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Fearless Scouts
Kit Carson aimed his rifle and fired, killing an elk. The young scout walked over to bag his prize. Without warning, two grizzly bears emerged from the trees. Carson managed to escape the bears but lost the elk. Scouts like Kit Carson had to be ready for anything on the western frontier. Americans eager to move west needed help to get there. While famous explorers often got the credit for discovering trails and creating maps, they could never have done it without the leadership of scouts. Author Jeff Savage explores the fearless scouts, who opened up the West for others to follow.
* Reviews *
The exploits and bravery of the first scouts in Americas Wild West are recounted in this action-packed chapter book. From Kit Carson to Charley Reynolds, scouts fight wild animals, natural elements, and enemies of various types. One chapter is dedicated to the details of Kit Carsons run-in with ferocious grizzly bears. Kit, whose fame sprang from his audacity to fight bears, was merely living in the shadows of his hero, Daniel Boone, who blazed the Wilderness Road. The purpose of the scouts was to clear trails for the first white settlers. Depending on the region and territory, scouts and settlers encountered helpful or deadly native tribes. Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman, served as a scout and interpreter for the American explorers Lewis and Clark. Her presence alone was the security the foreign team needed for safe passage. The duties of the scouts are listed in this ideal research resource. An intriguing story of a scout named Broken Hand describes his encounter with a Gros Ventre war party and his near death experience. Scouts were used for exploring the Wild West and for surveying it. An account of the Army Corps is included in this book, as well as an explanation as to why scouts were no longer needed. A bibliography, a glossary, an index, a list of suggested reading and Internet addresses are located at the end of the book., Children's Literature
RL
Grades
5-7 IL
Grades
5-9 GRL
R
