"The El Paso Salt War (1879)" Topic

The El Paso Salt War began in the late 1860's as a struggle between El Paso businessmen W.W. Mills, Albert J. Fountain, and Louis Cardis in an attempt to acquire title to the salt deposits near the base of the Guadalupe Mountains. Mexican Americans of the valley communities, who had for years collected salt there for free, were now faced with the threat of being charged salt collection fees.
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The San Elizario Salt War of 1877 resulted from a political situation that was similar to that of the Magoffin Salt War of 1854. In 1877, Judge Charles Howard filed a claim to 320 acres covering the primary salinas of the Guadalupe Mountains. He then closed the road that led to them and instituted fees for collecting salt. The citizens of San Elizario were outraged and insisted that they had a right to freely collect salt from the salinas. Howard intercepted a group of these citizens on their way to the salinas and precipitated a riot. Howard was jailed for his actions, but was released upon payment of $12,000 USD and fled to New Mexico. He returned a few weeks later and killed Louis Cardis, a popular leader of the group who claimed the right to gather salt, then fled again. Howard returned two months later with several associates and 20 Texas Rangers. In the ensuing battle, Howard and two associates were killed and the rangers were disarmed and expelled. In all, 12 men were killed and 20 were wounded.
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This does not reflect well on either the prowess or morals of the Texas Rangers.

Texas was a very tough place, back in those days.

That particularly Company was recruited in a hurry, without adhering to usual Ranger standards and from a pool of near-do-wells up in New Mexico.

The entire little fight lends itself to a campaign – local Tejanos who had fought the Confederates when they came a' pillagin', Mexican agitators who may/may not have riled up folks on the north bank of the Rio Grande, bad Texas Rangers, weak US Army leaders and northern carpetbaggers.

It'd make a great Grindhouse movie.