[2] That same year, in July, William T. Sherman arrested John H. Nash at the house.

Nash was the magistrate of Sonoma during the Bear Flag Revolt,[2] and he refused to step down to allow Lilburn W. Boggs to take over.

[3] Sherman took Nash to Monterey to face military governor Colonel Richard B. Mason.

After Mason explained the military governor's absolute authority to appoint and remove an alcalde until California achieved its own civilian government.

Nash gave up his defiance of Mason's appointment and returned peacefully to Sonoma.