Frank McNab
Encyclopedia
Frank McNab was a member of the Regulators
who fought on behalf of John Tunstall
during the Lincoln County War
.
Of Scottish origin, McNab was a "cattle detective" who worked for Hunter, Evans, & Company, which was managed by New Mexico
cattleman John Chisum
. McNab's job was to track down those who stole Chisum's cattle. Drifting into Lincoln County from the Texas Panhandle in the mid-1870s, he soon signed on with John Tunstall
, as his rivals, a group of cattlemen and cowboys from the Seven Rivers area of Lincoln County were allied with Lawrence Murphy
and James Dolan
.
With Tunstall's murder and the outbreak of war, McNab took a prominent position in the Regulator chain of command, second only to foreman Richard "Dick" Brewer
. McNab, along with other deputized Regulators, captured Dolan gunmen William Morton and Frank Baker.
As Morton was believed to have been one of those who killed John Tunstall, his fate looked grim, especially when the Regulators and their prisoners detoured on their way to Lincoln into the Capitan foothills. Although the Regulators were intent on killing Morton and Baker rather than turning them over for trial, one of their number, William McCloskey, was friendly with Morton and tried to talk the Regulators out of killing him. On March 9, 1878, the Regulators made their move along the Blackwater Creek. According to Pat Garrett
's biography of Billy the Kid
, McNab shot McCloskey in the head when he tried to stop the imminent execution of Morton and Baker, who then spurred their mounts and tried to escape before being gunned down by Billy the Kid.
McNab was one of the triggermen in the killing of Sheriff Brady
and his deputy George W. Hindman
in Lincoln on April 1, 1878, and was present three days later when they shot it out with Buckshot Roberts
. Upon Dick Brewer's death, McNab was elected captain of the Regulators. On April 29, 1878, McNab, Ab Saunders, and Frank Coe
were on their way to the latter's ranch. Nine miles below Lincoln, they stopped at the Fritz ranch for a break when they were ambushed by Seven Rivers cowboys, and members of the Jesse Evans Gang, all under the direction of newly appointed Sheriff George Peppin
.
Saunders was shot through the hip. Also wounded, McNab scrambled up a gully and tried to get away until a cowboy named Manuel "Indian" Segovia caught up with him and shotgunned him to death. Frank Coe surrendered after a shouted parley. In the wake of his death, Doc Scurlock was elected captain of the Regulators.
and Josefita Chavez.
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...
who fought on behalf of 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...
during the Lincoln County War
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...
.
Of Scottish origin, McNab was a "cattle detective" who worked for Hunter, Evans, & Company, which was managed by New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
cattleman John Chisum
John Chisum
John Simpson Chisum was a wealthy cattle baron in the American West in the mid-to-late 19th century. Born in Hardeman County, Tennessee, Chisum's family moved to Texas in 1837, with Chisum finding work as a building contractor...
. McNab's job was to track down those who stole Chisum's cattle. Drifting into Lincoln County from the Texas Panhandle in the mid-1870s, he soon signed on with 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...
, as his rivals, a group of cattlemen and cowboys from the Seven Rivers area of Lincoln County were allied with Lawrence Murphy
Lawrence Murphy
Lawrence Murphy was an Irish-American businessman of the Old West, and a main instigator of the Lincoln County War.-Early life:...
and James Dolan
James Dolan
James Lorraine Dolan serves as President and CEO of Cablevision Systems Corporation and Executive Chairman of Madison Square Garden, Inc.-Family:...
.
With Tunstall's murder and the outbreak of war, McNab took a prominent position in the Regulator chain of command, second only to foreman 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:...
. McNab, along with other deputized Regulators, captured Dolan gunmen William Morton and Frank Baker.
As Morton was believed to have been one of those who killed John Tunstall, his fate looked grim, especially when the Regulators and their prisoners detoured on their way to Lincoln into the Capitan foothills. Although the Regulators were intent on killing Morton and Baker rather than turning them over for trial, one of their number, William McCloskey, was friendly with Morton and tried to talk the Regulators out of killing him. On March 9, 1878, the Regulators made their move along the Blackwater Creek. According to 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...
's biography of 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...
, McNab shot McCloskey in the head when he tried to stop the imminent execution of Morton and Baker, who then spurred their mounts and tried to escape before being gunned down by Billy the Kid.
McNab was one of the triggermen in the killing of Sheriff 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:...
and his deputy George W. Hindman
George W. Hindman
George W. Hindman was a 19th-century American cowboy and law enforcement officer serving as a deputy sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico during the early months of the Lincoln County War...
in Lincoln on April 1, 1878, and was present three days later when they shot it out 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....
. Upon Dick Brewer's death, McNab was elected captain of the Regulators. On April 29, 1878, McNab, Ab Saunders, and 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:...
were on their way to the latter's ranch. Nine miles below Lincoln, they stopped at the Fritz ranch for a break when they were ambushed by Seven Rivers cowboys, and members of the Jesse Evans Gang, all under the direction of 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...
.
Saunders was shot through the hip. Also wounded, McNab scrambled up a gully and tried to get away until a cowboy named Manuel "Indian" Segovia caught up with him and shotgunned him to death. Frank Coe surrendered after a shouted parley. In the wake of his death, Doc Scurlock was elected captain of the Regulators.
Posthumous
McNab's death was avenged several weeks later on May 15, when the Regulators invaded the Seven Rivers area and captured Segovia. He made a futile attempt to escape only to be gunned down by Billy the KidBilly 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...
and Josefita Chavez.