April 29, 1878; Fritz Spring Ranch, Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory---A lot has happened in the past month. Since the Regulators have killed Sheriff William Brady, Deputy George Hindman, and Andrew "Buckshot" Roberts, while also having their own leader Dick Brewer killed, there have been many new developments put in forth by the grand jury. Alex McSween has been cleared of any wrong doing in the Fritz life insurance case, Jimmy Dolan and Johnny Riley have been indicted for cattle theft, Dolan and several others were indicted for the murder of John Tunstall, and several Regulators were indicted for the murders of Brady, Hindman, and Roberts. Also, John Copeland, a Lincoln resident alleged to be partial to the McSween faction, has been named Sheriff and Frank MacNab has taken over as leader of the Regulators. This does not sit well with the Seven Rivers Warriors, a gang of ranchers and rustlers who also act as gunmen for Dolan. The Warriors know that MacNab is a cattle detective for the firm of Hunter & Evans and was sent to Lincoln County by his employers to break up the rustling ring operated therein. Originally stationed at the South Spring ranch of John Chisum (the Warriors' mortal enemy), MacNab was 'loaned' to the Regulators by Chisum. This has brought MacNab strong disdain from the Warriors.
Since around April 26, there have been rumors flying around that MacNab plans on leading the Regulators down to Seven Rivers to "close out" the rustlers and Dolan gunmen there. Wanting to make a preemptive strike, the Warriors decide to ride up to Lincoln and volunteer their services as a 'posse' to Sheriff Copeland. If Copeland refuses their aid, they will know for sure he is a McSween partisan, but if he accepts their aid, then they will have legal authority to hunt down MacNab and the Regulators. It's a win-win situation for the Warriors, and for the whole Dolan cause. On April 28, the Warriors, as well as seven or eight members of the Jessie Evans Gang, leave Seven Rivers and begin riding north towards Lincoln. Their de-facto leader is William H. Johnson, a former deputy under Sheriff Brady, and the group as a whole numbers about thirty-five men. Included in the group are fellow former deputies George Peppin, Billy Mathews, and Jack Long (also a Jessie Evans Gang member), Warriors Bob and John Beckwith, Bob and Wallace Olinger, Marion Turner, Buck Powell, Milo Pierce, 'Dutch Charlie' Kruling, Johnny Hurley, and Evans Gang members Manuel 'Indian' Segovia, Dick Lloyd, and Thomas Cochrane. Several of these men were also in the sub-posse that killed John Tunstall. On the next day, MacNab, accompanied by Frank Coe and Ab Saunders, a newcomer to the Regulators, begin riding south out of Lincoln, probably towards the Hondo ranch shared by Coe and Saunders.
In the late afternoon, around eight miles south of Lincoln, the Warriors stop at Fritz Spring, a watering hole where the ranch of Charles Fritz is located. Believing that MacNab and the Regulators will have to pass by the ranch on their way to Seven Rivers, the Warriors elect to stay here and wait for them. A short while later, and sure enough, MacNab, Coe, and Saunders begin approaching the spring. Seeing them, the Warriors quickly and quietly take up positions in the brush surrounding the spring.
Once they get to the spring, MacNab and Saunders dismount and let their horses drink, while Coe stays mounted and waits for them to finish. The Warriors, laying the brush, take aim. They wait for a clear shot. Then, as MacNab and Saunders move to remount their horses, the Warriors open fire. MacNab takes a bullet in the side and falls to the ground, severely wounded. Saunders takes two bullets, one in the left hip and the other in the left ankle and also collapses. Coe, meanwhile, instinctively puts his spurs to his horses and attempts to take off. However, a bullet hits Coe's horse in the head, killing the animal instantly and spilling Coe onto the ground. Moving fast, Coe gets out of his saddle and runs to a nearby arroyo, where he takes cover and cannot be seen by the Warriors. MacNab meanwhile, tries to crawl to safety, but Manuel Segovia spots him and fires one shot at him with his shotgun. The buckshot hits MacNab in the head, killing him instantly. The firing stops. The man they came for, MacNab, is dead. Saunders is lying in a semi-conscious state and Coe is pinned down in the arroyo.
After firing off all the rounds of his six-shooter, Coe realizes he has no hope of escape. Wallace Olinger, who is on good terms with Coe, yells out to him that if he were to surrender, no harm will come to him. Knowing that this is his only option, Coe reluctantly surrenders. The Warriors take Coe to the ranch house, where they inform him that they are taking him to Lincoln as their prisoner and that MacNab is dead and Saunders is gravely wounded. Coe asks the Warriors to bring Saunders up to the house as well, but they laugh it off, apparently believing Saunders to be Billy "the Kid" Bonney. When Coe convinces them who Saunders really is, they do indeed go retrieve the man and take him to the ranch house.
A short time later, the Warriors, with Frank Coe as their prisoner, begin riding towards Lincoln. Ab Saunders is left behind at the Fritz Ranch due to his wounds, but he will later be taken to Fort Stanton to get medical attention, where he will remain for the next few months. Meanwhile, word soon reaches Lincoln, and the Regulators, about the gunfight at Fritz Spring. The stage is set for the next battle of the Lincoln County War.
Regulators involved
Murphy-Dolan-Riley men involved
