Battle of Lincoln, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Lincoln in New Mexico from July 15 through July 19, 1878 was the largest armed conflict of the Lincoln County War
, a now famous range war
which took place in Lincoln, New Mexico
. The "war" led to the notoriety of gunman Billy the Kid
. The Battle of Lincoln was also one of the larger gunfights of the American Old West.
of rancher John Tunstall
by members of the Jesse Evans Gang, who were hired by the "Murphy-Dolan" faction as gunmen to harass that faction's competition. The murder and the subsequent lack of action by Lincoln County
Sheriff
William J. Brady
led to the formation of the Lincoln County Regulators
, led by Richard "Dick" Brewer
and other friends and supporters of Tunstall. The Regulators included Billy the Kid, Charlie Bowdre
, John Middleton
, Frank Coe
, George Coe
, and Doc Scurlock. The "war" had resulted in numerous killings by both factions, to include the shooting death of Sheriff Brady, and culminated in a final showdown in Lincoln.
On April 29, 1878, a posse including the Evans Gang and the Seven Rivers Warriors
, under the direction of Sheriff Peppin, engaged Regulators Frank McNab, Ab Saunders, and Frank Coe in a shootout at the Fritz Ranch. McNab was killed in a hail of gunfire, with Saunders being badly wounded, and Frank Coe captured. On April 30, 1878, Seven Rivers members Tom Green, Charles Marshall, Jim Patterson and John Galvin were killed in Lincoln, and although the Regulators were blamed, that was never proven. Frank Coe escaped custody some time after his capture, although it is not clear exactly when, allegedly with the assistance of Deputy Sheriff Wallace Olinger, who also gave him a pistol. On May 15, twenty-two Regulators led by Deputy Sheriff Doc Scurlock (who had been deputized by the new Sheriff, John N. Copeland), and including Billy the Kid, tracked down Seven Rivers gang member Manuel Segovia, who is believed to have shot McNab. There was a short fight and Segovia was shot and killed while allegedly trying to escape custody,
The morning after the shootout at the Fritz Ranch, George Coe, also a Regulator and the cousin of Frank Coe, took up position on the roof of McSween's house. George Coe, missing his trigger finger due to an earlier gunfight with Buckshot Roberts
, took aim at 'Dutch Charlie' Kruling, a member of the Seven Rivers Warriors gang. The distance has been estimated at being 444 yards, but that has never been confirmed, although it was likely in excess of 350 yards. Henry Newton Brown warned Coe he was wasting his shot, and could not hope to hit him at that distance. To Brown’s astonishment, Coe hit Kruling, wounding him.
, the former partner to John Tunstall, had organized and supported the Regulators, although he himself was a non-combatant during the conflict. On July 15, 1878, McSween gathered his Regulators in the town of Lincoln, while at the same time forces hired by the "Murphy-Dolan" faction organized to meet them, to include Jesse Evans and his gang, and the John Kinney Gang
, and led by the newly appointed Sheriff George Peppin
.
On July 15, the Regulators gathered in Lincoln, organized by McSween, and received word that a large posse was on its way into town. Instead of attempting to flee they elected to remain in town to meet the posse. The "Murphy-Dolan" forces soon rode into town from the west, and surrounded the McSween house, where the Regulators, as well as the new school teacher and the local Presbyterian minister and his family, had taken refuge.
The Murphy-Dolan men believed that they could take the Regulators by surprise, but were ill-informed. This opened up a barrage of gunfire from the posse, and return fire from the Regulators which soon changed to sporadic gunfire that continued throughout most of the day. At least five Murphy-Dolan men were wounded in the exchange, but the Regulators suffered no casualties. At around 4:30pm that afternoon, a detachment of cavalry
arrived from Fort Stanton
, under the command of Lieutenant
George Smith. The soldiers placed themselves between the posse and the Regulators, effectively stopping the gunfire exchanges.
Shooting exchanges continued through July 18, and by that time Colonel
Nathan Dudley
had come from Fort Stanton and taken command. When a soldier was wounded, Dudley gave his soldiers authority to end the conflict, and the cavalry detachment who were present in Lincoln became involved, ultimately benefiting the Murphy-Dolan faction. Members of that faction then set fire to the house, but when McSween attempted to surrender, he was shot nine times and killed, while the remaining Regulators escaped. McSween, his business colleague Harvey Morris, and Tom Cullins were the fatal casualties suffered by the Regulators. The Murphy-Dolan faction had suffered several wounded and two, Bob Beckwith and Charlie Crawford, were killed.
