Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-08-14
CLUSTERS EXPEDITION.

wild Sioux, has led TO sOme ATTRACTIVE ulscoVel-
les The Black Hills, as they are called, are
not wholly within the Territory of Dakota, but
extend into Wyoming, aud cover an area OF
about one hundred miles iD length by sixty In
width, their highest peaks rising six thousand
seven hundred feet above tide. The greater
part of the Territory of Dakota is rolling prairie
land, we'll watered, abouodiug iu nutritious
grasses. and admirably adapted to stock rails
ing. lis greatest drawback, like that of Kan
sas, Minnesota, and Wyoming, is deficiency
Of timber, Of which there is very little, except
along the borders of the streams. The only
forest land is that Of the Black Hills, which
probably derive the name that has been given
them from the dense growth of pine that lines
their slopes and often crowns their lower sum-
mits 1t is among these hills and the interven-
ing valleys that game abounds, and it is because
of the noble hunting they afferd that the Sioux
have resisted so tenaciously the intrusion OF the
white man into a region secured to them by
treaty. But, for long time past reports
have been current on the frontier that the
Black Hills abounded in mineral wealth. The
washiugs Of the rivers passing through this
region indicated the presence gold. Adventur-
Gus explorers penetrating, at great hazard their
Businesses had returned with specimens of gold,
and oozing out from The foot hills oil springs had
been discovered; but no exploring parties had
ever yentured tar into that region until Gus
ters expedition furnished the opportunity.
Then it was that those who had been permit
ted to accompany Custer found everywhere
along the line of march Indications OF the wealth
that was hidden in the hills, and confirmed the
previous reports OF gold.bearln section by
obtaining the precious metal from surface wash
ings A correspondent, writing to the New
York Tribune, describes this hitherto unknown
country as possessing besides valuable mineral
fields, grass, water, and timber 10 abundance;
the scenery lovely beyond description" and
1.-The fora the most varied OF any section this
side OF California" But the country, however,
was not all SO beautiful, or the scenery so at
tractive. There were occasional stretches OF
arid soil. From the Little Missouri to the Val
ley of tho Belle FouIche all was dcsoatc aud
barren When, however, the Belle Fourchc
was reached from that point across the hills
separating Dakota from Wyoming the cxpedi-
,on travcrsed lands OF rare fertility we'll water
ed, with line grazing grounds, and having an
abundance of timher -Four days later, Custer
still in search OF the rading savagcs, in attempt
ing to cross range of he hills, came suddenly
upon another valley, which is thus enthusiastic
caly described
Its equal said General Custer, II have
never seen" Such, too, was the testimony OF
all those who beheld the paDorama spread
out before US. Every step of our march that
day was amid flowers oI the most exquisite col
classified species. The total fora of the val
ley en- braces l25 species. The water ln the
streams stood at "A degrees This beautiful
vale was named Floral Valley We followed
this valley to the top of the western ridge OF
the Black Hills, winding our way through a
little park of great natural beauty
There is much more to the same purpose i;
but this glowing account Of region hitherto
untrodden by the foot of the white man ls
quite sufficient to excite thousands OF hardy
miners and frontiersmeu-Siouxo or no Sioux,
treaty or no treaty-to seize and occupy coun-
try having gold aud silver in its hills, lead in
other places rich deposits of salt in its north.
ern section, great veins Of coal on the Missouri
river, petroleum, springs, and valleys, we'll Wat,
cred and wooded, siogularly fertile, covered
with nutritious grasses and gorlhed with How
ers that rival those OF Florida and California
in variety and beauty. Baltimore Gazette.
AUGUST COURT.--August Court has come
aud gone Another of Loudoun's ancient holy
days, mile post on the course OF lime, has
been passed. On Monday last scores and hun
dreds of the people of this country, with tho
same joyous tread that inspired their fathers 10
ye ancient times, made their annual pilgrimage
to the Country-seat, bringing with them their
children, and their children's children, thus
perpetuating in the minds of the rising gener-
Grafton a sacred love for simple custom as
ancient as she County itself, aud beautiful be-
cause of its antiquity. We know not in what
it originated-we are ignorant of the causes
that set apart August Court as pre-emiuently
st,I I,bo oil bar nj
to such distinguished consideration per-
haps the oldest citizen now living would be as
much puzzled as We are. to answer the ques-
tion Still, it is pleasant to contemplate It's re-
currence' 10 consider that amid the ravages
of Time-the destruction OF institutions and
customs co. o.existant with the Commonwealth,
there is at least one day in the year on which
We can return to first principles, and with all
the fullness and freshness of youth, wend our
way TO the court t-greep, and participate 10
epuyments that once gave delight 70 thousands
who have since crossed the river knowing
no other reason for it, aud caring for no other
save simple knowledge that Father did it. :
Long may it survive:
The cruwd on Monday was not as large as
We have seen, but was amply sufficient to attest
that the people still retain lively admiration
Tor one of the landmarks of the past. At an
carly hour every available space around the
publicsquare, was occupied by men, women and
children, with tables and stands from whence to
deal their small wares, principally of something
,oeat, and soon the crowd began to swell 10 mum.
bers until our streets were throDged with white
faces, aud black, of both sexes, until there was
before us solid mass of living, breathing
humanity. The usual amount OF melons
and other edibles and fluids were disposed
trn how
gathering on similar occasions There were
lew drunken men, no boisterous ones, and
throughout the day there was not a solitary ar
rest Tor breach of the neace and dignity CT the
commonwealth. -Loudoun Mrror.