Buckshot Roberts
Encyclopedia
Andrew L. "Buckshot" Roberts (died April 4, 1878) was an American
buffalo
hunter and cowboy
whose last stand against the Lincoln County Regulators
during the Gunfight of Blazer's Mills
near Lincoln, New Mexico
is a part of frontier legend.
Although the huge majority of famous gunfights that took place in the Old West have been exaggerated beyond the realms of credibility, the fight at Blazer's Mills is one of the few where reliable sources have described a feat of profound ability and toughness. Despite his toughness, Roberts died at Blazer's Mills, following a shoot-out with the Regulators
, who believed that Roberts had been involved in the murder of their boss, John Tunstall. They famously included Billy the Kid
, who played a part in that fight. It was, however, Regulators Charlie Bowdre
and George Coe
who fired the fatal shots which killed Roberts, although Roberts would shoot dead one Regulator, Dick Brewer
, at the same location, and wound several others.
Cody, and may have been involved in a shootout with the Texas Rangers
at this time. He earned his nickname due to a serious injury. Having been shot, there was still a load of buckshot embedded in his right shoulder, indicating that it is likely he was involved in at least one violent encounter. The wound impaired the movement in his right arm, which he could not raise above his pelvis. He fought during the Civil War
in the Confederate Army and has a Confederate marker now placed near his grave, and by 1876 had his own small ranch in Ruidoso Valley, near to Lincoln.
He was known as a quiet, secretive man, who rarely, if ever spoke of his past, though he was reportedly not a man to upset. A stubborn loner, he preferred to ride a mule
than a horse. He was short and stocky in appearance. He worked for James Dolan
, thus, when the Lincoln County War
broke out he became a target of those loyal to John Tunstall
and Alexander McSween
. At the time of the gunfight at Blazer's Mills, the Lincoln County Regulators
did have a warrant for Roberts's arrest.
and had made plans to leave the area, selling his ranch and waiting for the check from his buyer. On April 4, 1878, Roberts rode his mule into Blazer's Mills, a sawmill and trading post located on the Rio Tularosa. Looking to collect his check, he was shocked to discover that the entire upper echelon of the Regulators were eating lunch in a nearby building. They had left the area around Lincoln, New Mexico
after killing Sheriff William Brady
just three days earlier. One of them, Frank Coe
, sat with Roberts on the steps of the main house and tried to talk him into surrendering. The old gunman refused, believing he would be killed by the vengeful cowboys.
Regulator chief Dick Brewer grew impatient with the stand-off and sent a few of his men outside to take Roberts into custody. At the sight of the armed, quickly walking cowboys, Roberts jumped up, aiming his Winchester. Both he and Charlie Bowdre fired at the same time. Roberts was struck in the stomach while his shot hit Bowdre’s belt buckle, severing his gun belt and knocking the wind from him. Dangerously wounded, Roberts kept pumping bullets at the Regulators as he retreated to the doorway. John Middleton
was seriously wounded in the chest. One slug grazed Doc Scurlock and another struck George Coe in the right hand, costing him his thumb and trigger finger. Coe shifted his rifle and returned fire, hitting Roberts. Once the magazine of Roberts' rifle clicked empty, Billy the Kid
dashed from cover to finish off the wounded gunman, only to be knocked senseless by the barrel of the Winchester.
Barricading himself in the house, Roberts ignored both his painful wound and the Regulators' gunshots, arming himself with a single-shot Springfield rifle and readied himself. Stunned by the turn of events, the Regulators tended to their wounded and tried to get Roberts to come out. Frustrated that none of his men dared to approach the fortified adversary, Dick Brewer circled around the main house and took cover behind some stacked logs and opened fire on the room where the wounded man was. Roberts, seeing the cloud of gun smoke from the log pile, sighted in and opened fire when Brewer put his head up again, striking the cowboy in the eye. The Regulators, demoralized by their casualties, pulled out and left the area after sending in a doctor to check on Roberts. Buckshot Roberts died the next day and he and Dick Brewer were buried side by side near the big house where the gunfight occurred.
