Question

Why were the years 1878-1881 called the Lincoln County War?

Answer 1

The years 1878-1881 were called the Lincoln Country War because the Lincoln Country coveted nearly one-fifth of the entire territory, so it was the largest territory at that time. The years are called that from the bloody war that took place and altered people’s lives.

Answer 2

The Lincoln County War was a war between ranchers that took place in 1878 in Lincoln County, New Mexico.

James Dolan had a trading booth in Lincoln and had control of the trade in the city, until John Tunstall opened a competing trading booth. Then a war began where both sides tried to get the other to close their business. Ranch owners joined the conflict, because they depended on trade stalls to buy and sell products. Both sides gathered supporters: ranch owners, sheriffs and regulators (regulators called criminals who were paid by ranch owners to fight for them) were included. The military was neutral in the conflict but as their mission was to evict criminals and restore law and order, they favored Dolan. Famous people were involved in the conflict, for example Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett. The war was in the beginning murder that was repaid with murder. Finally, there was a decisive battle in Lincoln, called the "Battle of Lincoln," which lasted for four days. Finally, the army came from Fort Stanton to stop the fighting. Then the Regulators fled the city.