Civil War: Captain and commanding officer of Co. C, 1st Native California Cavalry

Antonio María de alta Gracia Francisco Remigio de la Guerra y Carrillo was born at Santa Bárbara, Alta California, México, where he was baptized in the Presidio Chapel October 2, 1825 (BP Baptism 00703). He was the son of Capitán José de la Guerra y Noriega, comandante of the Santa Bárbara Presidio, and María Antonia Carrillo y Lugo (SG Baptism 01341). Godparents were María Josefa Carrillo y ... and Carlos Antonio Carrillo y .... Officiant and Recorder was Antonio Ripoll. Antonio joined the Californio resistance to the U.S. invasion and occupation of Alta California in 1846. He became a U.S. citizen with the transfer of California's sovereignty in 1848 and was a lifelong resident of Santa Barbara County. During the Civil War he accepted a commission as captain at Santa Barbara on June 2, 1864, and helped raise Company C, 1st Native California Cavalry. He was commissioned as commander of Company C on July 27, 1864. Captain de la Guerra was posted to Fort Mason, Arizona Territory, where he became ill and was treated with mercury. He was still not well when he returned to Santa Barbara in January 1866, but resolved to be present when his company was mustered out at the Presidio of San Francisco April 2, 1866. Antonio returned to Santa Barbara and never regained his health. Antonio de la Guerra, County Supervisor, was living in Township 2, Santa Barbara, in 1870 (US Census). Antonio Maria de la Guerra was buried November 29, 1881, age 56 years (Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library, Burial Book 2, Pg. 053, B-461). He was never married.
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Don Antonio, the youngest de la Guerra son, was born in 1825 and was educated by mission padres with his formal education in a Chilean College where he spent several years. He became secretary to the Santa Barbara Ayuntamiento (City Council) in 1849 at the age of 24. In 1853 he served in the California Senate, and in 1857 was appointed Adjutant General for the Santa Barbara District of the militia. He served as Mayor of Santa Barbara and several terms on the County Board of Supervisors, during one of which he was elected Chairman. His photograph as County Supervisor hangs in the hall on the fourth floor at 105 East Anapuma Street. On July 27, 1864, he entered the United States [Volunteers] as captain of Company C, 1st Battalion, Native California Cavalry with 99 Cavalry Volunteers he had organized among the [Californio and Hispanic population] of Santa Barbara, to 'serve three years or the duration of the war.' After the company's cavalry training at Drum Barracks at Wilmington in southern California and under orders from his superiors, he led his company against hostile Indians in Arizona. While in the service he fell sick with fever and was disabled for active duty. He returned to Santa Barbara ahead of his company in February 1866 after nearly two years of service, and was mustered out April 2nd of that year with his men, who by this time had been returned to Drum Barracks, San Francisco Presidio, California. His health deteriorated so much that he became paralyzed for about a year, losing the use of his limbs, and suffered greatly during the last years of his life. He died on November 28, 1881, at the age of 56 years and was buried at Mission Santa Barbara Cemetery, within the de la Guerra Family Vault. According to records no military stone was ordered for him. The cause of his death has been variously reported as having died of cancer of the jaw or paralysis of the heart, but more than likely he died of mercury poisoning [given as treatment for his ailment at Fort Mason, Arizona Territory]. Captain Antonio Maria de la Guerra left no family, never having married. The final tragedy to the ending of the life of this famous member of the Santa Barbara de la Guerra family who contributed so much to the history of California, and especially to Santa Barbara, resulted after his death. His place of honor in Santa Barbara's history has been nearly forgotten as there was no memorial stone to view. A modern memorial stone was finally placed in his honor at the Cieneguitas Catholic Cemetery, La Patera, Santa Barbara County, California. Eighteen members of the military company that Captain de la Guerra raised to support the National Government during the Civil War are still buried there. Some of the veterans were re-interred to Calvary Cemetery c.1901. [Thanks to the late Edson T. Strobridge for his significant contributions to this effort]