The Battle of Lampasas

Elfego Baca vs. 80 Texas cowboys.

It was a wild time in Reserve, New Mexico on December 1, 1884. Deputy Elfego Baca arrested cowboy Charlie McCarty for shooting up the town. McCarty’s companions—all from the John B. Slaughter ranch—took exception. About 80 of them surrounded an adobe house where Baca was holed up. For the next 33 hours, the cowboys kept up a steady fire on the house. When possible, Baca returned fire, killing four of his assailants. Baca eventually surrendered to a local justice of the peace. The house had more than 400 bullet holes in it.