Mesilla is a town situated in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, in the United States, and was established in 1848. It was an important part of the Mexican-American War, hosting the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signing in 1848. Mesilla played a significant role in the Civil War, serving as an important trade and transportation hub for both the Union and Confederacy. After the war, the town continued to grow, becoming a central location for agriculture, mining, and oil.
Situated along the trail of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro at an elevated height of 3,881 feet, lies the historical town of Mesilla, also identified as La Mesilla or Old Mesilla. Located just south of Las Cruces and North-West of El Paso, the town holds immense significance owing to its status as one of the largest towns between San Antonio, Texas and San Diego, California. It served as a landmark for stagecoach, mail, and trading. Although the townspeople disapproved of the railroad being constructed within town boundaries, the railroad was built through Las Cruces instead, resulting in expansion for the city. Nevertheless, Mesilla will always remain an unalterable icon and possess a crazy history. Being a political quagmire, Mesilla’s description is incomplete without a basic understanding of its background.
Mesilla constituted the formal seat for Dona Ana County, frequently visited by renowned judges, political figures and other dignitaries. The town was home to notable personalities such as John Kinney, Judge Roy Bean, Albert Jennings Fountain and Big Thomas Catron, who was considered an influential member of the Santa Fe Ring. Despite his involvement behind the scenes of the Lincoln County war where many lives were disrupted and men lost their lives, Catron chose the comforts of his silk pajamas.
In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, resulting in the transfer of sovereignty from Mexico to the United States. The treaty included a payment of 15 million to Mexico, resulting in the acquisition of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and most of New Mexico and Arizona by the Americans. Mexican settlers were given the choice to either move further south to remain in Mexico or stay and receive American citizenship. As a result, in 1848, a group of citizens established a colony in the valley where Mesilla now lies, then still part of Mexico, opting to remain in their homeland. This event marked an important moment in the history of the region and serves as an example of the resilience and determination of the people who lived through this period of change.
The new settlement in the valley faced repeated attacks from the Apache which were left unaddressed by Mexico. Consequently, the United States declared the Mesilla Valley as part of its territory and erected an Army Fort near Mesilla and Las Cruces, named Fort Fillmore. The valley was recognized as no man’s land until 1853, when the United States and Mexico signed the Gadsden purchase, officially incorporating Mesilla into the U.S. territory. This historic moment was marked by a signing ceremony in the town’s central plaza and led to the recognition of Mesilla as a prominent city in the southern area of Arizona and the New Mexico territory.
In 1861, the Democratic Party proclaimed Mesilla as the capital of Arizona Territory of the Confederate States of America. Thomas Catron distinguished himself by serving and fighting alongside the Confederate army in Mesilla, where it was operational as the headquarters of their forces. The Confederates founded a camp a few miles south of the town. However, the fate of Mesilla took an unfavorable turn after the emergence of the Republican party founded by The Whig party as an anti-slavery party. The party’s founder, Abe Lincoln, was elected as President of the USA and assumed office in March 1861. This marked the beginning of a tumultuous period as hostilities ensued between the Confederates occupying Mesilla and the Union forces, culminating in the civil war a month later.
Mesilla saw two major battles during the Civil War. The First Battle occurred on July 25, 1861, where Fort Fillmore – the primary residence of the Union Army at the time – was set on fire by Confederate forces. The Union Army surrendered only two days later. The Second Battle took place a year later on July 1, 1862, and lasted for a few days. The Union Army’s California Column marched into the region with a large number of volunteers and successfully recaptured the village of Mesilla. The Confederate Captain and many others died in the battle. Subsequently, the political turmoil in the area subsided for a brief period after this event.
In 1865, the Civil War had concluded and Thomas Catron made a decision to switch from the Democratic party to the Republican party in order to enhance his career. Following the war, the camp located on the south end of Mesilla was transformed into a strong fortress named Fort Selden. Its aim was to safeguard common citizens from Apache invasions. Subsequently, the Fort was occupied by a group of African American soldiers recognized then as Buffalo Soldiers. The Apache gave the black soldiers this nickname, which stuck around.
In 1871, political tensions emerged once more between the political parties. Both parties held separate rallies in Mesilla. However, campaigning evolved into more of a demonstration of power. Following a riot during a political event in Las Cruces, the Army was dispatched to their next rally in Mesilla, and the campaigning proceeded without any incident until later in the afternoon. The soldiers from Fort Selden withdrew, and upon reaching a safe distance, the situation escalated.
During the political rally, both parties had local musicians to entertain the attendees. Unfortunately, the situation turned sour when the Democratic band began to provoke by playing a Civil War tune while marching around the plaza. The Republicans responded with their own march but the bands marched in opposing directions, causing an impasse when they met on the west side of the plaza. As tensions rose, Mr. Barela, Deputy Sheriff of the county, had to intervene by firing his pistol into the air.
When the gun went off, John Lemon confronted Democrat Mr. Kelley in a heated argument, Kelley without hesitation clubbed Lemon over the head with an ax handle, mortally wounding him.
