Pictures and Stories About Bicycle Side Adventures
We Visited Lincoln, New Mexico, Home of the 'Lincoln County War'
There was a Feud between Dry Good Store Merchants McSween and Tunstall;
It involved William Bonney (aka Billy the Kid), Pat Garret, John Chisum, and many others;
It eventually involved the Governor and the 1st Dragoons (Cavalry) of Ft Stanton
The Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a complex affair but it is understandable and logical in its development. Wikipedia has a wonderful and detailed explanation at Lincoln County War Explained.
The Road to Lincoln (from Roswell), New Mexico
Above Left: Looking at the Sacramento Mountains and Sierra Blanca (its highest peak) on US-380, driving due west from Roswell, New Mexico.
Above Right: Looking north at the Capitan Mountains on US-380 (out of Roswell, NM).
Hondo, New Mexico
Above: On the way to Lincoln in the town of Hondo, New Mexico, we saw this information kiosk (front side). The information is a very good summery of what happened.
Above: On the way to Lincoln in the town of Hondo, New Mexico, we saw this information kiosk (back side).
The Town of Lincoln, New Mexico
Above Left: The information placard at Lincoln, NM (front side).
Above Right: The information placard at Lincoln, NM (back side).
Lincoln Museum
Dear NEW MEXICO: No other State has better historical markers.
Lincoln Museum: Wow, they pack a lot of information in their 8 minute About Lincoln Video!
Above: We liked this Lincoln area History Timeline in a side-hallway in the Museum.
Lincoln Museum: 'Billy the Kid', Movie Star
Lincoln Museum: US Cavalry and Mescalero Apache
Above Left: Mescalero Apache.
Above Right: US Cavalry (stationed at Fort Stanton, about 10 miles up the US-380, west of Lincoln).
Above Left: US Cavalry, K Troop. Fort Stanton was populated by the 1st Dragoons and in the 1860s the First Dragoons became the First Cavalry.
Above Right: The Only Photograph of Billy the Kid, in Lincoln it is in every historical building, museum, and business, at least once, often more.
A Walk About the Town of Lincoln, NM
Above: The Torreon.
Above: Montano Family Store.
Above Left: Col Dudley's Camping Place.
Above Right: A construction project with no explanation.
Above: The Tunstall-McSween Store.
Above: The Tunstall-McSween Store - A look and photo through the window, this store is open to the public in the Summer.
Above Left: McSween's original home was here, it was fired and never rebuilt.
Above Right: A rather ornate Victorian Styled bench.
Above: The Murphy-Dolan Store (it was a county government building for many years, now it is a museum).
Above: A model and an real stage-coach inside the Murphy-Dolan Store Museum.
Above Left: About Tunstall and McSween. If this were a Melodrama, at the sound of McSween, the audiance would be Booing.
Above Right: The 1845 Texas Territorial Map.
Billy the Kid was the only person tried, convicted, and sentenced, that was involved in the Lincoln County War.
Two issues brought attention to Billy:
1) He shot and killed a Sheriff (even though in self-defense against a crooked officer).
2) Mrs McSween, the lady in the above picture, never forgave Billy for killing Mr McSween (her husband and a lawyer of very questionable moral turpitude).
