The Pecos Ranchers in the Lincoln County War

This story is about the Pecos ranchers who participated in the Lincoln County War, and particularly the Hugh Beckwith family. The early cattlemen who settled along the lower Pecos River in Southeastern New Mexico in the 1870s were largely of Southern blood and sympathies, many of them from Texas. With the exception of John Chisum, who sided with Alexander McSween and John Turnstall in the Lincoln County War, they were all on the Murphy-Dolan-Riley side. The majority were hard-working cattlemen and cowboys with small herds trying to make a living under difficult conditions. With one or two exceptions they were not outlaws, but when disputes boiled high and hot they were often ready to settle issues by some highly selective shooting. They sincerely believed that John Chisum and the Turnstall-McSween faction were trying to drive them out of the Pecos River country, and being men of tough mettle stood up to the challenge.