The Tombstone Rangers were a volunteer force made up from local law men, proprietors, and settlers in the New Mexico territory. Armed with nothing more than pistols and Winchester rifles, they mainly fought against the Apaches and were extremely brutal against them. During the Second Mexican War, they did not fare well against the Confederate Army under the command of General Jeb Stuart. They joined forces with a US cavalry regiment but were easily lead into an ambush by the Apaches for which the US Cavalry were highly critical of them. This forced the Rangers onto the defensive where they fought bravely in the town of Tombstone, but were defeated.
Despite being beaten twice, they were the only US Forces in the New Mexico Territory to give Stuart a decent fight.
