The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-23
THE BLACK HILLS

CLUSTERS EXPEDITION AND EXPLORATION |
AMONG THEM-THE OBJECT OF THE EXPBDI- !
TIoN AND ITS ENPECTED RESULT. !
The st. Paul Press, Of late date, gives the
following interesting account of the region
of the Black Hills: The Black Hills country,
situated in the Southwestern portion of Da- |
kota, and lying between the Belle Fourche |
river and south fork of the Big Cheyenne,
branches of the Missouri, and extending into
Montana, is at the present time unex-
plOred by the white man. Numerous expe-
ditions have from time to time been
fitted out for the purpose of
exploration, headed by men of
indomitable perseverance and undoubt-
ed daring, but none have as ye: been able to
penetrate the region. These attempts at
exploration have in almost every instance
been supeTinduced by the very general be-
liefthat gold and liver are 10 be fOunU.
Several of these expeditions have been or
ganiZed by representative men, General
McCoOk last season, earnestly endeGvoring
to obtain the consent of the general govern
ment to explore it. But the government
has ever refused 10 grant permission to any
one TO penetrate the Black Hills country,
laying it does in the very heart of the
Sioux Indian reservation; and also refused
protection to such parties as have attempted
it without government cOgnzance. All
such attempts have, however, proved unsuc-
ceSsful, and it is said that the foot Of the
white man has never entered the region.
rhe Sioux Indians are possessed of a super
stitious belief that the region is the homo OF
the departed spirits of the Indians, prepare
tory to their going to
THE HAPPY HUNTING-GR0UNDS.
The Sioux often visit the sacred region tor
the purpose of communicating with the de-
parted spirits. Possessed Of this belief,
they have refused to allow the foot of the
white man ever to pollute the sacred soil.
An order has. however, been recently issued
commanding general Custer to make an ex
ploration of the region, and ten companies
of cavalry and two of artillery are fitting
tor the expedition, and will leave Fort Lin
coin about the 18th of June, providing
nothing occurs which will necessarily
divert the attention OF the forces
upon the frontier. Lieutenant Colonel
Frederick Grace and General Forsythe, OF
Sheridan's staff, accompany the expedition,
and Colonel Ludlow, chief OF engineers,
now located at this point, will have charge
| of the survey. Several experienced miners
will also accompany the expedition for the
purpose of examining the claimed mineral
| deposits, and il is believed that the mystery
| appertaining to the region will he
| fully and satisfactorily solved. While
/ il is not the purpose OF the ex-
ploratiOn to wage war upon the In
dian tribes, there is no doubt that the expe-
! dition will meet with the most violent Oppo-
sition. Neither is it the purpose of the ex-
petition to permit OF any citizens accompany
| ing the forces into the Black Hills country.
| Several independent expeditions are already
talked of. One is said 10 be forming DIT
Sioux City, and another at Bismarck under
the lead of Chris. Gibson, an Indian scout
and man who has before
STOOD FIRE.
These expeditions propose to follow in the
wake of General Custer and his forces, but
the government will oppose all such at
tempts. 1t is equally the purpose of the
government to protect the Indians against
the invasion by filEbusrering expeditions,
| and to explore the unknown region. Fur
| Their than this it has ever been the policy OF
| the war department to keep the troops NOV
| ing into the r,dian country so as TO
prove to The Inhabitants that they are
watched, and any depredations or at
tempts TO leave the reservations will
be met with punishment. This, doubtless.
is in great degree the purpose of the ex-
petition now forming. The threatened out
break which the telegraph announces may
delay the expedition, and IL the hos
Utilities are long cOntlEucus hiuSI IesuiI III
the postponement OF the project for the
present. The Sioux have long been spoil
ing for war with the Rees, and have waged
it upon them whenever it were possible,
Offering every insult known to Indian war
fare. Should they make an an attack, as il
is alleged is their purpose, upon the Rees,
who are friendly to the whilea, government
protection will be rendered them. The
Sioux, as sequence, must finally be re-
pulsed, and, should this be the case, they
would not, in all probability, make violent
opposition to the Black Hills expedition,
having tested the strength of the forces in
contests resulting .disastroasly. At all
events, whatever shall be the result of the
threatened outbreak. the result of General
Clusters Black Hills expedition of explora-
ton will be awaited with interest, whether
attended with bloody conflicts with the
Indians, or otherwise.
Some antiquarian has just discovered that
Washington received The degree of l.. l.. ID.