Lincoln County (NM) War

Choose an answer from the three choices offered after each question and then "Check Your Answers" at the end of the quiz.

1) This was once the largest county in the United States. It is located in central New Mexico. The Lincoln County war started between a faction of “wealthy” ranchers and a faction of “wealthy” businessmen. Who was NOT part of the warring parties?

• John Chisum
• J.J. Dolan
• Lew Wallace

2) In November 1876, an Englishman arrived in Lincoln County looking for a investment in grazing land. He would become associated with Alexander McSween. Who was this Englishman?

• Henry McCarthy
• John Chisum
• John Tunstall

3) Who did John Tunstall hire as a cowhand for his ranch?

• Emilio Estevez
• Johnny Mack Brown
• Billy the Kid

4) In February 1878, The House proprietors Dolan and Riley obtained a court order to seize some of Tunstall's horses as payment for an outstanding debt. The posse formed to recover the horses. Jesse Evans, William “Buck” Morton, Tom Hill, and Frank Baker where detached from the posse looking going to Tunstall’s ranch looking for the herd. What was the date they found Tunstall and his herd?

• February 6, 1878
• February 14, 1878
• February 18, 1878

5) Tunstall was with the herd as his men were wild turkey hunting. Some of Tunstall’s men saw the men coming and shouted a warning. Instead Tunstall rode to meet the posse. Buck Morton shot Tunstall through the upper chest. He fell off his horse and lay gravely wounded.  Which posse member picked up Tunstall pistol and show him pointblank in the back of the head?

• Tom Hill
• Jesse Evans
• Frank Baker

6) Billy the Kid and other Tunstall’s hand were deputized to serve warrant again Morton and his men. They sought to avenge his murder and further the interests of Tunstall's partners, Alexander McSween and John Chisum. What was the gang’s name?

• Young Guns
• Regulators
• Marauders

7) On March 8, 1878, Billy and his group killed Morton and Baker. On the same day, governor Samuel Axtell canceled the authority that put a badge on Billy and his gang. With a stroke of a pen, they went form lawman to outlaws. Who did Axtell NOT support?

• Jimmy Dolan
• John Riley
• John Chisum

8) A large confrontation between the two forces materialized on the afternoon of July 15, 1878, when the Regulators were surrounded in Lincoln, New Mexico in two different positions; the McSween house and the Ellis store. Where was Billy the Kid?

• Ellis Store
• Dolan’s Store
• McSween house

9) What caused the impasse between the two groups to end with the death of many of McSween’s men, including Alex McSween himself?

• New Mexico State Police
• Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies
• U.S. Army

10) Who wrote, “Truly, the Lincoln County War was a war without heroes.”

• Pat Garrett in his book
• Lew Wallace in his book
• Robert Utley, historian with National Park Service.