Californios

[major bill]

We not accuallyimagrants Californios (Hispanic Califorians) played an important part in the Civil War, especially after the Confederates abandoned of New Mexico and Arizona. Early in the war the California leaned towards supporting the Cofederate cause. They however ended up mostly supporting the Union and avoided being like the Tejano in Texas with Tejano fighting against Tejano.

The First Battalion of Native Cavalry of the California Volunteers proved to be excellent calvary men and were highly skilled horsemen use to the oppressive heat.

 

[diane]

The First Battalion of Native Cavalry of the California Volunteers were indeed excellent. In addition to Californios, they had Yaqui and SoCal Indians with them as well as Mexicans and Frenchmen. Quite a group. One of their commanders was Salvador Vallejo, younger brother of Gen Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo who basically owned the whole north bay above San Francisco, where Sonoma, Solano, Vallejo, Benicia - all that area was his huge land grant. The Californios were ethnic Spanish for the most part. They were Union, and used primarily to guard against Indians, Mexicans and French in the Mojave - believe they were out of Fort Yuma.

 

[diane]

Here is one of their commanders, Salvador Vallejo:

The Californios were accomplished horsemen and carried a military tradition with them. They made their living as vaqueros, very notable in the cowboy history of Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. This unit was one of the few lancer units in the US cavalry - a tradition they carried from Spain and Mexico. They'd seen action before, during the Mexican War, having a good victory in the battle of San Pasqual - near San Diego, but that also marked the decline of their power.

 

[major bill]

Not from California but from Massachusetts was Lt. Joseph De Castro who was the first Hispanic during the Civil War to win a Medal of Honor.