Lincoln Makes History

Becky Madruga
Sep 27, 2022
6 min read

Updated: Oct 13, 2022

***March 4, 1878 Telegram from Axtel to Washington D. C. He is sending his correspondence with Brady and Catron to the President of the United States in hopes to get the President to Authorize Hatch to give them Military force to finish off the McSween faction.

Santa Fe New Mexico, March 4, 1878 Received on NE Corner 14th St and Penn Ave, Washington DC 11:45pm To the President of the United States, Washington D. C. Fort Stanton NM February 28, 1878 Thomas B Catron Esq, U. S. Attorney, Santa Fe NM, Dear Sir: A. McSween, Widenman and others have collected a well armed mob of about fifty men and are still getting more to join them, they defy the law they threaten the lives and property of our best citizens, the good and law abiding citizens although for in majority are not able to compete with them for want of arms. I cannot serve any legal document or carry out the law if I am not assisted by the military. Please see his excellency the Governor and ask him to obtain an order from Genral Hatch to the Post Commander of Fort Stanton to protect me in the discharge of my official duties. I am sir, Very Respectfully your obedient servant, Wm Brady, Sheriff Lincoln Co, “US Attorneys office, Santa Fe NM March 3, 1878, Respectfully referred to his excellency Governor Axtell T. B. Catron, US Attorney I know the sheriff and believe his dispatch to be true, one man an Englishman by the name of Tunstall has been killed. I start in the morning for the scene of action it will take me four days to go there I hope orders may be given to General Hatch to render me such assistance as will enable me to keep the peace and protect life and property S. B. Axtell Governor of NM

**April 4, 1878 The pastor, (Brooke Herford) wrote Sheridan, about the misuse of the troops by Sheriff Brady. None of these parties knew at this time that Sheriff Brady was shot dead 3 days before, and probably at the time this letter was being written by Brooke in Chicago, The Regulators were in a gunfight with Buckshot Roberts at Blazers Mill. You can see how all of this is unfolding, and how in a matter of months, the President of the US will be appointing Lew Wallace. To Lt General Sheridan Sir: Early in March of this year, a requisition for military aid was made by the governor of New Mexico, and honored by the War Department of the U. S., to support the Sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, against an alleged band of murderers in the neighborhood of Fort Stanton. Permit me to lay before you the following facts, which will, I think put the matter in a very different light. On February 18 last, or thereabouts, Mr. J. H. Tunstall, a young Englishman resident at Lincoln was murdered, without resistance, by a posse of men deputized by the Sheriff of Lincoln Co. They had been deputized to carry out a Civil Process (an attachment) against the property of A. A. McSween, Tunstalls partner in a local store; and after seizing the property of Both partners, they started for Tunstalls cow camp. Tunstall fearing mischief, left, with his herders. The posse followed, and on coming up with Tunstalls party, Tunstall dismounted and went to meet them alone. Before reaching them he was shot dead, and his body was afterwards treated with horrible brutality. This murder created such indignation in the District, where Tunstall was well known and respected, that Mr. Wilson, a justice of the peace, on sworn information before him, issued warrants for the arrest of the murderers and a member of the respectable citizens assembled to ensure their arrest. The Governor of the State (Territory) immediately issued a proclamation ordering these citizens to disperse and it was to put them down that he asked and obtained the support of the U. S. Troops. I have these facts on the authority of men well known and resident in the territory, and in no way connected with the parties or events referred to, among others, I may mention Mr. Frank Springer, Atty of Camarron, who is well known to Hon. G. W. McCrary, Sec of War. Under the circumstances I would respectfully ask, that any action by the military authorities may be suspended until some official inquiry can ensure its being applied on the side of Justice and Right. I am, General, With real respect, your obedient servant Brooke Herford Pastor of the Church of the Messiah, Chicago

***April 5, 1878, after reading the letter from the Herford, Sheridan sent a telegram to Sherman about the misuse of military force by Sheriff Brady to prevent the arrest of those who murdered Tunstall.

