The following historical information is about the service of the "Stratman Zouaves" of the California National Guard, which served from December 15th, 1855, to February 26th, 1878. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or additional information that you wish to contribute, feel free to submit the information to the Webmaster.

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On December 11th, 1855, authority was given to F.C.M. Fenn of San Francisco, California, to organize and recruit a Company of State Militia. The work went along rapidly and at a meeting on December 15th, 1855, Fenn was elected as the Captain of the "Washington Continental Guard," and the company at once went to work on drilling and parading at local events. Commissioned and officially mustered into state service the company was assigned as Company D of the 1st Regiment of Artillery, 2nd Brigade, of the California State Militia, and took part in the routine of militia duties throughout the 1850's and took an active part from June to August 1856 during the Vigilance Committee troubles in San Francisco.

Not called into active service during the American Civil War, the company continued serving with the State Militia, responding to calls for assistance throughout the period, the most important event to take place during this period was on January 27th, 1862, when the company voted to change their name to the "Washington Light Infantry." At the end of the War in 1865 the various States began reducing the size of their State Militia, and as part of this reduction in 1866 the company was transferred from the 1st Artillery Regiment to the 2nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, and designated as Company B. On September 28th, 1867, the company once more voted to change its name, this time to the "Veteran Guard" - the reason for the chance was that upon the resignation of Captain Souther the company's membership consisted entirely of veterans from the Mexican War and Civil War, and they set membership criteria to belong to the company as to have been a veteran. This designation was maintained until July 24th, 1871, when due to the trouble of maintaining the necessary numbers of members who were veterans, the company changed its name to the "Warren Guard" and opened membership to veterans and non-veterans. The new name only remained for two years, when on June 27th, 1873, they changed their name once more, this time to the "Stratman Zouaves," in honor of Captain John Stratman who had been elected Captain of the company on January 10th, 1873. It was during this time that company adopted a Zouave style of dress and made quite a sensation at parades and civic functions in the San Francisco area. After Captain Stratman's departure from the company in 1875, taking his place Frederick W. Pierce was elected as Captain and at a meeting of the company on October 20th, 1875, a final name change was adopted, and they were redesignated as the "Thompson Rifles."

The company remained active in the National Guard throughout the last half of the 1870's, however, by September 1877 over half of the membership was discharged and the company fell below the required minimum to maintain a separate organization. As a result, orders were issued by the Adjutant General's Office to consolidate Company E of the 2nd Regiment (which had also fallen below strength) into the Thompson Rifles (Company B), however, the members of Company E refused the consolidation order and requested to be mustered out of service. Due to this the company was unable to maintain the required number necessary, and on February 26th, 1878, the company was officially mustered out of state service and disbanded. The remaining members of the old company joined with other new recruits and discharged members of other companies in 1878 and were organized as a new Company B of the 2nd Regiment, later designated as Company G in 1880, however, the company was a new company and not a continuation of the original organization, bringing an end to the twenty-three year history of the company.

When the company adopted the name "Stratman Zouaves" in July 1873, a Zouave uniform was adopted. An image of three members of the company in this uniform was published in the 'Sunday Call' of San Francisco, and shows three men with white button gaiters, lather jambieres, a fez with a thick trim around the base, Zouave style pantaloons, a Zouave cut jacket with trim and ball buttons, a light-colored vest with a center piece of trim and a sash. It is assumed that the Zouave uniform remained in use until 1875 when the company was reorganized as the Thompson Rifles, at which time it would have been replaced by regulation clothing.

('The Sunday Call,' August 3rd, 1902)