The 4th California Infantry was a volunteer infantry regiment recruited from northern California during the American Civil War. It was organized at Sacramento, Placerville, and Auburn in September and October 1861. History The regiment was originally organized in 1861. Most of the recruits, caught up in war fever, expected to be sent to the eastern battlefields. They were disappointed to be instead ordered to garrison duty and related tasks on the West Coast, where they spent the remainder of their enlistments. The regiment served principally in the District of Oregon, (Oregon and Washington Territory), and in the District of Southern California, although some companies were shifted to Arizona later in the war. None of these duties required regimental strength, so the companies of the regiment were detached and scattered. The last elements of the regiment were mustered out on April 18, 1866. Captain Charles Atchison of Company I at Fort Mohave, Arizona Territory Soldiers with Native Americans at Fort Mohave Commanders Colonel Henry M. Judah, September 1861 - November, 1861. Colonel Ferris Forman, November, 1861 - August 20, 1863. Colonel James F. Curtis, August 20, 1863 - until it was disbanded by consolidation, November 30, 1865 Flags The Regimental flag and Company B's flag were the only banners to survive the war and are preserved in the State's Capitol. Other flags were taken from newspaper accounts.[1] Most of the company flags were made by locals.[2] Regimental colors - The flag never was flown in combat and was given to Governor Frederick Low on November 30, 1865, by Colonel Curtis to be preserved in the Capitol.[3][4] Company A - It was described as "The flag was blue silk, trimmed with silver bullion lace. On one side was the coat of arms of California, on the other the words “Presented by the Ladies of Auburn;” and upon a gilt ground—“'When duty calls 'tis ours to obey.” It was given to members of the militia before they joined the company in September 1861.[5] Company B - The flag was made by the women of Forest Hill and was presented to the company on October 22, 1861.[6][7] Company C - The flag was the stars and stripes made from silk by the women of Placerville in September 1861.[8][9] It was flown at Santa Catalina Island when the company was stationed there.[10] On April 13, 1866 the flag was given to ladies of Shasta county by Captain B. R. West.[11] Company D - The captain was given a "Large American flag" by the women of Amador County on October 29, 1861.[12] Digital reconstruction of Company A flag,(based off a newspaper's description)[5]   Digital remake of the National color of Company B,(California State Capitol Museum)[6][1] Company assignments Regimental headquarters - First located at Auburn, Placer County. While stationed there five companies were sent to the District of Oregon to relieve the regulars stationed there. From February to May, 1862, the headquarters and five companies were at Camp Union, near Sacramento. During the month of May headquarters was moved to Camp Latham, near Los Angeles, where it remained until September, 1862, when it was transferred to Drum Barracks, where it remained for the remainder of the regiment's service. Company A - This company was organized at Placerville mostly made up of men from the Auburn Greys militia,[13] September 21, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, until August, 1862. Ordered to San Francisco August 15 and duty at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. Ordered to Camp Drum March 1, and duty there until January, 1864. At Santa Barbara until the terms of service of most of the members expired, and they were discharged at Drum Barracks, October 13, 1864. The company was immediately reformed with the few whose terms had not expired and new recruits. It remained at Santa Barbara until November, 1864. At Cahuenga Pass, November 30, 1864; at Drum Barracks, December, 1864, and January, 1865. Sent during the month of April 1865 to Fort Humboldt. At Camp Iaqua May 1, 1865, until it was ordered to the Presidio of San Francisco, for final muster out on November 30, 1865. Company B - Captain Fitch and Lieutenant Copely of the Mountain Volunteers joined this company, which was organized at Placerville, September 25, 1861. They moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. In January, private Edward was excessively drinking in town when he tried to head back to the fort unnoticed. He was near the gates when he was spotted by a guard, Edwards pulled a knife on the man and in response the guard raised his gun shot and killed him.