April 5, 1878 Chicago Ills 11:56 am

To General W. T. Sherman, Washington DC

The Rev Brook Herford a clergyman of the highest character makes the statement that the posse of soldiers given to the Sheriff of Lincoln County New Mexico under authority from Washn of March fifth is being used by the Sheriff to prevent the legal arrest of the murderers of a young Englishman named Tunstall, I send you Mr. Herfords statement by mail. I think this matter is worthy of investigation.

P. H. Sheridan

Lieut Genl

During the correspondence between Herford, Sheridan, and Sherman, Taylor Ealy is on the "front lines" in Lincoln County, seeing first hand everything that is happening. Seeing the killing of Hindman and Brady, the fight at Blazers mill, he writes to his uncle in congress. We know that these letters reached the Governor and other U. S. Officials, because when we see the court martial testimony of Dudley, many of the points made in this letter are questioned and denied. They were illegal actions, as well as conduct unbecoming an officer, all valid charges they tried hard to deny. ***April 5, 1878 Lincoln County, NM

Hon Rusk Burk M. C.

Dear Uncle, yours of 23rd reached me today and I am pained to record another skirmish in the town of Lincoln. “Meirabile Dietu!” It resulted in the death of two men, Sheriff Brady and one of his posse.

The new commander (Col N. M. N. Dudley) arrived yesterday. The shooting was on Monday Ist inst. George A. Parrington got word and dashed down with a company of Calvary and arrested the marshall D. P. Shield (Lawyer) McSween, and two black men. But the men who had done the shooting had mounted their horses and ridden deliberately off. He made no effort that I could see to pursue them, went back to the Fort with his prisoners leaving the town without soldiers to guard it. While here the Col (P) showed himself very much enraged. He said “Damn the Constitution and you to” He was addressing a Dr. Leverson of Col who was reminding the Col that his actions were wrong in some respects. The posse of the Sheriff, under the deputy, immediately after the death of the Sheriff, searched my house three times without a warrant. I am beginning to think the whole affair is lawlessness on both sides from the Governor down.

As to the P. M. a petition has been sent up, signed by a great many citizens of the county for Isaac Ellis. I understand he was a farmer and a merchant in Kansas and comes here to pursue the same occupation and has children and is exceedingly anxious to have a good school. He has a store and a farm here, has two sons grown up one of these capable of attending to the P.O. the other would like to have recite to me. The family bear a good reputation in the town so far as I can learn. I have never seen them do anything out of the way. Mr. Ellis has been appointed administrator of the Tunstall estate which is quite large. Thanking you for your cautionary remarks which I have been careful to remember. I remain your obedient servant and nephew

Rev Taylor F Ealy, MD

***May 1, 1878

Fort Stanton, NM

May 1, 1878

General N. A. M. Dudley Commanding Fort Stanton New Mexico

Present: General

We the undersigned have the honor to respectfully state that we are if the opinion that the justice of the Peace of Precinct No 2 is under the influence of A. A. McSween, John Chisum and others well known to us all. Whom have threatened our lives and property. We also have a good reason to believe that we are being held as prisoners for no other purpose than that of giving John Chisim, A. A. McSween and their hired assassins' opportunities of stealing and destroying our property which is now situated on the Rio Pecos, Lincoln Plaza and other parts of this county and with out protection we therefore respectfully ask that we be brought before Justice of the Peace at Dr. Blazers Mill for hearing. A man in charge of Mr. T. B. Catrons cattle on the Pecos also received notice that unless they leave the ranch and cattle they would be killed.

Signatures:

Robert W. Beckwith

M. L. Pierce

B. Powell

Lawrence G. Murphy for himself and others

S. R. Perry

J. B. Mathews

Thomas Gaffney

J. G. Christie

Jas J Dolan

Jas J Longwell

William H. Johnson