enlistments during the war, it being impossible without much research to determine the exact number of commissioned officers, so the aggregate cannot be given. I should judge that at le'ast eight hundred officers have been commissioned. The figures refer to the rank and file : 8 First Cavalry 1,686 men. Second Cavalry 2,399 men. First Native Battalion of Cavalry 564 men. First Infantry 1,407 men. Second Infantry 1,858 men. Third Infantry 1,580 men. Fourth Infantry 1,633 men. Fifth Infantry 1,000 men. Sixth Infantry 1,213 men. Seventh Infantry 958 men. Eighth Infantry 1,018 men. The Battalion Mountaineers raised for especial service against the Indians in the northern portion of this State, were commanded by Colonel S. G-. Whipple. They were in service but a few months. Their strength was four hundred and ninety-five men, exclusive of officers. California also furnished several companies of men for the differ- ent volunteer regiments which were raised in Oregon and Wash- ington Territory, which are not enumerated in the above figures. It will be thus seen that this State has not been backward in sending men to the field, and when we take into consideration that for years the troops have been paid in a depreciated currency, worth at times thirty-eight cents upon the dollar, whilst the Legislature of this State, composed of men eleeted as Unionists, were passing laws nul- lifying Acts of Congress, playing into the hands of Copperheads, and making themselves ridiculous generally, it is a great wonder, and can only be attributed to the superior state of discipline preva- lent amongst the California troops, that they did not disband, throw down their arms, and abandon the Legislative Solons to the tender mercies of the Southern Chivalry, who would have horsewhipped them into the Sacramento river, had they not entertained a whole- some fear and well conceived dread of the bayonets of the blue- jackets. The operations of our Volunteer Contingent have been extended over a scope of country thousand of miles in extent, reaching from the extreme border of our possessions in the Northwest Pacific to the Rio Grande. In the fall of 1861, Colonel Carleton, of the First California In- fantry, and Captain and Brevet-Major First Regular Cavalry, since appointed Brigadier-General of volunteers, commenced organizing an expedition at Camp Drum, since named Drum Barracks, Cali- fornia. This army was intended for operations in Arizona and New Mexico, and just prior to leaving Fort Yuma and crossing the Colo- rado, was designated in orders by General Carleton as the " Column from California." The troops composing this expedition consisted of, the First Cali- fornia Infantry, Col. Edwin A. Bigg commanding ; Fifth California Infantry, Col. Geo. W. Bowie ; First Battalion of California Cav- alry, Lieut. Col. E. E. Eyre commanding (since raised to a full regi- ment) ; one company of the Second Cavalry, commanded by Capt. John C. Cremony; and one battery Third U. S. Artillery, Lieut. John B. Shinn, U.S.A., commanding in all about twenty-five hun- dred men. The march of this column from San Pedro to the Rio Grande was a decided success, and reflects much credit upon the commanding General and the endurance of the officers and men. To those who have never served either in Arizona or ]$"ew Mexico, the fatigue, trials, hardships and privations to which these troops have been subjected can hardly be imagined. Encountering arid wastes, tropical suns, deserts almost totally devoid of water, harras- sed constantly by Indians, urged to deeds of brutal violence and murder by Mormon emissaries and depraved secessionists, I repeat that the courage and endurance displayed is of the highest character. In order that you may form some idea of how this force was em- ployed, I here incorporate entire a copy of General Orders "No. 4, of General Carlton, dated at Santa Fe, New Mexico, February 18th, 1865, giving a synopsis of Indian scouts and their results for the year 1864, in that Territory, together with an account of the estab- lishment and prosperity of the Indian Reservation at Bosque Red- ondo a document full of valuable information, and which should be carefully preserved in the archives of the Society. Produced, it reads as follows : HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OP NEW MEXICO, ) SANTA FE, New Mexico, February 18th, 1865. j" [General Orders No. 4.] I. The following record of combats with Indians on the part of the troops, as well as on that of citizens of New Mexico and Arizona, during the year 1864, is published for the infor- mation of all concerned. Only those operations are mentioned which were attended with results either in our favor or against us, and they are about as one to four; so that the ac- count which follows shows but a faint idea of the work performed. It is possible that there may have been some robberies which are not mentioned here ; but, if so, no authentic report of them has been received. II. The number of Indians on the Reservation at the Bosque Redondo, as shown by Gen- eral Orders, No. 3, series for 1864, from these Head-Quarters, was seven hundred and three Apaches and Navajos, on the 31st day of December, of that year. January. Major Sena, 1st Cavalry, New Mexican Volunteers, with his command, arrived at Fort Canby, bringing in three hundred and forty-four Navajo prisoners. 