Fist fights and shooting erupted out all over Mesilla plaza. Women and children were screaming and the men were cursing and crying in agony. As hot lead flew in every direction, an innocent mentally ill boy was accidentally struck and killed.
To restore peace the military was dispatched back to La Mesilla. The Army arrived at 10 pm that night. The troops pitched camp on the plaza. By the next day, things were calm and under control and the military units returned to their post. Both political parties then called a truce.

Albert Jennings Fountain moved to Mesilla from El Paso with his family in 1873. He wasted no time in founding a newspaper, the Mesilla Valley Independent, as well as the Mesilla Drama Society and the Mesilla Valley Opera House, which is now The Fountain Theater, both of which were originally operated by his family.

Fountain became a lawyer in Mesilla and used his fluency in Spanish to his advantage in jury trials, especially in the mostly Hispanic community. He was well-liked and respected in the community.
As an attorney, Fountain had the privilege of representing one of the most well-known clients in American history, Billy the Kid. In the spring of 1881, Billy found himself on trial for the assassination of Sheriff William Brady and Andrew Buckshot Roberts during the Lincoln County War. The charges were dropped for Buckshot Roberts. Despite Fountain’s best efforts, Billy was the only one of the five charged who faced conviction. Regrettably, the verdict in the Brady case did not favor Billy, and at the command of Judge Warren Bristol, he was sentenced to death. Consequently, Billy was held in the Mesilla jail pending transfer to Lincoln. Despite the outcome, Fountain remained committed to providing his clients with the best representation possible in court. Fountain was later appointed assistant district attorney and also served as probate judge and a deputy court clerk.
John Kinney was selected as one of the men responsible for escorting Billy to Lincoln. Around the same time as Fountain’s arrival in Mesilla, Kinney also made the area his home. The specific reason why Kinney was chosen for this task is unknown. However, it may have been because of his reputed animosity towards Billy. Unfortunately, the Santa Fe Ring could have potentially hoped that Kinney would harm Billy.
Prior to this on a November night in 1877, a tragic incident occurred when John Kinney fatally shot Ysabel Barela. While the details of the case are uncertain, it is believed that Kinney acted in self-defense and was ultimately acquitted of murder. During the court proceedings, testimony was presented suggesting that Kinney believed Barela was hired by Robert Widenmann to harm him. It’s worth noting that Widenmann was a close associate of John Tunstall, both of whom held positions of influence that potentially posed a threat to The Santa Fe Ring in Lincoln County. Overall, the incident serves as a reminder of the complex nature of justice and the impact of powerful groups in shaping legal outcomes.
John Kinney established a butcher shop in Mesilla and proceeded to reconstruct his criminal enterprise in an organized and profitable manner. He expanded his operations from Socorro, New Mexico Territory, to the Mexican state of Chihuahua, and from El Paso westward toward Silver City and down into Sonora, Mexico. Kinney’s ranch outside Mesilla, known as “Kinneyville,” included a slaughterhouse and dressing station, giving him the option to ship either whole beef alive or choice cuts by rail, trail, or from the butcher’s shop. Despite his success, Kinney drew unwelcome attention, with Albert Fountain exposing his misdeeds in his newspaper and other publications such as The Santa Fe New Mexican, dubbing Kinney as the “King of the Rustlers.” Consequently, the Governor notified New Mexico’s volunteer militia, led by Fountain, and on February 12, 1883, ordered them to strike against Kinney’s operation, treating the rustlers as public enemies.
Sheldon’s orders gave Fountain a new chance to get Kinney. Kinney got word and went into hiding. Fountain quickly got to work, putting three groups into action up and down the Rio Grande Valley and west into Lake Valley. Eventually Kinney was captured.
In 1883, John Kinney was indicted by the grand jury of New Mexico’s 3rd Judicial District for larceny and buying stolen cattle. The government’s attorney, Fountain, took charge of prosecuting Kinney, and on April 13, 1883, Kinney was convicted by his jury within eight minutes. Subsequently, Fountain escorted Kinney to Leavenworth prison in Kansas via the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe train. Eight other prisoners were also present, and they all arrived in Kansas City on May 2, 1883. Kinney served only three years and was eventually released.
On February 1, 1896, it was reported that Mesillas’ leading citizen Albert Fountain and his son Henry vanished while crossing the White Sands area from Lincoln towards their home. Their wagon and belongings were discovered, along with empty cartridges and a large blood stain on the ground. However, there were no signs of the Fountains except for a blood-soaked handkerchief belonging to Henry. Additionally, reports indicate that a blanket, a quilt, and Fountain’s Winchester rifle were also missing.
Today, Mesilla is not only steeped in rich history but also a renowned tourist destination, offering visitors an array of recreational activities, dining options, and cultural events. Mesilla’s combination of culture, history, and contemporary lifestyle make it a uniquely dynamic place to visit and live.