[14] At Fort Vancouver until March, 1862. At Fort Dalles to October, 1862. Ordered to San Francisco October 3, and duty at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. Ordered to Camp Drum March 1, 1863, and then to Fort Mojave April 29, and duty there until June, 1864. Ordered to Drum Barracks, and duty there until mustered out. Like Company A, Company B was reorganized with veterans and recruits and then ordered to Fort Humboldt April 5, 1865, and then to Fort Gaston, and duty there until it was finally mustered out. Company C - This company was recruited in Shasta County and was named the Shasta Guards[9] during the month of September, 1861. It was marched to Auburn, Placer County, where it was mustered into the United States service October 5, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, until August, 1862. Ordered to San Francisco August 14, and duty at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. At San Francisco until May. Ordered to Camp Drum May 28, 1863, and duty there until January, 1864. Occupation of Santa Catalina Island January 2, and duty at Camp Santa Catalina Island where they raised their company flag[10] until December, 1864. At Drum Barracks until March, 1865, and at Fort Mojave until mustered out. Company D - This company was organized at Auburn, Placer County and was named the Volcano Blues.[7] It was mustered into the United States service October 15, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Yamhill, Oregon, until March, 1863. Ordered to Fort Hoskins March 25, and duty there until December, 1864. Expedition from Siletz Block House to Coos Bay April 21-May 12, 1864. At Fort Yamhill until muster out. The company was reorganized and remained at Fort Yamhill. It was finally mustered out at the Presidio, S. F., December 19, 1865. Company E - This company was organized at Auburn, Placer County and was named the Trinity Volunteers.[7] It was mustered into the United States service October 10, 1861. Moved from San Francisco to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, October 29-November 4, 1861. At Fort Steilacoom until October 3, 1862. Ordered to San Francisco, and duty at Benicia Barracks until May, 1863. Ordered to Drum Barracks May 28, and duty there until January, 1864. At Fort Yuma until June, 1865. At Drum Barracks until muster out. Company F - This company was raised in Coloma, El Dorado County, in September, and was mustered into the United States service at Auburn, Placer County, October 16, 1861. At Camp Sigel, near Auburn, until January, 1862. Moved to Camp Union, Sacramento, then moved to San Francisco April 28, and to Camp Latham, Southern California. At Camp Drum until March, 1863. Moved to Fort Yuma March 1, 1863; to La Paz, Arizona. April 28, 1863; to Fort Yuma August 15, and to Drum Barracks November 7, 1864. Reformed like the other companies, Company F moved to Fort Humboldt May 1, 1865. Duty in Humboldt Military District until mustered out. Company G - This company was organized at Camp Sigel, near Auburn, October 26, 1861. At Camp Sigel, until January, 1862. Moved to Camp Union, Sacramento, then moved to San Francisco April 28, 1862, and to Camp Latham, District of Southern California. On October 7, 1862 Captain Grant arrested Colonel E. J. C. Kewen on charges of treason.[15] They then headed to San Diego, California, and duty there until mustered out. Company H - This company was mustered into service, February 6, 1862, at Camp Union. Moved to San Francisco April 28, and to Camp Latham, Southern California. On August 29 private John Daker drowned in a creek near Camp Latham while trying to bath.[16] They stayed at Camp Latham and Camp Drum until March, 1863. Ordered to Fort Yuma March 1, and duty there until January, 1864. Moved to Drum Barracks January, 1864, then to San Luis Obispo July 27, 1864. Returned to Drum Barracks and duty there until mustered out. On May 20, 1863, men from Company H were involved in the La Paz incident, resulting in two men from Company H killed and one wounded.[17] Company I - This company was raised in Nevada City, and was mustered into service at Camp Sigel, on the seventh day of October, 1861. At Camp Sige until January, 1862. Moved to Camp Union, Sacramento, then to San Francisco April 28, and duty at Benicia Barracks until November, 1862. To Fort Umpqua November 12. Duty there and at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. Moved to Camp Drum under Captain Charles Atchisson[18] March 6 and to Fort Mojave April 29, and duty there until mustered out. Company K - This company was organized at Camp Union, February 1, 1862. Moved to San Francisco April 28, 1862, and duty at Benicia Barracks until March, 1863. Moved to Camp Drum March 6, then to Fort Yuma. Then duty until April, 1864; at Drum Barracks until April, 1865; at Camp Lincoln until July, 1865; at San Bernardino until August, 1865; and at Drum Barracks until it was ordered to the Presidio of San Francisco for final muster out on November 30, 1865.[19] The flags are The Auburn Greys Calif 4th Inf and Co B Mountain V of the Caif 4th Inf.

