California Frontier
Prof. Damian Bacich shares the history you didn't learn in school. Each episode is a deep dive into the fascinating early history of California and the West. Listen to stories and interviews with scholars, experts, and people who are passionate about a time when California was the frontier of empire and imagination.
California Frontier
082: California's Forgotten Soldiers: The Californio Lancers Part 2
In this episode, we delve into the second half of an interview with Tom Prezelski, author of Californio Lancers: The First Battalion of Native Cavalry in the Far West.
The discussion covers the period post-Civil War, focusing on the unit's deployment to Arizona and the numerous challenges they faced, including malaria, desertion, and campaigns against the Apaches and French imperialists in Northern Mexico.
We explore figures like Salvador Vallejo, Captain Pico, and Colonel Ronstadt, as well as the diverse backgrounds of the unit's soldiers and their complex motivations for joining.
The episode provides a comprehensive look at the battalion's legacy and traces the intersections of various historical threads in the American Southwest during the 1860s.
00:00 Introduction to the Interview
01:25 Deployment to Arizona and Challenges
02:59 Campaigns Against the Apaches and French Imperialists
04:58 Health Issues and Desertion
06:36 Confrontations and Leadership Dynamics
15:34 Recruitment and Composition of the Unit
21:50 Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
31:12 Uniforms and Disbandment
35:11 Legacy and Memorials
37:40 Conclusion and Future Projects
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Contact:
damian@californiafrontier.net
