The Timeline of the Lincoln County War: The Events and People of the Old West's most Violent Conflict

By John Frances

In "The Timeline of The Lincoln County War: The Events and People of the Old West's Most Violent Conflict," delve into the heart of one of the most turbulent and defining moments of the American West. This comprehensive account brings to life the notorious Lincoln County War, a saga of greed, justice, and revenge that rippled through New Mexico in the late 19th century.

Explore the intricate web of events that ignited this brutal conflict, from the murder of John Tunstall to the infamous exploits of Billy the Kid, and the complex dynamics between cattle barons and lawmen. This book meticulously chronicles the war's progression, offering vivid portraits of the key figures whose lives and actions forever shaped the American frontier.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JohnFrances
• Release date: May 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223962724

Book preview

Introduction: The Dawn of Lincoln County - A Mosaic of Dreams and Ambitions

Westward Ho

The aftermath of the Civil War was finally subsiding in 1869, the nation, still scarred, was on its way down a road toward reconciliation and healing. During this crucial period of change, the West became known as a place of dreams and destinies, a beacon of hope and fresh starts. This is the setting against which the Lincoln County War timeline is set, a frontier full of potential and a country yearning for unification.

During this period, the West represented possibility and promise more than it did just geographic growth. Its huge, wild expanse drew a diverse multitude of explorers from all over the nation, drawn by the allure of silver and gold. Not only was there a rush for fortune in these precious metals, but there was also a rush for freedom and the opportunity to start over in the wide wilderness.

Among those drawn to the West were Catherine Antrim and her husband, William. Catherine, afflicted with tuberculosis, sought the healing promise of the dry western climate. They ventured westward with their sons, Henry and Joseph, not in pursuit of silver and riches but in search of a respite from the clutches of illness. Catherine's journey epitomized the plight of many who were pushed to the frontier by circumstances rather than the lure of fortune.

Lincoln County, New Mexico, served as a just a small piece of this larger American narrative, drawing immigrants who perceived boundless possibility in its vastness, such as Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan. They became prominent players in the county's developing economy, helping to create the groundwork for what would grow to be a sizable business.

An Englishman named John Tunstall added his piece to this mosaic representing Lincoln County. Unknowingly sowing the seeds of a dispute that would burn its way into history, his arrival coincided with the launch of a competitor store to a faction taking over the county. Due to his desire, Tunstall put himself in direct conflict with Dolan and Murphy, a move unknown to him at the time would spark one of America’s most violent conflicts, the Lincoln County War.

But miners and traders were not the only people who lived in the West. It was also the home of outlaws and cowboys, people who would go down in folklore. These individuals, who lived in a region where survival was the norm and justice were frequently a personal code, shaped the character of the West.

These various strands of the American story entwined in Lincoln County. Here, the hopes, aspirations, and desperations of a diverse population came together, igniting a chain of events that would lead to one of the most notorious battles of the time, the Lincoln County War.

Lincoln County, New Mexico

Tucked away in the rough embrace of the American Southwest, the story of Lincoln County, New Mexico, emerges—a story characterized by the aspirations of its people and full of the spirit of the frontier. It was a place of dreams, a nexus of cultures, and a monument to the resiliency of the human spirit long before it was associated with one of the most legendary confrontations of the Old West.

Lincoln County's origin story is one of convergence. Here, the routes built by Spanish explorers met the old Mescalero Apache roads, creating the foundation for a rich cultural legacy that still can be found today. American settlers started to arrive, each with their own idea of success, as word spread around the country about the Gold Rush and the promise of lush land. The men who laid the foundation for the county were as varied as the terrain itself. Among them were Irish immigrant Lawrence Murphy and his business partner James Dolan, who would go on to become key figures in the county's history.

As the 1800s went on, people looking for a fresh start found themselves drawn to Lincoln County. This area of opportunity attracted Mexican vaqueros, Anglo-American ranchers, and traders from as far afield as Europe. They arrived for several reasons: some were drawn by the county's growing importance as a regional commerce hub, while others were tempted by the possibility of farming and cattle ranching endeavors.

Lincoln was the crown jewel of the county's towns, which reflected the county's growth. With its one dusty main street lined with wooden and adobe dwellings, this expanding village soon became the county's hub. This was where Lincoln County's varied culture was most apparent. Together with immigrants from far-off lands, Native Americans, Hispanic families, and Anglo-American settlers formed a society whose ethnic makeup was as diverse as its aspirations.

But these differences also sowed the seeds of conflict. The goals of the newcomers, who wanted a piece of the county's growing riches, clashed with the economic stronghold that Murphy and Dolan had built via their banking, mercantile endeavors, and political connections. The Lincoln County War, which came to represent the turbulent and lawless character of the American frontier, was sparked by this underlying tension.

The terrain of Lincoln County, featuring desolate mountains, parched plains, and the winding Rio Bonito, bore quiet witness to the human drama taking place around it. Those who decided to live in this county were formed by these stunning yet harsh natural elements.

