Page 31 - Historical Study of Yerba Buena Island, Treasure Island and Their Buildings

The San Francisco Directory, 1861, (Ref. C), described Yerba Buena Island acreage as follows:
"198 ac. comprised of:
75 ac. of rich soil, well adapted for garden purposes
15 ac. are heavily timbered
23 ac. are jungle and brushwood
85 ac. are hilly, rocky and sandy, being thickly covered with the herb or mint plant.
Springs of excellent water abound on the eastern and western sides, in the midst of a
fertile valley. The apex of this island is 343 feet above high water."

1.2.3 Military Control, 1867-1898

The military established their presence on Y erba Buena Island in February of 1867. The military
use of and presence on the Island for 31 years was intermittent, despite the extraordinary
measures the military used in order to retain possession of the Island.

Special Order No. 252 of the Commanding General at San Francisco December 19, 1866 reads:
"The Commanding Officer of Alcatraz Island will send tomorrow morning a detachment of one
sergeant and ten privates under a commissioned officer from his command to take post at Y erba
Buena". (Ref. AA). Although the order was to be carried out on December 20, 1866, it appears
that it was not actually fulfilled until February 1867. The stated purpose was to" ... garrison the
island ... "; however, it probably had more to do with a conflict between Dowling and a Mr. J.
Pelter. Against Dowling's will, Mr. Pelter was occupying a house on the island. The bitter
rivalry had nearly come to a draw of pistols. It appears that the Commander was disturbed by
this and, therefore, under the pretense of garrisoning the island, put a force in place to keep both
men in line and to simultaneously establish military claim to the island. In any case, a small
force commanded by Major Mansfield landed on the island and finally established the military's
presence. Major Mansfield eventually bought six hogs from Dowling for $40. He also
determined that the only building of use to the Army was !}le main house owned by Dowling.

As early as 1865, it had been proposed that the Navy should establish a drydock on Yerba Buena
Island. The proposal was rejected because the Navy had already built the Navy Yard at Mare
Island near Vallejo. In 1868, an Army detachment of 125 men were sent to Yerba Buena Island.
Their mission was to establish a regular artillery post and depot on the island. The base was built
on the Island's eastern side at the edge of the cove. In a pattern that would become familiar
throughout the military, buildings and structures were erected in a square around a large clearing.
See Figures 6 and 7. The clearing was used as a parade ground. A large two-wing Barracks
(adequate for two companies of soldiers), a Mess Hall, Laundresses Quarters, Commanding
Officer Quarters, two Officer's Quarters, a Hospital (once Dowling's house), a Guard House, a
Bakery, a Sutler's store, an Engineer's Store House, a Wharf, and a Boat House were erected.
The base had a capacity for 150 soldiers and 4 officers. From 1871 until 1879, the Fourth United
States Artillery Detachment occupied the site. Unfortunately, a major fire devastated the
original Barracks sometime during 1875. (Ref. X, July 10, 1881) Most of the Army men hated
their daily life on Yerba Buena Island. In 1879, General McDowell, decided to transfer the
command back to the Presidio of San Francisco, which was a welcomed relief to those
servicemen living on the island. General McDowell ordered the buildings on Y erba Buena
dismantled and rebuilt at the Presidio. However, it appears that the buildings were not removed.
They were mentioned in a newspaper article well after the Army had left. (Ref. X, July 10,
1881.) From 1872 to 1892, the base was officially listed as an Army Quartermaster Depot.

1-8 Historical Study ofYerba Buena Island, September 1, 1995
Treasure Island, and their Buildings