On this day in 1860, on the heels of the Gold Rush in the American West, pioneers found themselves under attack. A lawless band of shady characters, known as the “Bummers,” terrorized Auraria, west of present-day Denver, during what became known as the “Turkey War.” The community organized two companies of citizen soldiers — the “Jefferson Rangers” and the “Denver Guards” — who came to the rescue.

After ejecting the Bummers from the community, under threat of hanging, the companies disbanded, but not for long. In 1861, Colorado became a territory, and its first governor organized a militia in Denver called the “Colorado Volunteers” which later became the Colorado National Guard.