AfriGeneas Military Research Forum

California Military Trail Blazers

Posted By: AfriArc
Date: Thursday, 18 September 2003, at 11:01 p.m.

A. Furguson, Nathaniel Wellington, F. G. Barbadoes, H. C. Cornish, S. J. Gromes. P. A. Bell. B. A. Hall. William H. Murry, George Smith, William Hall, C. H. Dutton, Jacob Yates, N. E. Speiths, J. Biker, Louis A. Ben, Allen Garvey, John Jones, Z. F. Bell, Owen Brown, William Freeman, William Walters, Charles Epps, James O. Smith; drummer boy, James Merritt. The names just quoted can be truly called the muster roll of the names of the first company of California Negroes who were willing to serve in the United States Army if eal1ed for service in the Civil War.

There were other colored men of prominence connected with the white California militia or the Vigilante Committee of San Francisco. Mr. Charles Delvieho was a member of that committee. Captain John Jones, another colored gentleman, had charge of all the ammunition, and rifles of the Vigilante Committee which were stored in a warehouse used as their armory in San Francisco, California.

After the close of the Civil War enthusiasm ran high among the Negro people of this State to obtain military training, which eventually led to the forming of military companies of colored men all over the State.

The Branan Guards, or the Lincoln Invincibles, were organized in San Francisco. Mr. Samuel Branan, a white gentleman of that city, paid for their equipment.

The Dames prominently mentioned in connection with this organization were Captain John Jones, James Riker and Aleunder G. Dennison.

The Sacramento Zouaves was another Negro military organization. The names of their officers were Captain Pierson, First Lieutenant William Gault, Second Lieutenant William Quinn, Drummer Boy Albert Grubbs. Among the -names prominently mentioned with this organization were Barney Fletcher, Bill Goff and Albert Grubbs (senior).

During the Philippine Insurrection the United States War Department had two volunteer Negro regiments offered by Negroes who, after their retirement, have loeated in California. Since it has been impossible to secure sketches from all now living in the State, the writer has deemed it fitting to quote the entire list of officers of these two regiments.