#OTD on November 5, 1877 Texas Rangers under the command of John Tayes and John Jones arrived in the El Paso area to quell the San Elizario Salt Wars, leading to one of the few Ranger defeats. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/el-paso-salt-wars.htm
The town of San Elizario, then county seat of El Paso County, was located near the Guadalupe Salt Lakes. Mexican-origin residents had for generations mined salt there, which was public property. White migrants in the 1870s sought ownership of the lakes, spawning a Salt War.
Tensions erupted in 1877 when Mexican residents formed a number of public committees, or “juntas,” to administer the area. These juntas effectively displaced the county government. The White population as well as local and state government viewed these juntas negatively.
But as author Paul Cool noted, the juntas were “the product of a deliberate, community-based decision squarely in the tradition of the American nation’s original fight for self-government.” https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781603440165/salt-warriors/
Local police colluded with the White folks who wanted to possess the salt lakes. In Sept 1877, two salt miners, José Mariá Juárez and Macedonia Gandara, attempted to collect salt. El Paso County Sheriff Charles Kerber jailed the men. The Mexican-origin population was incensed.
Gov Richard Hubbard sent in the Rangers. He tasked Major John Jones and Lieutenant John Tays with bringing the situation under control, oust the juntas, and reestablish White government. This led to violence.
The salt miners were determined to protect their access to the salt lakes and the juntas were determined to rid the region of the Rangers. They had at least 500 armed individuals, men and women, in their ranks. On the morning of Thursday, December 13, 1887, fighting began.
A raging battle began that lasted the day, resumed on Friday, and continued on Saturday and Sunday. The junta forces killed several Rangers during the fighting. Ranger John Tays surrendered that Monday, allegedly the only time the Rangers ever surrendered.
This victory didn’t last. The US Army unseated the juntas, restoring Sheriff Kerber to his office. The Ranger defeat is important, but it’s also important to note that the Salt War followed a pattern of white economic greed and Mexican resistance common across the region.
Key sources for this post are Paul Cool’s “Salt Warriors” (https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781603440165/salt-warriors/) and @historybrian’s https://uncpress.org/book/9781469670126/borders-of-violence-and-justice/
