Outbreak of the Lincoln County War

Background. English-born John Tunstall and his business partner Alexander McSween opened a competing store in 1876, backed by cattleman John Chisum. By February 1878, McSween owed $8,000 to Dolan, who obtained a court order to seize assets. This order mistakenly included Tunstall's assets, leading to a posse's presence on Tunstall's land. Tunstall rode out to intervene, resulting in his murder by the sheriff's posse on February 18, 1878.

Participants. Key figures included John Tunstall, an English-born rancher and merchant; Alexander McSween, a young attorney and business partner; and Billy the Kid, who joined the Regulators. Sheriff William Brady was ambushed and killed by the Regulators on April 1, 1878. The conflict involved rival factions, including the Jesse Evans Gang and the Seven Rivers Warriors.

Outbreak. The war's outbreak is conventionally dated to February 18, 1878, when members of the Sheriff's posse caught up to Tunstall while he and his ranch-hands, including Billy the Kid, were on his land. This event led to the formation of the Regulators, who subsequently killed McCloskey, Morton, and Baker in March 1878 and ambushed Sheriff Brady in April 1878.