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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers the Lincoln County War(1878-1881) - Mar. 10th, 2005
Wild West Magazine | December 2004 | Mike Tower

Posted on 03/09/2005 10:15:25 PM PST by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


.................................................................. .................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

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Uncovering Myths of the Lincoln County War


He was by Billy the Kid's side when Sheriff William Brady was killed and when Alexander McSween's house was set on fire, yet little else is known about the one-time 'Regulator.'

The Lincoln County War was a lawless episode in New Mexico history that is best remembered today for having triggered the legend of Billy the Kid. On April 1, 1878, during that bitter business feud, the Kid and other so-called Regulators killed Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady. New Mexico Territory Governor Lew Wallace never got around to giving Billy a pardon for killing Brady or for his other Lincoln County War escapades. After more than 120 years of media attention, interest in the Kid remains so high that the current governor of New Mexico has been considering giving Billy a posthumous pardon. But the Kid's story has been so romanticized that it has obscured the truth about the Lincoln County War. For years historians have been trying to sort out fact from fiction through a concerted effort to track down each individual prominent in the conflict, to determine what motivated them. One such character is Big Jim French, a figure whose shadowy past has spawned illusive tales by writers more intent on relating a good yarn than accurately describing history. It's high time some of those myths were put to rest, to clear up the often cloudy picture of that 1870s fracas.


Billy the Kid


An uncomplicated explanation of the Lincoln County War is that it was a feud involving two competing groups, termed "rings," intent on monopolizing trade, politics and vast stretches of land in New Mexico Territory. One ring, known as "the House," was a firmly entrenched local commercial empire, so named because most of its business dealings were conducted out of a store that resembled a house, and because the name appealed to the men operating its various nefarious enterprises. The House, besides holding a monopoly on domestic trade, often fulfilled beef contracts for the military through purchasing beef stolen by a band of outlaws known as "the boys," and used this gang as enforcers when necessary. By all accounts, the passel of Irishmen associated with the House--originally led by Lawrence G. Murphy--was as ruthless a band of brigands as ever existed in American commerce, as ready to terminate their detractors and competitors as they were to fleece customers.

Attempting to usurp the stranglehold of the House was John Henry Tunstall, a young man with cold, hard cash supplied by his father, a London businessman. By hook or crook, Tunstall was determined to be a success in America, and he came prepared with a bag of tricks that included a combination of Machiavellian tactics and pure capitalism. Tunstall was supported by an able captain, Alexander McSween, an attorney not overly concerned with business ethics and bent on making his own fortune. Through McSween, Tunstall met John Simpson Chisum, a legendary cattle baron with a finger in many pies, who was willing to invest in Tunstall's plans because they held the promise of securing the borders of his empire and ending the rustling that was cutting into his profits. The trio formed a loose association, wherein Tunstall would anchor the territory around Lincoln; Chisum would supply beef, funds, men and the force and integrity of his reputation; while McSween handled the legal affairs of the group. With the formation of this ring, the stage was set for a conflict, one that should have been waged on ledgers, but instead eroded into as bloody a fight as ever hit the Southwest.


Alexander McSween


In the opening gambits, the Tunstall-Chisum group opened a bank and store to compete with the House. These economic challengers worked out agreements with the small farmers and ranchers, contracting for all livestock feed raised in Lincoln County. Then agreements were reached with various settlers that would provide Tunstall control of water rights--which in desert country provided the holder sway over pasture for miles around. As capitalism was practiced in Europe, such tactics would not have caused a ripple. But in the American West, economic advantage was largely a matter of forcing one's will on another, and the House quickly realized the danger of Tunstall's schemes and organized a resistance. Tunstall naively expected the battles to be fought in court, as economic wars were waged in Europe and Eastern America. He never dreamed that when his business acumen began to ruin his opponent that Murphy's forces would react so aggressively. By underestimating their resolve and methods, Tunstall wound up dead--shot to death on February 18, 1878, by a sheriff's "posse" composed of outlaws and minions of the House sent to attach livestock as bond for a lawsuit.

Immediately after the posse had shot down Tunstall, Alexander McSween gathered around him a cadre of the toughest men he could find. Some were already on the Tunstall payroll, some were sent by Chisum and some joined because they had a grudge against the House--all were bad men to mess with. Among the group was a drifter known as Big Jim French.


