Difference between revisions of "Civil War"
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[[File:Civil War SCI.jpg| | [[File:Civil War SCI.jpg|500px|thumbnail|right|<center>Civil War Troops, Isthmus, 1864.</center>]] | ||
[[File:SCat cw barracks.png|500px|thumbnail|right|<center>Civil War Barracks, Catalina Harbor, built in 1864.</center>]] | |||
[[File:BARRACKS C. 1901.png|500px|thumbnail|right|<center>Civil War Barracks, Catalina Harbor, c. 1901.</center>]] | |||
[[File:Powderhorn.png|500px|thumbnail|right|<center>Civil War cow powder-horn scrimshaw by John Sutten, <br>Santa Catalina Island, 1864</center>]] | |||
[[File:John Sutten.png|500px|thumbnail|right|<center>John Sutten scrimshaw powderhorn, <br>Santa Catalina Island, 1864.</center>]] | |||
'''CIVIL WAR''' | '''CIVIL WAR''' | ||
In 1864, the U.S. Union Army sent 83 soldiers to survey Santa Catalina Island both to protect the area from Confederate privateers and survey the isthmus and adjacent Catalina Harbor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a location for a future Indian reservation for "militant" tribes captured in the Bald Hills War. Captain Benjamin R. West, army commander on the island, and Company C, 4th California Infantry occupied the Isthmus from January 2, 1864 until September 14, 1864. (The 4th California Infantry was a volunteer infantry regiment recruited from northern California during the American Civil War. It was organized at Sacramento, Placerville, and Auburn in September and October 1861.) | |||
The Indian reservation idea was abandoned and so was the camp, but the barracks built remain as a monument to the Civil War. | |||
During the 1920s and 1930s, Hollywood film crews used the Two Harbors Barracks as housing while they transformed Santa Catalina Island into the South Pacific for movies like Mutiny on the Bounty and Old Ironside. | |||
Decades after their first tour, the barracks were once again called on by the U.S. military. During World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard used the barracks as a training station for new recruits. Since 1951 the barracks have been managed by the [[Isthmus Yacht Club, Santa Catalina Island|Isthmus Yacht Club]]. | |||
• Theodore J. Kornweibel, Jr. [http://www.militarymuseum.org/SantaCatalinaIslandCW.pdf "The Occupation of Santa Catalina Island During the Civil War"] | |||
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November 26, 1863 [Henry Hancock to Lieut. Col. James F. Curtis]: “Sir: I have the honor to report that at 8 P.M. of the 22nd instant I arrived at Fisherman’s Harbor, Island of Catalina, with two enlisted men of Company C… having sailed from the port of San Pedro on the sloop Ned | '''November 26, 1863 [Henry Hancock to Lieut. Col. James F. Curtis]:''' “Sir: I have the honor to report that at 8 P.M. of the 22nd instant I arrived at Fisherman’s Harbor, Island of Catalina, with two enlisted men of Company C… having sailed from the port of San Pedro on the sloop ''Ned Beale'', burden 17 28/100 tons, owned by Spencer W. Wilson of Wilson’s Harbor, Island of Catalina… The population of the island is about 100, one-half of whom are miners… The present number of sheep is about 15,000, nine thousand of which belong to Mr. Spencer W. Wilson. Of goats there are some 7,000 or 8,000. Of cattle and horses there are not many… John Johnson, ten years a resident, 200 head of cattle… Spencer H. Wilson, five years a resident; 10 head of cattle… Juan Cota, 400 head cattle… Swain [Sven] Lawson, 10 head cattle…” | ||
'''April 6, 1864 [SDU]:''' “... Military Possession. It will be proper here to state, as some may not be aware of the fact, that this island, at present, is held as the property of Uncle Samuel. He took it to himself as a New Year's present, as on that day he sent some of his brave boys here, who will keep it from pirates and foreign invaders as long as it is in their uncle's pleasure. No brag in that, it is said by one of the Fourth California Infantry. Volunteer.” [excerpt from a long letter published about the island, primarily describing the offshore fish life] | |||
