Frontier Scouts and Guides

By Randall Parrish in 1907

The American West, a vast and untamed expanse, owes an immeasurable debt to a unique breed of men: the frontier scouts and guides. Driven often by a thirst for adventure rather than material gain, these individuals ventured into the uncharted wilderness, preceding settlements and military expeditions. They were the vanguard of westward expansion, the eyes and ears of a burgeoning nation pushing its boundaries into the unknown. Theirs was a life of constant exploration, charting the courses of nameless rivers, discovering vital water sources in arid deserts, and penetrating the hidden corners of the Great Plains and the towering mountains beyond. They uncovered the settlements and trails of Native American tribes, identified the safest routes for wagon trains, and located the best campsites, ensuring access to essential resources like wood and water. Every traveler crossing the prairie, every settler seeking a new life, and every officer leading troops against a perceived "savage foe" were reliant on the knowledge and expertise of these indispensable figures – the scouts and guides of the frontier.

Many of these men, through their extraordinary feats and unwavering dedication, achieved renown on the Plains, and their names deserve to be remembered by posterity. Among the "old-timers," figures like Uncle John Smith, Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, James P. Beckwourth, Uncle Dick Wootton, Jim Baker, Lucian B. Maxwell, Old Bill Williams, Tom Tobin, and James Hobbs stand out as legendary Frontier Scouts and Guides. A later generation produced equally remarkable individuals, including W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), Bill Hickok, California Joe, Dick Cherry, and Amos Chapman.

These men earned their enduring fame through a combination of daring, unwavering endurance, exceptional resourcefulness, and an unwavering devotion to duty. They possessed a tireless spirit, akin to that of the Native Americans themselves. They possessed an intimate understanding of indigenous cultures, traits, characteristics, and habits. They could decipher the secrets of the Plains as if reading an open book. Undeterred by personal danger and accustomed to the profound loneliness of the wilderness, they remained on the very edge of civilization, often facing an uncertain fate. Their contributions to the shaping of the American West are undeniable.

A Few Whose Fame Will Endure

While the ranks of Frontier Scouts and Guides were extensive, only a select few distinguished themselves as truly invaluable in active service. These individuals rose above the rest through sheer ability and were frequently recognized in the reports of the army officers they guided through arduous campaigns of war and exploration. Their names became synonymous with the frontier itself, echoing throughout its vast expanse. The expeditions and reports of John Fremont elevated Kit Carson from obscurity, while Custer’s accounts cemented the fame of California Joe. Merritt and Carr helped spread the reputations of Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody. These few, now celebrated figures, etched their names into the very fabric of the nation’s history as Frontier Scouts and Guides.

John Smith

Few plainsmen were unfamiliar with at least one of these legendary pathfinders, and knowledge of them was considered a source of pride. Uncle John Smith roamed a vast territory stretching from the Yellowstone River to the Gila River, and from the upper Missouri River to the Rio Grande. He was a guest in countless Native American villages, and there was scarcely a stream along whose banks he hadn’t trapped. In 1826, as a young man, he left home to join a party of Santa Fe traders, and from that moment forward, the wilderness held him in its thrall. He married a Cheyenne woman, mastered four Native American dialects in addition to French and Spanish, and exerted considerable influence over the Indian trade of the Western Plains. Even in his later years, as late as 1869, he served as one of General Phillip Sheridan’s most trusted guides, known for his competence, tireless dedication, and unerring ability to follow a trail like a bloodhound. His life was a tapestry of constant adventure, and when in the company of kindred spirits, he would recount the thrilling events of his career for hours. His striking resemblance to President Andrew Johnson often led to amusing encounters. He was a true icon among the Frontier Scouts and Guides.

Kit Carson

Kit Carson spent forty-two years traversing the Plains and mountains, and his name remains preeminent among famous frontiersmen. His experiences were diverse and extensive, encompassing roles as a trader, a hunter, a free trapper, an army scout, a guide for explorers and wagon trains, and ultimately, a Colonel of Volunteer Cavalry.

