Note: The following information was provided to me by David Davis, who graciously allowed me to share with the readers herewith.  We previously explored the Smoke Creek Cemetery. In 1968, a cross was built on the hillside by members of the Lassen County Historical Society. By the early 2000s the foundation of the cross rotted away and the cross toppled over. Here is a history of the topic and the cross replacement.

HISTORY AND MEMORIALS REPORT

October 19, 2025

David A. Davis, General William Passmore Carlin Camp 25 Camp Commander/Historian/Civil War Memorials Officer.

SMOKE CREEK CROSS

October 11, 2025

For background, the following is modified from my report of August 13, 2023: Camp Smoke Creek was located at the old Smoke Creek Station near the Nobles Emigrant Trail. It contains a burial plot that contains the grave of four soldiers:

Pvt. John Smith; Co. C, 2nd CA Cav., d. Jan. 18, 1863, shot by Lt. Williams at Deep Hole

Pvt. Gustavus W. Plass; Co. C, 2nd CA Cav., d. Nov. 9, 1863, typhoid at Smoke Creek

Serg. William McCoy; Co. D, 1st NV Cav., d. Jul. 3, 1864, unknown causes

Pvt. David O’Connell; Co. B, 2nd CC Cav., d. Nov. 17, 1865, Killed by Indians at Pine Forest

Following the history would take some doing. Co. C, 1st Nevada Cavalry was stationed there in late 1863; Co. A, 1st Nevada Infantry was stationed there July through October 1864; and Co. D, 2nd California Cavalry was stationed there July 1865 through April 1866. Co. B, 2nd California Cavalry was mainly stationed at Dun Glen June 1865 through April 1866. They made an incursion into the Black Rock Mountains in the Pine Forest District in November 1865 where O’Connell was killed. It does not say where he was buried. Detachments of other Nevada and California units were probably stationed there or passed through. Deep Hole was a station located about 20 miles east-northeast of Smoke Creek and a Nevada Cavalry detachment was stationed there in April 1865. 2nd Lt. Henry W. Williams of Co. C, stationed at Smoke Creek, shot Smith at Deep Hole and then deserted his command because of it. He was dishonorably discharged Jan. 27 9 days after the shooting.

The Smoke Creek Ranch 7.5′ quad has the ruins and a grave marked. The public land urvey location is T31N, R18E, Sec. 16, SW/4 of the NW/4. The Lassen County Historical Society located the graves in 1964 and placed a large wooden cross there in June 1868. The site is on property owned by Jackrabbit Properties.

In the intervening years, this cross rotted off and fell over. On October 11, Commander David A. Davis, JVC Donn Dalton, Don’s nephews Sonny and Heath Victor, and Jay Carter who helps with restoration work at the Hillside Cemetery made a trip to the site and erected a new cross.

The cross was made by Donn and SVC David Perdue from 4” by 6” redwood boards taken from a demolished deck and painted white. The boards were bolted together on site, and the cross was cemented into the ground with rocks piled around the base. Commander Davis made a temporary metal marker with the Camp name and dated punched into it that was nailed to the cross.

Tim