291:.30 caliber rifle concealed behind his back. Then, suddenly, he revealed his weapon and began firing it. It was at this time Bill Maxwell was hit in the forehead and died instantly. Then Tafolla was shot twice through the torso and fell to the ground. He did, however, manage to pull out his revolver and returned the fire, which was followed by the others on both sides. The skirmish lasted for at least a couple of hours, and it was already dark when it ended. During the fighting, Ranger Hamblin maneuvered around the canyon where the outlaws were firing from to drive off their horses. Therefore, when the Smith Gang chose to make their escape that night, they had to climb out of the canyon on foot, which they eventually succeeded in doing. The posse captured the gang's camp, but they did not pursue the criminals any further due to the wounded Tafolla, who was in need of a doctor.
284:
The deep canyon was shadowed, and it provided a good defensive position for the Smith Gang. When the posse reached the camp, Tafolla, Hamblin and Bill
Maxwell continued forward into a clearing to demand the outlaws' surrender while Barrett and the five others remained behind the cover of a ridge. After Bill Maxwell called out the demand, Bill Smith replied: "All right, which way do you want us to come out?" Maxwell responded: "Come right out this way." About this time, Barrett, who could see what was going on from the ridge, yelled out for Tafolla and the two others to lie down for cover, but only Hamblin took the advice.
323:. The cowboys there were held hostage and ordered to prepare food for the gang. Bill Smith recognized one of the hostages, Marion Lee, who made dinner for the gang members and informed them that they had killed Bill Maxwell. Bill Smith did not realize that one of the men he had shot at was his friend, so he told Lee: "When he stood up that way we thought he was Barrett. Barrett was the man we wanted. We feel mighty sorry over killing Will Maxwell, he was a good friend of ours. Tell his mother for us that we're very sorry we killed him."
271:
miles (0.80 km) away. Eventually, the
Maxwell brothers found the location of the bear shooting and blood trails in the snow led back to the Smiths' camp, which was 6 miles (9.7 km) from where the posse camped. By then it was almost night. As the posse approached the canyon, the Smiths' guard dog began barking. This alerted Bill Smith, who went up to the canyon's rim to have a better look. There he saw the posse coming towards the camp, so he ran back to tell the others.
376:
255:
238:, which they forded at a place known as Sheep's Crossing. From there the posse went to the ranch of Lorenzo Crosby to enlist his services and that of the brothers Arch and William Thomas "Bill" Maxwell, both of whom were described as being excellent scouts. These three men were deputized as well, making the posse a force of nine men altogether. After that, the posse continued along the trail south to
300:
54:
283:
in 1898. At a place 300 yards (270 m) away from camp, the posse dismounted their horses and tied them up to some trees in order to confront the outlaws on foot. The posse then headed to the camp from the west, which meant that the lawmen would have to fire into the sunlight if a firefight began.
355:
Chicken and Josh. The scouts tracked the gang across New Mexico before losing the trail at the banks of the Rio Grande. Ultimately, the posse failed to capture the outlaws and bring them to justice, but they were successful in running the Smith Gang out of
Arizona Territory. Tafolla and Maxwell were
270:
reservation, in a canyon 200 yards (180 m) wide and 100 feet (30 m) deep, near the source of the Black River. Today the location is near the shoreline of
Reservation Lake. The Smith gang were in need of food so that afternoon they killed a bear, and the shots were heard by the posse 0.5
246:. On October 7, at a ranch belonging to Pete Slaughter, the posse found an abandoned camp that was believed to have been recently occupied by the outlaws. The rangers decided to camp at the same location for the night and then proceed down the west side of the riverbank on the following morning.
