The Dodge City War was a bloodless

Bloodless war

A bloodless war is generally a small conflict, crisis, or dispute between rival groups that is resolved without death or injury, although the threat of violence usually seems very likely at the time. Typically, these events are recorded in history as wars even though the term "war" generally...

 conflict that took place in 1883 in Dodge City, Kansas

Dodge City, Kansas

Dodge City is a city in, and the county seat of, Ford County, Kansas, United States. Named after nearby Fort Dodge, the city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,340.-History:The first settlement of...

. It came at the close of the first 10 years of the city's history at a time when whiskey and saloons

Bar (establishment)

A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...

 were fading as a dominant force in the city's politics.

Historic reputation

From its founding, Dodge had a reputation for corruption and was often called "the Wickedest City in America." The informal association known as the Dodge City Gang dominated the law enforcement and much of the political life of the community, and monopolized the whiskey trade. In 1879 the anti-gang faction won a closely fought election for Ford County

Ford County, Kansas

Ford County is a county located in southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 33,848. The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City. The county is named in...

, defeating popular gang member Bat Masterson

Bat Masterson

William Barclay "Bat" Masterson was a figure of the American Old West known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Marshal and Army scout, avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, and sports editor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph...

. This was the first in a number of elections that ousted the members of the gang from positions of power.

Reform

While the new political faction identified themselves as reformers it seems more likely that they wanted to reap the profits of the whiskey trade for themselves. Mayor Alonzo B. Webster, elected mayor in 1881 owned two saloons himself. The new mayor lost no time in firing Bat's brother, Jim Masterson, as city marshal and posting a series of new 'moral' ordinances, complete with a warning.

"To all whom it may concern: All thieves, thugs, confidence men, and persons without visible means of support, will take notice that the ordinance enacted for their special benefit will be rigorously enforced on and after tomorrow."

The Long Branch Saloon

Tensions built between the Mastersons and Webster and his allies over the next several months. What triggered the war was the purchase of a half interest in the Long Branch Saloon

Long Branch Saloon

The Long Branch Saloon is a famous saloon that existed during the Old West days of Dodge City, Kansas. It had numerous owners, most notably Chalk Beeson and gunfighter Luke Short...

 by a gambler and gunfighter named Luke Short

Luke Short

Western frontiersman Luke L. Short was a noted gunfighter, who had worked as a farmer, cowboy, whiskey peddler, army scout, dispatch rider, gambler and saloon keeper at various times during the four decades of his life.- Early life :...

 in 1883. Short was a friend of the Mastersons and other gang members.

Webster hoped to drive Short out of the business and had several of the prostitutes who worked for the Long Branch arrested. Luke went to the jail to protest the matter but was confronted by city policeman, Louis C. Hartman, and there was an exchange of gunplay. Neither man was hurt but Short mistakenly believed he had killed the officer and barricaded himself in the Long Branch. When he learned that Hartman was unharmed Short submitted to arrest. He was sent out of town as an 'undesirable' several days later.

Wyatt Earp

Short contacted his friends to protest the matter and Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...

 began to assemble a small army of gunfighters to support him. The group included such noted gunmen as Charlie Bassett

Charlie Bassett (lawman)

Charles Bassett was a lawman and saloon keeper associated with the early days of Dodge City in the American Old West.Charles E. Bassett was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on October 30, 1847 to the parents of Benjamin Bassett and Julia Bassett. -Early life, career as a lawman:Bassett was...

, as well as a large number of lesser-known gunfighters. Daunted by this impressive show of force, Webster negotiated peace with Wyatt Earp. He let Short return to his place of business in return for a promise there would be no violence.

Photographs

The war was over without any deaths. Seven of the gunfighters posed with Short for the most famous Dodge City Peace Commission photo (see above). Shown are: Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...

, Frank McLain, Neal Brown, W. H. Harris, Luke Short

Luke Short

Western frontiersman Luke L. Short was a noted gunfighter, who had worked as a farmer, cowboy, whiskey peddler, army scout, dispatch rider, gambler and saloon keeper at various times during the four decades of his life.- Early life :...

, Bat Masterson

Bat Masterson

William Barclay "Bat" Masterson was a figure of the American Old West known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Marshal and Army scout, avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, and sports editor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph...

, and W. F. Petillon. However, more than one photo was taken, and there was at least one man not pictured in this most well circulated photo, who was better known as a gunman than Petillon, Brown, Harris or McClain, and who was present in at least one other photo taken at the same time. That other gunman was famed lawman Bill Tilghman

Bill Tilghman

William Matthew "Bill" Tilghman was a lawman in the American Old West.-Early life :Bill Tilghman was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on July 4, 1854. He became a buffalo hunter at age 15 and claimed he killed over 1000 bison over his five years of activity...

, who in one photo replaces W. F. Petillon. In another copy of this photo, Petillon does not appear at all, but background detail is also missing. The figure of Tilghman may also have been added in the photo which shows him, since again there are no changes at all in any other figure.

Doc Holliday

Ironically, Short sold his interest in the Long Branch only months after the war ended in his favor. He moved to Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

 where he purchased another saloon. Despite rumors that Doc Holliday

Doc Holliday

John Henry "Doc" Holliday was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...

took part in the Dodge City War, on the side of Wyatt Earp and Luke Short, he was not present.

Sources

• The Dodge City War by P.A. Mallory
• Dodge City Peace Commission
• Dodge City Peace Commission June 1883. Original photograph, Ford County Historical Society
• Series of Photographs