California State Military
DepartmentThe Sotoyome Guard was an independent military
company organized February 16, 1859, at Healdsburg, Sonoma County.
This company was formed during the period when great delay was
experienced in obtaining arms and equipment and according to the
Adjutant General's Report of 1861, there never were any
arms issued to the Sotoyome Guard. As a way out of the difficulty,
and wishing to have his company trained, Captain Norton borrowed
arms from the Petaluma Guard
who were in the service of the State at that time. Even though
the new company was able to obtain arms for drill purposes, the
members received a discouraging blow when a fire which nearly
destroyed the entire town in the fall of 1860, burned the armory
including the borrowed equipment.
Captain Norton advised the Adjutant General in the latter part of 1860, that the membership of his company was falling off rapidly, and according to the Adjutant Generals Report of 1861, no returns had been received by that office and the Sotoyome Guard was therefore, considered a disbanded unit (1)
(1) Adjutant General Report, 1861, page 128