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JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 2nd FEBRUARY 2026
THE US ARMY FRONTIER SCOUTS 1840-1890
The role of the American frontier scout was vital during the period of westward expansion between 1840 and 1890.
They possessed a priceless knowledge of the geography, people and characteristics of the great American hinterland. This rare breed of pioneer had a bigger influence on the pace of settlement and control of the American west than any other single factor.
The word “scout” is derived from the French verb “ecouter, meaning “to listen”. Armies had long used scouts to gather information about their enemy.
From the earliest days of exploration, the US army was dependent on its scouts to guide them across the plains and through the mountains as they blazed the trails and guarded the nation’s frontier settlements.
JIM BECKWOURTH
James Pierson Beckwourth (April 26, 1798/1800 – October 20, 1866) was an American fur trapper, rancher, businessman, explorer, author and scout. Known as "Bloody Arm" because of his skill as a fighter.
Of African American descent, he was to play a major role as a scout during the early exploration and settlement of the West.
Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1798, his mother was a black slave and his father Jennings Beckwith was a white plantation owner and officer in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War.
Beckwourth after being apprenticed to a blacksmith left home in 1822 and lived as a trapper and mountain man until captured by Crow Indians. He was to spend eight years living as a Native American and was even made a chieftain.
In 1850 he was to discover a pass across the Sierra Nevada Mountains that would further lead to open California to settlement.
During the civil War , Beckwourth served again as an army guide and interpreter and reluctantly rode with Colonel John Chivington, 3rd Colorado Cavalry, at the notorious massacre of the Cheyenne at Sand Creek on November 29th 1864.
After the civil War, he continued to scout for the army for a short time, before returning to his beloved Crow territory where he died in 1867.
CHRISTOPHER “KIT” CARSON
Christopher Houston Carson (December 24th 1809 – May 23rd 1868) was an American frontiersman, fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian Agent and US Army officer. He became an American frontier legend in his own lifetime through biographies and news articles. Exaggerated verions of his exploits were the subject of dime novels.
His understated nature belied confirmed reports of his fearlessness, combat skills, tenacity, as well as profound effect on the westward expansion of the United States.
Although he was famous for much of his life, historians in later years have written that Kit Carson did not like, want or even fully understand the fame that he experienced during his life
JIM BRIDGER
Jim Bridger was probably the most respected army scout and interpreter of the pre-civil war period. Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1804, he made his reputation as a trapper and guide for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. In 1824 he was the first white man to set eyes on the Great Salt Lake and the following year no one would believe him when he described the geysers he and Joe Meek had found at Yellowstone.
In 1850 Bridger led Captain Howard Stanbury of the US Topographical Corps, through what would become Bridger’s Pass, which shortened the Oregon Trail from Fort Bridger by 61 miles.
By 1857, Bridger was scouting for Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston during the Mormon rebellion in Utah Territory.
Two years later he led Captain Raynold’s surveying expedition to the Yellowstone area.
During the civil war despite being a Virginian, he was to support the Union, and was chief of scouts with the 7th Iowa Cavalry which was operating against the Sioux in Nebraska Territory.
According to Captain Eugene Ware, Bridger could do “anything that an Indian could do. He knew how Indians felt, and what to expect from them.”
Jim Bridger ended his days living on his farm south of Kansas City, where he died in 1881.
MARIANO MEDINA
One of many army scouts of mixed racial origin, Jesus Garcia Mariano Medina, had French, Apache, and Spanish blood flowing through his veins. He was born in Taos, New Mexico in 1812 and his ability as a scout was realised whilst working with Kit Carson in 1842.
During the Mormon Rebellion of 1857-1858 he was also to prove valuable in accompanying a small command from Fort Bridger during the winter south to New Mexico for fresh supplies, horses and reinforcements. After a march of 51 days through harsh winter conditions, the column arrived at Fort Massachusetts in New Mexico. They were to return with supplies and reinforcements on June 9th 1858.
