Most of the 1st California was recruited from August to October 1861, with the exception of Company K, which was organized the following February. Many of its companies were formed from companies of the
California Militia taken intact into federal service others from individuals drawn from the militia.
James H. Carleton served as
colonel,
Joseph R. West as
lieutenant colonel and
Edwin A. Rigg as
major. It came under the command of the
Department of the Pacific (later it would come under the
Department of New Mexico). After some training at
Camp Downy near
Oakland and
Camp Latham near
Los Angeles. Companies D, F and G were sent to establish and garrison
Camp Wright in November 1861. Detachments from the camp captured
Daniel Showalter's party near
Warner's Ranch, November 20–29, 1861. In December, 1861, five companies of the regiment were sent to
Fort Yuma on the
Colorado River and the others to various posts around Southern California. The regiment was assigned to the
California Column, which was commanded by Carleton and composed of one infantry regiment (the 5th) and parts of two
cavalry regiments (the 1st and 2nd) of California volunteers and a company of Regular artillery. The Column was formed to drive the
Confederate Army of New Mexico out of the eastern part of the
New Mexico Territory. Due to supply problems, the force did not start for New Mexico until February 1862. The 1st California Infantry saw fighting at the
Battle of Picacho Pass (only Company I) and the
Battle of Apache Pass (this battle was against
Apache, not Confederates). During the battle sergeant O'Brien and private John Bar were killed. The regiment eventually moved to
Fort Craig. For the remainder of the war, the 1st California Infantry was engaged in garrison duty dispersed in posts across New Mexico Territory and Texas and fighting
Apache and
Navajo Indians in these places and in
Utah Territory. The regiment was mustered out on October 21, 1866. ==Commanders==