John Simpson Chisum


Exactly why Big Jim was in New Mexico Territory and how he managed to get involved in the Lincoln County War has never been clearly understood, but the evidence points very strongly to happenstance. Old-timer Frank Coe, who fought in the war, said in the 1870s that French had been a drifter from Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) who had begun working for Chisum. Coe added that he suspected Chisum had sent French along with several others to support the McSween faction. No other participant ever made a statement to explain French's presence. Chisum was known to purchase cattle and horses throughout Indian Territory and Texas to fulfill contracts, and some writers have asserted that in December 1877, Tunstall went with Chisum to purchase horses that were to be delivered to Chisum and held until Tunstall was ready for them. If such a buying trip did happen, it's possible that French was one of the riders hired to escort the herd and that he gained temporary employment with Chisum before being sent to Lincoln. The theory is plausible and fits the timing of French's entry into Lincoln. As to why the man got involved in the fighting, old-timers have hinted that McSween hired men to protect himself and his family. As French's movements during the war can be traced by following the movements of the McSweens, it's probable that French began his career in Lincoln as one of those paid bodyguards. It has also been speculated that McSween offered a bounty for the elimination of the men responsible for Tunstall's death. This bounty and the need for revenge seem to be the reasons the self-styled Regulators began operating in the area. French attached himself to this group. The two killings he participated in during the war were both rumored to be assassinations based on the promised bounty offered by McSween. French was probably in the dangerous game simply for the money.


John Henry Tunstall


Florencio Chaves was a member of the Regulator posse that captured Frank Baker and Buck Morton, two of the men responsible for the murder of John Tunstall. After the posse captured the pair, according to Chaves, posse member Bill McCloskey aroused the ire and suspicion of several in the party because of his refusal to allow any harm to befall Baker and Morton. Chaves said that a plan was devised to kill McCloskey. It seems the Kid, Jim French and Fred Waite were riding ahead of the prisoners on March 9, 1878, while Doc Scurlock, McCloskey and Henry Brown were riding behind. Waite dropped back beside Scurlock and asked McCloskey, "How's the best way to kill those sons a bitches?" By insisting the pair be taken to the sheriff, McCloskey sealed his death warrant, because French immediately dropped back, placing his horse in McCloskey's path, effectively boxing him between Waite and Brown. Without a word, Brown pulled out his six-shooter and shot McCloskey, killing him instantly. The prisoners, according to Chaves, now knew for sure what was in store for them, so they tried to make a run for it and were shot to doll rags. Chaves' version makes more sense than the cover story that McCloskey was shot by the prisoners and Baker and Morton were shot trying to escape.




The second killing French participated in was a premeditated murder, for French and several others opened up from concealment, with Winchesters, on Sheriff Brady's party as it passed down the street of Lincoln on April Fool's Day. The excuse used to justify this act was that Brady was thought to be in cahoots with the House, and Deputy George Hindman was a part of the posse that had eliminated Tunstall less than two weeks earlier. During the fighting, Billy the Kid and French ran out to rifle the bodies of the victims, and each was wounded in the hip. French's injury was serious enough that he could not ride. He was given first aid by the Rev. Taylor F. Ealy. Clerk Sam Corbet, who had been one of Tunstall's staunchest supporters, then hid French beneath the floor of the Tunstall store while men searched the building.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: billythekid; freeperfoxhole; lincolncounty; newmexico; veterans
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To: Professional Engineer
Ya'll put up the Remington shotgun display yet?

I've got one Remington at home, imagine what the tree huggers would say!

61 posted on 03/10/2005 12:26:23 PM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: GailA

We want pictures. :-)


62 posted on 03/10/2005 1:00:24 PM PST by SAMWolf (Liberal Rule #1 - When in doubt, tell a lie.)
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To: SZonian

"Young Guns" and "Chisum" were both above average 'Billy the Kid' movies, as far as historical accuracy goes ("Young Guns II", less so); although both fall into the same trap of portraying Tunstall/McSween as all around 'good guys', and Dolan/Brady as the baddies. If you want a real good read, try Robert M. Utley's, "Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life".


63 posted on 03/10/2005 1:07:05 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: SAMWolf

I'll send you a $2 bill for a deposit!


64 posted on 03/10/2005 1:35:40 PM PST by Professional Engineer (I believe in diversity, so I practice ethnic engineering.)
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To: snippy_about_it
I've got one Remington at home, imagine what the tree huggers would say!

Save our environment, burn a tree hugger instead.

65 posted on 03/10/2005 1:37:11 PM PST by Professional Engineer (I believe in diversity, so I practice ethnic engineering.)
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To: PzLdr

YGII stunk up the place, they were trying to capitalize on their prior success. I enjoyed Chisum, will look into getting a hold of the book, although there doesn't ever seem to be enough time to sit and read. Thanks for the info.