Medina was to die of natural causes in 1878, living out the rest of his life as a trader.
CALIFORNIA JOE
General Sheridan was to describe “California Joe” as an “invaluable guide and Indian fighter”. Born Moses Embree Milner in Kentucky during 1829, he acquired his nickname after taking part in the California gold rush of 1849.
He served with both Kit Carson and Jim Bridger during the civil war and subsequently became a scout in the Indian Wars.
He was to serve as a scout under both Generals Custer and Crook between 1868 and 1876.
Custer was apparently so impressed with his tracking skills that he appointed him chief of scouts.
California Joe was eventually killed by a rival at Fort Robinson, Nebraska Territory.
PAWNEE SCOUT
One of the most successful groups of Indian auxiliary troops employed on the frontier was organized in 1864 to protect settlers on the plains of Kansas and Nebraska. This was mainly due to the absence of regular soldiers because of the civil war.
In August 1864 Major General Samuel R. Curtis, commander of the Kansas Department, ordered the recruitment of 77 Pawnee warriors to be led by Captain Joseph McFadden, to join the expedition against hostile Sioux war bands.
The Pawnee were the hereditary enemy of the Sioux and Cheyenne. In order to avoid being mistaken for hostiles, the Pawnee scouts were issued with army uniforms which combined with elements of Pawnee dress, would give them a “distinct and graphic appearance”.
The scouts were used to protect workmen building the Union Pacific Railroad across Nebraska into Wyoming, and after completion continued to guard and patrol the Union Pacific Railroad, making it possible to run regular trains to the Pacific Ocean.
In the wake of the Custer defeat at Little Bighorn, Major Frank North raised 100 scouts who helped the US Army defeat the Sioux and Cheyenne, and were mustered out on May 1st 1877.
PLEASE NOTE THIS SERIES OF FIGURES COULD WELL BE ADDED TO THE WSP MOUNTAIN MEN COLLECTIONS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY CONFUSION IN LISTING THEM IN THE RSBUD SERIES.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
THE US ARMY FRONTIER SCOUTS 1840-1890
The role of the American frontier scout was vital during the period of westward expansion between 1840 and 1890.
They possessed a priceless knowledge of the geography, people and characteristics of the great American hinterland. This rare breed of pioneer had a bigger influence on the pace of settlement and control of the American west than any other single factor.
The word “scout” is derived from the French verb “ecouter, meaning “to listen”. Armies had long used scouts to gather information about their enemy.
From the earliest days of exploration, the US army was dependent on its scouts to guide them across the plains and through the mountains as they blazed the trails and guarded the nation’s frontier settlements.
JIM BECKWOURTH
James Pierson Beckwourth (April 26, 1798/1800 – October 20, 1866) was an American fur trapper, rancher, businessman, explorer, author and scout. Known as "Bloody Arm" because of his skill as a fighter.
Of African American descent, he was to play a major role as a scout during the early exploration and settlement of the West.
Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1798, his mother was a black slave and his father Jennings Beckwith was a white plantation owner and officer in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War.
Beckwourth after being apprenticed to a blacksmith left home in 1822 and lived as a trapper and mountain man until captured by Crow Indians. He was to spend eight years living as a Native American and was even made a chieftain.
In 1850 he was to discover a pass across the Sierra Nevada Mountains that would further lead to open California to settlement.
During the civil War , Beckwourth served again as an army guide and interpreter and reluctantly rode with Colonel John Chivington, 3rd Colorado Cavalry, at the notorious massacre of the Cheyenne at Sand Creek on November 29th 1864.
After the civil War, he continued to scout for the army for a short time, before returning to his beloved Crow territory where he died in 1867.
CHRISTOPHER “KIT” CARSON
Christopher Houston Carson (December 24th 1809 – May 23rd 1868) was an American frontiersman, fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian Agent and US Army officer. He became an American frontier legend in his own lifetime through biographies and news articles. Exaggerated verions of his exploits were the subject of dime novels.