, portrayed by actor Brian Keith
. Some aspects of the real Roberts' life are recreated in the film, such as his status as a grizzled, veteran gunfighter, and his desire to avoid the ongoing Lincoln County War. He is also shown riding a mule. His lone scene in the film is a fictionalized shoot-out, similar in some respects to the actual Blazer's Mills encounter, where Roberts tracks The Regulators in hopes of collecting a bounty placed on their heads. After a brief conversation where he matter-of-factly states his intentions, Roberts opens fire on the gang (with a Winchester rifle and in a crouched position, both indicative of the real Buckshot Roberts) wounding a number of them before retreating to an outhouse for safety. After firing continuously at the outhouse, Dick Brewer dares Billy the Kid to see if Roberts is still alive. Billy is greeted with a hail of fire nearly killing him. Roberts then kills Dick Brewer with a shot through the chest and not with a shot through the eye like in real life. The rest of the Regulators open fire at the outhouse and then quickly flee. Roberts' fate in the movie is left unclear although he likely died from his wounds as had the real Buckshot Roberts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
hunter and cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
whose last stand against the Lincoln County Regulators
Lincoln County Regulators
The Lincoln County Regulators was a deputized posse in Lincoln County, New Mexico during the Lincoln County War, consisting of a dozen or so members who wanted revenge for the killing of their boss, John Tunstall...
during the Gunfight of Blazer's Mills
Gunfight of Blazer's Mills
The Gunfight of Blazer's Mills was a shootout between what were known as the Lincoln County Regulators and buffalo hunter Buckshot Roberts.-The gunfight:...
near Lincoln, New Mexico
Lincoln, New Mexico
Lincoln is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, located approximately 57 miles west of Roswell and just south of the Lincoln National Forest. The town had a population of about 800 in 1888, and Main Street has been beautifully preserved by current residents....
is a part of frontier legend.
Although the huge majority of famous gunfights that took place in the Old West have been exaggerated beyond the realms of credibility, the fight at Blazer's Mills is one of the few where reliable sources have described a feat of profound ability and toughness. Despite his toughness, Roberts died at Blazer's Mills, following a shoot-out with the Regulators
Lincoln County Regulators
The Lincoln County Regulators was a deputized posse in Lincoln County, New Mexico during the Lincoln County War, consisting of a dozen or so members who wanted revenge for the killing of their boss, John Tunstall...
, who believed that Roberts had been involved in the murder of their boss, John Tunstall. They famously included Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
, who played a part in that fight. It was, however, Regulators Charlie Bowdre
Charlie Bowdre
Charles Bowdre was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was an associate and member of Billy the Kid's gang.-Early life:...
and George Coe
George Coe (Lincoln County War)
George Washington Coe was an Old West cowboy and for a time gunman alongside Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War.Coe was born in Missouri, and ventured to New Mexico Territory in his youth, around 1871, alongside his cousin, Frank, to work on a ranch near Fort Stanton belonging to a...
who fired the fatal shots which killed Roberts, although Roberts would shoot dead one Regulator, Dick Brewer
Richard Brewer
Richard M. "Dick" Brewer , was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was the first leader of what historically is referred to as Billy the Kid's band, although Billy never led them.-Early life:...
, at the same location, and wound several others.
Early life
Little has been verified of Roberts' life. He is believed to have been an associate of Buffalo BillBuffalo Bill
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a United States soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory , in LeClaire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US...
Cody, and may have been involved in a shootout with the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
at this time. He earned his nickname due to a serious injury. Having been shot, there was still a load of buckshot embedded in his right shoulder, indicating that it is likely he was involved in at least one violent encounter. The wound impaired the movement in his right arm, which he could not raise above his pelvis. He fought during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in the Confederate Army and has a Confederate marker now placed near his grave, and by 1876 had his own small ranch in Ruidoso Valley, near to Lincoln.
He was known as a quiet, secretive man, who rarely, if ever spoke of his past, though he was reportedly not a man to upset. A stubborn loner, he preferred to ride a mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
than a horse. He was short and stocky in appearance. He worked for James Dolan
James Dolan (Lincoln County War)
James Dolan was an Old West businessman, cattleman, and a key factor in the Lincoln County War, in New Mexico, which launched Billy the Kid to fame.-Early life and Murphy association:...
, thus, when the Lincoln County War
Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a 19th-century range war between two factions during the Old West period. Numerous notable figures of the American West were involved, including Billy the Kid, aka William Henry McCarty; sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett; cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and...
broke out he became a target of those loyal to John Tunstall
John Tunstall
John Henry Tunstall , born in England, became a rancher and merchant in New Mexico, where he became a prominent figure and was the first man killed in the Lincoln County War, an economic and political conflict perhaps compounded by ethnic rivalries.-Early life and education:John Henry Tunstall was...
and Alexander McSween
Alexander McSween
Alexander McSween was a prominent figure during the Lincoln County War of the Old West, and a central character, alongside John Tunstall, opposing the "Murphy-Dolan Faction".-Early life:...
. At the time of the gunfight at Blazer's Mills, the Lincoln County Regulators
Lincoln County Regulators
The Lincoln County Regulators was a deputized posse in Lincoln County, New Mexico during the Lincoln County War, consisting of a dozen or so members who wanted revenge for the killing of their boss, John Tunstall...
did have a warrant for Roberts's arrest.
