Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-08-07
From the Black Hills Expedition.

i
| THE following telegram was received on
the 9th from Gen. Custer, commanding
the expedition 10 the Black Hills coun-
| try:
PROSPECT VALLEY
| Long. 103d. 46m. West. Lat. 45d. 29m. North.
| Assistant Adiutant- General, Department of Da-
| kota, st. Paul, Mimi:
SIR-This expedition reached this
point yesterday, having marched since
| leaving Fort Lincoln 227a miles. We
| are now ITO miles in direct line from
| Lincoln and within five miles of the
Little Missouri, and within about twelve
miles of the Montana boundary-our
bearing from Fort Lincoln being south
sixty-two degrees west.
After the second day from Lincoln we
| marched over a beautiful country. The
grazing was excellent and abundant.
Wood sufficient for our wants, and water
in great abundance evcEF ten miles.
When we struck the tributaries of Grand
River we entered less desirable portion
of the country nearly all the streams
flowing into Grand River being more
or less impregnated with alkali,
rendering the crossings difficult
We found plentiful supply
of grass, wood and water, however, even
along this portion of our route. Upon
leaving the headwaters of Grand River
we assembled the plateau separating the
watershed of the Little Missouri from
that running into the Missouri, and
found country of surprising beauty
and richness of soil. The pasturage
could not be finer, timber is abundant
and water both good and plentiful. AS
an evidence of the character of the coun-
try, we have marched, since leaving
Fort Lincoln, on an average, over seven
teen miles per day, one day making
thirty-two miles-yet our mules and
beef-cattle have constantly improved in
condition, the beef-cattle depending en-
@tirely upon the excellent grazing we
have marched over. The health of my
command is something remarkable-not
man being on the sick report. Every
one seems not only in good health, but
in excellent spirits.
Between the forks of Grand River we
discovered a cave to which the Indians
attach great Importance The cave eX-
tends about 400 feet underground, beyond
which point it was not practicable to eX-
plore it. Its walls and roof are covered
with rude carvings and drawings cut into
the solid rock, apparently the work of
Indians, although probably by differ
ent tribe than either of those now roam
ing in this region. Near the cave was
found white mans skull, apparently
perforated by bullet. 1t had been eX
posed to the atmosphere for several
years, as no white men except those be-
longing to this expedition are known to
have passed anywhere near the locality.
The discovery of the skull was regarded
with universal interest. The cave was
found to contain numerous articles of
Indian equipments, which had been
thrown into the cave by the Indians as
offerings to the Great Spirit. | have
named the cave Ludlow's Cave, in honor
of the engineering officer of the expedi-
ton.
- Our march thus. far has been made
without molestation upon the part of the
Indians. We discovered no signs indi-
eating the recent presence of Indians
until day before yesterday, when Capt.
McDougal, Seventh Cavalry, who was on
the flank, discovered small body of
about twenty Indians watching our
movements. The Indians scampered off
as soon as discovered. Yesterday the
same, or a similar-sized, party made it's
appearance, and was seen by Capt.
Moylan Connolly, rear guard, along our
line of march. Soon after several sig
mails of smoke were sent up, which our
Indian guides interpret as conveying
information to the main body of our
presence and movements. AS | sent a
pacific message to all the tribes infesting
this region before the expedition moved,
and expressed a desire to maintain
friendly relations with them, the signals
observed by us may have simply been
made to enable the villages to avoid us.
Our Indian guides think differently, how
ever, and believe the Indians me. n war.
Should this be the case, they will be the
party to fire the first shot. Indians have
been seen near camp to-day
/ do not know whether / will be able
to communicate with you again before
the return of the expedition or not.
G. A. CUSTER,
Brevet Maj Gen. U. S. A., Commander of Expe
ditiOn