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Camp Latham, California Column
and Brig. Gen. George Wright, USA
by D J "Duke"Dukesherer, Sr.
If you were to travel to London Town, England, and take the time to look around, you would find at almost every corner and alley, plaques that commemorate the City’s lush history. I think it is very important to know about the place where you live; and was very shocked to learn that in my corner of the World: Westchester/Playa Del Rey, California, very few people knew anything at all about it.
Someone once said, “Most people live on the world not in it.” That may be true.
Having lived in many places; such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, New York, Seattle and St. Louis, I always made it my mission to learn about where I was. Not just the points on the compass, but learn about the history of the area; it’s founders and before them; what was there before and what happened that created what was there now.
A few years ago, I took upon myself to begin a new mission: writing a regular column for the Hometown News, with all but a few of the topics being the history of the “town.” And rather than just writing about dry history, telling about it in little stories. I sure do hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
It is one of my favorite times of year again; Independence Day. We all will enjoy parades, cook-outs and perhaps fireworks, but most of all I hope that we remember the all of the people that have died to keep this country free. The US of A is on its’ ear right now. The recession has hit us hard, and we remain embroiled in a protracted war; with many of our troops in harm’s way. But I know that we will turn this country around, as we have always done, and are men and women will be home again soon, and back enjoying a summer bar-b-q with us.
Our area, formerly called Rancho La Ballona was suffering a great deal in the 1860’s too. After the droughts of the 1860's decimated most of the rancho's cattle, squatters began to infest their huge land grant. During the first months of 1863, the smallpox epidemic raged all over Los Angeles, to such an extent that among the Indians, 90% perished, besides a great number of other people. Many Mexicans, chiefly of the impoverished classes, perished also, before the epidemic subsided, "for want of further material to work upon."
With the Civil War raging, July 4, 1863 was not celebrated in the city this year, but at the healthier environs of Camp Ballona harbor: now called Playa Del Rey, and more or less the location of Del Rey Lagoon. A few miles away, in what is now Culver City, a camp was established called Camp Latham, and commanded by Brigadier General George Wright. Wright was the Second Commander at Camp Latham, Rancho La Ballona. The Army patrolled the coastal area at what is now Playa Del Rey. In that year, 12 desertions occurred, as well as 3 deaths. It was believed that Confederates would launch an attack at Port Ballona, at the estuary of Ballona Creek. In California he commanded the largest force ever in the Far West; by 1862 he commanded 6,000 troops.
Camp Latham, Rancho La Ballona, was
located on Ballona Creek in Rancho La Ballona at the present
day intersections of Overland and Jefferson Boulevards. In 1862
the so-called California
Column crossed from California into Arizona, New Mexico, and
then Texas. Along the way the Californians fought the Battle
of Picacho Pass and, afterward, the Battle of Apache Pass. The
primary field commander was Colonel Christopher "Kit"
Carson.
Wright later became Commander of the Department of the Pacific.
On July 31 a detachment of troops from Drum barracks In San
Pedro, encamped in the city to afford protection to the Unionists.
Most of California was pro-Confederacy and a hotbed of spies
from the South.
Regimental colors of the First and Second United
States Cavalry, Camp Latham/ Rancho La Ballona, CA, commanded
by Brig. General George Wright. After Wright became Commander
of the Department of the Pacific, and while en route to his new
command, he died at sea when his ship the Brother Jonathan sank
off the California coast. His body was recovered six weeks later.
He is interred in the Sacramento City Cemetery.
The camp was named for U.S. Senator Milton Latham, who as
the sixth governor of California had the distinction of serving
only five days before resigning in January 1860 to take the seat
of Sen. David Broderick who had been killed the previous September
in a pistol duel. From a Civil War perspective it's interesting
to note that Latham was a pro-southern democrat, and his election
to the office of governor was opposed by those who feared that
he would make California a pro-slavery state. He was succeeded
by Lt. Gov. John Downey (and another pro-southern democrat),
who became the state's first foreign-born governor (Ireland)
and for whom the Southern California city of Downey is named.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR; D. J. “Duke” Dukesherer is a writer and historian based in Playa Del Rey, CA. He is the Founder of Full-Count Productions.
As a writer, his short stories have been published, online and in print; in the USA, Canada and Ireland. His latest book; Beach of the King, The Early History of Playa Del Rey, Westchester and Playa Vista, is available at amazon.com, and in bookstores everywhere.
Email comments to: dukehometownnews@yahoo.com |
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