Blazer's Mills
In reality, Buckshot Roberts wanted no part in the Lincoln County WarLincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a 19th-century range war between two factions during the Old West period. Numerous notable figures of the American West were involved, including Billy the Kid, aka William Henry McCarty; sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett; cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and...
and had made plans to leave the area, selling his ranch and waiting for the check from his buyer. On April 4, 1878, Roberts rode his mule into Blazer's Mills, a sawmill and trading post located on the Rio Tularosa. Looking to collect his check, he was shocked to discover that the entire upper echelon of the Regulators were eating lunch in a nearby building. They had left the area around Lincoln, New Mexico
Lincoln, New Mexico
Lincoln is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, located approximately 57 miles west of Roswell and just south of the Lincoln National Forest. The town had a population of about 800 in 1888, and Main Street has been beautifully preserved by current residents....
after killing Sheriff William Brady
William J. Brady
William J. Brady was the sheriff of Lincoln County during the Lincoln County Wars in New Mexico, United States. He was killed in an ambush, aged 48, in which Billy the Kid took part.-Early life:...
just three days earlier. One of them, Frank Coe
Frank Coe (Lincoln County War)
Frank Coe was an Old West cowboy and for a time gunman in the company of Billy the Kid, as a member of the Lincoln County Regulators.-Biography:...
, sat with Roberts on the steps of the main house and tried to talk him into surrendering. The old gunman refused, believing he would be killed by the vengeful cowboys.
Regulator chief Dick Brewer grew impatient with the stand-off and sent a few of his men outside to take Roberts into custody. At the sight of the armed, quickly walking cowboys, Roberts jumped up, aiming his Winchester. Both he and Charlie Bowdre fired at the same time. Roberts was struck in the stomach while his shot hit Bowdre’s belt buckle, severing his gun belt and knocking the wind from him. Dangerously wounded, Roberts kept pumping bullets at the Regulators as he retreated to the doorway. John Middleton
John Middleton (cowboy)
John Middleton was friend of Billy the Kid and a key member of the Regulators, who fought on behalf of John Tunstall during the Lincoln County War....
was seriously wounded in the chest. One slug grazed Doc Scurlock and another struck George Coe in the right hand, costing him his thumb and trigger finger. Coe shifted his rifle and returned fire, hitting Roberts. Once the magazine of Roberts' rifle clicked empty, Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
dashed from cover to finish off the wounded gunman, only to be knocked senseless by the barrel of the Winchester.
Barricading himself in the house, Roberts ignored both his painful wound and the Regulators' gunshots, arming himself with a single-shot Springfield rifle and readied himself. Stunned by the turn of events, the Regulators tended to their wounded and tried to get Roberts to come out. Frustrated that none of his men dared to approach the fortified adversary, Dick Brewer circled around the main house and took cover behind some stacked logs and opened fire on the room where the wounded man was. Roberts, seeing the cloud of gun smoke from the log pile, sighted in and opened fire when Brewer put his head up again, striking the cowboy in the eye. The Regulators, demoralized by their casualties, pulled out and left the area after sending in a doctor to check on Roberts. Buckshot Roberts died the next day and he and Dick Brewer were buried side by side near the big house where the gunfight occurred.
Film Portrayal
Buckshot Roberts appears in the 1988 film Young GunsYoung Guns
Young Guns is a 1988 action/western film, directed by Christopher Cain and written by John Fusco. The film was the first to be produced by Morgan Creek Productions...
, portrayed by actor Brian Keith
Brian Keith
Brian Keith was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his four decade-long career gained recognition for his work in movies such as the 1961 Disney family film The Parent Trap, the 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and the 1975 adventure saga The Wind and...
. Some aspects of the real Roberts' life are recreated in the film, such as his status as a grizzled, veteran gunfighter, and his desire to avoid the ongoing Lincoln County War. He is also shown riding a mule. His lone scene in the film is a fictionalized shoot-out, similar in some respects to the actual Blazer's Mills encounter, where Roberts tracks The Regulators in hopes of collecting a bounty placed on their heads. After a brief conversation where he matter-of-factly states his intentions, Roberts opens fire on the gang (with a Winchester rifle and in a crouched position, both indicative of the real Buckshot Roberts) wounding a number of them before retreating to an outhouse for safety. After firing continuously at the outhouse, Dick Brewer dares Billy the Kid to see if Roberts is still alive. Billy is greeted with a hail of fire nearly killing him. Roberts then kills Dick Brewer with a shot through the chest and not with a shot through the eye like in real life. The rest of the Regulators open fire at the outhouse and then quickly flee. Roberts' fate in the movie is left unclear although he likely died from his wounds as had the real Buckshot Roberts.