Sarsfield Grenadier Guards
Encyclopedia
The Sarsfield Grenadier Guards were a military company from California
in the nineteenth century, mustered on July 29, 1870, in Sacramento
. It was named after the Irish Jacobite Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan. Its tradition is continued in Company B of the 184th Infantry Regiment.
, with 33 men sworn in led by three officers - Captain W. H. Ashton, Jr., 1st Lieutenant Charles Brady and 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Nolan. Ashton left in 1870 and was replaced by Captain Henry Johnson, who was succeeded by Henry Lewis on March 16, 1871. By tradition officers of the Grenadier Guards were elected by the men, a practice that continued into the 20th century. The Guards were named after Patrick Sarsfield, and despite a lack of equipment and uniforms entered active service immediately. Members were mainly Irish or of Irish descent.
on his visit to Sacramento
in 1891, and also acted as an escort on Grand Army of the Republic
memorial day in 1892. During the railway strikes of 1894 the Guards were deployed to keep the peace, and after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
they were deployed on fire suppression and rescue duties.
The Guards served on the Mexican border from June 27, 1916 to April 9, 1917, where after the entry of the United States into World War I
they were deployed in Europe.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the nineteenth century, mustered on July 29, 1870, in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. It was named after the Irish Jacobite Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan. Its tradition is continued in Company B of the 184th Infantry Regiment.
Formation
The Guards were mustered on July 29, 1870 as part of the California National GuardCalifornia National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
, with 33 men sworn in led by three officers - Captain W. H. Ashton, Jr., 1st Lieutenant Charles Brady and 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Nolan. Ashton left in 1870 and was replaced by Captain Henry Johnson, who was succeeded by Henry Lewis on March 16, 1871. By tradition officers of the Grenadier Guards were elected by the men, a practice that continued into the 20th century. The Guards were named after Patrick Sarsfield, and despite a lack of equipment and uniforms entered active service immediately. Members were mainly Irish or of Irish descent.
Assignment
The Guards were assigned as Company G of the 4th California Infantry on February 19, 1872, and when the 4th was disbanded on March 31, 1877 the Guards were transferred to the 1st Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. On March 19, 1880 they became part of the 1st Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade. On December 7, 1895 the 4th Brigade was broken up, reducing the number of brigades in California to three, and the Guards became Company G of the 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade.Activities
The Guards acted as an escort for President Benjamin HarrisonBenjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
on his visit to Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
in 1891, and also acted as an escort on Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
memorial day in 1892. During the railway strikes of 1894 the Guards were deployed to keep the peace, and after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
they were deployed on fire suppression and rescue duties.
The Guards served on the Mexican border from June 27, 1916 to April 9, 1917, where after the entry of the United States into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
they were deployed in Europe.