Comments:

Mattie Andrews was the young daughter of Brevet Major George P. Andrews (the VA Gravesite Locator mistakenly has [in April 2004] his middle initial as "B"), the post commander on Angel Island from 1863-1865.   Brevet ranks were given to officers as a reward for distinguished service, but were largely honorary.  George Andrews' brevet was awarded for his participation in the Mexican War in the late 1840's, but his official rank on Angel Island was captain of Company B of the Third Artillery Regiment (see also Charles H Morgan for more on brevet ranks).

 The 3rd Artillery was founded back in 1821 and by 1850 had seen extensive service in the campaigns against the Native Americans and during the Mexican War.  During the 1850's most of the regiment was sent to the Pacific Northwest to participate in several actions against the Native Americans there.  In early 1861 the regiment was consolidated in San Francisco and most its companies were sent back to the East Coast where the Civil War was looming.  Company B remained to guard the San Francisco Bay, however, and was the first unit to garrison Camp Reynolds on Angel Island in 1863.  Mattie Andrews was the first person to be buried in the Angel Island Post Cemetery.

 In the 20th century the old artillery regiments were broken up and redesignated. Most recently the Co. B, 3rd. Artillery was known as the 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery (4-3 ADA) and was inactivated in September of 2005 following a tour of duty in Iraq.