The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-08-24
BY TELEGRAPH
AssooIATAp PREss RRPohT
By the Western Union Line.
'mce Northwest cor. Of Main and Monroe sts.
THE BLACK HILLS ExPEDI.
TION.

L SAFSAAeASA 4ApAuhuAnb-Au6 nc bluCh
HIS Region Explored for the FIIsi
Time-The Soil, Temperature.
Natural Products, &c.-.Gold
Found In Considerable Quantities.
81. PAUL, MIMI, August 22-The re-
port Of General Custer 10 the Depart.
ment Commander, dated OF Bear Butte
Black Hills, Dakotah Territory, August
10, was received this morning ut General
Terrys headquarters. After detailing
bis operations and explorations, and the
finding In one direction Of an impossible
barrier, which was finally circumyented,
the General says:
Il propose TO return BY o different, sl.
though perhaps not shorter route than
that adopted in coming to the Black
Hills. lam induced to make this change
in order TO embrace larger extent Of un.
explored country within the limits Of our
explorations, and particularly to enable US
70 locate as much as possible Of that por.
ton OF the Little Missouri, Of which moth.
Ing is now known. expect the expedi-
tion TO reach Fort Lincoln on the 8ist Of
August. The health Of the command has
been and Is most excellent. This expe-
diIion entered the Black Hills from the
west side, penetrated through rhe eastern
and most southern ranges, explored the
major portions Of the interior, and passed
out ot the most eastern ranges Whic b
form the boundary Of the Black Bills.
From the fact that In all our principal
marches through the Black Hills we have
taken, without serious obstacle, with US a
heavily laden train Of over one hundred
wagons, it may be inferred that the Black
Hills do not constitute the impenetrable
regions heretofore represented. Entering
the Black Hills from any direction, the
most serious, II not the only obstacles
were encountered near the outer base
This probably accounts for the mystery
which has 80 long existed regarding the
character Of the interior. Exploring par.
ties have contented themselves with
marching around their base, and from the
lorbidding aspect Of the hills, as viewed
from q distance, inferred that an advance
towards the interior would only encounter
increased obstacles.
"1n. regard TO the character Of the coun.
try inclosed by the Black Hills, I can
only repeat what have stated in previ-
Gus dispatches. No portion OF the United
States can boast OF richer or better pas.
turage, purer Water-the natural temper.
ature OF which, In summer, as 1t flows
from the earth, Is but IL degrees above
the freezing point-Rnd Of greater sd.
vantages generally to the farmer or stock
raiser than are 10 be found in the Black
Hills. Building stone OF the best quality
is to be found in inexhaustible quantities;
wood for fuel and lumber sufficient for all
time to come. Rains are frequent, with
no evidence In the country OF either
drouth or freshes. The season, perhaps,
is too short and the nights too cool for
corn, but ! believe all other grain could
be produced here in wonderful abundance.
Wheat would particularly yield largely.
There Is no doubt as 10 the existence
oil various minerals throughout the hills.
AS this subject has received the especial
attention OF experts, who accompanied
the expedition, and will be reported upon
In detail, will only mention the TACT that
iron and plumbsg0 have been found and
beds Of gypsum In inexhaustible quantity.
| referred in q former dispatch to the dis.
covery Of gold. Subsequent examina-
tions at numerous places confirm and
strengthen the fact Of the existence Of
gold in the Black Hills. On some Of the
water courses almost every painful of
earth produced gold in small yet paying
quantities. Our brief halts and rapid
marching prevent anything but q very
hasty examination Of the country In this
respect, but in one place, and the only
one within my knowledge where 80 great
depth was reached, q hole was dug
eight feet deep. The miners reported
they found gold among the roots Of the
grass, and from that point TO the lowest
point reached gold was found in paying
quantities. II has not required an expert
TO find gold In the Black Hills, as men
without former experience in mining
have discovered II at an expense OF but
little time or labor. ....-
cast an evidence Of the rich pasturage
to be found In this region, l can state that
my beef herd, after marching upwards Of
six hundred miles, Is In better condition
than when / started, being now as 70. as
ls consistent with marching condition.
The same may be said OF the mules of
the wagon train. The horses OF the
command ore In good condition. l have
never seen as many deer as In the Black
Hills. Elk and bear have also been killed.
We have had no collision with hostile In.
dianB. G. A. CUSTER,
"Bvt. Maj. Gen, U. 8. A.,
| asgi "CommAnd'g expedition"
CHICAGO, August % 9-Lieutenapt Gen.
eral Sheridan, this evening, received the
following dispatch from Brigadier Gen.
eral Terry at St. Paul: A dispatch from
Custer Is Just received, dated Bear Butte,
August 10. He began his return march
on the 9TH. He intended to rest day at
Bear Butte, and then start for Fort Lin
coin by different road from that which
he took going out He reports his men
and animals In excellent condition. No
trouble from the Indians.
SThis shows that the dispatch published
In the New York papers this morning,
giving the tlrst lines Of Cnster's report,
was sent under q misconception Of facts.
ST. PAUL, MINI, August ga tele-
gram from Bismarck conveys dispatch
trom special correspondent oil the DAILY
FrssS, with the Custer expedition, as fol-
lows: Cr.- r-.-.-.ss -.. y.
"CLNP CuETEH, BLLcK HnLs HxPEprrrns, /
BEARs Butte, D. r., August IS.
"The command reached here yesterday
In good health and spirits. Lett Custer
Valley on the 9th, and had short marches
and good camps. Gold and silver were
found In several places In large quantities
and game In abundance, such as bear, eli
and deer, and several bears have beer
been killed. General Custer and Colope
Ludlow killed the fiSt. The command
leaves here tomorrow lor the LitllI
Missouri, and from there home 10 Lin.
coln."
Another dispatch says the expedito,
has completed the exploration of thr
Black aills,which prove even richer thar
hnInRfa waS I'll -