Frederick Russell Burnham , DSO ( May 11 , 1861 â `` September 1 , 1947 ) was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell . Frederick Russell Burnham , DSO ( May 11 , 1861 â `` September 1 , 1947 ) was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell , thus becoming one of the inspirations for the founding of the international Scouting Movement .