Virgil Earp Historical Figure Nationality: United States Date of Birth: 1843 Date of Death: 1905 Cause of Death: Pneumonia Occupation: Soldier, Law Enforcement officer, gambler, miner, businessman Spouse: Nellie Jane Earp Rossella Dragoo Allie Sullivan Relatives: Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, James Earp, Warren Earp (brothers) Turtledove Appearances: Southern Victory POD: September 10, 1862 Appearance(s): How Few Remain Type of Appearance: Direct

Virgil Walter Earp (1843–1905) was the older brother of Wyatt Earp, and participated in the storied 1881 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in the town of Tombstone, Arizona Territory.

He spent most his life in law enforcement, but he did try his hand at a variety of careers. He served with the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Virgil Earp in Southern VictoryEdit

Virgil Earp had been just 18 years old when he enlisted in the Union Army when the War of Secession began in 1861. After the war ended, Virgil left the army and tried his hand at civilian life. In the 1870's, he spent some time in Dodge City, Kansas, before heading west to the New Mexico Territory. Although Virgil tried to convince his brother, Wyatt to come with him, he ultimately failed.

When the Second Mexican War began in 1881, Virgil Earp recived the brevet rank of Colonel, and was placed in charge of the Tombstone Rangers based out of Tombstone, New Mexico Territory.  Being the senior rank he found himself in charge of a combined force of US Cavalry and Tombstone Rangers in the town of Tucson.  His military career in the war was short lived as he led his regiment into a trap set jointly by the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department under Jeb Stuart and an Apache band led by Geronimo. In the ensuing battle, the combined militia and cavalry force was decimated. Earp was wounded and captured, and personally interrogated by Stuart.

Earp shared with Stuart his wish that his brother had come out west. His brother was the best poker player Earp had ever seen, and probably would not have fallen into the trap. Although beaten and humiliated, Virgil got the last laugh as he vexed Stuart by pointing out that the Apaches were the CSA's problem now.^[1]

1. ↑ How Few Remain, pg. 284-285.

v · d · e Southern Victory Books How Few Remain The Great War (American Front • Walk in Hell • Breakthroughs) American Empire (Blood and Iron • The Center Cannot Hold • The Victorious Opposition) Settling Accounts (Return Engagement • Drive to the East • The Grapple • In at the Death) 1 of 11 Add photo POV Characters Reggie Bartlett • Flora Blackford • Sam Carsten • Samuel Clemens • Anne Colleton • Tom Colleton • George Custer • Frederick Douglass • Jerry Dover • Abner Dowling • Cincinnatus Driver • George Enos • George Enos, Jr. • Sylvia Enos • Jake Featherston • Lucien Galtier • Armstrong Grimes • Thomas Jackson • Roger Kimball • Abraham Lincoln • Cassius Madison • Paul Mantarakis • Chester Martin • Arthur McGregor • Gordon McSweeney • Irving Morrell • Jonathan Moss • Leonard O'Doull • Jefferson Pinkard • Mary McGregor Pomeroy • Michael Pound • Clarence Potter • Stephen Ramsay • Hipolito Rodriguez • Jorge Rodriguez • Theodore Roosevelt • Scipio • Alfred von Schlieffen • Nellie Semphroch • Jeb Stuart Countries United States • Confederate States • Canada • Mexico • Republic of Quebec • Britain • France • Russia • Germany • Austria-Hungary • Ottoman Empire • Japan Events War of Secession • Second Mexican War • Great War • Pacific War • Second Great War Politicial Parties Democratic Party • Socialist Party • Republican Party • Whig Party • Radical Liberal Party • Freedom Party