Ca. April 29, 1866; Bakersfield, Texas: Following four years of interrupted mail and freight service in Texas during the Civil War, in 1866 Bethel Coopwood opened a new freight line from San Antonio to El Paso and Chihuahua. Coopwood's trains included pack mules and ambulances with space for passengers. With the first train, which departed 24 April, was an escort of forty mounted men under Capt. Theodore A. Wilson, and passenger James Magoffin, ex-consul to Mexico.
The large escort kept unfriendly Indians away until the train passed Fort Lancaster and crossed the Pecos River. Near the abandoned station at Escondido Springs, Mescalero chiefs Espejo and Jose Cigarito lay in wait with their many warriors. When the Indians started firing, Wilson led the caravan up a hill and placed a skirmish line around the coach, mules, and supply wagon. According to guard Robert M. Keating, the amount of fire from the riders' repeating carbines caused the Indians to fall back in confusion.
From a sheltered spot, Chief Espejo waved a white flag, but his call for a parley was answered by more fire, as the expressmen figured it was a ruse. Neither side was going to give up easily. The siege lasted two days. Finally, the Mescaleros realized they could not drive the determined men out and rode away. The train reached El Paso on 6 May.