Rutherford Hayes dismissed Governor
Axtell, replacing him with Lew Wallace
, who immediately began trying to bring the lawlessness to an end. For many involved in the conflict he issued general amnesty
, but for others, including Billy the Kid, he issued warrants. Although a pardon
was discussed, but much due to his notoriety brought about by the range war, it never came to pass. Eventually, William Bonney aka Billy the Kid was killed by lawman Pat Garrett
. By that time the Regulators had simply broken up, with many reverting to normal lives.
Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a 19th-century range war between two factions during the Old West period. Numerous notable figures of the American West were involved, including Billy the Kid, aka William Henry McCarty; sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett; cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and...
, a now famous range war
Range war
A range war is a type of conflict that occurs in agrarian or stockrearing societies. Typically fought over water rights or grazing rights to unfenced/unowned land, it could pit competing farmers or ranchers against each other...
which took place in Lincoln, New Mexico
Lincoln, New Mexico
Lincoln is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, located approximately 57 miles west of Roswell and just south of the Lincoln National Forest. The town had a population of about 800 in 1888, and Main Street has been beautifully preserved by current residents....
. The "war" led to the notoriety of gunman Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
. The Battle of Lincoln was also one of the larger gunfights of the American Old West.
Background
The range war had begun with the murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of rancher John Tunstall
John Tunstall
John Henry Tunstall , born in England, became a rancher and merchant in New Mexico, where he became a prominent figure and was the first man killed in the Lincoln County War, an economic and political conflict perhaps compounded by ethnic rivalries.-Early life and education:John Henry Tunstall was...
by members of the Jesse Evans Gang, who were hired by the "Murphy-Dolan" faction as gunmen to harass that faction's competition. The murder and the subsequent lack of action by Lincoln County
Lincoln County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.1% White*0.5% Black*2.4% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*9.1% Other races*29.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
William J. Brady
William J. Brady
William J. Brady was the sheriff of Lincoln County during the Lincoln County Wars in New Mexico, United States. He was killed in an ambush, aged 48, in which Billy the Kid took part.-Early life:...
led to the formation of the Lincoln County Regulators
Lincoln County Regulators
The Lincoln County Regulators was a deputized posse in Lincoln County, New Mexico during the Lincoln County War, consisting of a dozen or so members who wanted revenge for the killing of their boss, John Tunstall...
, led by Richard "Dick" Brewer
Richard Brewer
Richard M. "Dick" Brewer , was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was the first leader of what historically is referred to as Billy the Kid's band, although Billy never led them.-Early life:...
and other friends and supporters of Tunstall. The Regulators included Billy the Kid, Charlie Bowdre
Charlie Bowdre
Charles Bowdre was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was an associate and member of Billy the Kid's gang.-Early life:...
, John Middleton
John Middleton (cowboy)
John Middleton was friend of Billy the Kid and a key member of the Regulators, who fought on behalf of John Tunstall during the Lincoln County War....
, Frank Coe
Frank Coe (Lincoln County War)
Frank Coe was an Old West cowboy and for a time gunman in the company of Billy the Kid, as a member of the Lincoln County Regulators.-Biography:...
, George Coe
George Coe (Lincoln County War)
George Washington Coe was an Old West cowboy and for a time gunman alongside Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War.Coe was born in Missouri, and ventured to New Mexico Territory in his youth, around 1871, alongside his cousin, Frank, to work on a ranch near Fort Stanton belonging to a...
, and Doc Scurlock. The "war" had resulted in numerous killings by both factions, to include the shooting death of Sheriff Brady, and culminated in a final showdown in Lincoln.
On April 29, 1878, a posse including the Evans Gang and the Seven Rivers Warriors
Seven Rivers Warriors
The Seven Rivers Warriors were an outlaw gang of the Old West known primarily due to their part in the Lincoln County War.-Formation:The gang was initially formed during the mid-1870s by disgruntled small ranchers, feeling themselves victimized by the large cattle holdings of ranchers such as John...
, under the direction of Sheriff Peppin, engaged Regulators Frank McNab, Ab Saunders, and Frank Coe in a shootout at the Fritz Ranch. McNab was killed in a hail of gunfire, with Saunders being badly wounded, and Frank Coe captured. On April 30, 1878, Seven Rivers members Tom Green, Charles Marshall, Jim Patterson and John Galvin were killed in Lincoln, and although the Regulators were blamed, that was never proven. Frank Coe escaped custody some time after his capture, although it is not clear exactly when, allegedly with the assistance of Deputy Sheriff Wallace Olinger, who also gave him a pistol. On May 15, twenty-two Regulators led by Deputy Sheriff Doc Scurlock (who had been deputized by the new Sheriff, John N. Copeland), and including Billy the Kid, tracked down Seven Rivers gang member Manuel Segovia, who is believed to have shot McNab. There was a short fight and Segovia was shot and killed while allegedly trying to escape custody,
The morning after the shootout at the Fritz Ranch, George Coe, also a Regulator and the cousin of Frank Coe, took up position on the roof of McSween's house. George Coe, missing his trigger finger due to an earlier gunfight with Buckshot Roberts
Buckshot Roberts
Andrew L. "Buckshot" Roberts was an American buffalo hunter and cowboy whose last stand against the Lincoln County Regulators during the Gunfight of Blazer's Mills near Lincoln, New Mexico is a part of frontier legend....
