Murphy’s Corral: More Local History
Photo by Mindy Odom (BLM)
by George Beitzel
Just down the road about 5 miles south east of Glenbrooke is a monument marking Murphy’s Corral. In California we don’t have monuments marking major battles like Bunker Hill or Bull Run or Gettysburg. But we have a marker for a civil disobedience ( or was it horse stealing ?) that started California on its way to statehood.
We have to go back to the 1840's on the Murphy ranch along the north bank of the Cosumnes River. Murphy was a wheat farmer and was a host to area visitors. Kit Carson, Lt. W.T. Sherman ( later to become General Sherman) , and Capt. John Fremont had stayed with the Murphys.
Sherman was here doing land surveying to supplement his Army pay. Fremont was in California on a federal expedition but many thought his unoffical business was to encourage the Americans in California to overthrow the Mexican government.
Relationships between the American settlers, Mexican military and civilians in the valley became strained as relations between the United States and Mexico worsened with President Polk. The Mexican War ( 1846-48 ) only worsened relations.
In June 1846, Mexican military commander, General Castro, ordered Lt. Acre and fourteen men to move about 350 horses from one camp to another. All sorts of speculation arose in the American community as to why the horses were being moved. Horses in that period were worth around $ 15 / head or $ 5000. for the
herd.
A plan was hatched to capture the horses and arms. In the early morning of June 10, 1846 while the soldiers and horses were encamped at Murphy's ranch a group of local American civilians captured the horses and soldiers without a fight. The Mexican soldiers were disarmed and given horses to return back to the San Rafael Mission. Four days later the Bear Flag Rebellion started near the Sonoma Mission and culminated in 1850 with the state of California being admitted to the Union.
The monument is located on West Stockton Blvd. just north of the McConnell Estates Winery. It is a little tricky to find. A easy route is to go south on Promenade Parkway past the comatose unfinished mall to where the Parkway dead ends. Turn left on West Stockton Blvd and go about 1/4 mile. The marker is on the left adjacent to Hwy. 99.2 Responses »
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Thanks for the article - very interesting. I've bicycled by there many times without noticing this, and will be looking for it on my next trip.
Nice article, George! You are just a wealth of information! I do know where the winery is, so I guess the rest is easy! I actually pass that area every day to and from work. I'll have to investigate! HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU, JOAN AND THE DOGGIES!