10 January 3. "Wagon-Master Russell's train, en route to Fort Canby, N. M., was attacked near the Puerco by about one hundred and fifty Navajo Indians. Mr. Rrissell was killed. Mr. Strong and two teamsters wounded. The three lead wagons were cut off, and twenty mules were taken by the Indians, together with some corn, blankets, &c. This information was forwarded to the Commanding General of the Department, by Major John C. McFerran, Chief Quarter-Master, with the following remarks : "Respectfully referred to the Department Commander for his information. This wagon-master, Russell, is Powell Russell, who entered the service of the Quarter- Master's Department, as a teamster, a poor, illiterate boy, in 1853. By his honesty, industry, modesty, truth and energy, he rose to be the principal, or head wagon- master in the Department. This position he has filled to the perfect satisfaction of every one, and has now fallen, like a true man as he was, at his post and doing his duty. It will be very, very difficult to replace him." Januarys. Major Edward B. Willis, 1st Infantry California Volunteers, Commanding Fort Whipple, Arizona, report? that the Penal Apaches run off eleven head of Govern- ment cattle, at Walker's Mines. A party under Captain Hargrave was sent in pursuit but failed to overtake the Indians. January 6. Captain Julius C. Shaw, 1st Cavalry, N. M., Volunteers, Commanding Fort Win- gate, reports that four Navajo Indians surrendered themselves at that post. January 6. Major Henry D. Wallen, U. S. 7th Infantry, commanding Fort Sumner, New Mexico, reports that, on the morning of the 5th inst., the Navajos run off the Apache herd from that post. Lieut. Newbold, 5th U. S. Infantry, with ten mounted men of the 2nd Cavalry, California Volunteers, and the 5th U. S. Infantry, were sent in pursuit, accompanied by Mr. Labadi, Indian Agent, Mr. Carillo,Mr. Whittemore and twenty- five Apaches from the Reservation. Captain Galloway and his Company "I," 1st In- fantry, California Volunteers, was directed to follow the trail of the mounted party. Lieutenant Newbold encountered over one hundred Navajos, mounted and on foot, about twelve miles from the post. A sharp fight ensued, in which nine Navajos were left dead on the field. The Najavos then broke into two parties and fled, and a run. ning fight was kept up for about ten miles. Part of the force pursued one party to the Pecos river. Of this party, only eight escaped. Of the other party of Indians, only seventeen escaped, and some of these were wounded. Forty Indians are re- ported to have been left dead on the field, and at least twenty-five wounded. It is believed that nearly all the Navajos would have been killed had it not been for the ex- tremely cold weather. The mercury was ten degrees below zero. The men could with difficulty cap their pieces their fingers being so numb. Some were frost-bitten. About fifty head of horses and mules were recovered in this fight, all belonging to the Apaches. Major Wallen calls the attention of the General Commanding to the hand- some manner in which Lieutenant Newbold managed this successful engagement ; also to the meritorious conduct of the soldiers, citizens, and Apaches engaged. January 8. Mr. George Cooler. Wagon and Forage Master, at Fort Craig, New Mexico, with ten infantry soldiers and a party of Mexican citizens, while on a scout after Indians, recovered one Mexican boy, named Vincente Ubano, who was stolen by the Indians near the Pecos river, one rifle and fifty-eight goats. On the llth inst., came upon a party of Indians and succeeded in killing one and capturing one squaw and one child. In this skirmish two of the Cooler's party were wounded. One of them, Jose' Garcia, died the next day. On the 12th, found seven horses and one mule, and captured two Indian women. January 12th. Captain Julius C. Shaw, 1st Cavalry, N. M. Volunteers, commanding Fort Wingate, reports that Lieutenant Jose M. Sanches, with a detachment of Company "F,"lst Cavalry, New Mexican Volunteers, attacked a party of Indians near the Datil Mountains, and killed three men, captured two women and one boy, and 18 Navajo horses, and 62 head of sheep and goats. The Chief, Sordo, was killed in this fight. Captain Shaw also reports that sixty Navajos have given themselves up at that post since the 1st inst. January 14. Sergeant Joseph Felmer, 1st Cavalry, California Volunteers, reports that he re- covered seven head of cattle, while in pursuit of a party of Indians, and turned them over to Don Pablo, of La Joya, N. M. 11 January 15. Serafin Ramirez, a citizen of New Mexico, reports that Navajo Indians drove off twelve head of cattle and two mules belonging to him, between the 25th of December and 9th of January, and during the same time they killed three of his cattle. January 21. Capt. Julius C. Shaw, commanding Fort Wingate, N. M. reports that twenty, three Navajo Indians have surrendered at that post since his last report. January. On the 6th inst., Colonel Christopher Carson, commanding the Navajo expedition, left Fort Canby, New Mexico, with 14 commissioned officers and 375 enlisted men, on an expedition to the Canon de Chelly. On the 8th inst., one warrior was killed by the Colonel's escort. On the 12th, Sergeant Andres Herrera, with 50 men, who was sent out the previous night returned, bringing into camp two women and two children prisoners, and one hundred and fifty head of sheep and goats, and reported that his command had killed eleven and wounded five Indians. On the 14th inst,, Capt. Pfeiffer and party, who had been sent out from Fort Canby some days previous, to operate in the east opening of the canon, came into camp and reported having passed through the Canon without a single casuality in his command. He killed three Indians and brought in nineteen prisoners, women and children. On the 15th inst. , sixty Indians arrived in camp and surrendered themselves as prisoners. On the same day a party, under command of Capt. Joseph Berney, killed two Indians and captured four. One hundred and ten Indians surrendered to Capt. Carey's command, while upon its return march to Fort Canby. Result of this expedition : Indians killed, 23 ; wounded, 5 ; prisoners, 34 ; voluntarily surrendered, 200 ; and 200 head of sheep and goats captured. January 24. A party of thirty Americans and fourteen Maricopa and Pimo Indians, under Colonel King S. Wooisey, Aid to the Governor of Arizona, attacked a baud of Gila Apaches, sixty or seventy miles N. E. of the Pimo Villages, and killed nineteen of them and wounded others. Mr. Curus Lennon, of Woolsey's party, was killed by a wounded Indian. January 26. Lieut. Thomas A. Young, 5th Infantry, California Volunteers, with one sergeant and eleven privates of the California Volunteers, started from Fort Craig, New Mex- ico, on a scout after Indians. On the 28th inst., the party was attacked by about sixty Indians, who wounded Lieut. Young, Sergeant Thomas Richards, and Privates Harvey McConkey, Thomas Clark and Louis Mann, of Company