363:
The body of
Tafolla was laid to rest at St. Johns and Bill Maxwell was buried in his family's cemetery at Nutrioso. Maxwell's hat was left behind at the scene because the men of the posse thought it would be bad luck to touch it. For years afterwards, cowboys claimed they had seen the hat while
311:, twenty miles away, to summon a doctor named Rudd and spread the news of the fight. The remainder of the posse stayed at the camp with Tafolla and the body of Bill Maxwell. Tafolla died before the doctor could arrive. Before passing, he gave Henry Barrett a
229:
The posse was led by the sheriff's deputy, Hank Sharp, and included Henry
Barrett and two other locals named Pete Peterson and Elijah Holgate. Meanwhile, the Arizona Rangers Carlos Tafolla and Duane Hamblin were assigned to search for the Smith Gang. At
176:
Bill Smith and his gang. During a long exchange of gunfire that followed, Ranger Carlos
Tafolla and Deputy Bill Maxwell were killed and one or two of the outlaws may have been wounded. In the end, the Smith Gang escaped the posse and fled into
330:
for the ranch of Hugh McKean, where they hoped to trade horses. When McKean refused to deal with the gang he was held at gunpoint and robbed of his horses, food, and weapons. The Smith Gang then went east and crossed the
Arizona border with
214:, where they robbed a train. A few days later, Bill and his brother Al came across Henry Barrett and another cowboy in the Big Cienega range. During the confrontation, Bill threatened to kill Barrett, so the latter informed the
274:
Bill Smith's gang included his brothers Al, George and Floyd, a brother-in-law named Adam
Slagger, and two other unidentified men. Of the nine-man posse, only Henry Barrett had any combat experience, having fought with
189:
The
Arizona Rangers were established in 1901 and the Battleground Gunfight became the first major shootout to involve the new police force. The Smith Gang was one of the first targets for the rangers. In northeastern
234:, the rangers and the posse met, and they decided to work together in tracking and capturing the outlaws. The rangers then deputized Barrett, Peterson and Holgate and they began following the outlaws' trail to the
266:
and thus heavily forested and difficult to traverse. It was also very cold, and snow covered the ground. That day the Smith Gang was camped at Reservation Creek, just inside the western border of the
262:
On the morning of Tuesday, October 8, the posse awoke, had breakfast, and then saddled to continue down the river. Along the way they passed the Pair-O'Dice Ranch. The area is part of the
40:
198:, where he lived with his mother and his younger brothers and sisters. The ranch house served as a base for rustling cattle from nearby settlers, such as Henry Barrett, a former
737:
315:
and said: "Give this to my wife. It, and the month's wages coming to me will be all she will ever have." The outlaws made their way out of the canyon and into what is now
202:. In 1898, the Smith brothers were arrested for stealing unbranded calves from Barrett and Bill Phelps. Bill Smith assumed full responsibility, so he was sent to jail at
206:. Because of this, Bill was said to have developed a grudge against Henry Barrett. During the first week of October 1901, the Smith Gang was spotted at Pat Knoll, near
730:
1278:
1193:
723:
1344:
1035:
985:
356:
killed as result of the gunfight and one or two of the outlaws may have been wounded by Barrett, who was armed with a souvenir Spanish
303:
From left to right, First Sergeant Chicken, Jesse Palmer, Tea Square, Sergeant Big Chow, and Corporal C. F. Josh at Fort Apache in 1919
559:
890:
1098:
458:
17:
1476:
1461:
1015:
915:
935:
495:
1451:
805:
422:
210:, heading south with a herd of fifteen or twenty stolen horses. Police informants said the gang was on their way from
1349:
1065:
750:
1148:
1354:
1005:
1359:
1050:
905:
1133:
267:
165:
75:
552:
1481:
1427:
1030:
785:
519:
1334:
1324:
1088:
1025:
820:
312:
1178:
1456:
1423:
1143:
865:
762:
746:
389:
1466:
1314:
1153:
950:
830:
810:
263:
1168:
680:
1471:
1163:
1118:
975:
955:
885:
875:
790:
706:
545:
1319:
1431:
1309:
1158:
815:
280:
1000:
1364:
1339:
1329:
1273:
1103:
1040:
920:
855:
850:
690:
320:
316:
219:
207:
191:
35:
1405:
1268:
1243:
1113:
1055:
900:
800:
795:
780:
770:
243:
235:
930:
664:
1173:
1083:
880:
491:
327:
195:
1045:
1020:
8:
1400:
1223:
1188:
775:
1010:
940:
1283:
1258:
1213:
1123:
1093:
925:
910:
870:
845:
835:
659:
597:
348:
307:
After the Smith Gang made their escape, Hank Sharp and Arch Maxwell left the scene for
276:
239:
203:
1233:
715:
360:
rifle, which could shoot right through the trees the gang members were hiding behind.
