WYATT EARP'S CHARLESTON SIEGE
WYATT AND HIS POSSE BLOCK ROADS IN AND OUT OF CHARLESTON, PATROLLING ITS STREETS WHILE HUNTING VIRGIL EARP’S ATTACKERS
By John D. Rose
WYATT AND HIS POSSE BLOCK ROADS IN AND OUT OF CHARLESTON, PATROLLING ITS STREETS WHILE HUNTING VIRGIL EARP’S ATTACKERS
By John D. Rose
Following the Gunfight near the O.K. Corral, the Earps and Doc Holliday were called to answer for the shooting deaths of Billy Clanton and Frank and Tom McLaury. At the conclusion of the Spicer Hearing, the Earps and Holliday found success and temporary freedom from their legal troubles, but they would later find themselves in a Contention Court room over the same matter. That proceeding would also result to their favor, but the desire for revenge against them was not so easily abated. Tensions continued to rise between the Earps and those close to them, as well as the family and friends of those who had perished. Ben Maynard was a Tombstone local who soon clashed with Lou Rickabaugh, a gambling associate of Wyatt Earp’s.
And Maynard and the Charleston town site would soon play an unwilling role in Wyatt Earp’s pursuit of those he believed involved in the wounding of his brother Virgil on December 28th, 1881 in Tombstone. While Virgil was recovering in early January, confrontations between Wyatt and those close to him and their enemies continued. On January 17th, 1882, Tombstone diarist George Parsons noted that “Ringo and Doc Holliday came nearly having it with pistols and Ben Maynard and [Lou] Rickabaugh later tried to kick each others [sic] lungs out.”
And Maynard and the Charleston town site would soon play an unwilling role in Wyatt Earp’s pursuit of those he believed involved in the wounding of his brother Virgil on December 28th, 1881 in Tombstone. While Virgil was recovering in early January, confrontations between Wyatt and those close to him and their enemies continued. On January 17th, 1882, Tombstone diarist George Parsons noted that “Ringo and Doc Holliday came nearly having it with pistols and Ben Maynard and [Lou] Rickabaugh later tried to kick each others [sic] lungs out.”
THE SIEGE BEGINS
The photo above shows a road coming from the westerly side of the San Pedro River Valley leading directly into Charleston. This is one of the routes that Wyatt Earp’s posse used to stop travelers during their Charleston siege, as they searched in vain for cowboys that Wyatt believed had made an attempt on the life of his brother Virgil Earp. Photo of Charleston A.T. by C.S. Fly.
“A PESTIFEROUS POSSE, Law-Abiding Citizens ‘Stood Up’ by the Earps and Their Deputies. The Gang in Possession of Charleston and Business Paralyzed in Consequence. Mayor Carr’s Opinion on the Subject -A Wail from the San Pedro.” So reported the Tombstone Nugget, with details of the Earp’s Charleston search for those who may have been involved in the attempted assassination of Virgil Earp. The Earp posse, which had left Tombstone the previous Monday, had with it “Wyatt and Morgan Earp, Doc Holliday and five others…They went into camp near the Merrimac mine, about three miles from here [Tombstone], where they remained until Wednesday night, when they were reinforced by the party of thirty which left town at that time.”
Critical feed for the Earp horses while camping near the Merrimac was delivered by prearrangement between Wyatt and his second attorney following the Gunfight, William Herring. Although Herring was willing to bring feed and reinforcements, he did not want to get shot approaching the tense posse at night, so a password was agreed upon prior to the meeting. Knowing that “friendly fire” truly isn’t friendly, Herring made sure to remind Wyatt of this arrangement. “Don’t shoot at anyone until you challenge. If anyone gives the pass-word ‘Monday’ you’ll know it’s all right!”
As darkness began to descend over the Earp camp, Herring arrived with password and grain, and a volunteer posse of twenty five men, headed by John H. Jackson. Jackson brought hearsay that John Ringo awaited them with a large force of men on the west side of the Charleston bridge. While en route, the posse may have been spotted by two riders who faded into the darkness, and may have given advanced notice to those awaiting them at Charleston. If some left the area due to the impending arrival of the Earp posse, Ben Maynard, who was also traveling outside of Charleston, wasn’t one of them.
“The men whom they are said to have warrants meanwhile were quietly stopping in Charleston,” and as they approached Charleston they soon found one less than lucky Ben Maynard. “Proceeding along the Charleston road, about four miles from town, they encountered Ben Maynard…He was promptly ‘stood up’ and relieved of his arms, and ordered to about face and accompany the party to Charleston, several revolvers at the same time being placed in unpleasant juxtaposition to his head. Arriving near Charleston skirmishers were deployed in the advance to ascertain the position of the enemy. After some time spent in this precautionary measure, the whole party entered the town.”
