The Law and Order Party were also well organized, and many conflicts were narrowly averted. The committee’s troops, however, succeeded in disarming the others, making them practically powerless.
Both the California Guard and the National Guard followed the example of the “City Guard,” and formed independent organizations.
It may be well to here add that, in all, four persons were executed, and a great many others were banished. On August 18th following, all these troops, 5,137 in number, after a grand review and parade, were mustered out, the object of the Vigilance Committee having been accomplished.
The three years following this important epoch in the history of the company were uneventful as to military requirements. The company drilled regularly, besides parading on both stated and public occasions.
During the month of July, 1856, or perhaps a little earlier, the “I. C. G.” moved from the armory then occupied to one at 112 Sacramento street, between Montgomery and Sansome, where they remained until the first month of 1860.
Captain Clark resigned on April 15, 1857, and 1st Lieutenant George F. Watson was advanced to the captaincy on May 14th following, with Asa L. Loring as 1st Lieutenant; Nat M. Ford 2nd Lieutenant; Benjamin H. Freeman being Junior 2nd Lieutenant, and William C. Little Brevet 2nd Lieutenant.
The company’s fancy uniform, modeled after the uniform of the City Guard of New York, was adopted during either April or May of 1858, nearly all having been made in the East; the first parade with them took place on July 4th of the same year. The cost to each individual member, including the high bearskin shako, was one hundred dollars.
May, 1858, found Lieutenant Freeman in command of the company, Watson, Loring, and Ford having previously resigned. On June 6th following, Charles Doane was elected captain, and John W. McKenzie 1st Lieutenant, Freeman and and Little 2nd and Junior 2nd Lieutenants respectively. H. H. Thrall being advanced to Brevet 2nd Lieutenant.
Here ends the career of the company as the “Independent City Guard,” for on March 11th, 1859, the organization was again admitted into the service of the state as the “City Guard,” being attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Div., C. S. M. Witness the following order:
“Whereas, certain petitioners, citizens of the county of San Francisco, have presented to me, the undersigned, county judge of the county aforesaid, a memorial praying that they, the said citizens, being eligible to military duty, may be duly enrolled as a volunteer corps, attached to the Second Brigade, Second Division C. S. M., under the name of ‘City Guard,’