March 6, 1878; Rio Penasco, Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory---The newly formed Regulators, with their leader, Constable Dick Brewer, have in their possesion the arrest warrants for eighteen Murphy-Dolan-Riley henchmen who were in the sub-posse that ambushed and killed John Henry Tunstall. The Regulators, all young men, have been out on horseback, on the trail of some of the killers for five days now, having left the town of Lincoln on March 2. So far, they haven't spotted a single one of the men they hold warrants for, but on this day, their luck will change.
Near the ranch of Bob Paul, the Regulators spot five men resting in a clump of trees. The men are recognized as Frank Baker, Dick Lloyd, Tom Cochran, and Buck Morton (the leader of the sub-posse that killed Tunstall), all of whom the Regulators hold warrants for, as well as one other unidentified man. The five men spot the Regulators, and instantly mount their horses and begin to gallop off. The Regulators put their spurs to their horses and take off after the killers, shooting at them as they go, with the five men shooting their pistols over their shoulders in return. After a short while, the five wanted men split into two groups, one composed of Morton, Baker, and Lloyd, and the other of Cochran and the unknown man. The two groups head in different directions, but all thirteen Regulators elect to pursue the group of three, the group with their prize in it: Morton. After five more miles of running, Lloyd's horse collapses. The Regulators run right by him though, their sites still set on Morton, giving Lloyd the chance to escape on foot. One more mile of running at breakneck speed later, and Morton and Baker's horses collapse as well. Panicking, the two run for a cluster of bushes and take cover, hoping (or praying) that the hell-bent Regulators don't discover their hiding place. The Regulators ride up and soon discover Morton and Baker's hiding place. Brewer yells to the duo and tells them if they come out with their hands up, they'll not be harmed and will be taken alive back to Lincoln. He then adds that if they refuse, he will have the brush they are hiding in burned to the ground. Reluctantly, Morton and Baker step out of the brush, their hands held high. Almost instantly, one Regulator, in all likely-hood Billy 'the Kid' Bonney, points his rifle at the pair and expresses his desire to kill them both where they stand. The other Regulators manage to talk Billy down, though, and he lowers his rifle. Brewer himself then states to Morton that he was sorry they had agreed to surrender, as he would have much rather have killed them. The two prisoners are put on tired horses and the Regulators begin leading them north up the Rio Pecos, on their way back to Lincoln.
Regulators involved
Murphy-Dolan-Riley men involved
