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150th Anniversary of the American Civil War — How San Leandro Helped Save The Union

Ernie Manzo speaks at the next San Leandro Historical Society meeting about building forts such as those at Alcatraz and Fort Point during the Civil War

It must not be forgotten that during the year 1861, the burst upon the country carrying with it all its accompanying heartaches, havoc and desolation.

Although the scene of warfare lay thousands of miles away, California was not without its sympathizers. Military companies sprang up on every side.

Tomlinson Hawkins’ strong affiliation for his native state finally led him to join men planning to sail for the Isthmus of Panama in July 1862 on the ill-fated steamer Golden Gate [on their way to join the Union Army].

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I quote the following excerpt from Fleet Captain Pearson’s description of the disaster in his letter to a friend.

“On July 27th 1862 off the coast of Mexico near Mazatlan, the steamer caught fire about 4:45 in the afternoon. Captain Hudson was in command and Fleet Captain Pearson was on board. The only thing to do to save lives was to head the steamer for the shore, a distance of about three and a half miles.

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Soon after this, she took the beach very easily. In spite of heroic efforts to save her, the steamer was totally destroyed. Owing to the stormy sea, the huge breakers, and the powerful undertow, there was a great loss of life.

Many strong swimmers were unable to make it to the shore. From 242 passengers and 96 crew, there were only 140 lives saved, leaving the number of lost or missing at 198 persons.” My grandfather was among them.

The above quote, from San Leandro Recollections pamphlet The Webbers and McCoys by Catherine McCoy Retallic (granddaughter of Tomlinson Hawkins), illustrates one San Leandro family’s tragedy in the terrible war that split our nation in two.

Tomlinson Hawkins and his wife, Mary, lived on a farm in the valley that would later be covered by the Chabot Reservoir. Mary would remarry, be widowed again, and become the owner and operator of the Webber House, a San Leandro hotel offering room and board in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

California was far from the battlefields but still had a role to play in the Civil War. Tomlinson Hawkins was one of many who made their own way to join the battles in the East, but others heeded the call to arms by joining volunteer troops in California.

The San Leandro Gazette showed its Southern bias in many editorials denigrating Abraham Lincoln. Nevertheless, Alameda County strongly favored Lincoln and the Union. In 1862, a mass meeting was held on San Leandro Plaza to raise funds for the relief of wounded soldiers and a Union rally was held in San Leandro in 1864.

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the has invited Ernie Manzo, a long time Civil War re-enactor and living historian, to speak about the role of Californians in the Civil War.

Re-enactors recreate the life of the infantry soldier “in the field” on an active campaign. This involves a broad range of daily activities – drawing field rations and other supplies from the brigade commissary, setting up a field camp, participating in Army ceremonies, drill and re-enacted battles, plus other activities of a soldier's life.

Many participants become experts in Civil War history, and along with re-enactments, they do living history demonstrations, lectures and presentations. Manzo, in full dress uniform, will portray an Army engineer in the Bay Area during the Civil War building forts like Ft. Point, Alcatraz, and Angel Island.

The public is invited to this free event on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. at the , 300 Estudillo Avenue, San Leandro. For more information, email sanleandrohistory@gmail.com or call 510-582-3939.

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