As darkness began to descend over the Earp camp, Herring arrived with password and grain, and a volunteer posse of twenty five men, headed by John H. Jackson. Jackson brought hearsay that John Ringo awaited them with a large force of men on the west side of the Charleston bridge. While en route, the posse may have been spotted by two riders who faded into the darkness, and may have given advanced notice to those awaiting them at Charleston. If some left the area due to the impending arrival of the Earp posse, Ben Maynard, who was also traveling outside of Charleston, wasn’t one of them.
“The men whom they are said to have warrants meanwhile were quietly stopping in Charleston,” and as they approached Charleston they soon found one less than lucky Ben Maynard. “Proceeding along the Charleston road, about four miles from town, they encountered Ben Maynard…He was promptly ‘stood up’ and relieved of his arms, and ordered to about face and accompany the party to Charleston, several revolvers at the same time being placed in unpleasant juxtaposition to his head. Arriving near Charleston skirmishers were deployed in the advance to ascertain the position of the enemy. After some time spent in this precautionary measure, the whole party entered the town.”
Wyatt Earp and Sherman McMasters crossed the Charleston Bridge, pictured above. They expected to draw the cowboys to them at location, but to no avail. Once that failed, they commenced their siege of Charleston, blocking roads in and out of town, and their door to door search, which also failed to produce the desired results.
A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE IN CHARLESTON
“The services of Maynard were now called into requisition. He was forced, by the persuasive agency of sundry six shooters, to go about town knocking on the doors of all buildings which his captors thought might afford concealment or shelter for any of the cowboys. At the same time he was admonished that in case a shot was fired from any of the buildings he would ‘not last as long as a SNOWBALL IN HELL.’ After arousing nearly the entire population from their slumbers, it was definitely ascertained that the birds had flown, and a close canvas of the town did not disclose the presence of a single cowboy. The services of Mr. Maynard being no longer needed, he was informed that he was at liberty to depart…” Rattled by the experience, Maynard chose to remain in Charleston for the rest of the evening, rather than return to the Charleston road, where the Earps found him in the first place.
The Nugget would not miss an opportunity to further chide the Earps about their fruitless Charleston visit, stating that one of their number may have made out his will prior. “A portion of the battle-scared veterans of the army of invasion (of Charleston) returned last night from the front… One of the ‘hired fighters’ who left town Wednesday night, being fully impressed with the extreme peril (?) about to be encountered, made his will and otherwise provided for the settling up of his earthly accounts.”
On January 30th, 1882, George Parsons saw the Earp party just after the festivities had ended. “Got off this A.M. about 9:30 leading my horse…Packed my horse at Charleston with grub. Met the Earp posse on outskirts of Charleston returning to town, their parties having surrendered at Tombstone. Charleston looked almost like a deserted village and as though having undergone a siege.” (The parties referred to are Ike and Phin Clanton and Pony Diehl.)
In spite of negative press regarding Maynard’s violent clashes, Maynard had just returned from searching for a fellow teamster believed to have been killed by Apaches. That teamster, Jacob Wetzel, would soon be found dead, and it was locally believed that the Apaches had indeed done the killing.
News of Maynard’s next altercation with an Earp supporter would soon come to the attention of the Tombstone and Tucson presses, and it did not enhance the image of Tombstone in the process. “Tombstone is a queer town,” the Citizen told its readers. “Wednesday evening Ben Maynard and…Tipton, two very athletic sons of guns got into a very bad row. Mr. Maynard punched Mr. Tipton under the right eye with an Arizona tooth-pick with so much vigor that Mr. Tipton appealed to the citizens that he had been stabbed with a six-shooter, and that being a law abiding community the wounded man was carefully looked after and the next day both parties were fined in the sum of $30.”
“In police court yesterday before Judge Wallace, Ben Maynard and D.G. Tipton were each fined $30 and costs for carrying deadly weapons.” At the same time, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Ben Maynard, charged with an assault with attempt to kill, from his “social scrapping match” with Tipton. On February 15th, George Parsons noted, “Policemen just prevented Ben Maynard and [Dan] Tipton from shooting one another.”
Although the Nugget also made light of this as a “social scrapping match,” this was no laughing matter, and tensions between the Earps and cowboy adherents such as Maynard only grew as a result of such events.
The Nugget would not miss an opportunity to further chide the Earps about their fruitless Charleston visit, stating that one of their number may have made out his will prior. “A portion of the battle-scared veterans of the army of invasion (of Charleston) returned last night from the front… One of the ‘hired fighters’ who left town Wednesday night, being fully impressed with the extreme peril (?) about to be encountered, made his will and otherwise provided for the settling up of his earthly accounts.”
On January 30th, 1882, George Parsons saw the Earp party just after the festivities had ended. “Got off this A.M. about 9:30 leading my horse…Packed my horse at Charleston with grub. Met the Earp posse on outskirts of Charleston returning to town, their parties having surrendered at Tombstone. Charleston looked almost like a deserted village and as though having undergone a siege.” (The parties referred to are Ike and Phin Clanton and Pony Diehl.)
In spite of negative press regarding Maynard’s violent clashes, Maynard had just returned from searching for a fellow teamster believed to have been killed by Apaches. That teamster, Jacob Wetzel, would soon be found dead, and it was locally believed that the Apaches had indeed done the killing.
