John Middleton – One of the Regulators
The annals of the American West are filled with tales of conflict, courage, and characters whose lives were etched in the tumultuous landscape of the 19th century. Among these figures, John Middleton stands as a testament to the brutal realities of the Lincoln County War, a conflict that shaped the history of New Mexico and cemented the legacies of those who fought within it. He is remembered today as a dedicated Regulator and a key participant in one of the most infamous feuds of the Old West.
Born circa 1854, John Middleton was a Texan transplant who arrived in Lincoln County, New Mexico, during the mid-1870s. His physical description paints a picture of a formidable man: heavyset in build, with a swarthy complexion, framed by dark hair and piercing black eyes. A large, meticulously groomed handlebar mustache completed the image of a man who commanded attention. More than just appearances, Middleton possessed a reputation as a first-rate cowboy, skilled in the saddle and adept at handling cattle. His prowess extended beyond the ranch, as he was also known for his capabilities as a fistfighter and, perhaps more significantly, as an exceptionally accurate marksman with a pistol.
Upon his arrival in Lincoln County, John Middleton found employment as a cowboy under the employ of John Tunstall, a wealthy English rancher. Tunstall, along with his lawyer and business partner Alexander McSween, soon found themselves embroiled in a bitter feud with the established Dolan-Murphy faction, a powerful group that controlled much of the economic and political landscape of Lincoln. As tensions escalated, Middleton’s loyalty was firmly with Tunstall, aligning himself with the nascent opposition to the Dolan-Murphy dominance.
The simmering conflict boiled over with the assassination of John Tunstall in February 1878. This act of violence ignited the Lincoln County War, a bloody and protracted struggle for control of the county. In the wake of Tunstall’s murder, Richard Brewer, a close associate of Tunstall and McSween, was appointed as town constable. Recognizing the need for a dedicated force to investigate Tunstall’s death and protect the interests of the Tunstall-McSween faction, Brewer formed a posse known as "The Regulators." This group of men, which included John Middleton, Billy the Kid (William Bonney), and other loyal deputies, became the armed vanguard of the Tunstall-McSween cause.
As the Lincoln County War raged, John Middleton put his skills as a marksman to deadly use, participating in numerous engagements against the Dolan-Murphy faction and their allies. The Regulators sought retribution for Tunstall’s murder, targeting those they believed responsible and engaging in a series of retaliatory killings. One of the most notable confrontations occurred on April 4, 1878, at Blazer’s Mill. During a gunfight with Buckshot Roberts, a known associate of the Dolan faction, Middleton sustained a serious chest wound. Despite the severity of the injury, he survived, a testament to his resilience and perhaps a bit of luck.
The Lincoln County War continued to escalate, marked by violence, betrayals, and shifting alliances. The conflict reached a crescendo during the infamous "Five-Day Battle" in Lincoln in July 1878, which resulted in the deaths of Alexander McSween and several others. Following this devastating event, the Regulators, fractured and demoralized, began to disband. The formal war was over, but the repercussions would continue to reverberate throughout the region for years to come.
The historical record becomes murky regarding John Middleton‘s fate after the dissolution of the Regulators. Multiple accounts offer conflicting narratives, leaving his final years shrouded in uncertainty. One version of the story suggests that Middleton remained in the Lincoln County area, succumbing to smallpox on November 18, 1882. This account paints a picture of a man felled by disease, his life cut short in the very place where he had fought so fiercely.
However, other accounts offer alternative scenarios. One such narrative posits that Middleton relocated to Kansas, where he married and resumed his life as a cowboy, eventually dying in 1885. This version suggests a desire to escape the violence and turmoil of New Mexico, seeking a fresh start in a new environment.
Yet another, more colorful, account links Middleton to his cousin, the outlaw Jim Reed, and his wife, the notorious Belle Starr. According to this version, Middleton became entangled in their criminal activities, finding himself once again on the wrong side of the law. The tale culminates with Middleton’s body being discovered face down in the mud of the Poteau River, near the Arkansas border, in May 1885. This dramatic ending suggests a life of continued conflict and a violent demise, fitting for a man who lived on the fringes of society.
The true circumstances of John Middleton‘s death remain a mystery, lost to the vagaries of history and the unreliable nature of oral accounts. What is undeniable is his role in the Lincoln County War and his association with the Regulators, a group of men who sought to restore order and justice in a lawless land. Whether he died of disease, sought a peaceful existence, or continued down a path of outlawry, John Middleton’s life remains a fascinating glimpse into the turbulent era of the American West, a time when survival often depended on courage, skill, and a willingness to fight for what one believed in. His legacy endures as one of the many complex figures who shaped the narrative of the Lincoln County War, forever linking his name to the legends of the Old West.