The Fight Of Buckshot Roberts
By Emerson Hough
Amidst the rugged landscapes and turbulent times of the Old West, certain events etched themselves into the annals of frontier lore, tales of courage, desperation, and the brutal realities of survival. While the gunfight between Wild Bill Hickok and the McCanles Gang often takes center stage, another remarkable combat, though lesser-known, deserves equal recognition: The Fight Of Buckshot Roberts at Blazer’s Mill, nestled within the Mescalero Indian Reservation. This confrontation, a testament to one man’s extraordinary resilience against overwhelming odds, stands as a symbol of the fierce spirit that defined the era.
Buckshot Roberts, a figure shrouded in mystery and frontier grit, was one of those individuals who drifted into the West, leaving behind a sparse and enigmatic trail of their past. He emerged from Texas, though whispers suggested his origins lay further east. A veteran of the United States Army, Roberts had risen to the rank of sergeant before his discharge, choosing to remain on the ever-shifting frontier, as many soldiers of his time did.
His history was punctuated by experiences that spoke of a life lived on the edge. At one point, he served as a Texas Ranger, earning a reputation as a formidable Indian fighter. The Comanche, however, left their mark, leaving him riddled with bullets. Conversely, he found himself on the opposite side, facing off against the Rangers, a conflict that nearly cost him his life. These encounters left him physically scarred, most notably crippling his right arm to the point where raising a rifle to his shoulder became an impossible feat. It was these wounds, earned in the harsh crucible of the West, that earned him the enduring moniker "Buckshot" Roberts.
Seeking respite from the ceaseless turmoil, Roberts established a small ranch in the picturesque Ruidoso Valley of central New Mexico. This valley, a jewel of the Southwest, offered a serene landscape, and Roberts desired nothing more than to be left in peace, content to carve out a life through hard work and self-reliance. However, the eruption of the Lincoln County War shattered the tranquility he sought. Initially recognized as a friend of Major Lawrence G. Murphy, a prominent figure in one of the warring factions, Roberts found himself pressured to choose a side. His curt refusal, stating he had seen enough fighting and would not fight another man’s battle, was considered treasonous in that volatile environment, an offense often punishable by death. Friends warned him that Billy the Kid and Dick Brewer intended to eliminate him, urging him to flee the territory.
Accounts of the events leading up to the confrontation at Blazer’s Mill are fragmented and conflicting. Some claim Roberts was in the process of selling off his possessions, preparing to leave the country when he learned of the gang’s pursuit, prompting him to confront them. Others suggest he traveled to Blazer’s Mill on April 4, 1878, to visit a friend named Kitts, who he heard had been gravely wounded. Still another rumor circulated, alleging he sought a confrontation with Major Godfroy, with whom he had a prior disagreement. A more outlandish tale suggested he intended to kill Billy the Kid to collect a reward. While the latter scenarios seem improbable, the most likely truth is that Roberts, a man of undeniable courage, despite his intention to leave the area, felt compelled to visit his wounded friend and assess the validity of the threats he had received.
Three individuals bore witness to the events that unfolded at Blazer’s Mill: Frank and George Coe, ranchers residing in the Ruidoso Valley, and Johnnie Patten, a cook at the Carrizo Ranch. Patten, a former soldier of H Troop, Third Cavalry, who had mustered out at Fort Stanton in 1869, was operating the sawmill for Dr. Blazer at the time of the incident.
Frank Coe testified that he attempted to mediate, urging Roberts to surrender his weapons and avoid a fight. Patten, at considerable risk to himself, stated that he had warned Roberts about the intentions of Dick Brewer, Billy the Kid, and their gang to kill him. Regardless of the exact circumstances, it is known that Roberts, riding a mule still damp from crossing the Tularosa River, encountered Dick Brewer, Billy the Kid, George Coe, Frank Coe, Charlie Bowdre, John Middleton, a man named Scroggins, "Dirty Steve" Stevens, and several others, totaling thirteen men. This group, claiming to be a posse under the authority of Dick Brewer, designated as a "special constable," confronted Roberts.
The Brewer party retreated behind the house. Frank Coe engaged in conversation with Roberts, while Kate Godfroy, Major Godfroy’s daughter, voiced her protest against the intentions of Brewer and his gang. Dick Brewer instructed his men to delay action, suggesting they "coax him up the road away."
Roberts refused to relinquish his weapons to Frank Coe. He stood near the door, outside the house. Then, according to Johnnie Patten’s account, Billy the Kid’s gang suddenly emerged from behind the house, each firing as they approached. The resilient Roberts, despite his physical limitations preventing him from raising his rifle to his shoulder, worked the lever from his hip.
A dozen men, considered among the most dangerous gunfighters in the region, unleashed a barrage of gunfire at close range. Yet, Roberts managed to shoot Jack Middleton through the lungs, though not fatally. He also shot off a finger from George Coe’s hand, prompting him to withdraw from the fight. Roberts then stepped forward and pressed his gun against Billy the Kid’s stomach. For an unknown reason, the gun misfired, narrowly saving the Kid’s life.
Charlie Bowdre appeared from around the corner of the house, and Roberts fired again. His bullet struck Bowdre’s belt, severing it. Simultaneously, Bowdre fired, hitting Roberts in the body. Roberts did not fall, but staggered back against the wall. Despite being crippled and mortally wounded, his fierce demeanor instilled fear into the experienced gunfighters. They retreated behind the house, leaving him standing. Each man claimed credit for shooting Roberts. Charlie Bowdre insisted, "I shot him myself. I dusted him on both sides. I saw the dust fly out on both sides of his coat, where my bullet went clean through him." Despite their claims, they did not venture around the house again. Roberts stumbled back inside the house. He discarded his Winchester and picked up a heavy Sharps rifle, belonging to Dr. Appel, which he found in Dr. Blazer’s room. Brewer ordered Dr. Blazer to bring Roberts out, but Blazer refused. Roberts pulled a mattress off the bed, placed it on the floor, and lay down near an open window at the front of the house.
The gang dispersed, surrounding the house. Dick Brewer sought cover behind a thirty-inch sawlog near the mill, approximately 140 steps from the window where Roberts lay wounded. Brewer cautiously raised his head above the log to observe Roberts. His eyes were barely visible, yet at that distance, a heavy bullet from Roberts’ buffalo gun struck him in the eye, killing him instantly.
Billy the Kid assumed leadership of the posse. His first action was to gather his men and depart, their entire group defeated by a single man. They left behind a dead man and several wounded.
Thirty-six hours later, another corpse lay at Blazer’s Mill. The doctor, summoned from Fort Stanton, could not save Roberts, who died in agony. Johnnie Patten, the sawyer and carpenter, constructed a large coffin, and Brewer and Roberts were buried side by side. "I couldn’t make a very good coffin," Patten said, "so I built it in the shape of a big V, with no end piece at the foot. We just put them both in together." And there they remain today, grim companions in death. Emil Blazer, son of Dr. Blazer, continued to reside on the site of the battle. He stated that the two men were buried separately, side by side, with Brewer to the right of Roberts. The small graveyard contains a few other unmarked graves, and grass covers them all.
The building where Buckshot Roberts made his stand is now gone, replaced by an adobe structure built slightly further back from the raceway that once powered the old mountain sawmill, which is no longer in operation. The old flume, where water flowed onto the wheel, remains, and the site of the old mill is easily identifiable. During a visit to the site in the fall of 1905, the author verified these details and measured the distances. The Fight Of Buckshot Roberts was a long shot that went downhill. The vitality, courage, and tenacity of Buckshot Roberts, against such overwhelming odds, ensure he is remembered with admiration in that once-bloody region.