Mystery Pic- CA Soldier BAP?

[CivilWarParlor]

Found this on ebay. Being from California this is really interesting to me, never saw a portrait of any California soldiers before....
What does it say on his hat?
Info from post:
1/4 plate Ambrotype photograph showing an officer from California. It may be pre-Civil War circa 1858-1862. His hat reads CALIFORNIA and something else B A T ? In Union case

Looks like BAP to me? Anyone have any ideas about this photo?
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338579798&icep_item=281192040271

 

[AndyHall]

It looks like CALIFORNIA BAT to me. There was a unit called the 1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry. From NPS:

1st Battalion, California Native Cavalry

Overview:

Organized at large in California March, 1863, to July, 1864. Attached to Dept. of the Pacific. Company "A" at Presidio, San Francisco, to December, 1863. Ordered to District of Humboldt December 26. Arrive there January 12, 1864. Duty at Fort Gaston till March 6. Ordered to Camp Curtis March 6, and duty escorting trains to Arcate and Fort Humboldt to September 1, 1864. Ordered to Fort Humboldt September 1 and duty there till November 12, 1864. Ordered to Camp Wright and duty there till February, 1865. Ordered to Drum Barracks, District of Southern California, February 25, 1865, and duty there till May, 1865.

Company "B" on duty at the Presidio, San Francisco, till January, 1865. Ordered to San Juan, Monterey County, January 3, 1865, thence to Drum Barracks, District of Southern California, and duty there till May. Company "C" organized at Santa Barbara and ordered to Drum Barracks, District of Southern California, August 10, 1864, and duty there till May, 1865. Company at Drum Barracks, District of Southern California, till May, 1865. Battalion assigned to duty in District of Arizona May, 1865, and operating against Indians in that District till April, 1866. Mustered out April 2, 1866.
​

Also on Wiki.

 

[CivilWarParlor]

Thats it, Thanks! Will include this info in the other place I posted as update. Thanks !

 

[AndyHall]

Oh, I'm not at all sure that's right -- please just consider it a lead.

 

[CivilWarParlor]

Its sounds good to me.. will add "possibly"!