"I caused stakes to be driven at every furlong, with a board strongly nailed upon each, and legibly marked 'United States reserve.'" Lieutenant George Horatio Derby September 29, 1849

 

 

1849

“In September, the United States Government established a Military Post called Camp Far West, on the north side of Bear River, eight miles below the Nevada County line. It was occupied by a detachment of the Second United States Infantry. Usually one Company, although frequently three or four companies were there. The post was under the command of Captain Day, an old army officer. Major Mckinstry and Captain (afterwards General Lyon, who was killed at the battle of Wilson’s Creek, Missouri, in 1861, occasionally visited the place.” Thompson and West 1879

 

"Log houses were built for barracks and officers' quarters. There was also a log fort."

           Thompson and West 1879

 

“The place was abandoned in May 1852, and the troops numbering about 40 men of Company E. First Infantry, under the Command of Lieutenant Davis, were ordered to set out for the upper Sacramento….A public sale was held on the first day of May, of the extra stores. Mr. Chana states that many of the soldiers were dishcharged."                                                                                   Thompson and West 1879

 

1850

 “Placer Times January 19, 1850

Notice

“the new town of Marysville…Persons desirous of visiting this place, will find a road passable at all seasons of the year from Sacramento city, by way of Norris Johnson’s old ranch (now Gillespie’s thence to the town…Chas. Covillard & Co., Proprietors

                                                                       Marysville, January 8, 1850”

                                                      Thompson and West 1879

 

“Placer Times Feb 2, 1850

Court held for the District of Sacramento, at Marysville, upon the Yuba…in conducting the administration of justice, when necessary, the Court is authorized to call upon the Commandant of the United States troops stationed at Johnson’s ranch.

                                             Stephen J. Field

                                             Clerk of said Court

                                             And Alcade of Marysville”

                                             Thompson and West 1879

(Stephen J. Field, future Justice United States Supreme Court)

 

Stephen J. Field

Early Days in California

1877 (Printed in 1893)

 

            But the case which made the greatest impression upon the people, and did more to confirm my authority than anything else, was the following: There was a military encampment of United States soldiers on the Bear River, about fifteen miles from Marysville, known as “Camp Far West.”  One day an application was made to me to issue a warrant for the arrest of one of the soldiers for a larceny he had committed. It was stated that a complaint had been laid before the local alcalde near the camp; but that the officer in charge had refused to give up the soldier unless a warrant for that purpose were issued by me, it being the general impression that I was the only duly commissioned alcalde in the district above Sacramento. On this knowing I issued my warrant, and a lieutenant of the army brought the soldier over. The soldier was indicted, tried, convicted, and sentenced to be publicly whipped with the usual number of lashes, and the officer stood by and saw the punishment inflicted. He then took the soldier back to camp, where it was afterwards reported that he received an additional punishment. But before the lieutenant left me that day, and while we were dining together, he took occasion to say that, if at any time I had any trouble in enforcing the law, I had but to send him word and he would order out a company of troops to support me. This offer I permitted to become known through the town; and people said- and with what effect may be imagined- “Why here is an Alcalde that has the troops of the United States at his back.”