Those are some beautiful picture frames.

You guys have been such a big help. I ship within the next 10 days, and I’ll definitely remember all of this information. I’ve been told by a few others not to stress too much at reception as well. Any more help or advice is greatly appreciated. When I get back, I’ll make some time to sit down and write a post detailing my experience and share it here on the forum (not exactly sure which topic yet). I'll do that so others preparing to go in, or those curious about how things have changed since their time in, can read it.  Thank you all,  Hayden

I managed to get hold of a Maxofascial Shield for the HGU-84 and I installed the CX/4832 along with the speakers into the helmet so pretty much construction is now complete along with that I also added a new lip light which has a IR illuminator and the green lights with a built in switch on the battery connector that controls the lights flip the switch one way you activate the IR illuminator and flip it the other way to turn on the green lights.

Soldiers of the 4th Calif Inf. with Native Americans at Fort Mohave

Captain Charles Atchison of 4th Calif Inf. Company I at Fort Mohave, Arizona Territory

4th California Infantry Regiment (Union) The 4th California Infantry Regiment was a Union volunteer infantry regiment organized in September–October 1861 at Sacramento, Placerville, and Auburn in northern California Wikipedia+1. It was part of the Department of the Pacific and served from September 1861 to April 18, 1866, when it was mustered out Wikipedia+1. Organization and Command Colonel Henry M. Judah (Sept 1861 – Nov 1861) Colonel Ferris Forman (Nov 1861 – Aug 20, 1863) Colonel James F. Curtis (Aug 20, 1863 – Nov 30, 1865, when the regiment was consolidated) Wikipedia+1 Service and Deployment Most recruits expected to be sent east, but were instead assigned to garrison and occupation duties on the West Coast Wikipedia. The regiment served in: District of Oregon (Oregon and Washington Territory) District of Southern California Some companies later moved to Arizona Wikipedia+1 Because duties were often company-level, the regiment was detached and scattered; no company was ever held in full strength for extended combat Wikipedia. Company Assignments and Movements A: Fort Vancouver (1861–1862), Benicia Barracks, Camp Drum, Santa Barbara, Fort Humboldt, Camp Iaqua National Park Service+1 B: Fort Vancouver, Fort Dalles, Benicia Barracks, Camp Drum, Fort Mojave, Drum Barracks, Fort Humboldt, Fort Gaston National Park Service+1 C: Fort Walla Walla, Benicia Barracks, Camp Drum, Santa Catalina Island occupation (1864), Drum Barracks, Fort Mojave National Park Service+1 D: Fort Yamhill, Fort Hoskins, Coos Bay expedition, Fort Yamhill National Park Service+1 E: Fort Steilacoom, Benicia Barracks, Camp Drum, Fort Yuma, Drum Barracks National Park Service+1 F: Camp Sigel, Camp Union, San Francisco, Camp Latham, Fort Yuma, La Paz, Arizona, Fort Yuma, Drum Barracks; later Fort Humboldt National Park Service+1 G: Camp Sigel, Camp Union, San Francisco, Camp Latham, San Diego National Park Service+1 H: Camp Sigel, Camp Union, San Francisco, Camp Latham, Camp Drum National Park Service+1 Notable Events Occupation of Santa Catalina Island (Co. C) in January–December 1864 National Park Service La Paz incident (Co. K) Wikipedia Fort Mohave duty in Arizona Territory Wikipedia Flags and Legacy The regiment’s regimental flag and Company B’s flag are the only surviving banners, preserved in the California State Capitol. Company flags were often made by local women and presented to companies before enlistment Wikipedia. Roster The unit’s roster lists 2,114 men FamilySearch+1. In summary: The 4th California Infantry was a small, scattered Union regiment that saw little large-scale combat but performed important garrison, occupation, and frontier duties along the Pacific coast during the Civil War.  

Guess I forgot to post this here last year. have the dummy NVG's on and the helmet looks the part. You will be surprised with what I managed to get hold of this year for this helmet.

Don’t stress too much while you’re at reception battalion. Lots of idiots think that is the true experience you are going to get. If you focus and don’t let them psych you out, you will be surprised how many guys drop out before they get to actual basic training.    And as dd937 says, a great deal of military life is all mental. You are going to hit many points very soon where you will feel like you made the wrong decision or that you’re not cut out for it. You got to tell yourself thats BS. No matter how tired or hurt you think you are, you can alway go a little further    Also, get used to wearing a camelback ALL THE TIME

"Execution of a soldier of the 8th Infantry in Prescott, Arizona 1877" is the caption. In fact, it is the execution of Private James Malone of Company K 12th US Infantry in Prescott Arizona 15 March 1878 for his part in a January 1876 murder[2]