Buckshot Roberts

Andrew L. “Buckshot” Roberts (* 19th century ; † April 4, 1878 in Blazer's Mill , New Mexico ) was an American bison hunter and cowboy . Roberts was part of the Blazer's Mill shooting in the Lincoln County Cattle War , although he himself had never intended to interfere in the conflict.

Because of the lack of knowledge about Roberts' life, many legends surround him; he is said to have hunted Bill Cody with Buffalo . He got his nickname "Buckshot" when he got a load of shotgun ammunition in his right arm. Since some of the ammunition was not removed, he could only lift his arm up to the pelvis and literally had to shoot from the hip.

Life

Early years

It is unknown when or where Buckshot Roberts was born. According to author Bill O'Neil, he was originally from the southern states . He is said to have hunted buffalo with Buffalo Bill Cody in his early years and was known as "Bill Williams" in Texas . In Texas he is said to have worked as a ranger; At the same time he also took part in a fight against the Texas Ranger Division.

During the American Civil War , Roberts served in the Army of the Northern States , which he left after the war with the rank of sergeant . By 1876 he had his own small ranch in the Ruidoso Valley , near Lincoln , New Mexico . He has always been described as a quiet, taciturn loner. This was also shown in the fact that Roberts preferred to ride a donkey rather than a horse. During this time he worked occasionally for James Dolan , but took no sides in the pulling Lincoln Country War.

Death at Blazer's Mill

In this politico-economic war between ranchers in Lincoln County, the ranching monopoly and Lawrence G. Murphy faced the thriving ranchers around John Tunstall , John Chisum and Alexander McSween . In February 1878, Tunstall was shot and because of Robert's relationship with Dolan, Tunstall's followers, known as the Lincoln County Regulators, believed Roberts had been implicated in his death. In reality, it seems likely that Roberts had nothing to do with Tunstall's death and was not involved in the war up to that point.

Even so, Tunstall's supporters, which included Billy the Kid and Dick Brewer , had an arrest warrant for Roberts. Aware of the danger, he tried to sell his ranch and just waited for the check. On April 4, 1878, he rode his donkey down to Blazer's Mill, an old sawmill and post office near the Rio Tularosa , expecting to finally get his money. However, he was surprised to find that the regulators were having lunch in a house near the post office. Frank Coe, one of the regulators, sat with Roberts on the steps of the post office. He tried to persuade him to give up, but Roberts didn't trust him. Meanwhile, the impatient Dick Brewer sent some of his men out to arrest Roberts. Roberts, however, pulled out his Winchester and opened fire. He was immediately shot in the stomach by Charlie Bowdre , but could also injure some of his opponents. He dragged himself into the house behind him and barricaded himself. Billy the Kid, who wanted to overpower the wounded Roberts after he had emptied his magazine, he was previously incapacitated by a blow with the rifle. Dick Brewer sneaked up to the back of the house and opened fire from behind a pile of wood on the room where Roberts was, but missed him. Roberts could tell where the shots were coming from by the smoke from the gunpowder, so he aimed and shot Brewer in the head as he risked a peek from cover. Demoralized, the Regulators withdrew. Roberts succumbed to his injuries the next day.

Buckshot Roberts and Dick Brewer are buried near the house where the shooting took place.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Bill O'Neil: Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters. University of Oklahoma Press, ISBN 3-85833-200-3 , p. 264.
2. ↑ http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-buckshotroberts.html

Web links

• Biography (English)
• Buckshot Roberts at Find a Grave (English)