Salt War

The siege that ended the Salt War lasted five days. A force led by Chico Barela surrounded Charles Howard and Texas Rangers under Lt. John B. Tays in the ranger quarters and killed Charles Ellis and C. E. Mortimer. Howard gave himself up, and the rangers surrendered too. On December 17, 1877, Howard, John E. McBride and John G. Atkinson were shot by a firing squad. No one was ever tried, and from then on people paid for the salt.

What the plaque says

Salt War The Salt War rose from political conflicts in El Paso County and from controversies over control of the salt lakes east of El Paso that for centuries had been a free source of salt for local residents. In 1877 Charles Howard, a former county judge who claimed ownership of the lakes, shot political adversary Luis Cardis over the issue of the salt beds. While under the protection of state troops in San Elizario, Howard and several of the troopers were killed by a riotous mob. Federal and state investigations of the Salt War led to the re-establishment of Ft. Bliss in 1878. (1984)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• San Elizario Historic District — steps away
  A plaza of adobe buildings at the end of the El Paso Mission Trail: an 1877 chapel, Gregorio Garcia's portaled house and the old county jail of Billy the Kid legend.
• Socorro Mission (Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion del Socorro) — 5.4 mi
  Socorro's adobe church on the El Paso Mission Trail, with walls five feet thick, carved vigas from an older church and a statue of Saint Michael said to have chosen the town.
• Tigua Indian Cultural Center, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo — 7.2 mi
  The cultural center of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, the Tigua nation that has lived in the Mission Valley of El Paso since 1682 and keeps its own history here.
• Ysleta Mission (Corpus Christi de la Ysleta del Sur) — 8.0 mi
  The Tigua mission church at Ysleta, rebuilt in 1908 around the walls, bell and Santo Entierro that came through fire, its interior painted with rain clouds and corn.

More markers nearby

• The Camino Real — steps away
• Rodriguez-Chamuscado Expedition, 1581 — steps away
• Espejo-Beltran Expedition - 1582-1583 — steps away
• Juan de Onate Expedition - 1598 — steps away