The Nash Adobe (sometimes called the Nash-Patton Adobe), California Historic Landmark No.) 667, sits less than a block from the Sonoma Plaza on First Street East, a privately-owned home in beautiful condition and shaded with large aging trees. The one-story home had been built by lumberman Henry A. Green on a lot owned by bachelor John H. Nash, a nearly-illiterate Bear Flagger, who had been elected Alcalde by the less than 100 settlers, Americans and Mexican natives.
One summer evening in 1847, just as Green, his wife and daughter and Nash were sitting down to supper, there was a loud knock on the wooden door and two men burst into the room. One was a stern-faced redhead in the uniform of an American Army officer, and the other wore a Navy officer’s uniform. Both had pistols holstered to their belts. The Army officer asked if John Nash was in, and Green said “no,” but one of the women pointed to the older man.
The army officer took Nash by the arm and announced: “You’re coming along with me.”
“Where?”
“Monterey.”
“Why?”
He would explain later, replied the Army Officer.
Henry Green moved from the dinner table to block the door.
“How dare you arrest a peaceable citizen in my house?” Green demanded in a theatrical tone.
The Army Lieutenant said nothing, but pointed to the pistol protruding from its holster on his hip.
Green continued shouting as they led a frightened Nash out the door. Suddenly four armed young U. S. Navy Midshipmen appeared just outside. One of them, awkwardly drawing his pistol, inadvertently pulled the trigger, firing into the ground with a loud clap of noise which sent Green hastily retreating indoors.
The Americans hustled Nash up the block to the southeast corner of the plaza where there was a simple horse-drawn cart waiting. They boosted Nash into the cart and proceeded toward the embarcadero, a dock where Sonoma Creek met the highest navigable tide from San Pablo Bay. There they loaded their prisoner into a long boat that would be propelled by eight sailors at the oars. Nash was especially nervous, because although he had crossed the hostile plains from the east, he had never traveled the 40 miles from Sonoma to the Pacific Ocean, and this was the first time he would be sailing on the bay.
As the long boat swung into San Francisco Bay, the lieutenant explained to a terrified Nash that he was under orders to take him to the headquarters of the U. S. Army in Monterey to remove him as Alcalde of Sonoma. Nash had been asked in writing to resign in favor of another and had refused. He could not do that, declared his captor.
The Army man was Lieutenant William Tecumseh Sherman, a graduate of West Point who would gain fame in the Civil War as one of the most effective Union generals, cutting Georgia in half and burning Atlanta. He would be noted for his legendary quotations: “War is hell,” and in response to suggestions he run for President: “If nominated I will not run and if elected, I will not serve,” giving rise to the term “Sherman-like statement.” The naval officer was Midshipman Louis McLane, whose father had been Secretary of State and minister to Great Britain.
Technically the Mexican War was still underway, but in the Mexican province of California the Americans had subdued the last of the Mexican resistance. It would be several months before the American army would be victorious in the final battles on Mexican soil on the east coast. In the meantime, local governments in California had relied on the proclamation of Commodore John D. Sloat, the American naval commander who had captured Monterey on July 7, 1846, which promised that all Californios would retain their citizenship rights, including the election of local officials called Alcaldes, who were a combination of mayor and local judge.
Sloat was succeeded by Commodore Robert Stockton, who at one point in the early fighting had named John C. Fremont military governor of California, although without authority to do so.
The War Department sent General Stephen Kearny and a small army overland to take over the American military operations in California. Kearny contended his appointment gave him civil authority. The impetuous Fremont would not recognize Kearny as commander, issued orders from Los Angeles as military governor and refused to release his California volunteers to a unified command, while Kearny established headquarters in Monterey. Shortly after war was officially declared against Mexico in May, 1846, Lieutenant Sherman had been dispatched to Monterey via a six-month ship journey around Cape Horn, carrying large amounts of money for the troops. Duly impressed by the highly intelligent Sherman, General Kearny appointed him his number one aide.
When a regiment of Stevenson’s New York volunteers arrived in March, 1847, one of its seven companies was ordered to Sonoma under the command of Captain George E. Brackett who billeted his men at the Barracks, which was not quite finished. They recognized Alcalde Nash as the civilian authority, provided there was no interference with military activities. Nash took a somewhat inflated view of his position, signing himself as “Chief Justice of the District of Sonoma.”
General Kearny was scheduled to return overland to Washington with Fremont in tow. Turning over command to Colonel Richard B. Mason, Kearny left a written order to remove Alcalde Nash and replace him with former Missouri Governor Lilburn W. Boggs, whom Kearny was appointing. Kearny, Mason and the top naval officer all believed that Sloat’s generous declaration had been foolish, and that the American military was an occupying force and had no responsibility to grant any rights. The military governor could appoint whomever he wanted. [When the peace treaty was adopted in 1848, those rights the former Mexican citizens had enjoyed would be guaranteed.]
Soon Military Governor Mason received a letter from Boggs in Sonoma asking when he was to be named Alcalde as promised by General Kearny. Colonel Mason sent a direct order to Captain Brackett to remove Nash and install Boggs and give the new Alcalde all books, records and money held by Nash as Alcalde. If there was a refusal by Nash then the Captain should use force.
Instead of following the order, Brackett wrote that he wished to be excused since the community of Sonoma was in a state of “effervescence” due to the potential removal of Nash who was supported by most of the people of the area. Brackett wrote that he was a volunteer (although a West Pointer) about to retire to live in Sonoma and he did not want to anger its people. Mason was infuriated, but Lieutenant Sherman offered to do the job and chose McLane to accompany him and a handful of sailors.
So Sherman and company set off to Sonoma with their goal a secret, and eventually eased their long boat into the mouth of Sonoma Creek. After dawn they met with Mariano Vallejo, former Governor Boggs, and Captain Brackett, who furnished them a cart. They went through the motions of buying supplies for the American navy, and waited for Nash to return from a trip to Napa Valley. When it got dark they made their way to the Greens’ house. Lieutenant Sherman banged on the door.
Later in Monterey, Colonel Mason explained the facts of political life to a very seasick Nash and assured him that no harm would come to him. The ex-Alcalde was presented with new clothes, a horse and saddle and sent on his was back to Sonoma, after he promised that he would turn his office over to Lilburn Boggs.
An upcoming column will describe The Saga of Governor Lilburn Boggs.
Gerald Hill is co-author with his wife, Kathleen Thompson Hill, of six books on regions of the west coast, Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara and the Central Coast, Monterey and Carmel, Victoria and Vancouver Island and Northwest Wine Country and several other books and numerous articles. In addition to his Hill on History columns, his program Hill on History is broadcast on KSVY-FM, 91.3 at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays.
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