Grouard

In the spring of 1875, Grouard decided to leave the Sioux.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

Grouard said he was born at Paumotu, in the Friendly Islands, in 1850, the son of an American Mormon missionary and a Polynesian woman, that he was brought to the U.S. when he was two, lived with a family named Pratt in Utah, and ran away at 15.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

This he certainly did, and scouted for him in the March campaign on the Powder, and later on the Rosebud; it is worth noting that one of his fellow-scouts at this time became suspicious, and told Crook he suspected Grouard of plotting to lead the command to destruction.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

After '76, Grouard scouted in government service, and Bourke and Finerty, reliable sources, agree with Crook that as a woodsman he stood alone.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

So I believed him, and so can you, and for once you don't have to take my word for it, since much of what I've told you here about Frank Flashman, alias Grouard, alias Standing Bear, alias One-Who-Catches, alias the Grabber, is already public knowledge.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

On balance, Flashman's story of Grouard's early life is more plausible than the one Grouard told himself to de Barthe, and all the mystery and confusion surrounding Grouard in the '76 campaign go to support Flashman rather than not.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

He was so dark that the Indians took him for one of themselves, and spared him; the name of Standing Bear was given him by Sitting Bull personally, because Grouard had been wearing a bearskin coat when captured.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

According to de Barthe, Grouard's biographer, a story was current that Grouard had joined in the attack on Custer's force at Little Bighorn, but not with the intention of defeating Custer; on the contrary, Grouard had supposedly been trying to lure the Sioux to destruction against what he hoped was a superior American force, but the plan miscarried and the Sioux won.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

Flashman students may be interested to know what Grouard looked like, in the light of Flashman's description.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

In any event, Grouard says that he returned to the Red Cloud Agency, decided to become white, and enlisted with Crook.

Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010