Civil War & California

California's part in the Civil War: The State of California was in its infancy when the Battle of Ft. Sumter, near Charleston, SC took place in 1861 starting the American Civil War. While patriotic fervor swept California residents after this battle, Volunteer Regiments, recruited from pro-Union counties from the northern part of the state were sent to occupy pro-secessionist Southern California leaving Southern Californians powerless during the war. Although 17,000 men from California participated in the War Between the States, California's contribution to the effort was of small scale.

However, according to The American Civil War Society, during the early 1860's the southern leg of Highway 79, (formerly part of the old 395) was a Civil War military road linking Los Angeles with Fort Wright (south of Temecula) and Fort Yuma.

Forts manned by the Union Army of the Pacific and Union forces:

• Kept Confederate Army of New Mexico out of California in 1862
• Prevented California gold shipments from falling into the hands of the south
• Stopped the advance of the Confederate Army in New Mexico territory and Confederate "state" of Arizona

California Column marched to Fort Yuma,  reclaiming the Southwest from retreating Confederate forces.