His life was filled with narrow escapes, endless adventures, remarkable activity, and profound usefulness. For eight years, he served as the hunter at Bent’s Fort, and he was well-known, feared, and respected by the Plains Indians and the Ute of the mountains. He often used his influence to prevent wars, but he never hesitated to confront conflict when it arose. He was a master of sign language and rarely lost the trail of those he pursued. Inman, who knew him well, summarized his character:

"Carson’s nature was made up of some very noble attributes. He was brave but not reckless, a veritable exponent of Christian altruism, and as true to his friends as the needle to the pole. Under the average stature and rather delicate-looking in his physical proportions, he was a quick, wiry man with nerves of steel and possessing an indomitable will. He was full of caution but showed a coolness in the moment of supreme danger that was good to witness."

Carson died in 1868 while visiting Fort Lyon, Colorado, when an artery in his neck ruptured. His passing marked the end of an era for the most celebrated frontiersman of the Great Plains. He was buried in Taos, New Mexico, where he had long resided. His name will forever be synonymous with the Frontier Scouts and Guides.

Jim Bridger

Jim Bridger’s experiences on the Plains began with Ashley’s great trapping expedition. Throughout his years on the frontier, he became one of the most respected mountaineers and plainsmen. While lacking formal education and unfamiliar with social conventions, he possessed a kind and generous heart and remained loyal and honest to his friends.

His most significant contributions came as a scout and guide during the early surveys for the first transcontinental railroad. He was employed by the government for several years, guiding army detachments during Indian campaigns. He possessed an unparalleled knowledge of the northern Plains and the mountains beyond, and his were the first eyes to gaze upon the Great Salt Lake in the winter of 1824-25. After a life of wild adventures that surpassed fiction, Bridger died and was buried in Westport, Missouri.

The anecdote about John Smith being mistaken for President Andrew Johnson highlights the unique personalities that populated the frontier. Inman recounts an incident where Bridger, upon seeing President Johnson in St. Louis, exclaimed, "Hell! Bill, you can’t fool me! That’s Old John Smith." Bridger’s gruff demeanor and independent spirit were characteristic of many Frontier Scouts and Guides.

Another story illustrates Bridger’s dry wit. When found sitting on a dry-goods box in St. Louis, he lamented, "I’ve been settin’ in this infernal canyon ever since mornin’, waitin’ fer someone to come along an’ invite me to take a drink. Hundreds o’ fellers have passed both ways, but none of ’em has opened his head. I never seen sich a onsociable crowd."

Bridger also guided Sir George Gore on his extravagant hunting trip in 1855-57, during which the party killed a staggering number of animals. Gore, with his retinue of fifty helpers, represented a stark contrast to the rugged simplicity of frontier life. When Gore gave Bridger a copy of the adventures of Baron Munchausen, the frontiersman, after struggling to decipher the text, declared that he couldn’t "swallow everything that thar Baron Munchausen said," and considered him a "darned liar." However, he acknowledged that some of his own adventures would seem equally unbelievable "if writ down in a book."

Jim Baker

Jim Baker was another prominent figure among the plainsmen and mountaineers. He was Fremont’s most trusted scout, second only to Carson. Originally from Illinois, he arrived on the Plains at the age of 18 as an employee of the American Fur Company. As far as is known, he never returned east of the Missouri River. He married a Snake Indian woman and adopted many of their superstitions and habits.

Baker was known to drink heavily and squander his trapping earnings when off duty. Bent’s Fort on the Arkansas River served as his primary outfitting point, but he would often disappear into the wilderness for months at a time. He was remarkably successful at trapping wild game, selling $9,000 worth, and his friend General Marcy of the United States Army immortalized him in his books on border life. His skill and resourcefulness were hallmarks of the Frontier Scouts and Guides.