1410:
1390:
1304:
1288:
1238:
1228:
860:
825:
754:
587:
582:
465:
418:
344:
308:
161:
79:
1218:
1108:
945:
628:
592:
995:
1395:
1253:
1138:
1078:
840:
568:
299:
223:
169:
149:
520:"Deputy Sheriff William Thomas Maxwell, Apache County Sheriff's Office, Arizona"
1128:
685:
602:
381:
347:, was informed of the fight he sent three of his men after the outlaws and the
340:
231:
173:
1445:
1073:
980:
352:
153:
83:
31:
1183:
695:
638:
254:
53:
633:
607:
288:
199:
1380:
1263:
623:
336:
332:
157:
101:
168:, at a clearing in the forest known today as the "Battleground". Nine
1248:
1203:
990:
965:
414:
411:
Gunfights and Gunfighters: Reflections from a Phoenix Police Officer
145:
537:
215:
1385:
357:
178:
111:
481:
Carlos Tafolla's surname is spelled "Tafoya" in this article.
459:"The Battleground Shootout—Arizona Rangers Fight Smith Gang"
211:
745:
371:
326:
After taking a few horses, the gang headed into the
319:. On the next evening they arrived at a cow camp on
492:"Ranger Carlos Tafolla, Arizona Rangers, Arizona"
1443:
402:
335:before heading south into Texas and across the
258:The canyon where the Smith Gang was positioned
731:
553:
452:
450:
448:
446:
444:
442:
440:
438:
436:
434:
287:A moment later, Bill Smith appeared with a
160:. It was fought on October 8, 1901, within
738:
724:
560:
546:
514:
512:
431:
408:
298:
253:
58:The ridge where the posse was positioned
242:and then to Dead Man's Crossing on the
14:
1444:
509:
719:
541:
522:. The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc
456:
567:
496:The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc
24:
806:Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight
194:, Bill Smith owned a ranch on the
25:
1493:
374:
172:and deputies caught up with the
52:
906:Big Fight at the Jenkins Saloon
484:
166:Fort Apache Indian Reservation
76:Fort Apache Indian Reservation
13:
1:
395:
184:
1428:List of Old West gunfighters
1360:Baxter's Curve Train Robbery
1355:Overland Flyer Train Robbery
1149:Enid–Pond Creek Railroad War
409:Hunsaker, Gordon A. (2010).
294:
7:
1477:Crimes in Arizona Territory
1462:American Old West gunfights
1325:Canyon Diablo Train Robbery
1026:Long Branch Saloon gunfight
821:Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
464:. asoac.org. Archived from
367:
249:
10:
1498:
1424:List of Old West gunfights
1421:
1305:Jonathan R. Davis Gunfight
1179:Placer County Railroad War
390:List of Old West gunfights
1452:1901 in Arizona Territory
1419:
1373:
1315:Skeleton Canyon massacres
1297:
1202:
1064:
1001:Short–Courtright Shootout
964:
831:Vaudeville Theater ambush
811:Guadalupe Canyon Massacre
786:Gunfight at Blazer's Mill
761:
704:
673:
647:
616:
575:
126:
118:
107:
97:
89:
71:
63:
51:
1164:McIntosh County Seat War
956:Skeleton Canyon shootout
886:Shootout at Wilson Ranch
876:Shootout on Juneau Wharf
791:Battle of Lincoln (1878)
343:of the Arizona Rangers,
27:1901 gunfight in Arizona
1432:List of Old West lawmen
1310:Northfield Bank Robbery
1089:Regulator–Moderator War
1016:Anderson-McCluskie duel
281:Battle of San Juan Hill
29:
1365:Jarbidge Stage Robbery
1340:Fairbank Train Robbery
1330:Wham Paymaster robbery
1169:Deschutes Railroad War
1144:Jaybird–Woodpecker War
1051:Higgins–Standifer duel
951:Power's Cabin shootout
941:Shootout in Sonoratown
921:Canyon Diablo shootout
856:Battle of Tres Jacales
851:Battle of Stone Corral
691:Fairbank train robbery
681:TiburĂłn Island Tragedy
339:into Mexico. When the
317:Bear Wallow Wilderness
304:
259:
41:considered for merging
18:William Thomas Maxwell
1422:Further information:
1406:Rock Springs massacre
1320:Battle of Coffeyville
1244:San Elizario Salt War
1154:Brooks–McFarland feud
1119:Colorado Railroad War
996:Duels of Tom Carberry
901:Chinese Massacre Cove
896:Battleground Gunfight
801:Mussel Slough Tragedy
796:Variety Hall shootout
781:Battle of Bates Point
771:Gunfight at Hide Park
655:Battleground Gunfight
364:working in the area.