We go beyond the actual fight in this timeline of the Lincoln County War. We investigate the origins of a county that emerged from the union of aspirations, adversities, and cultures. We follow the travels of the individuals that made up Lincoln County's rich history: ranchers, traders, vaqueros, and settlers. The layers of aspiration, hardship, and resiliency that preceded one of the most momentous episodes in the history of the American West are revealed to us as we turn the pages of this epic.

Before the War

Early 1870’s – A Murphy Dolan-Monopoly

Lawrence G. Murphy

Like many of the self-made men of the day, Lawrence Gustave Murphy came from humble beginnings and would go on to become a household name associated with the Lincoln County War. His rise to popularity in the American Southwest is a story of willpower, tenacity, and unwavering ambition.

Murphy was born in 1831 to a modestly off family in County Wexford, Ireland. Like many of his countrymen, he was affected by the Great Famine, an Irish tragedy that struck in the late 1840s. Young Murphy's outlook on life and survival would be significantly shaped by this time of extreme adversity and conflict.

Like countless other Irish immigrants, Murphy departed his native country in the mid-1850s in pursuit of a fresh start. The United States beckoned, a place of possibility and promise. Murphy's arrival in America represented more than a change in location; it was a change in fate.

Murphy's initial years in America were characterized by numerous adventures and discoveries. After finding employment in New York at first, he soon followed the pull of the growing American frontier. Murphy arrived in the American Southwest by the late 1850s, a time when the area was quickly blending together into a mosaic of competing cultures.

Murphy was presented with an unforeseen chance during the Civil War era. He joined the Union Army and saw distinguished service. His military duty gave him insights into the dynamics and opportunities of the area, especially in the New Mexico Territory. Murphy's military tenure was more than just a stint of duty; it was a master lesson in strategy and leadership, which he would go on to use to great benefit in the future.

Murphy recognized the possibilities in the newly formed state of New Mexico after the war. He made his home in the opportunity-rich Lincoln County. For a man with Murphy's ambition and shrewdness, the county, with its expansive lands and expanding populace, was untapped. He made a name for himself as an entrepreneur and businessman quite fast.

Murphy's efforts in Lincoln County assumed a clear outlook. In the late 1860s, he joined forces with fellow Irishman James Dolan to establish L.G. Murphy & Co. This business endeavor, a store and mercantile, would turn become the mainstay of Murphy's expanding empire. He was able to take advantage of the opportunities and demands of the frontier community because to his business skills and knowledge of the local economy.

Lawrence G. Murphy rose to prominence in Lincoln County by the year 1870. His store served as more than simply a nexus for commerce; it was a representation of his expanding authority and influence in the area. Murphy demonstrated tenacity and a deep comprehension of the subtleties of the American West throughout his transformation from an Irish immigrant to a frontier businessman.

James Dolan

James Dolan is another key character in the story of the Lincoln County War, a man whose goals and deeds had a significant impact on how things transpired in Lincoln County. Dolan's early life, beginning with his journey from impoverished origins led him to his pivotal role in one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the American West.

James Joseph Dolan was born in 1848, in County Galway, Ireland, a land then under the grip of poverty and political turmoil. The youngest son in a family of modest farmers, Dolan grew up in an Ireland still reeling from the aftermath of the Great Famine. The harsh realities of his early life imbued in him a sense of resilience and a yearning for a brighter future.

For young Dolan, America called to him with its promise of opportunity. Like many of his countrymen, he undertook the difficult voyage across the Atlantic in the mid-1860s. More than just a journey, this crossing was a leap of faith into a new world where Dolan felt he might fulfill his destiny.

Like many other Irish immigrants, Dolan first made his home in the East after coming in the United States. But the years following the Civil War were a time of immense migration and transformation, and the West, with its vast territories and unexplored prospects, beckoned him. Dolan traveled to the New Mexico Territory because he was attracted to the area's potential for success and fueled his ambition for a better, richer life.

Dolan eventually crossed paths with another Irishman who was already well-established in Lincoln County, New Mexico: Lawrence Murphy. Dolan teamed up with Murphy after recognizing the potential for growth in the region. Dolan's life would ultimately be defined by this alliance, which put him on a path that would leave his mark on the history of the Old West.

In the late 1860s, Murphy and Dolan founded L.G. Murphy & Co. after working together to grow their business. This mercantile and retail establishment expanded swiftly, turning it into the main focus of Lincoln County's economy. Murphy's strategic brilliance and Dolan's astute business sense reinforced each other, solidifying their positions as influential members of the community.

James Dolan had changed from being an Irish immigrant to a major figure in Lincoln County's economy by 1870. His path, characterized by aspiration and flexibility, reflected the metamorphic voyage of other individuals in search of fresh starts in the American West.

But there were obstacles in the way of L.G. Murphy & Co.'s prosperity. There would soon be rivalry to the expanding power of Murphy and Dolan in Lincoln County, creating the conditions for tension and violence. The advent of John Tunstall, a youthful Englishman with his own dreams of becoming a businessman, would put Murphy and Dolan's hegemony to the test and set off a chain of events that would ultimately result in the historic Lincoln County War.

Early 1870 – A Monopoly in Lincoln County

In Lincoln County, New Mexico, the names Murphy and