His understated nature belied confirmed reports of his fearlessness, combat skills, tenacity, as well as profound effect on the westward expansion of the United States.
Although he was famous for much of his life, historians in later years have written that Kit Carson did not like, want or even fully understand the fame that he experienced during his life
JIM BRIDGER
Jim Bridger was probably the most respected army scout and interpreter of the pre-civil war period. Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1804, he made his reputation as a trapper and guide for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. In 1824 he was the first white man to set eyes on the Great Salt Lake and the following year no one would believe him when he described the geysers he and Joe Meek had found at Yellowstone.
In 1850 Bridger led Captain Howard Stanbury of the US Topographical Corps, through what would become Bridger’s Pass, which shortened the Oregon Trail from Fort Bridger by 61 miles.
By 1857, Bridger was scouting for Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston during the Mormon rebellion in Utah Territory.
Two years later he led Captain Raynold’s surveying expedition to the Yellowstone area.
During the civil war despite being a Virginian, he was to support the Union, and was chief of scouts with the 7th Iowa Cavalry which was operating against the Sioux in Nebraska Territory.
According to Captain Eugene Ware, Bridger could do “anything that an Indian could do. He knew how Indians felt, and what to expect from them.”
Jim Bridger ended his days living on his farm south of Kansas City, where he died in 1881.
MARIANO MEDINA
One of many army scouts of mixed racial origin, Jesus Garcia Mariano Medina, had French, Apache, and Spanish blood flowing through his veins. He was born in Taos, New Mexico in 1812 and his ability as a scout was realised whilst working with Kit Carson in 1842.
During the Mormon Rebellion of 1857-1858 he was also to prove valuable in accompanying a small command from Fort Bridger during the winter south to New Mexico for fresh supplies, horses and reinforcements. After a march of 51 days through harsh winter conditions, the column arrived at Fort Massachusetts in New Mexico. They were to return with supplies and reinforcements on June 9th 1858.
Medina was to die of natural causes in 1878, living out the rest of his life as a trader.
CALIFORNIA JOE
General Sheridan was to describe “California Joe” as an “invaluable guide and Indian fighter”. Born Moses Embree Milner in Kentucky during 1829, he acquired his nickname after taking part in the California gold rush of 1849.
He served with both Kit Carson and Jim Bridger during the civil war and subsequently became a scout in the Indian Wars.
He was to serve as a scout under both Generals Custer and Crook between 1868 and 1876.
Custer was apparently so impressed with his tracking skills that he appointed him chief of scouts.
California Joe was eventually killed by a rival at Fort Robinson, Nebraska Territory.
PAWNEE SCOUT
One of the most successful groups of Indian auxiliary troops employed on the frontier was organized in 1864 to protect settlers on the plains of Kansas and Nebraska. This was mainly due to the absence of regular soldiers because of the civil war.
In August 1864 Major General Samuel R. Curtis, commander of the Kansas Department, ordered the recruitment of 77 Pawnee warriors to be led by Captain Joseph McFadden, to join the expedition against hostile Sioux war bands.
The Pawnee were the hereditary enemy of the Sioux and Cheyenne. In order to avoid being mistaken for hostiles, the Pawnee scouts were issued with army uniforms which combined with elements of Pawnee dress, would give them a “distinct and graphic appearance”.
The scouts were used to protect workmen building the Union Pacific Railroad across Nebraska into Wyoming, and after completion continued to guard and patrol the Union Pacific Railroad, making it possible to run regular trains to the Pacific Ocean.
In the wake of the Custer defeat at Little Bighorn, Major Frank North raised 100 scouts who helped the US Army defeat the Sioux and Cheyenne, and were mustered out on May 1st 1877.
PLEASE NOTE THIS SERIES OF FIGURES COULD WELL BE ADDED TO THE WSP MOUNTAIN MEN COLLECTIONS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY CONFUSION IN LISTING THEM IN THE RSBUD SERIES.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
