Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was one of the Old West's most famous conflicts. The skirmish only lasted 30 seconds, but the build up took much longer. The issue that had been brewing for some time was a feud between the Earp men, and the Clanton cowboys. The two sides had been involved in a fight earlier and the effects were still being felt by both sides. The Earp brothers and Doc Holliday were lawmen who were looking to keep the peace and drive the troublesome cowboys out of Tombstone. The Clanton cowboys had been working on local ranches, illegally buying and selling cattle. This did not sit well with the Earp boys, as they were looking to rid Tombstone, and the surrounding territories of all illegal activity. To sum this all up, Ike Clanton was brought in on charges of cattle rusting, which he was able to beat. Later on in September 1880, there were a series of stage hold ups. Frank McLaury was arrested for the stage hold ups. This made all the cowboys mad, and they vowed to get back at the Earps for persecuting the cowboys. The first thing that the cowboys did was to attempt to frame Doc Holliday for the robberies. His girlfriend Big Nose Kate was bribed into telling the local judge that Doc was indeed responsible for the stagecoach robberies. Fortunately for Holliday, the Earps were able to find witnesses that said none of this was true. On the eve of the shootout, Ike Clanton, and Doc Holliday got into a fight. Nothing happened as Morgan Earp was able to intervene quickly. On the morning of the fight, both sides were gambling and drinking. Ike Clanton was set for trial for the assault on Doc Holliday. When the cowboys arrived in Tombstone, they refused to disarm. The two sides met in an alley, where Virgil Earp attempted to disarm the cowboys again. The cowboys instead pulled their guns on the lawmen. This caught the lawmen by surprise because the were not expecting a fight. The first to fire was Billy Clanton, but he missed. Frank McLaury aimed his gun at Wyatt Earp, but Wyatt drew faster and shot McLaury in the stomach. Ike Clanton ran and grabbed hold of Wyatt Earp, saying that he was unarmed and wanted no trouble. He then ran away unharmed. Morgan Earp latter fired hitting Billy Clanton in the wrist. Clanton then got back to his feet, and he and Frank McLaury fired on Morgan Earp wounding him. Morgan and Doc Holliday were able to return the fire and finish McLaury off. By the time the fight was over, Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury were dead. Morgan and Virgil Earp were wounded, but would survive. The only ones to come out of the skirmish unscathed were Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. After the skirmish was over the bodies of the three deceased cowboys were put on display in Tombstone for all to see. The battle made the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday famous and men to be feared. These 30 seconds would be vital in determining how the west was won. The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, while a small battle, still has big implications.

Above is a picture of Wyatt Earp.

Above is a picture of Virgil Earp.

Above is a picture of Morgan Earp.

Above is a picture of Doc Holliday.

Above is a picture of Ike Clanton.

Above is a picture of Billy Clanton.

Above is a picture of the bodies of Frank and Tom McLaury, and Billy Clanton on display at Tombstone. 

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Kit Carson

Kit Carson was an American Frontiersmen, mountaineer, and a soldier in the U.S. Army. Carson left his Missouri home at the age of sixteen, to join an expedition led by John C. Fremont. He became a wilderness guide under Fremont, and together the two of them would become two of the greatest frontiersmen in American history. He and Fremont would also fight in the Mexican-American war, and later in his life Carson would lead a Mexican regiment during the Civil War. Kit went throughout the wilderness during the early nineteenth century looking for furs. The most specific type of furs that he looked for was beaver. The money was hard earned, as Carson had to haul the heavy furs himself until he could get to a town or trading post in order to collect his money. Carson also had to scavenge for food, and nurse himself when he was injured. Carson spent much time looking out for Indians, as well as grizzly bears. From 1842-1848, Kit Carson made three expeditions with John C. Fremont. These expeditions took them through the states of Utah, Oregon, and California. On the third expedition, Carson and Fremont were involved in the Bear Flag Revolt. The Mexican government had ordered all Americans out of California. Fremont and Carson helped to put down this revolt and the American settlers were allowed to stay in California. During the Mexican-American War, Carson was tasked with guiding Stephen Kearny and his men from Socorro, New Mexico to San Diego, California. Kearny and his men were ambushed on the way there, but thanks to Carson around 200 American reinforcements arrived and they were able to make it to San Diego. During the Civil War, Carson and his band of fighters were tasked with terrorizing the Indians and driving them out of their lands. The group that was terrorized the most were the Apaches. Kit Carson despised the Apaches, and he wanted to get rid of them in any way he could. Kit also fought against the Navajo Indians during the Civil War. The most notable battle that Kit Carson was involved in was the Battle of Adobe Wells. Carson was successful in all of these Civil War activities. Kit Carson truly was an American legend, and his legacy still lives on to this day.

The above picture is of Kit Carson and his horse Apache. The horse got its name from the Apache territory that Carson rode in and explored.

Above is a picture of John C. Fremont.

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Billy the Kid

Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney, was one of the 19th centuries' most notorious outlaws. He was a very skilled gun men, and he terrorized the old west area of the United States, becoming one of the most wanted men in the United States at the time. Billy was known for his participation in the Lincoln County War. Not much is known about Billy's childhood. Not much was known about his early life until Lew Wallace, the governor of New Mexico, put a bounty on his head. The first type of crimes that Billy committed involved horse thievery. On August 17, 1877 Billy the Kid committed his first murder. He was seventeen years old when the murder occurred. The murder happened in Tucson, Arizona near the army camp known as Camp Grant. The victim was a soldier by the name of F.P. Cahill. The shooting had started out as a common fight, but turned deadly when Billy turned a gun on Cahill. After the murder, Billy fled to Lincoln County, New Mexico. Billy went to work in a cheese factory, but became thrust in the middle of a war between merchants. In response to this, Billy formed a posse, known as The Regulators. The goal of this posse was to put down this rebellion once and for all, and settle the score with those who they did not like. The Regulator's fuel was fired when one of their men, known as Frank McNab was killed. They led an assault on the town of Lincoln, where they took defensive positions. Only a few shots were traded, and The Regulators were forced into retreat and eventual hiding. The pursuit of Billy the Kid and The Regulators picked up when New Mexico governor Lew Wallace put a bounty on his head. This led to many valiant, yet unsuccessful attempts to capture Billy and his gang. It was not until Pat Garrett, the new sheriff of Lincoln gained his office that Billy the Kid would be brought to justice. Garrett and his posse were able to locate and corner The Regulators in an abandoned house near Stinking Springs. They had to wait until morning in order to make their next move. Billy the Kid eventually came out and challenged Garrett to a gun fight. The two men exchanged words, but Billy eventually surrendered and ate his breakfast. Billy the Kid was taken to a prison in Santa Fe. He was tried in Mesilla, and on April 9, 1881 he was sentenced to hang. The execution was scheduled for May 13th. Billy was placed in the Lincoln County Jail. While there he was tormented by other inmates. On April 28, Billy the Kid escaped. On his way out he made sure to kill the guards, and other inmates who had bullied him. It is unclear how he got a gun however. Once outside he got on a horse and rode out of town. The horse would return a few days later. Pat Garrett and his posse went after Billy. They tracked him to the home of Pete Maxwell, who had been a friend of Billy's. Billy unbeknownst to him, walked right into the room where Garrett was hiding. The room was dark and Billy had no idea that he had just walked to his death. Garrett fired and Billy the Kid was dead. One of the Old West's most notorious outlaws was dead.

Above is a picture of Sheriff Pat Garrett.

Above is a picture of the Lincoln County Courthouse and Jail. Billy the Kid escaped from here.

Billy the Kid's headstone located in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

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