Quote:
Originally Posted by ethereal_reality
Last night, while trying to find out more about the old city hall [Temple's building in the article below]
I saw the key words 'Cavalry' and '1964' and thought it was referring to the Civil War.
Now I see that it's an ad for a Native Cavalry Co. (with a $260 bounty!)
Los Angeles Star, July 16, 1864
Am I correct in saying it's a posse in search of Native-Americans [Indians].
As for the bounty: Is the $260 for the capture, or killing, of Indians? If so, is it $260 for ea individual...or..  |
e_r, this is mostly guesswork by me, but: This probably refers to one of the pseudo-military companies which were formed at the time to protect the community from bad guys. For instance, see this from the January 24, 1857,
Los Angeles Star: “During the week, Mr. Getman, the City Marshal, called public attention to the present disturbed and dangerous state of society here, inviting all interested in maintaining peace and order to come forward and enroll themselves as a cavalry company, to hold themselves in readiness for immediate service. About a dozen persons responded to the call, by enrolling their names, and placing each a horse or equipments at the disposal of the Marshal. When those persons owning property and engaged in business display such apathy in so vital a matter, no wonder robberies and murders are of so frequent occurrence. The first requirement of society is protection to life and property—without which we need never look for an augmentation of population. This can be secured only by the cooperation of the people of the locality. The Marshal is unceasing in his efforts to bring the guilty to punishment, and deserves well of the community. We understand that one or two convicts, escaped from the State prison, are connected with this band of robbers. On Thursday night, the Sheriff, J.R. Barton, Esq., mustered a company, and went in search of the outlaws who are committing depredations in the neighborhood of San Juan [
Capistrano] and other places in the county. We hope these companies will shoot down the ruffians, should they find them. We want no prisoners, to saddle the county with their support for months, winding up with the farce of trial and acquittal.” (Barton, of course, came to a bad end.)
A rival such company--called the Rifle Company--was organized in L.A. in March, 1857. Here's something from the April 4, 1857, issue of the
Los Angeles Star: “At an election for officers of this company, held last week, the following gentlemen were chosen to fill the respective offices: Cap[t]ain—W.W. Twist. 1st Lieut., W.D. Brown; first 2nd Lieut.: A. Albright; second 2d Lieut., Henry King. Surgeon, Dr. Carter; Asst. do., Alex. S. Read. 1st Sergeant, Alonzo Waite; 2d, Joseph Warble; 3d, Sydney Waite; 4th, Geo. S. Dillon; 1st Corporal, M. Flashner; 2d, Theo. Wettergren; 3d, Perry Switzer; 4th, Samuel Meyers. Farrier and saddler, H. McLaughlin. Trumpeters, Huestus Smith and Henry Ulyard. The company numbers, besides the above, forty-five privates. The uniform adopted is neat and inexpensive—black pants, blue shirts, and blue caps. The arms are the rifles lately received from the State. The company paraded during the week at the funeral of their deceased member, Mr. H. Wagner, and made a very creditable appearance.”
"Native" in "Native Cavalry Company" probably refers to "us locals" rather than to Indians.
The bounty is likely an inducement paid to each company applicant who is accepted.
"Lieut. Streeter," I conjecture, is frontiersman William Adams Streeter, who married Josefa Valdez, who, though born in Santa Barbara (in 1826?), was confirmed at L.A. Plaza Church in 1830; she married Streeter October 3, 1848, at the Santa Barbara Presidio chapel. Valdez's father was Ramon Jose Antonio Valdez (
alias Jose Ramon Antonio Valdez) . . . who happens to be one of the five memoirists in a recently-published book authored by one [
checks spelling] Brent C. Dickerson. Josefa's great-grandfather was Eugenio Valdez of the Rivera Expedition. Honorifics such as "Lieut." and "Capt." etc. are to be looked at with suspicion in this era, and not as necessarily betokening actual military rank, current or past, in the U.S. Army.
Let's see . . . Have I beaten this to death yet? [
checks] Yeah, looks like it.
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