Lincoln County War

Key Figures of the Lincoln County War (1878–1881)

Murphy–Dolan Faction (“The House”)

  • Lawrence G. Murphy – Merchant, land speculator, co-founder of Murphy & Dolan.
  • James J. Dolan – Murphy’s partner and successor, central figure in the conflict.
  • John Riley – Business partner, ally of Murphy and Dolan.
  • Emil Fritz – Former army officer, early partner in Murphy’s store (died 1874, estate contested).
  • Sheriff William Brady – Sheriff of Lincoln County, aligned with Murphy–Dolan.
  • George Peppin – Deputy, later sheriff, led House-aligned posses.
  • Jesse Evans – Outlaw leader of the Evans Gang.
  • William Campbell – Evans Gang member.
  • George Hindman – Deputy sheriff, aligned with the House.
  • Frank Baker – House ally, killed by Regulators.
  • William Morton – House ally, killed by Regulators.
  • Charlie “Lollycooler” Crawford – Seven Rivers warrior, killed during the siege of Lincoln.

Tunstall–McSween Faction

  • Patrick Garrett– Lincoln County Sheriff that killed Billy
  • John Henry Tunstall – English rancher and merchant, murdered in 1878.
  • Alexander McSween – Lawyer and Tunstall’s partner, targeted by Murphy–Dolan.
  • Susan McSween – Wife of Alexander, later the “Cattle Queen of New Mexico.”
  • Richard “Dick” Brewer – Foreman for Tunstall, first leader of the Regulators.
  • Josiah “Doc” Scurlock – Regulator leader after Brewer’s death.
  • Charlie Bowdre – Regulator and brother-in-law to Scurlock.
  • George Coe – Regulator, wounded at Blazer’s Mill.
  • Frank Coe – Regulator, prominent rancher.
  • Ab Saunders – Regulator, cousin of the Coes.
  • William H. Bonney (Billy the Kid) – The most famous Regulator, loyal to Tunstall.
  • John Middleton – Regulator, participant in most major fights.
  • Henry Newton Brown – Regulator, later marshal of Caldwell, Kansas.
  • Fred Waite – Regulator, Chickasaw, later tribal statesman.
  • Jim French – Regulator, mysterious figure, present at McSween house siege.
  • Yginio Salazar – Regulator, wounded at McSween house.

Neutral / Intertwined Figures

  • John Chisum – Cattle baron, loosely allied with McSween and Tunstall.
  • Jose Chavez y Chavez – Later associated with the Regulators, Mexican-American fighter.
  • Andrew “Buckshot” Roberts – Buffalo hunter, fatally wounded at Blazer’s Mill.
  • Colonel Nathan Dudley – Commander at Fort Stanton, accused of siding with Murphy–Dolan.

Bankers, Lawyers & Political Power (Santa Fe Ring)

  • Thomas B. Catron – Lawyer, politician, powerful land speculator tied to the Ring.
  • Abraham Spiegelberg – Wealthy banker and merchant, tied to land speculation.
  • Lehmann Spiegelberg – President of Second National Bank of Santa Fe.
  • Willi Spiegelberg – Probate judge in 1880, later Territorial Governor (1895).
  • Samuel B. Axtell – Territorial Governor of New Mexico, accused of corruption favoring Murphy–Dolan.