Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 288, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1910 — AROUND THE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AROUND THE

CUSTER DIED BY OWN HAND

Rbbert Jackson, Old Indian Scout and Guide, Claims Great Fighter Shot Himself. That General Custer, the hero of Custer’s massacre, believed to have been scalped and killed by the Sioux on the battlefield, was not murdered by the Indians, but died as the result of a gunshot wound fired ,by hls own hand, is the somewhat startling addition offered to history by Robert Jackson of Costilla, Taos county, New Mexico. Jackson *was for nine and a half years a scout and guide for the United States soldiers, his service beginning in 1874 and ending in 1883. Jackson served under General Otis,’ General Reno, Colonel Benteen, General Mlles, General Custer and General Hazin’. At the time of the battle in which General Custer met his death Jackson was serving on the Sixth United States infantry carrying dispatches to General Otis, then in command of the

Placed a Gun to His Head and Fired. Twenty-second infantry. Jackson was with the first company to reach the battlefield after the massacre * and gives in detail the scene as it presented Itself to him. Jackson says that an examination of Custer’s body showed that the wound which caused his death was fired at close range, the powder burns indicating plainly that the pistol was held against the head. Jackson was commanded by General Reno to talk with the Indians after they had been subdued by the United States troops in the hopes of finding out how Custer was killed. The Indians told Jackson that General Custer was the last man to fall in battle. They wanted to take him alive, *bejievlng that with him as a prisoner they could force the government to terms. Realizing this fact, jAckson says the Indians told him that Custer placed a gun to his head and fired. According to Jackson the Indiana all loved Custer and called him “The Long Haired Chief.” Jackson is a picturesque character and although he was in long and dangerous service is not receiving a pension from the government, because he was not a regularly enlisted soldier. Friends in Taos county are interesting themselves in his behalf and hope to receive aid for him front the government to compensate him for valuable services rendered. Jackson acted as a scout for General Otis when he went to the relief of General Mlles, then being on a detail along the Yellowstone river. Jackson also scouted for General Mile-i when he was running down Lame Deer and his band. Jackson shot and killed Lame Deer, scalped him and afterwards gave the scalp to General Mlles. After the Indians had been driven into Canada, Jackson acted aa a guide when General Miles burned over a large territory along the northern boundary of the United States and drove south the buffalo so that the Indians were forced to surrender the following winter.