National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-21
CUSTER'S EXPEDITION.
THE PARADISE OF THE BLACK
HILLS DESCRIBED.

ROMANTIC sCENERY-RICH AGRICCLTU-
RAJ LANDs-CRYsTAL STREAMS OF ICE
COLD WATER - FLORAL VALLEY = IN
DIANS - GOLD, LEAD AND OTHER
MINERALS, &C, &C.
HEADQUARTERS BLACK HITS ExPEDIT1oH,)
81 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HARNEY's PEAK
AssiStant Adjutaat General BspaTfIae7t Of Dakota
My last dispatch was dated July Is, and sem
from Prospect Valley, Dakota, longitude los de
gress 30 miH1tes, latitude IS degrees % minutes
Two Of my Indian scouts left as bearers Of the dis
patch as soon as their departure could be cen
cealed by the darkness. AMER leaving that point
this expedition moved in asouthWesterly direction
until it preached the valley OF the Little Missouri
river, up which We moved tWenty-one miles
Finding the vaIleyealnoSt destitute Of grating
along our line Of march, Eordered the water kegi
filled and supply Of wood placed on the wagons
and left the valley in search Of better camp
ground. During our passage up the valley OF the
Little Missouri ne had entered and we're about to
leave the Territory of Montana. Our course wa
nearly due south. After a further march Of about
nine miles we arrived before sundown at point
capable Of furnishing US good grazing and water
for our animals, having marched over thirty miles
since breaking camp in the morning From this
point to the valley OF the Belle FO1rehe we found
the country generally barren and uninFiting, save
II q lew lsOIaleu places.
ENTRANCE UPON THE BLACK HILLS.
Wereached the Belle FOurche on the evening
Of the 18Th Of July, encamping where good grass,
wood and water were abundant and at q point a
short distance above that marked l'l5,l hiteen
Dakota from Wyoming. The following day was
spent in camp. On the 10th we crossed the Belle
FUurche and began, as It were, diminishing with
the Black Hills We began by feeling our way
carefully along the outlying ranges Of hills seek
ing q weak point through which we might make
time We assembled from the valley Of tho Belle
FOurche to move through very superior country,
covered with the best Of grazing and abundance
varieties Of oak. AS We adva need. the country
shrting the Black Hills to the southwark be
came each day-nOre beautiful. On the evening
Of the I'D we halted and encamped east Of and
within four miles Of the base Of lnyan Kara. De-
string to ascend that peak the following day, It
being tho highest in the western range Of the
Black Hills, did not move camp the following
day, but taking q small party with me proceeded
TO the highest point Of this prominent Landmark,
whose Ee.ght is given at e,6OO feet.
THE INYAN KARA.
The day was not favorable for obtaining dis
tant views but l decided on the following morn
ing to move due east and attempt the passage OF
the hills. We experienced considerable delay
from fallen timber which lay in cur pathway. |
With this exception, and very little digging, |
rendered necessary in descending into valley, |
the pioneers prepared the way for the train, ano
we reached camp by two o'clock, having marched
eleven miles. We here found grass, water and
wood Of the best quality and in great abundance
On the following day We resumed our march up
the preceding evening, and which led US by an |
easy ascent almost southeast. After marching |
hour n the same valley. This valley in one re-
EDect presented the most wonderful as we'll as
beautiful aspect. Its equal have never seen, |
and such. too, wss the testimony Of all who be- |
held it. In no public or private park have ever
seen such q pTOfuse display Of flowers. Every |
step Of our march that day was amidst flowers Of
T. tale al 20 Inv
RANT in growth we're they that the men plucked |
them without dismOuntlng from the PADDLE |
Some belonged to new or unclassihed species.
MAGNIFICENT FLORAL DISPLAY.
1t was a strange sight to glance back at the ad-
Vancing columns OF caVal Try, and behold the men
with beautiful bouquets in their hands, while the
head gear Of their horses were decorated with
Ereaths Of flowers nj TO crown queen OF Nay;
his Floral Valley. Gen. Forsyth, at one Of our
I6lting places, chosen at random, plucked seven
Peoies, and within space Of twenty feet square
rhe came evening, while seated at the mess table
me Of the officers called attention 70 tpe carpet Of
lowers strewn under our feet, and Il was suE-
rested that # be deterpjred how many different
lovers could be pIuck9d Without leaving Our Seat
It the dinner table. Seven beautiful varieties
we're thus gathered. Prof Donaldson, the b.
anist Of the expedition estimated the number OF
lowers IN bloom In Floral Valley at ffty, while
n equal number Otvarieties had bloomed or were
et 10 bloom. The number Of trees, shrubs and
rasses were twenty-five, making the total fora I
{ the valley embrace one hundred and twenty
I've species.
