Billy the kid encountered John Tunstall, who soon became his boss. John Tunstall was killed by a rival gang. Billy then exchanged his anger for the Lincoln county war with the rival gang and after the war he explored parts of the New Mexico and Colorado territories, while on the run from the law. The Rival gang that killed John Tunstall was known as the House. It was run by James Dolan and Lawerence Murphy. The house was a rival gang of Tunstall because Tunstall tried to come into Lincoln County and start a business where before the House ran the whole Lincoln County. Billy the Kid was became revengeful because of the death of John Tunstall; he was one of the only people to give Billy a chance at a normal life. Everyone else saw Billy the kid as just another outlaw, but John Tunstall saw the real person inside him and gave him a chance.
Regulators
The regulators were known around Lincoln County, New Mexico for fighting for the people. They were fighting against the house which was controlling both the political and economical side of this part of New Mexico, and the kid and the regulators were fighting against this.
"After five days of fighting, Army cavalry and infantry companies ride into Lincoln with a rapid-fire Gatling gun, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and a 12-pound mountain howitzer. Despite claiming to remain neutral, the Army aims their cannon at the Regulators, and threatens to "blow the house away" if anyone inside fires. Several Regulators flee, diminishing their ranks to 13.
Sheriff Peppin surrounds the house, setting it on fire and calling for surrender. Taking command, the Kid tries to save the others by making a run for it and causing a diversion, but it is not successful. During the firefight later dubbed "the big killing," most of the remaining Regulators are killed and the Dolan faction claims victory."
"Billy the Kid Biography." The Biography.com website. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 1 Oct. 2015.
While many of the remaining regulators decided to stop fighting in the war and ran off to start a new life, Billy the kid did not. Billy the Kid was willing to exchange his life to fight for the people. In his case the people mostly consited of Mexican farmers and merchants.
"After five days of fighting, Army cavalry and infantry companies ride into Lincoln with a rapid-fire Gatling gun, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and a 12-pound mountain howitzer. Despite claiming to remain neutral, the Army aims their cannon at the Regulators, and threatens to "blow the house away" if anyone inside fires. Several Regulators flee, diminishing their ranks to 13.
Sheriff Peppin surrounds the house, setting it on fire and calling for surrender. Taking command, the Kid tries to save the others by making a run for it and causing a diversion, but it is not successful. During the firefight later dubbed "the big killing," most of the remaining Regulators are killed and the Dolan faction claims victory."
"Billy the Kid Biography." The Biography.com website. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 1 Oct. 2015.
While many of the remaining regulators decided to stop fighting in the war and ran off to start a new life, Billy the kid did not. Billy the Kid was willing to exchange his life to fight for the people. In his case the people mostly consited of Mexican farmers and merchants.
Map of New Mexico
Lew Wallace
"President Rutherford B. Hayes appoints Lew Wallace as governor of the New Mexico Territory in hopes that he can restore order. Governor Wallace soon issues a proclamation of amnesty for all parties involved in the Lincoln County War, except those currently under indictment."
-The Biography.com website. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 1 Oct. 2015. After the Lincoln County war, Lew Wallace was named governor of New Mexico, in an attempt to fix the corruption in the territory. But Lew Wallace thought this was a waste of his time, so what he did was get most of the people sent to jail that was in the war then left New Mexico. Lew Wallace told billy the kid that he would pardon him of all his crimes if he would testify against everyone in the war. Billy the Kid willingly did this, in an attempt to exchange his knowledge about the war for a fresh start. But after Billy the Kid testified, Lew Wallace did not uphold his side of the deal, so Billy the kid once again had to escape prison. Here are some quotes from Letters between Billy the Kid and Lew Wallace while discussing the testimony: The problem with this was that "The House" still had people control of the sheriff's office in Lincoln County. So after Lew Wallace left Lincoln County most of the house members were released from jail. ''I'm not afraid to die like a man fighting, but I would not like to be killed like a dog unarmed.'' - Billy the Kid in a letter to Governor Lew Wallace, March 1879. ''I have no wish to fight any more, indeed I have not raised an arm since your proclamation.'' -Billy the Kid, in a letter to Gov. Lew Wallace, dated March 12, 1879. ''In return for your doing this [testifying], I will let you go scot free with a pardon in your pocket for all your misdeeds.'' -Gov. Lew Wallace to Billy the Kid, March 17, 1879. ''I have done everything that I promised you I would and you have done nothing that you promised me.'' -Billy the Kid, in a letter to Gov. Lew Wallace, dated March 4, 1881. After Billy the Kid testified Lew Wallace did not uphold his side of the deal, so Billy the kid once again had to escape prison. |
Photo of Lew Wallace
"Lew Wallace" Timeline: The Life and the Legend of Billy the Kid. PBS.com, n.d. web. 15 Dec. 2015 |