Battle of Ingalls

Battle of Ingalls
Date September 1, 1893 Location Ingalls, Oklahoma, United States 36°6′7″N 96°52′54″W / 36.10194°N 96.88167°W / 36.10194; -96.88167 (1893 Dalton-Doolin Gang shootout site)Coordinates: 36°6′7″N 96°52′54″W / 36.10194°N 96.88167°W / 36.10194; -96.88167 (1893 Dalton-Doolin Gang shootout site) Result Doolin-Dalton gang flees Ingalls
Belligerents
United States Marshals	Doolin-Dalton Gang
Commanders and leaders
John Hixon	Bill Doolin Bill Dalton
Strength
13-14	10
Casualties and losses
3 killed	2 Wounded 1 Captured
Civilian casualties: 1 wounded 2 killed
Shootout site of Dalton-Doolin Gang Location within Oklahoma

Bill Doolin

The Battle of Ingalls was a gunfight on September 1, 1893 between United States Marshals and the Doolin-Dalton Gang, during the closing years of the Old West era, in Ingalls, Oklahoma. The Doolin-Dalton Gang had been involved in a number of train robberies and bank robberies, beginning around 1891. They had found a safe haven in the town of Ingalls, which unwittingly harbored many outlaws during that period. On September 1, 1893, a posse was organized by the new United States Marshal, Evett Dumas "E.D." Nix, which entered the outlaw town of Ingalls with the intent to capture the gang. The lawmen were engaged in a gunbattle in which three of the fourteen lawmen carrying Deputy Marshals' commissions would die as a result of the battle.

The gunbattle began when the US Marshals, led by Deputy Marshal John Hixon, engaged "Bittercreek" Newcomb, which resulted in a shootout exchange that left Newcomb badly wounded after firing, at the most, two rounds. By a first hand account given later by US Marshal Nix, a large number of the outlaws then opened fire from a saloon, resulting in the lawmen returning fire, killing one horse and firing in such a manner as to force the outlaws to flee out a side door of the saloon, taking refuge in a large stable. A civilian known only as Murray, who owned the saloon, then engaged the Marshals in a shootout from his saloon's front doorway, during which the marshals shot him in the ribs and arm. Murray was badly wounded and arrested. He pursued damages against the government two years later, but lost his case much thanks to US Marshal Nix staunchly defending his deputy marshals' actions.

From an extremely good and elevated angle, "Arkansas Tom" Jones then opened fire with a rifle. Having an advantage over the marshals, he was able to push them into points of cover, during which he shot Deputy Marshal Thomas Hueston. Hueston would die the next day. It had been Deputy Marshal Hueston who, on November 29, 1892, along with Ford County, Kansas Sheriff Chalkey Beeson had shot and killed Doolin Dalton gang member Oliver Yantis. Ingalls bystander Young Simmons was fatally shot by a stray round as he attempted to take cover inside Vaughn's Saloon. Another bystander, known as Old Man Ramson, was hit in the leg.