328:Blue River Wilderness
302:
257:
236:Little Colorado River
142:Battleground Shootout
138:Battleground Gunfight
93:Battleground Shootout
47:Battleground Gunfight
1335:Black Bart Robberies
1109:Horrell–Higgins feud
1021:Canton–Dunn Shootout
986:Hickok–Tutt Shootout
976:Broderick–Terry duel
916:Gunfight at Spokogee
881:Hot Springs gunfight
140:, also known as the
1482:October 1901 events
1401:Hay Meadow massacre
1350:Big Springs Robbery
1274:Stuart's Stranglers
1224:Pleasant Valley War
1189:Colorado Labor Wars
1159:Reese–Townsend feud
1056:Western Code Duello
1041:Burton Mossman duel
1031:South Pass Shootout
866:Gunfight at Morenci
816:Battle of the Plaza
776:Goingsnake massacre
48:
1345:Gage Train Robbery
1284:Deep Creek murders
1269:Sheepshooters' War
1259:Fence Cutting Wars
1234:Colorado Range War
1214:Johnson County War
1194:Idaho labor strike
1124:Earp Vendetta Ride
1104:Sutton–Taylor feud
1094:Lincoln County War
1036:Walker–Graham duel
926:Shootout in Benson
911:Thibodaux massacre
871:Blackwell gunfight
846:Battle of Cimarron
836:Hunnewell gunfight
660:Shootout in Benson
598:William D. Allison
349:United States Army
305:
277:Theodore Roosevelt
260:
222:, who organized a
127:Non-fatal injuries
46:
1457:Conflicts in 1901
1439:
1438:
1411:Morewood massacre
1391:Lexington murders
1289:Spring Creek raid
1239:Colfax County War
1229:Castaic Range War
1114:Brooks–Baxter War
1046:Silks–Fultom duel
991:Duels of Jim Levy
936:Battle of Eufaula
861:Battle of Ingalls
826:Trinidad Gunfight
713:
712:
588:Thomas H. Rynning
583:Burton C. Mossman
457:McKnight, Ray A.
345:Burton C. Mossman
289:Savage Model 1895
162:Arizona Territory
134:
133:
80:Arizona Territory
16:(Redirected from
1489:
1467:Arizona folklore
1279:Hashknife Outfit
1219:Mason County War
1174:Boyce–Sneed feud
1134:Flynn–Doran feud
1099:Lee–Peacock feud
1084:Tutt–Everett War
1011:Mart Duggan duel
946:Gleeson gunfight
891:Gunfight in Moab
740:
733:
726:
717:
716:
629:Augustine Chacon
593:Harry C. Wheeler
562:
555:
548:
539:
538:
532:
531:
529:
527:
516:
507:
506:
504:
502:
488:
482:
480:
478:
476:
470:
463:
454:
429:
428:
406:
384:
379:
378:
377:
56:
49:
45:
21:
1497:
1496:
1492:
1491:
1490:
1488:
1487:
1486:
1472:Arizona Rangers
1442:
1441:
1440:
1435:
1434:
1415:
1396:Bisbee massacre
1369:
1293:
1254:Porum Range War
1205:
1198:
1139:Gray County War
1079:County seat war
1060:
967:
960:
841:Frisco shootout
757:
744:
714:
709:
700:
669:
643:
612:
571:
569:Arizona Rangers
566:
536:
535:
525:
523:
518:
517:
510:
500:
498:
490:
489:
485:
474:
472:
468:
461:
455:
432:
425:
407:
403:
398:
380:
375:
373:
370:
351:dispatched the
297:
264:White Mountains
252:
187:
170:Arizona Rangers
156:lawmen and the
67:October 8, 1901
59:
44:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1495:
1485:
1484:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1437:
1436:
1420:
1417:
1416:
1414:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1377:
1375:
1371:
1370:
1368:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1301:
1299:
1295:
1294:
1292:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1210:
1208:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1129:Dodge City War
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1070:
1068:
1062:
1061:
1059:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1006:Bull–Peel duel
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
972:
970:
962:
961:
959:
958:
953:
948:
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
878:
873:
868:
863:
858:
853:
848:
843:
838:
833:
828:
823:
818:
813:
808:
803:
798:
793:
788:
783:
778:
773:
767:
765:
759:
758:
743:
742:
735:
728:
720:
711:
710:
705:
702:
701:
699:
698:
693:
688:
686:Cananea strike
683:
677:
675:
671:
670:
668:
667:
662:
657:
651:
649:
645:
644:
642:
641:
636:
631:
626:
620:
618:
614:
613:
611:
610:
605:
603:John J. Brooks
600:
595:
590:
585:
579:
577:
573:
572:
565:
564:
557:
550:
542:
534:
533:
508:
483:
430:
424:978-1450207201
423:
400:
399:
397:
394:
393:
392:
386:
385:
382:Arizona portal
369:
366:
296:
293:
251:
248:
186:
183:
174:cattle rustler
132:
131:
128:
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
109:
105:
104:
99:
95:
94:
91:
87:
86:
73:
69:
68:
65:
61:
60:
57:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1494:
1483:
1480:
1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1449:
1447:
1433:
1429:
1425:
1418:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1378:
1376:
1372:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1302:
1300:
1296:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1211:
1209:
1207:
1201:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1074:Railroad Wars
1072:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1063:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
981:Sandbar Fight
979:
977:
974:
973:
971:
969:
963:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
931:Naco Gunfight
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
839:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
797:
794:
792:
789:
787:
784:
782:
779:
777:
774:
772:
769:
768:
766:
764:
760:
756:
752:
748:
741:
736:
734:
729:
727:
722:
721:
718:
708:
703:
697:
694:
692:
689:
687:
684:
682:
679:
678:
676:
672:
666:
665:Naco Gunfight
663:
661:
658:
656:
653:
652:
650:
646:
640:
637:
635:
632:
630:
627:
625:
622:
621:
619:
615:
609:
606:
604:
601:
599:
596:
594:
591:
589:
586:
584:
581:
580:
578:
574:
570:
563:
558:
556:
551:
549:
544:
543:
540:
521:
515:
513:
497:
493:
487:
471:on 2012-03-20
467:
460:
453:
451:
449:
447:
445:
443:
441:
439:
437:
435:
426:
420:
416:
412:
405:
401:
391:
388:
387:
383:
372:
365:
361:
359:
354:
353:Apache Scouts
350:
346:
342:
338:
334:
329:
324:
322:
318:
314:
313:silver dollar
310:
301:
292:
290:
285:
282:
278:
272:
269:
265:
256:
247:
245:
241:
237:
233:
227:
225:
221:
220:Apache County
217:
213:
209:
208:Springerville
205:
201:
197:
193:
192:Graham County
182:
180:
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
139:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
110:
106:
103:
100:
96:
92:
90:Also known as
88:
85:
84:United States
81:
77:
74:
70:
66:
62:
55:
50:
42:
38:
37:
36:Infobox event
33:
19:
1184:Bellevue War
895:
696:Rough Riders
654:
639:Billy Stiles
524:. Retrieved
499:. Retrieved
486:
473:. Retrieved
466:the original
410:
404:
362:
325:
321:Beaver Creek
306:
286:
273:
261:
228:
188:
141:
137:
135:
98:Participants
34:
634:Burt Alvord
608:Jeff Kidder
268:Fort Apache
244:Black River
200:Rough Rider
30:‹ The
1446:Categories
1381:Gunfighter
1264:Sheep Wars
624:Smith Gang
475:January 8,
396:References
337:Rio Grande
333:New Mexico
196:Blue River
185:Background
158:Smith Gang
148:between a
102:Bill Smith
1298:Robberies
1249:Pecos War
968:showdowns
966:Duels and
763:Gunfights
747:Gunfights
648:Gunfights
526:8 January
501:8 January
415:iUniverse
295:Aftermath
204:St. Johns
39:is being
1374:See also
755:Old West
707:Category
674:See also
368:See also
309:Nutrioso
250:Gunfight
240:Big Lake
154:American
146:gunfight
144:, was a
72:Location
43:. ›
32:template
753:in the
617:Outlaws
576:Rangers
341:captain
279:at the
216:sheriff
112:Outlaws
108:Outcome
1430:, and
1386:Cowboy
421:
358:Mauser
179:Mexico
119:Deaths
114:escape
1204:Range
1066:Feuds
751:feuds
469:(PDF)
462:(PDF)
232:Greer
224:posse
150:posse
1206:wars
749:and
528:2022
503:2022
477:2022
419:ISBN
212:Utah
136:The
64:Date
218:of
164:'s
152:of
1448::
1426:,
511:^
494:.
433:^
417:.
413:.
226:.
181:.
82:,
78:,
739:e
732:t
725:v
561:e
554:t
547:v
530:.
505:.
479:.
427:.
130:2
122:2
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
