"Few works of fiction are as entertaining as the real-life adventures of Billy Jackson." - Stars Over Montana (2009)
"William Jackson, Indian Scout, is the story of a frontier lad, who grew up to serve as a scout under Generals Custer, Miles and Reno in the Indian wars and was one of those few who, at the Battle of Little Big Horn, was cut off from Reno's command and escaped slaughter of that thrilling and memorable battle." -The State (Columbia, S.C.), Jan. 9, 1927
"Billy Jackson was also known as Siksikai-koan, or Blackfoot Man. Like his grandfather, he was a noted guide and adventurer.... Among his greatest coups was to escape safely from the battle at Little Big Horn." - The Blackfoot Papers (2006)
"We would know little in the life of William (Billy) Jackson were it not for the writings of James Willard Schultz....he knew both William Jackson and Hugh Monroe (Rising Wolf) and from them heard their life stories." - Billy Blackfeet in the Rockies (2006)
Why did the young Blackfoot grandson of Hugh Monroe known as William Jackson decide to join the U.S. Army as a scout to war against the Sioux with General Custer? Did acts of cruelty by the Sioux during his childhood play a role in this choice? In 1926 famed author, explorer, guide, trader, and historian of the Blackfoot Indians, James Willard Schultz passes along the life story of his close friend, famous Custer scout William "Billy" Jackson in his book titled "William Jackson, Indian Scout."
In introducing the book, Schultz passes along Jackson's first memories:
"My earliest recollection is of the one attempt that the North tribes made to kill the men of Fort Benton and loot the fort. The plans of the attackers leaked out through a young Blackfeet who was a cousin of the Pikuni wife of our blacksmith; and through the calm courage and canny leadership of Andrew Dawson, the attempt met defeat. So unexpected was this defeat that it had an unexpected result: It created so much respect for the bravery of the Big Knives that thereafter, and so long as the Blackfeet and Bloods were permitted to roam the great plains as they willed, the American Fur Company got the most of their trade."
The author of this work, James Willard Schultz, (1859 to 1947) was a noted author, explorer, Glacier National Park guide, fur trader and historian of the Blackfoot Indians. While operating a fur trading post at Carroll, Montana and living amongst the Pikuni tribe during the period 1880-82, he was given the name "Apikuni" by the Pikuni chief, Running Crane. Schultz is most noted for his prolific stories about Blackfoot life and his contributions to the naming of prominent features in Glacier National Park. Mr. Schultz was one of the last of the old-time frontiersmen, who was with a tribe of Blackfeet for years; and his books, into which he puts his rich store of memories of bygone days, have been called "the best of their kind ever written."