, took aim at 'Dutch Charlie' Kruling, a member of the Seven Rivers Warriors gang. The distance has been estimated at being 444 yards, but that has never been confirmed, although it was likely in excess of 350 yards. Henry Newton Brown warned Coe he was wasting his shot, and could not hope to hit him at that distance. To Brown’s astonishment, Coe hit Kruling, wounding him.
The battle
Alexander McSweenAlexander McSween
Alexander McSween was a prominent figure during the Lincoln County War of the Old West, and a central character, alongside John Tunstall, opposing the "Murphy-Dolan Faction".-Early life:...
, the former partner to John Tunstall, had organized and supported the Regulators, although he himself was a non-combatant during the conflict. On July 15, 1878, McSween gathered his Regulators in the town of Lincoln, while at the same time forces hired by the "Murphy-Dolan" faction organized to meet them, to include Jesse Evans and his gang, and the John Kinney Gang
John Kinney Gang
The John Kinney Gang, also known as the Rio Grande Posse, was an outlaw gang of the old West, which operated during the mid-1870s into the mid-1880s....
, and led by the newly appointed Sheriff George Peppin
George Peppin
George Peppin was a corrupt sheriff in Lincoln County, New Mexico, who figured prominently into the Lincoln County War.-Early life:Peppin was born in either Vermont or Ohio around 1841, and later moved to California...
.
On July 15, the Regulators gathered in Lincoln, organized by McSween, and received word that a large posse was on its way into town. Instead of attempting to flee they elected to remain in town to meet the posse. The "Murphy-Dolan" forces soon rode into town from the west, and surrounded the McSween house, where the Regulators, as well as the new school teacher and the local Presbyterian minister and his family, had taken refuge.
The Murphy-Dolan men believed that they could take the Regulators by surprise, but were ill-informed. This opened up a barrage of gunfire from the posse, and return fire from the Regulators which soon changed to sporadic gunfire that continued throughout most of the day. At least five Murphy-Dolan men were wounded in the exchange, but the Regulators suffered no casualties. At around 4:30pm that afternoon, a detachment of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
arrived from Fort Stanton
Fort Stanton
Fort Stanton was a U.S. military fort built in New Mexico in the United States. It was established to protect settlements along the Rio Bonito in the Apache Wars...
, under the command of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
George Smith. The soldiers placed themselves between the posse and the Regulators, effectively stopping the gunfire exchanges.
Shooting exchanges continued through July 18, and by that time Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Nathan Dudley
Nathan Dudley
Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley was a soldier who served as a Colonel of Volunteers and sometimes as an acting Brigadier General of Volunteers for the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early military career:...
had come from Fort Stanton and taken command. When a soldier was wounded, Dudley gave his soldiers authority to end the conflict, and the cavalry detachment who were present in Lincoln became involved, ultimately benefiting the Murphy-Dolan faction. Members of that faction then set fire to the house, but when McSween attempted to surrender, he was shot nine times and killed, while the remaining Regulators escaped. McSween, his business colleague Harvey Morris, and Tom Cullins were the fatal casualties suffered by the Regulators. The Murphy-Dolan faction had suffered several wounded and two, Bob Beckwith and Charlie Crawford, were killed.
Aftermath
McSween's wife Susan survived and pressed for action against the Murphy-Dolan faction, but none was taken. In September, 1878, President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Rutherford Hayes dismissed Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Axtell, replacing him with Lew Wallace
Lew Wallace
Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician and author...
, who immediately began trying to bring the lawlessness to an end. For many involved in the conflict he issued general amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
, but for others, including Billy the Kid, he issued warrants. Although a pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
was discussed, but much due to his notoriety brought about by the range war, it never came to pass. Eventually, William Bonney aka Billy the Kid was killed by lawman Pat Garrett
Pat Garrett
Patrick Floyd "Pat" Garrett was an American Old West lawman, bartender, and customs agent who was best known for killing Billy the Kid...
. By that time the Regulators had simply broken up, with many reverting to normal lives.