Thomas Varker Keam in the California Volunteers in the Civil War

Research note by Wesley Johnston, begun 21 Dec 2016, last updated 21 Dec 2016

This research note gathers together what I have found about Thomas Varker Keam's service in the California Volunteers on the side of the Union in the U. S. Civil War.

Laura Graves Notes

Laura Graves, in her very well researched 1998 book "Thomas Varker Keam: Indian Trader", wrote the following.

PP. 247-248, Footnote 3 to Chapter Two

"The record of Keam's enlistment [21 Jan 1862 at San Francisco, per p. 27] is from Muster Roll of Captain Esward D. Shirland, Company C Regiment of the California Cavalry Volunteers, June 25, 1863 in the California Volunteers collection, California State Archives (hereafer cited as Company C Muster Roll) and Richard H. Orton, Records of the California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1867 (Sacramento, Calif.: State Printing, 1890), p. 104 lists "Thomas Kearnes" as in Company B, and p. 114 lists "Thomas V. Kearns" in Company C (hereafter cited as Orton, Records of the California Men). Both individuals have the same muster-out information. This discrepancy is understandable, as Company B and Company C were merged. Orton, who was adjutant general of California, used names compiled from all existing muster rolls at the California State Archives. See also George Henry Pettis, The California Column, Historical Society of New Mexico, no. 11 (Santa Fe: New Mexican Printing, 1908) (hereafter cited as Pettis, The California Column).

History of the Regiment

The history of the Regiment is from Orton's book, pp. 68-86, from which is extracted the online web page at http://www.militarymuseum.org/1stCavCV.html

The important aspect is that they were in the Arizona and New Mexico territories, which is how Thomas Varker Keam first came there.