CHAPTER II.

“INDEPENDENT CITY GUARD.”

THE political corruptions, ballot-box stuffing, and the great number of homicides committed with impunity, were the causes leading up to the Vigilance Committee of 1856. These criminals depended upon their fellows, some of the worst then being themselves officials, to shield them from prosecution and to again set them free. The opinion steadily gained ground with the better element of society that it would be utterly impossible to correct these evils by due process of law; still none would make a move toward taking matters into their own hands, and the worse element thus held full sway.

It was while popular feeling was thus strained to a high tension that theEvening Bulletinmade its appearance, with James King, of William, as editor. King devoted his energies in denouncing the crimes and all criminals who had given most offense to the community.

The crisis finally came when this fearless editor, on May 14, 1856, published in his journal the fact that James P. Casey, who had but lately stuffed the ballot-box with his own name while inspector of election, and had declared himself elected supervisor of the Twelfth Ward, was a graduate of the New York state prison at Sing Sing, which statement was true. Casey thereupon, within two hours, mortally wounded King. The news of this fresh homicide spread like wildfire, and Casey’s friends hurried him to jail, deeming it the safest place.

An immense congregation of excited citizens assembled on the Plaza, closing upon and threatening to storm the jail in order to execute dire vengeance upon the murderer. This crowd grew to wonderful proportions.

In the mean time the authorities were not idle; the military were called upon to preserve order, and, in obedience to its sworn duty, the “City Guard,” within an hour thereafter, left the armory (corner Kearny and Clay) for the scene of trouble. Although the company had but a short distance to go, it was a march to be long remembered, for upon appearing on the street, the members met with a warm reception. The crowd jeered, they stormed, they threatened, they threw all sorts of missiles (no one was seriously injured however), did every thing possible to impede their progress toward the jail, but with no avail. These soldiers, putting all their personal feelings aside, were doing but their duty, and they did that duty well.

Lieutenant Watson, who was in command during the absence of Captain Clark in the East, had the muskets loaded with ball, and it became necessary, not only to use the bayonet occasionally, but two or three times was the command “aim” given, and the men silently and with determination waited for the word “fire,” so were their tempers worked upon by this time: it was a hot crowd. Fortunately for some one, however, the mob gave way under this pressure, and the “Guard” finally entered the jail, taking position best adapted for its proper protection. Here the company remained all night and until 10:30 o’clock the next day, when the excitement becoming somewhat abated, they returned to the armory and were dismissed, with orders to report again immediately upon hearing the alarm sounded.

This summons never came. But, on the other hand, notwithstanding the prompt response and constant readiness of the boys to perform their duty, Lieutenant Colonel West and Sheriff D. Scannell mistrusted them, and quietly removed the arms and accoutrements from the armory that day, thus leaving the organization without the means of effective service. This high-handed proceeding upon their part was resented by the “City Guard,” as will be shown by the following proceedings of a meeting held at the armory at 2 o’clockP. M.of the following day, the 16th (it being duly advertised in the papers of that time), to take into consideration the removal of arras and accoutrements from their armory on the 15th instant:

“Lieutenant Watson in the chair.

“Lieutenant Colonel West appeared to explain his action in relation to the removal of said arms and accoutrements, statingthat said arms were removed by order of Major General Sherman,[7]and that he held himself personally responsible therefor.

[7]Commanding Second Division, C. S. M.

“After which the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

“Resolved, that in the opinion of this corps we have been unjustly and improperly deprived of our arms without the consent or knowledge of our commandant.

“Resolved, therefore, that a committee be appointed to wait on Colonel J. R. West and request the return of the arms, and, in the event of said request not being complied with, the ‘City Guard’ do immediately disband.

“Meeting adjourned to 7:30 o’clockP. M.

“Pursuant to adjournment, the corps assembled at the armory, when the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted upon the call of the roll:

“Whereas, the request for the return of our arms and accoutrements has been refused, we find ourselves wholly unable to equip our members, and deprived of the power to respond, as ever heretofore, to the call of duty that may be made upon us, therefore,

“Resolved, That the ‘City Guard’ do hereby disband.

“Resolved, That the events of the past few days prove that we have ever held ourselves ready for the prompt discharge of a soldier’s duty.”

These resolutions were signed by the sixty-one members.

On Tuesday evening, May 27, 1856, the members again met and organized the “Independent City Guard,” and elected the following officers and non coms.: Captain, John A. Clark; First Lieutenant, George F. Watson; Second Lieutenant, Asa L. Loring; Bvt. Second Lieutenant, Peter Van Pelt; Orderly Sergeant, E. M. Crowell; Sergeants, Wm. H. Watson, H. Van Pelt, Nathaniel M. Ford; Corporals, H. H. Thrall, Luke Wilder, John Ames, and Chas. E. Rand; Quartermaster Sergeant, Ephram B. Clement; Treasurer, W. H. Watson; Secretary, John Ames. By-laws were adopted on June 25th following.

