The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-07-24
Gen. Custer's Expedition.


The Black Hills expedition is probably
OF at last, and az we write may possibly be
entangled i'm difficulties with the Indians OF
the Northwest. The readers Of the Jour
nat must have noticed the recent orders for
this expedition. but probably few, outside
OF the troops stationed i'm the Northwest.
have any clear idea OF the location and i'm
terest attaching 10 the Black Hills. To
Gen. Custer, that luckicst Of all lucky
leaders, whose prudent and successful
conduct of the \ Yellowstone expedition
some time since. brought him 80 many
honors has the conduct of the present ex-
ploration been entrusted. The choice
could hardly have fallen on better man.
We have called Gen. Custer lucky man.
and such he has proved, since the time he
first excited public attention, during the
war, by his long curls. picturesque dress,
and dashing style OF fighting. Closely ex-
amined. his luck will be found TO consist
largely In that mixture Of daring and pru-
dence that l. sure To make its mark I'm any
pursuit of life. No one can read the cold
official accounts of Clusters various achieve
ments in war and on the frontier, without
recognizing in him a man Of remarkable
boldness and luck. Ii is only the private
autobiography of the man himself in his
papers in the GALAXY, that give us an in
sight into the real hard work and the
hopes and fears that lie beneath this SEEM
ing boldness and luck Custer is lucky,
chiefly because he is always ready.
The country TO be explored and the OBJ
jects of the expedition are sufficiently def
mite. just about the junction line of the
Territories of Dakota, Wyoming and Mon
tana. lies region never yet penetrated by
the American trappers, and cons ituting
the only remaining stronghold of the
Sioux. There are hills there. one of them
called Bear Butte, and a stream. called by
the old French voyageurs, Belle Fourche.
Where these are, no one knows exactly,
but the Indians. The French. always
more successful in their Indian policy than
any Anglo-Saxon race, once held friendly
relations with the Sioux, and their trap
pers and traders wandered as freely in
and about The Black Hills as they do to-
day in Hudson's Bay territory. Anglo
Saxon greed and aggressiveness have
changed the relation between civilization
and the Indians. south of the British pos
sessions. The vague ideas that we inner
tied from the French trappers, and en-
bodied in school maps, and even In the
very best charts obtainable. outside of
Government surveys. have proved general
ly unreliable when tested by those sur
veyr- II Is 10 clear upthese mistakes, and
settle the real location Of these Black Hills,
that this expedition has been organized.
Ii numbers fully eleven hundred souls,
comprising the Seventh cavalry, two COM
panies of infantry, sixty Indian scouts,
and four Calling guns. a heavy train of
supplies accompanies the troops. with pro-
visions for two months. Prof Winchell.
and an assistant, go with the expedition as
geologists. Mr.. George Bird Grinnell.
with an assistant from Yale, collects fos-
sils. and will also act "a taxidermist for any
rare birds or animals discovered. Gen.
SANDY" Forsyth commands five c0mpa-
MES of the Seventh cavalry. and the Presi-
dents son is an extra aid-de-camp on the
staff. The country being entirely UNI
known. the exploration of itself must be
full Of interest IS clearing up the only
mysterious sp, of any great size left In
the map Of the United States. When we
add that the reports of friendly Indians
represent this remote oasis as very rich in
minerals as well as i'm the essentials Of saw
age life, il is not surprising that trong
expedition should be needed TO explore Its
Businesses. Ii is the last home of the
Sioux. and possibly they ma, fight to de-
fend il from intrusion. III so, while re-
GREETING their hard fate, we can neyerthe-
less see that the expedition will In all prob
ability walk through them without serious
damage. In case of battle We shall also
have the first opportunity yet presented
this side of the Atlantic for testing the re-
nowned Calling gun in real action. In
view of the contingency Dr. Calling
hopes they will attack. For ourselves we
are chiefly anxious for the ientiiic sue
cess of the expedtion.-Army aud Nary
Gazette.