The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-08-27
The Black Hills Expedition.

Gen. Custer reporting the progress Of
the Black Hills expedition from Jul.
- t" Aug ,. The previous dis
patch was sent from Prospect Valley
Dakota. On the Goth. after crossing the
ErHc Fourshc River, the expedition be-
gan diminishing with the Black Hills by
feeling its way along the outlying ranges
of hills, Scckinga weak point through
which i, might make its way into the in
terror. On the cath Gen. Custer at
tempted the passage of the hills. lie
experienced considerable delay from
fallen timber. but the command was
able t" make eleven miles, when they
went into camp in valley where wood,
water and grass were abundant. This
valley. (>ay> Gen. Custer, in one respect.
presented the most wonderful as we'll as
beautiful aspect. Its equal have never
seen, and such. too. was the testimony of
all who brhcld it. In no private or pub
lie park have ever seen such profuse
display OF flowers. Every step OF our
march that day was amidst flowers of
the most exquisite colrrS and perfume
80 lUNuriant in growth were they that
mrn pluCkCd them without diSmounting
from the saddle. Some belonged to new
and uncla>>itied species 1t was Il
strange sight to glance back at the adj
Nanring columns of cavalry. and behold
the men with beautiful bouquets in
their hands. while the hcad-gcar of the
horses were decorated with wreaths of
flowers tit to crown Queen of May.
hccming it Il most fitting appcllation, l
named IlIi> Floral Valley Gen. For
>yih. at one of our hating places, chosen
at random. pluckcd seventeen beautiful
hg1 ,,p,rinr ia ,tiifnrnvy
and within Il space of twenty square
feet. The same evening, while seated at
mcS>-tahlc, one of the officers called at
trntirn to the carpet of flowers strewn
under our feet. and it was suggested that
i u" determined how many different
flowers could be pluckcd without lcavin"
our ga n iiuncr-tahlc. Seven bcauti-
iiI varieties were thus gathered. Prof.
Donaldson, the hotaniSt of the cNpcdi-
1irn. estimated the number of differ
eat Kinds OF flowers in bloom in
Floral Valley at fifty while an
equal number OF varieties had doomed
"r we're Yet 10 bloom. The number of
trees, shrubs and grasses was estimated
~ Twenty-Five. making the total flora of
the Nalll y embrace l25 species. Through
this hcuUtitUl valley mcaalcrS a stream
OF crystal water 50 cold rs to render ice
IN ">irAhic even II MONDAY. The tenn
r"rHiUrr at Two of the many springs
found lowing into il was taken and as
crrtainrdto he II and Az degrees respect
lively"
Tnr next day the valley was assembled
gradually until Gen. Custer discovered
that he was on the crest of the western
ridge of the Black Hills. when he en-
ramprd under scarcely less favorable
conditions than those OF the day before.
The day following traces of Indians were
d~en"rrcl and HE heavy scout was sent
t"rW ard with twenty braves to recon
hotter. The dispatch continues: This
party had been gone but few minutes
when two of Bloody knifc's' Young men
c1mc galloring back and informed me
that they had discovered five Indian
lodges Il few miles down the valley, and
that Bloody Knife as directed. had
concealed his party in a wooden ravine,
where they awaited further orders. TAX
inc Il company with me, which was after
ward reinforced by the remainder of the
scouts and Col. Harris company, pro-
Ccr,.rl to the ravinc where Bloody
kn;ic' and his party lay concealed, and
from the crest beyond obtained full
view nf the five Indian lodges, about
which considerable number of ponies
were grazing. was enabled to place
my command still nearer to the lodges
undiscovered. then dispatched Il guard,
the Interpreter with flag of truce. ac-
cumpanivd by two of our Sioux scouts,
to a"qUaint the occupants of the lodges
that We were friendly disposed and de-
sired To communicate with them. To
prevent trcacherv and flight on their
part | ~alloprd the remaining portion of
my advance and surrounded the lodges.
his was accomplished almost before
1h.y were aware of our presence. | then
entered the little village and shook lands
With the occupants, assuring them,
through Interpreter, that they had no
CHu>, to fear, as we were not there to
lA"!">t them. | invited them to visit our
camp, and promised presents of flour,
sugar and coffee to all who would accept.
This invitation was accepted. | entered
into an agreement with the lead
ING men that they should encamp
with Us Il few days, and give us such in
formation as we might desire: in return
for which service | was to reward them
with rali"n> With this understanding
left them The entire party numbered
twcnty->evcn Later in the afternoon
t",.r Of the men. including the Chief,
'pnc stab visited our camp and desired
the promised rations, saying the entire
party would move up and join us the fol
lowing morning. as agreed upon. l Or
dercd presents of sugar, coffee and bacon
TO be given them. and, to relieve them
of their pretended anxiety for the safety
Of their village durin. the night, l or
dCrcd Il party of fifteen of my command
to return with them and protect them
during the night: but, from their great
Discrimination to wait Il few minutes till
the party could saddle up, and from the
fact that two of the four had already
slipped away, | was of the opinion that
they We're not acting in good faith. In this
| was confirmed when the two remaining
set off at gallop in the direction of
their village. | sent party of our
scouts to ovcrtakc them and request
them to return. Not complying with
this request. | sent Il second party,
with orders to repeat the request, and if
not complied with. to take hold of the
bridlcs of their ponies and lead them
back. but to offer no violence. When
ovcrtaken by our scouts one of the two
Indians seized the musket of one of the
scouts and endeavored to wrest it from
nllh alllnH III lnlS he released his
hold, after the scout became dismounted
in the struggle, and set off as fast as his
pony could carry him, but not before the
musket of the scout was discharged
From blood discovered afterward it was
evident that either the Indian or his pony
was wounded. l hope that neither was
seriously hurt; yet the Indians have
their own bad faith as the sole ground
for the collision. 'One Stab the Chief
was brought back to camp. The scouts
galloped down to the valley in sight of tho
villagc.wh it was discovered that the en-
tire party had packed up their lodge.
and fed, and the visit of the four In
dams TO our camp was not only to obtain
their rations promised them in return fo
future services, but to cover the flight O
the lodges. l have perfected arrange
ments by which the Chief, One Stab, will
be with us as a guide three days longer
when he will take his departure and re
join his command"
The next few days were devoted t,
exploring the Black Hills region, whel