Selman's Scouts – Outlaw Gang of New Mexico – Legends of America

Selman’s Scouts – Outlaw Gang of New Mexico – Legends of America

The American West, a landscape etched with both breathtaking beauty and brutal realities, was a fertile ground for legends – tales of heroism, resilience, and, inevitably, infamy. Among the shadowy figures that roamed this era, John Selman stands out as a complex character, a man who straddled the line between lawman and outlaw. His most notorious endeavor was the leadership of a gang known as Selman’s Scouts, a band of ruthless individuals who terrorized Lincoln County, New Mexico, in the late 1870s.

The Genesis of a Gang

To understand the emergence of Selman’s Scouts, one must first delve into the background of its enigmatic leader. John Selman was a man of contradictions, a figure who, at different points in his life, wore the badge of a lawman and the mantle of an outlaw. Facing accusations of theft in Fort Griffin, Texas, Selman sought refuge in the volatile territory of Lincoln County, New Mexico.

Lincoln County in 1878 was a powder keg of simmering tensions and unchecked lawlessness. The infamous Lincoln County War, a bloody feud between rival factions vying for economic and political control, had left the region scarred and vulnerable. It was in this environment of chaos and opportunity that Selman gathered a motley crew of hardened individuals, forming the gang that would become known as Selman’s Scouts.

Unlike other gangs operating in the area, such as the Jesse Evans Gang, the John Kinney Gang, and the Seven Rivers Warriors, Selman’s Scouts had no pretense of fighting for a cause or taking sides in the ongoing conflicts. Their motivations were far more straightforward: to exploit the lawless state of the county for personal gain. They were, in essence, opportunistic predators, driven by greed and a thirst for violence.

A Reign of Terror

For two harrowing months, spanning September and October of 1878, Selman’s Scouts unleashed a wave of terror upon the residents of Lincoln County. Their crimes were as varied as they were brutal, painting a grim picture of lawlessness and despair.

Cattle and horse rustling became a staple of their operations, as they plundered the livelihoods of ranchers and farmers. Innocent men and boys were murdered in cold blood, their lives extinguished without remorse. Businesses and homes were pillaged and ransacked, leaving families destitute and traumatized. And, most disturbingly, women were subjected to acts of sexual violence, their bodies and spirits violated in the most heinous ways.

The gang’s actions were not merely acts of theft or vandalism; they were calculated acts of intimidation and control. By instilling fear and terror, Selman’s Scouts sought to establish their dominance over the county, silencing any opposition and ensuring their continued reign of impunity.

Despite the efforts of posses formed by concerned citizens of Lincoln County, the violence continued unabated. The gang’s mobility, their knowledge of the terrain, and their willingness to use deadly force made them difficult to track and apprehend. The residents of Lincoln County found themselves trapped in a nightmare, with no end in sight.

The Governor’s Intervention

The escalating violence and lawlessness in Lincoln County eventually caught the attention of New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace. A man of considerable intellect and determination, Wallace recognized the urgent need to restore order and stability to the troubled region.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Governor Wallace issued a stern proclamation, threatening to impose martial law if the lawlessness did not cease. This was a bold and decisive move, signaling the government’s willingness to use its full authority to quell the unrest.

The threat of martial law, combined with the growing pressure from local posses, proved to be a turning point. Sensing that the tide was turning against them, John Selman made the decision to flee Lincoln County and seek new opportunities for his brand of lawlessness elsewhere.

With Selman’s departure, the reign of terror perpetrated by his Scouts came to an abrupt end. The residents of Lincoln County breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful for the respite from violence and the promise of a return to order.

The Members of Selman’s Scouts

The following is a list of the known members of Selman’s Scouts, along with brief details about their fates:

H.J. Bassett: Disappeared sometime after late November 1878, his fate remaining a mystery.
Roscoe "Rustling Bob" Bryant: A former member of the John Kinney Gang, he met a violent end, shot and killed by fellow Selman’s Scouts in October 1878 near Seven Rivers, New Mexico.
Augustus M. "Gus" Gildea: One of the few members to die of natural causes, he passed away in Douglas, Arizona, on August 10, 1935.
Reason Gobles: Vanished in 1879 in Texas, his whereabouts and ultimate fate unknown.
Caleb Hall (also known as The Prowler, John Collins, and Sam Collins): Another former member of the John Kinney Gang, he died of natural causes in Cripple Creek, Colorado, on March 12, 1935.
Ed Hart: A former member of the John Kinney Gang, he was shot and killed by John Selman in Lincoln County, New Mexico, in September 1878 for allegedly attempting to usurp Selman’s leadership.
John W. Irving: Another former member of the John Kinney Gang, he was robbed and killed by unknown assailants in White Sands, New Mexico, in December 1878.
Charlie Moore: Met a similar fate to Irving, robbed and killed by unknown individuals in White Sands, New Mexico, in December 1878.
John Nelson: Possibly killed by a posse led by Juan Patron near Fort Sumner, New Mexico, on October 10, 1878.
W.R. "Jake" Owens: Died of natural causes in Carlsbad, New Mexico, on December 24, 1935.
John Selman: The leader of the gang, his life of violence ultimately caught up with him. He was shot and killed by George Scarborough in El Paso, Texas, on April 5, 1896.
Tom Selman: John Selman’s younger brother, his life was cut short by a lynching around 1880 under mysterious circumstances.
Charles Snow (also known as Charles Johnson): He later joined the Clanton Gang and met his end in an ambush by Mexicans in Guadalupe Canyon, Arizona, on August 12, 1881.
Bob Speakes: A former Seven Rivers Warrior, he briefly enlisted in the Texas Rangers in 1880 but was quickly discharged after his past was discovered. He subsequently disappeared.
Frank Wheeler: Shot and killed by Sam Perry in Hillsboro, New Mexico, on July 16, 1879.
V. S. Whitaker: Possibly killed by a posse led by Juan Patron near Fort Sumner, New Mexico, on October 10, 1878.

A Legacy of Infamy

Selman’s Scouts, though short-lived, left an indelible mark on the history of Lincoln County and the American West. Their reign of terror serves as a stark reminder of the lawlessness and violence that plagued the frontier, and the challenges faced by those who sought to build communities and establish order in a wild and unforgiving land.

The story of Selman’s Scouts is a cautionary tale, a reminder of the dark side of human nature and the dangers of unchecked power. It is a story that continues to fascinate and disturb, ensuring that the names of John Selman and his band of outlaws will forever be etched in the legends of the American West.

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