'''June 12, 1864 [DAC]:''' “Letter from Santa Catalina Island. June 3rd, 1864... The Isthmus is a beautiful location, although treeless and uncultivated. It does not exceed a furlong in width, and in length scarcely exceeds half a mile. Its course is north and south and it has a harbor at each extremity. The north, or landward harbor is well situated for the small craft now engaged in trade from San Pedro. But a weird and bold scenery surrounds the south harbor, called, by way of pre-eminence, "Catalina Harbor." Though small, it is deep and almost landlocked, affording safe anchorage for vessels of large tonnage at almost all seasons of the year. The Isthmus is almost exclusively occupied by the military now stationed there. Captain West, the officer in command on the island, is a quiet, estimable gentleman, and a genial companion. His mild but firm discipline has endeared him to his men. Barracks are in process of erection, and it would be wisdom in the Government to be liberal in its appropriations for military improvements on the island of Santa Catalina...” | |||
Latest revision as of 15:38, 23 January 2024
CIVIL WAR
In 1864, the U.S. Union Army sent 83 soldiers to survey Santa Catalina Island both to protect the area from Confederate privateers and survey the isthmus and adjacent Catalina Harbor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a location for a future Indian reservation for "militant" tribes captured in the Bald Hills War. Captain Benjamin R. West, army commander on the island, and Company C, 4th California Infantry occupied the Isthmus from January 2, 1864 until September 14, 1864. (The 4th California Infantry was a volunteer infantry regiment recruited from northern California during the American Civil War. It was organized at Sacramento, Placerville, and Auburn in September and October 1861.)
The Indian reservation idea was abandoned and so was the camp, but the barracks built remain as a monument to the Civil War.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Hollywood film crews used the Two Harbors Barracks as housing while they transformed Santa Catalina Island into the South Pacific for movies like Mutiny on the Bounty and Old Ironside.
Decades after their first tour, the barracks were once again called on by the U.S. military. During World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard used the barracks as a training station for new recruits. Since 1951 the barracks have been managed by the Isthmus Yacht Club.
• Theodore J. Kornweibel, Jr. "The Occupation of Santa Catalina Island During the Civil War"
In the News~
November 26, 1863 [Henry Hancock to Lieut. Col. James F. Curtis]: “Sir: I have the honor to report that at 8 P.M. of the 22nd instant I arrived at Fisherman’s Harbor, Island of Catalina, with two enlisted men of Company C… having sailed from the port of San Pedro on the sloop Ned Beale, burden 17 28/100 tons, owned by Spencer W. Wilson of Wilson’s Harbor, Island of Catalina… The population of the island is about 100, one-half of whom are miners… The present number of sheep is about 15,000, nine thousand of which belong to Mr. Spencer W. Wilson. Of goats there are some 7,000 or 8,000. Of cattle and horses there are not many… John Johnson, ten years a resident, 200 head of cattle… Spencer H. Wilson, five years a resident; 10 head of cattle… Juan Cota, 400 head cattle… Swain [Sven] Lawson, 10 head cattle…”
April 6, 1864 [SDU]: “... Military Possession. It will be proper here to state, as some may not be aware of the fact, that this island, at present, is held as the property of Uncle Samuel. He took it to himself as a New Year's present, as on that day he sent some of his brave boys here, who will keep it from pirates and foreign invaders as long as it is in their uncle's pleasure. No brag in that, it is said by one of the Fourth California Infantry. Volunteer.” [excerpt from a long letter published about the island, primarily describing the offshore fish life]
June 12, 1864 [DAC]: “Letter from Santa Catalina Island. June 3rd, 1864... The Isthmus is a beautiful location, although treeless and uncultivated. It does not exceed a furlong in width, and in length scarcely exceeds half a mile. Its course is north and south and it has a harbor at each extremity. The north, or landward harbor is well situated for the small craft now engaged in trade from San Pedro. But a weird and bold scenery surrounds the south harbor, called, by way of pre-eminence, "Catalina Harbor." Though small, it is deep and almost landlocked, affording safe anchorage for vessels of large tonnage at almost all seasons of the year. The Isthmus is almost exclusively occupied by the military now stationed there. Captain West, the officer in command on the island, is a quiet, estimable gentleman, and a genial companion. His mild but firm discipline has endeared him to his men. Barracks are in process of erection, and it would be wisdom in the Government to be liberal in its appropriations for military improvements on the island of Santa Catalina...”
