From 1848 until the Civil War, Placerville was a thriving city filled with fortune seekers looking for gold. In 1860, this remote city had more than 2,500 people in it. During the Civil War, the city saw a net decrease in population of more than a third. The city would not exceed its population in 1860 until 1940!
The El Dorado County Court House was built on this lot in 1859 when this city was in the heart of Gold Rush Country. It burned down in 1910 and the current courthouse was built at the same location in 1912. A year later the Grand Army Post for Placerville acquired two Civil War cannon from the War Department and memorialized their veterans at this site. The courthouse is at 495 Main Street in Placerville.
The Main Street area has several Civil War era buildings and an hour walk of the area is well-rewarded. Just a note, from June until September the temperatures are often in the 90 degree range, sometimes reaching above 100 degrees. Please bring water if you are walking around the streets of the city. I have heart failure and have had a stroke and I found stores and restaurants with air conditioning on the street for a welcome break from the heat.
The courthouse is over a century old and it is imposing for such a small city. On the side of the central doors are two Civil War cannons.
The monument was put up by the Grand Army of the Republic Post Number 108 which consisted of these members in 1886:
Name Co. Service Address Baldwin Julius A L 9th Iowa Cav Placerville Baylea J. W B 3d Iowa Inf Placerville Bruco George K 8th Cal. Inf Placerville Burlingham N. D H 1st N. Y. Dragoons Garden Valley Chapman Joseph L 2d Cal. Cav Diamond Springs Chapman N K 2d Cal. Cav Diamond Springs Crawford J. J H 100th Penn. Inf Placerville Culbertson A. T H 5th Wis. Inf Placerville Curry James B 187th Ohio Inf Placerville Dean S. C I 2d Cal. Cav El Dorado, Cal. Dixon Wm. H E 5?th Ill. Inf Placerville Fales Warren M I 6th Iowa Inf Placerville Fellows W. H. H D 7th Cal. Inf Placerville Gignac A. A D 6th Cal. Inf Placerville Jewett J. R A 1st Ohio Art Diamond Springs Lewis D. C E 11th Mass. Inf Garden Valley Macomber David W U. S. Navy Placerville McGregor W. H A 7th Cal. Inf Placerville Morey Henry S 6th Maine Inf Placerville O'Keeffe Michael I 2d Cal. Cav Placerville Turman H. B K 8th Cal. Inf Placerville Watkins James M E 85th Penn. Inf Placerville Watkins R. O E 1st Ohio Art Placerville Weatherwax Chas. H K 2d Cal. Cav Placerville Whitbeck W. H K 17th Ill. Cav Placerville Worth Thomas G G 7th Cal. Inf El Dorado
While some of the men served in California units, there were also men who served in New York, Maine, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts regiments, as well as in the Navy. These were likely men who moved to California after the war concluded.
The Grand Army of the Republic was the largest post-war Union veterans group. Post Number 108 was a small post compared to most G.A.R. posts in the east, but I have seen mention of it participating in encampments in San Francisco in Union veteran reunions at least until the early decades of the 20th Century.
In my research, while I know that the G.A.R. got the cannons from the War Department and that they were Civil War cannons, I could not find out what unit they were held by.
One of the cannons says it was made in 1862. The cannon weighs 1218 lbs. This makes it likely that this was a 12 pound howitzer.
The cannons are in good shape but the mounts they are placed on is deteriorating. The city should repair these and place an interpretive sign near the monument explaining why these cannons are here.
The courthouse is next to Confidence Hall, which was built in 1861, and is painted red in the photo below. I believe that the Bullion Curve Confederate robbers were tried in the original courthouse and that one of their members was hung near Confidence Hall.
All color photos taken by Pat Young.
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