tTeam Of crystal water 60 cold as TO render fee
udGsiTnble even at MONDAY. The temperature {
I two q the many springs found flowing into It
Tas taken, and ascertained TO be 80 and 40 |
espectiyely. 49, ~ SSE5lrE n ~
I - II-s morning, although 10th to leIye 50
locality, we continued to ascend this
n:sy VII !S laggay sPG i s2st &C Gbe
m ridge Of the Black HillF; and instead Of beiPg
moug barren, rocky peaks, as might b. sup Z
osed, we found ourselves vending our way !
trough little park, whose natural beauty may
rell bear comparison with the lovelieEt portions
{ Central Park. Favored as we have been in
aylng Floral Valley for our roadway TO the west
the Black Hills, we were scarcely less fortunate
the valley which seemed TO me TO meet Us on {
be interior slope. The ripping stream Of clear {
old water, the counterpart Of that we had as 8
ointed out the way before US, while along its {
aRks grew beautiful flowers, surpassed but little
beauty and prOiusion by their sisters who had |
reeted US the day before.
DESERTED INDIAN CAMP.
AMER advancing down this valley about four !
sen miles our course being almost southeast, we
in the nidst q EraEi9E: whose only }
reCvdsu the main column, az usual, with our es- ]
lrt Of two companies Of cavalry, E and y, and /
lieutenant WallRce's detachment OF scouts, | q
anne upon IN Indian campfire still burnlnf Ana a
hich, with other Indications, showed that small
lTtY Of Indians had encamped there the previous n
ga1 and II had S9i6entZ s th2t HGEDing
Quld not move far, and that q collision might 4
Ike place at any time unless q friendly under. a
sT T5 f FS e mi 4, n SI5 sfs3 70 d.
aDce few miles and reco1I9ltre the VALLEY. The Il
lrty had BEEN gone but few minutes when two v
Bloody Knife's young men came galloPlng o
lck and informed me that they had discovered s
70 Indian lodges a few miles down the valley, V
I'D that Bloody Knife, IS directed, had concealed
s party in q wooded Tay!no, where they awaited
SAi fScId ~ f5 win
5as I'd 5olobss RpFtT &paInS nip PTooSeded
the TRYine where Bloody Knife and his party t
u Rs2 cd h6f 1s 0R az SS' Ssy9R Bo R9SS
considerable number Of ponies were grazing.
. a FRIENDLY iNTERvIEw. r
I was enabled to place ny command still '
,arer 10 the lodges undiscovered. l then dis 4
ltched Agard, the interpreter, with nag Of y
uce, accompanied by two Of our Sioux scouts. to
quaint the occupants Of the lodges that we were 7
iendly disposed, and desired to communicate .
it'll them. To prevent either treachery or flight
their part, galloped the remaining portion Of 9
y advance and surrounded the lodges This n
as accomplished almost before they were aware Z
our presence. then entered the little village 5
nd shook hands with its occupants, assuring d
lem through the Interpreter that they had no y
luse 10 fear. as we were not there to modest q
lem. l invited them TO visit cur camp, and v
rOmsed presents OF flour, sugar and coffee to all Il
no would accept. This invitation was accepted. e
1 the same time ! entered into an agreement 4
I'm the leaulEg men tlat they SHOULD encamp n
Ith as few days, and give us such information q
the country us we might desire, in re q
I'm for which service was to reward them with q
atoms. With this understanding / left them. Il
he entire party numbered tWcEty-soven. Later h
tn afternoon four Of the men. including the y
Iisi zone stab" visited our camp ana desired v
le promised ratiOns. saying their entire party 4
ould move Gp and Join Us the following morn n
y, as agreed upon.
MAKING PRESENTS. II
l ordered presents OF coffee. sugar and bacon a
be given them; and, to relieve their pretended 9
lXIety for the safety Of their village during the
ght, ordered party Of fifteen Of my command >
return with them and protect them during the i
ght. But from their great dsinclinatiOn TO wait :
few minutes until the party could saddle up .
I'd from the fact that two Of the four had already
tipped away, / was Of the opinion that they were >
i acting in good faith. In this was confirmed =
hen the two remaining ones set of at a gallOp /!
the direction or the village. 1 sent party Of :
II scouts to OvertaEe them and request their re-
i'm; not complying with this request / sent
cond party, with orders to repeat the request,
ID II not complied with TO take hold Of the
-idles Of their ponies and lead them back, but i
offer no violence. When Overtaken by our
outs ole Of the two Indians seized the musket oil
lie OF the scouts and endeavored to HTest IL from
IN. Failing in this he released his hold, after G
lie scout became dismouuted in the struggle, and 4
i of as fast as his pony could carry him, but not
store the musket OF the scout was discharged.
rom blood discovered afterwards IL evident | u