News of Maynard’s next altercation with an Earp supporter would soon come to the attention of the Tombstone and Tucson presses, and it did not enhance the image of Tombstone in the process. “Tombstone is a queer town,” the Citizen told its readers. “Wednesday evening Ben Maynard and…Tipton, two very athletic sons of guns got into a very bad row. Mr. Maynard punched Mr. Tipton under the right eye with an Arizona tooth-pick with so much vigor that Mr. Tipton appealed to the citizens that he had been stabbed with a six-shooter, and that being a law abiding community the wounded man was carefully looked after and the next day both parties were fined in the sum of $30.”
“In police court yesterday before Judge Wallace, Ben Maynard and D.G. Tipton were each fined $30 and costs for carrying deadly weapons.” At the same time, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Ben Maynard, charged with an assault with attempt to kill, from his “social scrapping match” with Tipton. On February 15th, George Parsons noted, “Policemen just prevented Ben Maynard and [Dan] Tipton from shooting one another.”
Although the Nugget also made light of this as a “social scrapping match,” this was no laughing matter, and tensions between the Earps and cowboy adherents such as Maynard only grew as a result of such events.
THE EARPS AND DOC HOLLIDAY RETURN TO CHARLESTON
“The Earps and Holliday were taken to Charleston yesterday, escorted by a large party of personal friends, where they appeared in Justice Smith’s court. Upon motion of plaintiffs’ counsel, Judge Smith remanded them back to Tombstone, where he will appear to-day, at 10 o’clock, to begin the investigation. Briggs Goodrich, Esq., has withdraw[n] from the prosecution, believing, as it is reported, that the present case is mere persecution.”
As with this court filing in Charleston, and one in Contention, it may be that the real purpose behind these summons was to force the Earps and Doc Holliday out of the Tombstone city limits and onto roads where opportunities for ambush abounded. Note that the Epitaph made a point of saying that the Earps and Holliday were “escorted by a large party of personal friends…”
It may be that the Epitaph was communicating with the cowboy element that such tactics would not work, and it may be that such a message was received. If this were the plan, it failed to work, but just over a month later an assassination was again attempted in Tombstone (March 18, 1882), this time upon Wyatt and Morgan Earp, with the latter dying that night at the Campbell and Hatch Saloon.
Just over two weeks after spending an evening stroll through Charleston with Ben Maynard as an unwilling companion, Wyatt Earp would see news that even at this point, may have been a surprise.
Tombstone Mayor Carr had appointed a committee to recommend a new candidate for Tombstone Marshall, the results of which have been characterized as a bit of a joke. This came at a time when the Earps where under increasing criticism. The committee was then reported to have nominated Ben Maynard for the Tombstone Marshal office. Around this same time, Wyatt and Virgil Earp wrote their letters of resignation to C.P. Dake as Deputy U.S. Marshals acting on his behalf. Whether the Maynard nomination was the final straw under such criticism is unknown. Tensions in the area would not have long to rest, as a mainstay business in Charleston would soon be robbed.
As with this court filing in Charleston, and one in Contention, it may be that the real purpose behind these summons was to force the Earps and Doc Holliday out of the Tombstone city limits and onto roads where opportunities for ambush abounded. Note that the Epitaph made a point of saying that the Earps and Holliday were “escorted by a large party of personal friends…”
It may be that the Epitaph was communicating with the cowboy element that such tactics would not work, and it may be that such a message was received. If this were the plan, it failed to work, but just over a month later an assassination was again attempted in Tombstone (March 18, 1882), this time upon Wyatt and Morgan Earp, with the latter dying that night at the Campbell and Hatch Saloon.
Just over two weeks after spending an evening stroll through Charleston with Ben Maynard as an unwilling companion, Wyatt Earp would see news that even at this point, may have been a surprise.
Tombstone Mayor Carr had appointed a committee to recommend a new candidate for Tombstone Marshall, the results of which have been characterized as a bit of a joke. This came at a time when the Earps where under increasing criticism. The committee was then reported to have nominated Ben Maynard for the Tombstone Marshal office. Around this same time, Wyatt and Virgil Earp wrote their letters of resignation to C.P. Dake as Deputy U.S. Marshals acting on his behalf. Whether the Maynard nomination was the final straw under such criticism is unknown. Tensions in the area would not have long to rest, as a mainstay business in Charleston would soon be robbed.
130 years after Wyatt Earp’s siege of Charleston, a determined Aubrey Summer Rose surveys the outskirts of Charleston on the watch for any outlaws lurking about.
The above information is in part excerpted from Charleston & Millville A.T. Hell on the San Pedro, by John D. Rose. This is the first and only book ever published on Charleston, released in 2012. For more on this remarkable story and other research breakthroughs, this book is available at https://www.createspace.com/3758160 as well as Amazon.com.
Copyright John D. Rose, 2011- 2018. John D. Rose, all rights reserved.