March 24, 1878; San Patricio, Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory---Virtually nothing is known of this particular gunfight, as very few details of it were ever recorded. What seems to have happened is this: Billy Bonney and Charlie Bowdre were riding together in the area of San Patricio, where the Regulators had made their "headquarters" of sorts. Perhaps they were scouting out for Dolan men, perhaps they were just out riding to enjoy a nice afternoon. At some point during their ride, Andrew "Buckshot" Roberts, a Dolan partisan that was a member of the posse that killed John Tunstall, thereby also meaning the Regulators had a warrant for his arrest, opened fire on them from ambush. Billy and Charlie instantly pulled their guns and began shooting in Buckshot's general direction, while galloping away at the same time. Eventually, they reached safety.
It seems that Buckshot was out hunting for the Regulators, since it's been rumored there was a bounty on the heads of each of them offered by Dolan & Company. Regardless, no one was hurt in this gunfight, although both Billy and Charlie would remember that it was indeed Buckshot who had been the one shooting at them.
Regulators involved
Murphy-Dolan-Riley men involved
