Legend: Life and Adventures of Frank Grouard (Expanded, Annotated)
(That Frank Grouard was an important figure in the history...)
That Frank Grouard was an important figure in the history of the Indian wars of the Great Plains is beyond any doubt. Nor can there be the slightest doubt of Grouard's position among his fellows, including General George Crook, George Armstrong Custer, and Chicago Times correspondent, John Finerty. Six feet tall and 200 pounds of muscle, Grouard (also spelled Gruard) was well acquainted with Indian life. He knew Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, and most of the Native American leaders. Having been captured by the Sioux, he spent years with them learning their language and ways, becoming accepted as one of their own. Returning to white society, he put what he knew to use as one of the greatest army scouts of the Old West. In the Great Sioux War of 1876, he was a scout for General Crook's Big Horn and Yellowstone Expedition that was supposed to unite with Custer's Seventh Cavalry to bring the Sioux and Cheyenne into reservations. Grouard fought with Crook at the Battle of the Rosebud just eight days before Custer was wiped out by the same Indians under Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. By the time this book was written in 1894, Grouard was known all over the country. His exciting accounts of Indian life and the Indian Wars is a seminal contribution to our knowledge of the period.
Frank Grouard was a Scout and interpreter for General George Crook during the American Indian War of 1876.
Background
Frank Grouard was born in the Paumotu Islands in the South Pacific on September 20, 1850. Frank Grouard's father was Benjamin F. Grouard, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a Mormon elder and missionary, and his mother a native of the islands.
In 1852 the parents with their three sons moved to California. Frank was taken into the family of Addison Pratt, of San Bernardino, who shortly afterward moved to Beaver, Utah.
Career
At fifteen the boy ran away from school and home, and at San Bernardino hired out as a teamster with a wagon train bound for Helena, Mont.
For the next four years he was variously employed.
In January 1869, while working as a mail-carrier, he was captured by a band of Sioux at the mouth of Milk River, Mont.
The youth’s features and dark skin persuaded his captors that he was an Indian, and his life was spared.
For six years he lived with the hostiles, becoming, according to his own statement, closely acquainted with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and mastering the Sioux language, until he managed to escape. He began working as an emissary of the Indian Peace Commission at Red Cloud Agency in Nebraska. In 1876, Grouard became a Chief Indian Scout in the United States Army under General George Crook, fighting Sioux Indians. He was a major participant in the Battle of the Rosebud.
By February 1876 many indians were leaving the reservations in search for food, believing it was in peace. Orders had been given by the American government to return but they did not take it seriously. General Crook began his winter march from Fort Fetterman, March 1, 1876, with many companies of troops. Colonel Reynolds was his second-in-command. General Crook’s Chief Indian scout was Grouard. When Sioux Chief, Sitting Bull learns that Grouard will be the scout for General Crook, he sees this as a chance to kill Grouard in battle. By March 17th, Grouard located Crazy Horses village on Powder River in Montana. Crazy Horse and his entire village were captured. General Crook in his May report stated that invaluable service was rendered by Frank Grouard and his assistants in this capture. In September 1877 Chief Crazy Horse left the reservation and General Crook had him arrested. When Crazy Horse saw he was being led to a guard house, he resisted and was stabbed to death by a guard. Grouard served as a U. S. marshal in Fort McKinney, Buffalo, Wyoming area and worked in the Johnson County War of 1892.
(That Frank Grouard was an important figure in the history...)
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
General Crook: "I would sooner lose a third of my command than Frank Grouard!".
Connections
Frank was married in Amozonia, Andrew County, Missouri on April 10, 1895 to Lizabell "Belle" Ostrander (1862-1912). He had one, possibly two sons, Benjamin Franklin Grouard, also known as Frank B. Grouard Jr. , born in St. Joseph, Missouri on May 15, 1896.