Through the generosity of the citizens who fully indorsed the action of the company, the “Independent City Guard” was fully equipped with a full set of arms and accoutrements similar to those taken away. The donations thus furnishedfor the equipment amounted close on to $2,000. The corps retained, of course, the uniforms previously adopted, they being the personal property of its members.

Immediately following the shooting of King, and of the events above described, many prominent business men and citizens determined upon decisive action, and, without further delay, the Vigilance Committee was formed, many companies armed and equipped. Within a comparatively short time three thousand men were enrolled into the companies and regiments thus raised. Although the “Independent City Guard” took no part as an organization, the members individually did, and they played a very prominent part in this array. Chas. Doane, afterwards captain of the company, was Grand Marshal over all the troops, Watson and many others being officers therein, while the balance went into the ranks.

On Tuesday, May 21st, Casey, together with Cora, who had killed United States Marshal Richardson, were taken from jail, there being no resistance, and hurried to the headquarters of the committee. There they were tried, convicted, and both hanged on the 22d, the day that King was buried.

The Law and Order Party were also well organized, and many conflicts were narrowly averted. The committee’s troops, however, succeeded in disarming the others, making them practically powerless.

Both the California Guard and the National Guard followed the example of the “City Guard,” and formed independent organizations.

It may be well to here add that, in all, four persons were executed, and a great many others were banished. On August 18th following, all these troops, 5,137 in number, after a grand review and parade, were mustered out, the object of the Vigilance Committee having been accomplished.

The three years following this important epoch in the history of the company were uneventful as to military requirements. The company drilled regularly, besides parading on both stated and public occasions.

During the month of July, 1856, or perhaps a little earlier, the “I. C. G.” moved from the armory then occupied to one at 112 Sacramento street, between Montgomery and Sansome, where they remained until the first month of 1860.

Captain Clark resigned on April 15, 1857, and 1st Lieutenant George F. Watson was advanced to the captaincy on May 14th following, with Asa L. Loring as 1st Lieutenant;Nat M. Ford 2nd Lieutenant; Benjamin H. Freeman being Junior 2nd Lieutenant, and William C. Little Brevet 2nd Lieutenant.

The company’s fancy uniform, modeled after the uniform of the City Guard of New York, was adopted during either April or May of 1858, nearly all having been made in the East; the first parade with them took place on July 4th of the same year. The cost to each individual member, including the high bearskin shako, was one hundred dollars.

May, 1858, found Lieutenant Freeman in command of the company, Watson, Loring, and Ford having previously resigned. On June 6th following, Charles Doane was elected captain, and John W. McKenzie 1st Lieutenant, Freeman and and Little 2nd and Junior 2nd Lieutenants respectively. H. H. Thrall being advanced to Brevet 2nd Lieutenant.

Here ends the career of the company as the “Independent City Guard,” for on March 11th, 1859, the organization was again admitted into the service of the state as the “City Guard,” being attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Div., C. S. M. Witness the following order:

“Whereas, certain petitioners, citizens of the county of San Francisco, have presented to me, the undersigned, county judge of the county aforesaid, a memorial praying that they, the said citizens, being eligible to military duty, may be duly enrolled as a volunteer corps, attached to the Second Brigade, Second Division C. S. M., under the name of ‘City Guard,’“Now, therefore, in pursuance of authority vested in me, I do hereby nominate and appoint Captain Thomas D. Johns to superintend an election to be held by the subscribers aforesaid, on the 11th day of March, 1859, at No. 112 Sacramento street, for commissioned officers, in manner prescribed by law, between the hours of 7 and 10 P. M.“Witness the Honorable M. C. Blake, county judge of the county of San Francisco, this first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.”[SIGNED] “M. C.Blake, County Judge.“Attest:Wm. Dun, Clerk.“By D. P.Belknap, Deputy.”

“Now, therefore, in pursuance of authority vested in me, I do hereby nominate and appoint Captain Thomas D. Johns to superintend an election to be held by the subscribers aforesaid, on the 11th day of March, 1859, at No. 112 Sacramento street, for commissioned officers, in manner prescribed by law, between the hours of 7 and 10 P. M.

“Witness the Honorable M. C. Blake, county judge of the county of San Francisco, this first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.”

[SIGNED] “M. C.Blake, County Judge.

“Attest:Wm. Dun, Clerk.“By D. P.Belknap, Deputy.”

In compliance with the above, the company met and duly organized the “City Guard,” electing the same officers as on June 6, 1858, with the exception that the position of brevet second lieutenant was left vacant.

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