Cheers!


66 posted on 03/10/2005 1:51:44 PM PST by SZonian (Tagline???? I don't need no stinkin' tagline!)
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To: Professional Engineer

Ok. Good thing cuz they're going fast. ;-) Tree hugger season opens soon.


67 posted on 03/10/2005 2:27:16 PM PST by SAMWolf (Liberal Rule #1 - When in doubt, tell a lie.)
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To: snippy_about_it

snippy, Sam, you have something for discouraging cats?

68 posted on 03/10/2005 5:34:19 PM PST by Soaring Feather
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To: bentfeather; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it
"I Pitty Would-Be Immigrants!!"
(To be sung to Bob Dylan's "I Pity the Poor Immigrant")

I pity would-be immigrants...
Who follow our laws and stay home.
They are dreamin' of bein' U.S. citizens...
While law-breakers ignore our borders and roam.
Good men whose honor won't let'em cheat...
Good life's what they want best.
They wait patiently all their lives...
Law-breakers queer their quest!!

I chide those scofflaw immigrants...
Who sneak accross our plains!!
They break our laws and that ain't Right...
Borders are Left's bane!!
We'll FReep 'til we are satisfied...
They won't get amnesty!!
Truth haunts the folks who live in stealth...
'Cuz FReedom is not FRee!!

I blame the greedy bus'nessman...
Who use folks' sweat and blood!!
They fail our youth by cheating...
But cheap labor's not enough!!
What message does lawlessness send?
We trample laws en masse!!
I pity would-be immigrants...
When the scofflaws get a pass!!

Mudboy Slim (3 February 2005)

69 posted on 03/10/2005 7:16:36 PM PST by Mudboy Slim (Dan Rather...FReeped Outta Existence!!)
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; Iris7
Evening Grace Folks~

Reporting in late. I had to cook tonight . . . the Quisidillas were a success.

I'm embarrassed to say that until tonight my understanding of the Lincoln County War were the movies Chisolm + Young Buns Guns! But that's not as bad as thinking that George C. Scott was actually Patton. ;^)

70 posted on 03/10/2005 7:29:53 PM PST by w_over_w (Today I cried over "spilt milk". And the cashier took it off my grocery bill.)
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf
Gift items with a nature theme include wind chimes, candles, T-Shirts, playing cards and wall sculptures.

Keep one X-large shirt on hand, I want to order it when I purchase my hummingbird feeder. You've got FReepmail.

71 posted on 03/10/2005 7:37:09 PM PST by w_over_w (Today I cried over "spilt milk". And the cashier took it off my grocery bill.)
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To: bentfeather

.22 works pretty well. ;-)


72 posted on 03/10/2005 7:48:47 PM PST by SAMWolf (Liberal Rule #1 - When in doubt, tell a lie.)
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To: Mudboy Slim
I blame the greedy bus'nessman...

Hey! That's me :-)

73 posted on 03/10/2005 7:49:29 PM PST by SAMWolf (Liberal Rule #1 - When in doubt, tell a lie.)
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To: w_over_w
But that's not as bad as thinking that George C. Scott was actually Patton

LOL! I had barely heard about the Lincoln County War before looking it up for thr thread.

74 posted on 03/10/2005 7:50:59 PM PST by SAMWolf (Liberal Rule #1 - When in doubt, tell a lie.)
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To: SAMWolf
Hey Sam,

Tell Ms Snip she's got FReep mail.

75 posted on 03/10/2005 7:54:23 PM PST by w_over_w (Today I cried over "spilt milk". And the cashier took it off my grocery bill.)
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To: bentfeather

He looks so comfy in that Gazebo feeder! LOL.


76 posted on 03/10/2005 8:45:17 PM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: w_over_w
Oooh. I love a man that can cook!

But that's not as bad as thinking that George C. Scott was actually Patton. ;^)

He isn't?!

77 posted on 03/10/2005 8:46:40 PM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: snippy_about_it

Yes, and Sam wants to shoot him!

Stop him now snippy!!

LOL


78 posted on 03/10/2005 8:46:54 PM PST by Soaring Feather
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To: w_over_w
Tell Ms Snip she's got FReep mail.

Tag, you're it!

79 posted on 03/10/2005 8:47:39 PM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: w_over_w

We don't have t-shirts yet, at least none with our store on it. We only have ones with squirrel themes, jokes for those folks who are bothered by squirrels at the bird feeder. I'll remember though and as soon as we have some of our own made up I'll holler.


80 posted on 03/10/2005 8:49:06 PM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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