Battle of Lincoln (1878) facts for kids

The Battle of Lincoln was a big fight that lasted five days. It happened in Lincoln, New Mexico, from July 15 to 19, 1878. This battle was between two groups: the Murphy-Dolan Faction and the Regulators. It was the largest armed conflict during the Lincoln County War in the New Mexico Territory. Soldiers from the United States Cavalry, led by Lt. Col. Nathan Dudley, eventually stopped the fighting.

After the battle, many Regulators went back to their normal lives. In September 1878, a new governor, Lew Wallace, was put in charge. He wanted to bring law and order to the area. Governor Wallace asked Sheriff Pat Garrett to help. Within three years, Sheriff Garrett and his deputies found and stopped William "Billy the Kid" Bonney and other people who were still causing trouble.

What started the Lincoln County War?

The fighting in the Lincoln County War began when John Tunstall was killed on February 18, 1878. He was murdered by members of the Jesse Evans Gang. This gang was hired by the "Murphy-Dolan" group, also called "The House." They wanted to stop Tunstall's business, which was competing with their store and bank.

Why did the Regulators form?

Because Tunstall was killed and the local sheriff, William J. Brady, did nothing, Tunstall's friends formed their own group. They called themselves the Lincoln County Regulators. Their first leader was Richard "Dick" Brewer. Other members included skilled gunmen like Charlie Bowdre, John Middleton, Frank Coe, George Coe, "Big Jim" French, Doc Scurlock, and William Bonney, who later became known as "Billy the Kid."

The conflict led to many deaths on both sides. Sheriff Brady himself was killed on April 1, 1878.

Early Fights and Escapes

On April 29, 1878, George Peppin became the new county sheriff. He led a group that included Jesse Evans and his gang, plus the Seven Rivers Warriors. They had a shootout with three Regulators at the Fritz Ranch. In this fight, Frank McNab was killed, Ab Saunders was hurt, and Frank Coe was captured. Frank Coe later escaped, but no one knows exactly how.

The next morning, George Coe took a defensive spot on the roof of Alexander McSween's house. Coe had lost a finger in an earlier gunfight. He aimed at 'Dutch Charlie' Kruling, a member of the Seven Rivers gang. Even though it was a very long shot, Coe fired and wounded Kruling. That same day, four members of the Seven Rivers gang were killed in Lincoln. People blamed the Regulators for these deaths.

On May 15, a group of 22 Regulators, led by Deputy Sheriff Scurlock and including Billy the Kid, found Manuel Segovia of the Seven Rivers gang. They thought he had killed McNab. Segovia was reportedly shot and killed while trying to get away.

The Battle of Lincoln: Five Days of Conflict

Alexander McSween was a friend and business partner of John Tunstall. He and John Chisum helped pay for and organize the Regulators. On July 15, 1878, McSween came back to Lincoln with about 41 more supporters. Ten of them stayed at his house, and the rest found places to sleep around town. Soon after, a large group hired by the "Murphy-Dolan" faction, led by Sheriff Peppin, arrived. They surrounded the Regulators at McSween's house.

The First Days of Fighting

The two groups exchanged gunfire for most of the first day. At least five Murphy-Dolan men were wounded, but no Regulators were hurt. For the next three days, not much changed. No more people were reported hurt.

Soldiers Arrive and the House Burns

Finally, on July 18, soldiers from Fort Stanton arrived. They were led by Lt. Col. Nathan Dudley. They had been called by scared residents or because a soldier was reported wounded. The soldiers quickly stopped the smaller fights around town. By the end of the third day, only the Regulators at the McSween house remained.

During the night of July 18–19, the McSween house was set on fire. When McSween and the others tried to escape the next morning, he and several other Regulators were shot and killed. Billy the Kid and Jim French then took charge. The remaining Regulators quickly decided to make a daring escape from the burning house, shooting their way out.

The number of people hurt in the battle varies in reports. The Regulators lost at least five men, including McSween. Peppin's group lost two men: Bob Beckwith and Charlie Crawford.

What happened after the battle?

Susan McSween, Alexander McSween's widow, tried to have the Murphy-Dolan group brought to justice. However, no legal action was taken against them. Colonel Dudley was investigated for how he handled the situation, but he was cleared a year later.

Changes in Leadership and Life Paths

In September 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes removed Governor Axtell. He was replaced by Lew Wallace, who was determined to make the state safer. By this time, the remaining Regulators had gone their separate ways.

For example, Doc Scurlock moved to Texas. He settled down, raised a family of 10 children, and managed a mail station. He lived to be 80 years old. The cousins Frank and George Coe also left Lincoln and lived long lives. In 1934, George Coe wrote a book called Frontier Fighter. It told his story of the Lincoln County War and his friendship with Billy the Kid.

The Fate of Billy the Kid and Others

Some Regulators, like William Bonney (Billy the Kid), Charlie Bowdre, Tom O'Folliard, and Jose Chavez y Chavez, continued to be involved in unlawful activities. Over the next few years, Billy the Kid, Bowdre, and O'Folliard were pursued and killed by Sheriff Garrett and his deputies. Chavez was later found responsible for a murder in 1894 and sent to prison. He was later released in 1910.

Governor Lew Wallace offered forgiveness to many people who had been part of the conflict. However, he also issued orders for the arrest of others, like Billy the Kid. The Governor met Billy the Kid in Lincoln and offered him a pardon if he would testify against the Murphy-Dolan group in court. Billy the Kid agreed and gave his testimony. But Governor Wallace did not keep his promise to pardon Billy the Kid.

The "war" made Billy the Kid very famous. He escaped from jail, and Governor Wallace offered a $500 reward for his capture. He was eventually killed by lawman Pat Garrett. In 2010, the state thought about giving Billy the Kid a pardon after his death, but law enforcement groups and the families of the officers he was accused of killing protested this idea.