Jim Beckwourth and Others

Jim Beckwourth was a truly unique character of the Wild West. A mulatto of medium height but possessing great muscular strength, he led a life of unparalleled adventure. He served as a hunter, trapper, trader, scout, and Indian fighter. His natural leadership abilities led him to become the head-chief of the Crow tribe. Historical perspectives on Beckwourth vary widely. Parkman described him as "a ruffian of the worst class; bloody and treacherous, without honor or honesty." However, those who knew him intimately, such as Carson, Maxwell, and the Bents, viewed him as the most honest of all Indian traders and a man to be trusted in any situation. He joined Ashley in the mountains in 1825. His fame rests largely on his published biography, some of which is undoubtedly true, while other parts are likely embellished.

Uncle Dick Wootton spent his life on the Plains near the Santa Fe Trail, which he first traversed at the age of 19 as a teamster in a trading caravan. He became renowned as an Indian fighter, possessing an intimate knowledge of the entire Southwest. Bent’s Fort served as his rendezvous point for many years, and he was popular for his prowess in the field and his storytelling abilities around the campfire. He had several encounters with Indians, including tough fights at the crossing of Pawnee Fork. In 1866, Wootton built a log house in Raton Pass and remained there until his death, collecting tolls from travelers using the road he had built across the mountains. He often had to enforce payment with his rifle, but few escaped paying him. He died at the age of 90, and many of his adventures are recorded in Inman’s writings.

Old Bill Williams, the guide who led Fremont astray on his last expedition, was an extraordinary figure. He had been a Methodist preacher in the East but had been on the Plains longer than Carson. No one knew the mountains better, except perhaps Jim Bridger. A man of education, he quickly learned the languages of various tribes, but he remained an enigma and a source of terror to both Indians and Mexicans. He was a failed trader, and many considered him somewhat insane, despite his bravery, warmth, and generosity. He was eventually killed by Indians.

James Hobbs had a remarkable life, spending years as a prisoner among the Indians, a soldier in the war with Mexico, an officer in the revolt against Maximilian, and an Indian fighter, miner, trapper, trader, and Government scout.

Tom Tobin was the last of the old-time trappers and hunters. A quick-tempered Irishman, he was always ready for a fight or a frolic. He participated in many famous Indian battles. His most notable achievement was killing the notorious Mexican bandit Espinosa in a desperate hand-to-hand combat in 1864.

William F. Cody and Amos Chapman

William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) and Amos Chapman represent the best-known border men of later years, worthy of standing alongside the earlier legends. Cody’s career began on the Plains as a young boy on a caravan trip to Santa Fe. He worked as a teamster, a driver on the Overland, and a Pony Express rider before reaching adulthood. By 1863, he was employed as a guide and scout for an expedition against the Kiowa and Comanche. He later carried dispatches through hostile Indian territory between Forts Lyon and Larned. His adventures, including his duel with Yellow Hand, a Cheyenne chief, have been recounted in books co-authored with Colonel Inman. He earned his famous nickname while working as a hunter for the Kansas Pacific Railroad Construction Company in 1867-68, killing nearly 5,000 buffalo in less than 18 months to feed the 1,200 workmen laying track.

Amos Chapman began working for the government as a scout on the Plains at the age of 15. During his perilous life, one of his most heroic acts occurred while carrying dispatches for General Miles. His party was attacked by over 100 Kiowa and Comanche warriors. Despite being wounded in the initial volley, Chapman and another scout deepened a buffalo wallow for cover and then Chapman ran out to rescue another wounded man, Smith. He carried the man back to the wallow, saving his life. During the rescue, Chapman was shot in the leg but didn’t realize it until he was safely back in the wallow. His bravery and selflessness exemplify the spirit of the Frontier Scouts and Guides.

Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated January 2025.

As it appears here, the content has been edited for clarity and ease for the modern reader. About the Author: Adventures and Tragedies on the Overland Trail was written by Randall Parrish as a chapter of his book, The Great Plains: The Romance of Western American Exploration, Warfare, and Settlement, 1527-1870; published by A.C. McClurg & Co. in Chicago, 1907. Parrish also wrote several books, including When Wilderness Was King, My Lady of the North, Historic Illinois, and others.