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A Brief History of the 6th California Volunteer Infantry

By Patrick McSherry

Fred Robert Michael, 6th California Volunteer Infantry, Co. H
Sgt. Fred Robert Michael, Company H, 6th California Volunteer Infantry. The original family surnamewas Michel. Fred's father, an immigrant from Germany apparently changed the family name. Fred was born in San Francisco, which is also where the photo was taken. Sgt. Michael went on to serve with the 35th U.S. Volunteer Infantry in the Philippines.

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General:

The Sixth California Volunteer Infantry served its term of service within the continental U.S. In fact, the regiment served within the state of California itself.

The Regimental History:

The 6th California Volunteer Infantry was formed at San Francisco and was mustered into service on May 11, 1898. At the time of mustering in, the regiment consisted of thirty-one officers and 641 enlisted men in eight companies under the command of Lt. Col. William R. Johnson.

The various companies of the regiment were distributed to various posts along the coast to defend the state against any possible attack. Companies of the regiment served at Santa Cruz, Alcatraz Island, Benicia Barracks and Fort Point from June 1 to September 10, 1898. On September 10, the regiment was consolidated at Fort Point.

On December 15, 1898, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris between the U.S. and Spain ending the war, the regiment was mustered out of service at Fort Point. At the time of mustering out, the regiment consisted of thirty-one officers and 591 enlisted men. During its term of service, the regiment had three enlisted men succumb to disease. one man commit suicide and three men desert. In addition, twenty-three men were discharged on disability.



Bibliography:

Brew, Tom - Image of and data on Fred Michael

Correspondence relating to the War with Spain And Conditions Growing Out of the Same Including the Insurrection in the Philippine Island and the China Relief Expedition. Vol. 1 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1902) 584.

Denger, Mark J., "California's Volunteer Forces during the Spanish-American War," The California Military Museum   ( http://www.militarymuseum.org/spam.html )

Roster of the 6th California Volunteer Infantry, Veterans' Patrol. (Stockton Printing Co.)

Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces Called into Service During the War with Spain; with Losses from All Causes. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899).


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